Rolling Stone Germany - TSS Review

[The Heartical Don]

German Rolling Stone is an official daughter magazine of the U.S. version - and it's a whole lot better too. Here's a link to their online review of TSS, and needless to say, 5 stars. Please go HIER BITTE ANCLICKEN, LEUTE

Unfortunately, I don't have the time to translate immediately. Perhaps someone can step in (Micha?)? Otherwise I'll give it a try tomorrow.

Oh, and the sale of the German mag was discontinuated a year or ten ago, in Holland. Must be the result of failing education in foreign languages over here (was our strong point for many years, we all learned pretty good English, and basic German and French, apart from Latin and Greek for a minority).

[Steve Mayo]

In October 1966, "SMiLE," the future of pop music. "A teenage symphony to God" named Brian Wilson, then the follow up album to "Pet Sounds", in which he was working on. Six months later he had become insane, and "SMiLE" was the most famous unfinished album of pop. Only 37 years later, Brian Wilson presented with his touring band, and "Smile" lyricist Van Dyke Parks, the work done and played it a new. A medical procedure, a Mythosmeuchelei - and yet so great because the music was brilliant and of course, made clear that was the only avant-pop in the process, there to connect, where Wilson had stopped 1967th The recordings from the sixties remained in the archives.

But now, 50 years after publication of the first Beach Boys' music, there is the Holy Grail of pop now but still for your own living room. On five CDs, a double LP and two vinyl singles with original artwork by Frank Holmes. On the first CD (and the double-LP), one can hear a planned reconstruction of the album. The track listing is similar to that of Wilson's 2004-spec-ersion (only the unfinished "I'm In Great Shape" has moved from last to first third). The other CDs document - similar to the "Pet Sounds" box a few years ago - the entire session. Wilson worked at the time not to whole songs, but in different sections, he added together at the end and wanted to put together. Only the work on "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations" to fill each well a CD of "The SMiLE Sessions".

"SMiLE" is a celebration of America - the music, not always glorious history and landscape. At the beginning there is the myth - the heroes and villains, the Pilgrims and Indians, the farms and railroads. Following are the love of creation, transcendence, and finally the four elements, and at the end to the "Good Vibrations". The great songs ("Heroes and Villains," "Cabin Essence," "Wonderful," "Good Vibrations") are completed - with the exception of "Surf's Up", which consists of a solo version of Brian Wilson and additional recordings with Carl Wilson and Al Jardine is pieced together. Some of the important conceptual interludes contrast, are still without lead vocals. The most fascinating musical section, called 'Elements Suite ", is completed at the least, but also the most surprising moments. On "Holiday" as one hears celestial harmonies unknown to cancel but unfortunately all too suddenly.

It is fascinating to listen to the failure of this project, and devastating when it determines how close Wilson's turn on the project. The patina on the 60s-mostly in mono recorded tracks also ensures the auratic moment, the new recording is missing the nature of 2004.


google translate

[The Heartical Don]

^^  thanks Steve -

there shurely are shome obvioush mishtakes here... but that's not your fault, of course. The last sentence is about the opposite of what the German text states. Has to be: 'the 2004 recording (BWPS) misses, by its very nature (digital, and an older Wilson) the patina, the auratic momentum of the original 1967 material'.

[The Heartical Don]

Here's a translation I hastily put together just now, hope it's a bit true to the German (I changed some terms slightly for better reading, it doesn't affect the meaning of the words). Note that German RS always has been known for its admiration for the BBs and Van Dyke Parks - that this review is brief must not detract from the fact that the 5 stars were given with a heart.

The Beach Boys – The SMiLE Sessions (by Maik Brüggemeyer), Rolling Stone Germany, Oct 28, 2011. awarded 5 stars out of 5.

In October 1966, “SMiLE” constituted the future of pop music. “A Teenage Symphony To God”, Brian Wilson called the successor to “Pet Sounds”, on which he was working back then. Half a year later he had become mentally ill, and “SMiLE” came to be the most famous unfinished album in pop. Only 37 years later, Brian completed the work together with his touring band and “SMiLE”-lyricist Van Dyke Parks, and recorded it anew. A healing step, tampering with a myth? Fantastic nevertheless, because obviously the music was brilliant, and showed that the avant-garde of pop just was joining in where Wilson had stopped in 1967. The recordings from the sixties stayed in the vaults.
But now, 50 years after the release of the first single by the Beach Boys, the Holy Grail of Pop for your own living room is available, on 5 CDs, a double vinyl LP, and two vinyl singles with Frank Holmes’ original artwork. On the first CD, and the double LP, we can hear a reconstruction of the planned album. The track listing resembles that of Wilson’s 2004 version, although the unfinished “I’m In Great Shape” was relocated from the last to the first part of three. The other CDs document – much as was the case with the “Pet Sounds”-box from 1996, the complete sessions. Wilson did not work on fully constructed songs at the time, but on single sections, which he joined together, or had planned to join. Just the session tracks for “Heroes And Villains” and “Good Vibrations” on their own already fill near one CD each here.
“SMiLE” is a celebration of America – its music, its not always that glorious history, and its landscapes. In the beginning, there’s the myth – the heroes and villains, the Pilgrim Fathers and the Indians, the farms and the railroads. Following on from these topics, there is love, creation, transcendence, concluding with the four elements – and finally we have the Good Vibrations. The “big songs” (“Heroes And Villains”, “Cabinessence”, “Wonderful”, and “Good Vibrations”) were finished, with the exception of “Surf’s Up”, which has been constructed from a solo version by Brian Wilson and additional recordings by Carl Wilson and Al Jardine. Some of the conceptually important interludes, on the contrary, still lack the lead vocals. The musically most fascinating section, the so-called “Four Elements Suite”, is missing the most parts, yet contains the most surprising moments. For instance, on “Holidays”, one can hear heavenly and as yet unknown harmonies, that sadly all of a sudden come to an end.
It is supremely fascinating to hear  this project that failed in the end then, and heartbreaking to conclude how close Wilson eventually came to finishing it. The ‘60s type patina on the tracks, which were largely recorded in mono, provides the additional ‘auratic moment’ that is lacking on the newly recorded version from 2004, for obvious reasons.

[Mr. Wilson]

Rolling stone USA gave TSS 4 1/2 stars.. The last couple of lines in review said something like this.. When you dig into this box set and start searching you will find the greatest pop lp of all time..Also mentioned the most important tracks.. One mentioned was.. DYLW..