The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/may/22/brian-wilson-presents-pet-sounds-review-a-spectacularly-moving-evening?CMP=share_btn_fb

After the article scroll down past the ads and read the "comments." Fairly brutal.

What a cynical world we live in eh? It doesn't seem to occur to them that putting his mental/health issues aside Brian just might enjoy playing music with his band. ::)

Edit: Referring to the comments, not the interview!

Thanks for the warning. I shall give this review (and comments) a miss... :hat

While we're on t'subject, Mojo has given the box 5/5. Refers to the inclusion of two newly discovered takes of IKT'sAA and the previously unheard Vibes master track with partial vocals.

Review also refers to Mike's alleged complaint that Brian had "f***ed with the formula", which it bought we'd left behind recently?

Closing paragraph refers to this new set as the "definitive edition (at least until the next time)".

I was at the show at The Palladium last Saturday and before you read the rest, I had an amazing night and it was great. BUT...
I have to agree with most of the comments. It was just sad to see him on stage like that. He didn't really hit the right notes, his voice was just ruff. And he totally didn't seem to be in the same room as the rest of the band. He never smiled or laughed or anything. It was really depressing to see him there. And before the break he didn't even stay on stage until the last song was over.  It was kind of weird. If I was just a random fan, someone who only went to the show because it said Brian Wilson and Pet Sounds, I would never go to a Brian Wlson show again.

I always go to Brian shows because of his amazing band. If he didn't have them it would be even more awkward. Blondie on the other hand was out of control and rocking the house!

But you have to give him credit for having the courage to go on tour and perform albums like Smile and Pet Sounds. Mike would never do stuff like this.  So as long as Brian is touring I will always go, because I'm a fan of his music and his band, but not of his stage-appearance. And like every other Brian show, I still ha a blast because of the band.

A few questions that someone here might be able to answer:
1. Is he aware of his live voice?
2. Why does he still go on tour when he's clearly not enjoying being on stage?

So much from me,
Rüdiger

You're wrong to give the review a miss, John! The original post didn't make it very clear, but the review itself is actually very positive indeed. It's 5 stars and includes words such as 'exquisite' in abundance (there are a few references to Brian's otherworldliness, though they're far from negative - just curious observations more than anything).

The comments section below does indeed contain some idiots trying to get attention, but this is typical of any comments section beneath any Guardian thread ever! Besides, the negative comments are in the minority; most of the comments are positive and, more often than not, someone has effectively called the negative idiots out on their bulls**t :)

Can't be any worse than this review from The Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/brian-wilsons-anniversary-tour-the-saddest-gig-ever---review/

To quote a line from the scottish sitcom, Still Game, this review is utter pish!

I know right! The Telegraph do talk sh*t though most if all the time so lol....

They're Tories - so yeah, they talk sh*t ALL the time...

Thanks, DB. I saw the question mark in the URL and jumped to the wrong conclusion. I'm off there now... :=)  

Excellent, even moving review. The few vaguely comic references to Brian are more endearing than anything else.

I gave the comments a miss though.  ;D 

I recognise so much of this. And yet at the two C50 gigs I saw, BW was so relaxed and in command, and enjoying himself. I'll decide for myself, Friday.

It's the Telegraph; what did one expect from its comments section? And here I thought the British fans were the "true fans." Well, apparently not...

So it's a race issue now?

No, the commenters on the Telegraph are on the dimwitted side of dumb. :)

No comments on the Telegraph.  They stopped 'em recently, which is all well and good, cos they were bloody awful.

:lol

I just realized after I posted that it was the Guardian linked in the OP. My mistake. I referenced the Guardian review in my reply.

There's at least one idiot on there who only comments in a negative fashion - so I clicked on his profile and sw that he does that pretty much every time he posts. And they say Brian has problems...

I thought the Guardian review was very good indeed. As for the Telegraph, bearing in mind it's no secret what Brian can be like in concert, it seems pretty stupid to send someone who doesn't get this, but what the hell, so much journalism, especially the reviewing side, seems to be about mindless snark these days.