Have tried multiple times on multiple laptops and phones to listen to this from the Esquire site, and every time no audio or video comes up, only a black screen in its place. Anyone else had this problem? Any other way to listen to it?

Thanks for the video Shane. They sound great! I'm in Sacramento and wish I'd been there but couldn't scrounge up $99 plus gas for the drive down 99 to Modesto. Glad you enjoyed it, and please post whatever you've got.

Thanks punkinhead. That clears up a lot of misheard lyrics for me. It's nice to know of that website as well (and the previous thread, which I will get to one of these lazy summer days).

Question that doesn't deserve its own thread: What are the spoken lyrics in the middle of the Smiley Smile version of Wonderful? They are difficult to understand, and I'm not even sure what band member(s) are speaking them, although it sounds like Brian. Anyone?

In that way I think the concept of using instruments as vocals would defeat the whole purpose of his records, which again was to deliver the vocal blend listeners liked and expected. So perhaps a few instances where the lines were crossed may have been deliberate, but overall if it did happen it may have been more coincidental than deliberate, where maybe an instrument's line or pitch blended in with a vocal line.

I guess I was thinking of it in terms of adding to the uniqueness of the production, rather than diminishing their incredible vocal blend or defeating the purpose of his records, but I see your point and appreciate it. He was always pushing the limits of production and I was just wondering if this was another way to do that.

I remember reading one author's perspective (can't recall who) that the Beach Boys voices were like instruments, or often utilized as instruments, and can't disagree with that sentiment. What about the opposite, the use of instruments made to sound like voices, or in place of voices (Good Vibrations comes to mind). In Cabinessence, listening without headphones, it sounds like the word horse is dropped off the end of "Who ran the iron..." at the end of each chorus, as if the instruments are singing the word horse. With headphones, I think I can hear the beginning and end of horse but not the middle, which may be due to a muddy mix at that point, i.e., that may not have been Brian's intent at all in that song, to have the instruments sing. Interested in your thoughts on this specifically as well as other possible examples of "singing" instruments in their songs.

I will definitely check out "High Fidelity" - thanks for the recommendation.

I imagine you're right...  he couldn't really do Brian justice without becoming familiar with his music, and now he's a fan. What's not to like?

I thought this was very cool: John Cusack, the actor who's playing the older Brian Wilson in the upcoming biopic, seems to really dig SMiLE, and it doesn't sound like he's talking it up just because he's "in character." He has posted several recent references to SMiLE on Twitter, all of them praising the album, with one of them posted below.  I love how he describes it as a "waking dream." Well said. He may be a little late to the party, but the guy obviously has great taste in music.

John Cusack ‏@johncusack 9 Aug
Listen to this glorious music  like a waking  dream

That was the trick for me - an alternate search engine. Got in on Firefox the first time. One word: AMAZING! It's mindblowing on my little computer speakers... now if I could just connect my Polks to my computer. Thanks Stephen and Will C.

Trying to get the password(s) gives me:

"Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage".

Too bad....

WILL C.,   PLEASE HELP THESE FANS OUT.  Everyone should be able to access Vimeo -- It's like YouTube or Google.

Looks like about half the messages are having problems.
 
As for entering into my profile, can you enter your own profile? That would be my first question.
 

~swd
 

I can enter my own profile. I entered your profile, copied the password as instructed, pasted it on Vimeo, and nothing happens - it doesn't even state the password was incorrect, it just returns to its previous state, before I pasted the password.

Followed instructions exactly and couldn't access videos. Any suggestions?

1. SMiLE
2. Pet Sounds
3. Sunflower
4. Today
5. Holland