Smile Sessions reviews anyone?!

[GeorgeFellInHisHorn]

Rolling Stone - 4.5/5 stars

"'There is a moment in this five-CD ocean of music when you agree with its creator, the Beach Boys composer-producer Brian Wilson, that the greatest pop album 'ever made is still within reach. It comes during an October 1966 session for "Do You Like Worms." "You were strumming too hard," Wilson tells bassist Carol Kaye after identifying a tiny irritant spoiling the track’s dreamy symmetry of kettledrum march and hula-dance sway. "I knew I'd find it," he adds brightly, "if I really searched and reached out."

'It was a brief optimism. 'Smile '– Wilson's attempt to extend the opulent mosaic ambition of the Beach Boys' 1966 hit "Good Vibrations" across an entire LP – was soon on its way to infamy: the best rock album never finished, a victim (after more than 80 sessions over nine months) of Wilson's indecisive perfectionism and his band's rebellion against the music's complex symphonic melancholy. Wilson's main conspirator, lyricist Van Dyke Parks, was exiled from the project, and his dream record was replaced by a pale shadow, ''Smiley Smile. ''Wilson’s long dark age had begun. '

'The first disc in this box features the closest thing we may get to the original ''Smile ''as Wilson envisioned it, with versions of songs later rescued and/or reworked for other albums, such as "Surf's Up" and "Cabin Essence." The episodic composition and instrumental surrealism, closer to acid-bent Aaron Copland than Dick Dale, explain the 'dissatisfaction of the other Beach Boys. Think of this Smile 'as Wilson's first solo album, with those voices as ''golden brush strokes. Look at Wilson's 2004 rerecording of 'Smile 'as the refined version.'

'It is easy to project a fear of failure in Wilson's obsession with revision and minutiae in the so-called "session highlights," including more than 30 takes and fragments of the operetta "Heroes and Villains." But there is delight and confidence in Wilson’s exchanges with his studio crew. And the Beach Boys' vocal rehearsals for "Our Prayer" are sublime evidence of ''Smile's ''fundamental greatness: the searching and reaching of genius in its prime. Wilson never found it, but the greatest pop album ever made is still in here, somewhere. '"

[Runaways]

There are always 1 or 2 reviewers who just run contrary for the sake of running contrary.

Yes. Armond White anyone? (Pray to GOD he does not review TSS!)

i feel like i'm the only one here who will get this.  but he recently was a guest on /film.com's podcast reviewing real steel, he was actually ok and interesting to listen to

[desmondo]

The UK's Record Collector gave it 5/5

Lost and found, you still remain there

The news that The Beach Boys were to finally release a comprehensive account of what remained of Brian Wilson’s intended masterpiece was greeted not just with joy, but also some trepidation from The Beach Boys’ fan base. While the majority of tracks have trickled out over the years on official releases and increasingly exhaustive bootlegs, the unfinished nature of SMiLE has ensured that, to a certain extent, it exists in the fans’ imaginations. Most of those who have been attracted by the mystique of these sessions will, at some point, either have had a version of SMiLE pressed into their hands by a fervent fan, or had a bash at putting together their own version of what might have been.

Happily, the hardcore can breathe a sigh of relief. Producers and archivists Mark Linnett and Alan Boyd have done a remarkable job in assembling a wholly satisfying, sometimes surprising and somewhat magical listening experience. This material has never sounded so vivid and vital. Longstanding SMiLE admirers will find themselves marvelling at newly discovered intricacies thanks to the improved sound quality – from the phenomenal vocal interplay of Heroes And Villains to the nightmarish evocation of fire in Mrs O’Leary’s Cow.

There’s clarity and dynamism here, the result of countless hours of remastering and painstaking edits. Purists may baulk at the techniques used to assemble unfinished tracks (there’s the manipulation of a rough Brian Wilson demo vocal to fit backing tracks for I’m In Great Shape and Barnyard) but, with the deluxe edition of this set featuring four discs of sessions for enthusiasts to play with as they please, they can hardly complain.

Irrespective of how this material is presented, the fact remains that what was recorded of SMiLE is a peerless exploration of pop music’s potential. Using Good Vibrations as a jump-off point, Wilson envisioned a series of suites comprised of music box-style themes, psychedelic barbershop harmonies, dissonance and beauty, coupled with some of his most ambitious songwriting.

With Van Dyke Parks on lyrical and conceptual duties, The Beach Boys’ lyrical horizons similarly broadened. SMiLE explored grand themes of American imperialism and expansion, loss of innocence, nature and – importantly, considering the title – humour.

Anybody coming to such a venerated work for the first time might expect to listen, brow furrowed, to a work of accepted genius. SMiLE ensures that you’re just as likely to be swept away by goofy effects, puns, animal impressions and the sound of session musicians capable of producing music as exquisite as Cabinessence and Child Is Father Of The Man being encouraged to “play” a selection of workshop tools. Frank Holmes’ faithfully reproduced artwork is a wonderful companion piece accentuating the comic aspect of the music.

Fans will find it hard to resist the deluxe, five-disc box set, which effectively serves as a best of selection from the bootlegs with the immaculate sound quality of the reconstructed album. As with the Pet Sounds sessions box set, it’s great to hear Wilson conducting the band through takes of these familiar sections – albeit in a somewhat looser manner than those earlier recordings.

There are surprises which have, until now, been hidden away on bootlegs, such as the discarded, jazzed-up version of Wonderful and mooted Heroes And Villains section, He Gives Speeches. SMiLE-era curios such as Dennis and Carl Wilson’s first efforts at production are also included – a pleasing nod to completists.

Perhaps the best recommendation would be to listen to the version of Surf’s Up presented here: an amalgamation of Brian’s infamous home demo and existing sessions. It’s a breathtaking moment; a man at his absolute artistic peak.

All of the talk that’s surrounded these sessions is conjecture. What’s important is that this exists at all and has been presented so beautifully. Listen in wonder… and don’t forget to smile.
5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

EMI/Capitol | C 276582 (5-CD)

[The Heartical Don]

^^ time to compliment you in turn, mr Desmondo! Thanks for posting this, really nice stuff from RC.

[buddhahat]

The Metacritic score's shaping up nicely at 96. You wonder when they'll put the Mojo 5 stars up there.

http://www.metacritic.com/music/the-smile-sessions/critic-reviews

[The Heartical Don]

Can we compile some 'reception history' of TSS here? Or would that constitute infringement of copyrights? I was in a station magazine store today, and quickly read MOJO's review by Jon Savage. Which is very good. I mean, I really can't purchase each and every TSS-related article, having just forked out € 152.99 for the motherload of all motherloads.

[Les P]

2.5/4 - The LA Times

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/10/album-review-the-beach-boys-the-smile-sessions.html

What the frig is this? Not a review, that's for sure. Disrespectful frigers

Two and a half stars (out of four) - Meathead!   Weird cause the review is pretty good.

I can't understand why Randy Lewis, also LA Times music reviewer, didn't do the review.  I met him at the 2004 premiere, a very nice guy and obviously a fan.  In his articles and reviews he has always been very positive about SMiLE and Brian's work in general.

[PS]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-beach-boys-smile-notebook-20111106,0,4867978.story

[Music Machine]

I used to love Word magazine and thought it was one of the most intelligent Entertainment and Arts magazines around with good 'new music roundup' freebie CD's but not anymore. Another one of their recent gems was in a review of the Smiths reissues, "The quality of the 2009 Beatles remasters but with better songs." Sod off!

[The_Holy_Bee]

We Kiwis are digging it, even if TSS isn't officially on our shores 'till the 14th!

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment-reviews/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502967&objectid=10763895

[sidewinder572]

Metacritic has added AV Clubs perfect score. It's now at a 97. They have yet to factor in Mojo's 5 stars (100) and Q's 3 stars (70)

[Iron Horse-Apples]

SMiLE was registered in May 1966 to 67 May. It was never released, it sold a copy.

All rights to the album as a rapper dropped dead in the water. It is something that no one is ever going to hear, and no one has ever asked for it.

SMiLE is illegal to re-record, singing a measly total, increased again to its original vision to imagine not ten years ago.... and yet, the ultimate release of the original recordings of these events is the end of events

All of this is a clear, long-time lover of music, but some of the younger fans are sure to question. It's just a big thing in 2011? It's 1966, The Beach Boys are the biggest releasers of high artistic achievements, which would take them onto the already festering, and most of all, they had to do it now.

They had to Pet Sounds.

Brian Wilson wanted to save perfect "teenage symphony," and that he started without fail, with "Good Vibrations".

Wilson had never been one to go for ease of creation, and The Beach Boys' first million-seller, he created a brilliant obsession that grows to a monster, strangled his "perfect symphony.

He then became something quite unusual:

Each section of music recording - essentially any sound - an independent, long-running session, all later pieced together to create a sound, a nebulous concept that is sure to have only existed in Wilson.

This all sounds crazy?

Power-that-be sure to raise eyebrows at a price tag, but nothing to endure an entire album's worth of"Good Vibrations". Wilson even found the perfect writing partner Van Dyke Parks. So, where does it all go wrong?

A popular, a cool response to Mike Love. It was a time of uncertainty, increasing the artistic voice of Pet Sounds sessions, and had only grown more upset at blowing the budget.

Tannerins like, if they have to remind them of meetings, they are quick to blame point.

Mike hated the album. It is an easy target, and not at all an unfair one. But whereas The Beach Boys, "his eminence a culture that supports such a lifestyle"

It is important to note that Wilson was a drop in the deep end. Mary Jane has long been a friend, but Wilson continued to grow closer and more (think sour, people) He knew CGI. He was allowed to take the time and start to pretend. 

"Guilty local fire to stop the recording material", the band visited the firefighters for their dress hats, I have to say Parks was also restrained from entering the studio.

However, even after I had returned, most musicians and Wilson, described the meeting as a respectable, save for their crimes outside the studio. 

He despised members of the band's own album, but it was his musical brilliance that ultimately unraveled it.

It's a strange smile on the tragedy, it would have been released if it was intended, it may well become the music forever.

However, he might as well ignore the creation of the recording made for recognition.

So maybe this painful step in unleashing a generation of trained listeners to understand it. In 1968 he recorded "Brian Wilson and Friends" album that would change the world. The truth is, Wilson thought the album was a classic, every bit as valuable as it is now.

Unfortunately, en masse, I would like to surf music and more. While the British were driven musicians, choked by Americans with their idols, their expectations, satisfaction, desire, our country has never looked bored, one thing still the same.

So, maybe SMiLE does not change the world, perhaps we can learn from it, and not a genius with a bad idea to do......... he will suffer.

[buddhahat]

Thank God, Smile Sessions finally above U2's Achtung Baby (Super Deluxe) at Metacritic. Don't know why that was bothering me but it was!

http://www.metacritic.com/albums

[Heysaboda]

Here is my review of SMiLE:

ONE BILLION STARS OUT OF FIVE

I think that should about clear it up!

 

[sidewinder572]

Wow metacritic just added Q's review. Which is a 60. It just dropped to a 94

[sidewinder572]

PopMatters 10/10 http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/152324-the-beach-boys-the-smile-sessions/