The first Beach Boys related album I ever heard was Brian Wilson's "Smile" - and I loved it! Listening to that album for years before listening to Smiley Smile, I was shocked to hear Smiley Smile! How could the band abandon the magic of Smile and make Smiley Smile in its sted?

At first I hated it with a passion - it wasn't Smile! How could it even try to compete? But after listening to it for a while, at least two of the arrangements gained ground with me. I like the minimalist arrangements of "Wonderful" and "Wind Chimes". They bring out the wild and beautiful nature of the songs. "Vegetables" is also arranged in a very minimalist way, but it doesn't accomplish anything by being stripped down, because it didn't add anything to the mix. Ultimately it just felt like it's being "dumbed down". Unfortunately! It's so beautiful on The Smile Sessions and BW's Smile.

Ultimately it pales next to the Smile project. The pleasant moments on it brings it up to a 3. Considering how much worse they have put together, it's a fine album.

Thanks to all of your wonderful reviews, I went out and bought this album! :-)

It's wonderful! I can highly recommend doing the same, if you like the more mellow side of The Beach Boys!

Besides the title track and Brian's "Busy Doin' Nothin'" I especially like "Be Here In The Morning"!

It's not a 5 because, ultimately, it lacks the magical productions and energy that Brian exhibited in the mid-60's. Therefore a big 4!