After reading about Smile in Mojo and Q, I listened to Brian Wilson's SMiLE in 2004. I didn't like it at the time. I thought to myself "oh it's Heroes and Villians and bunch of weird crap".
This summer I came across Smiley Smile in a used cds bin and since reading David Leafs liner notes I have purchased and dissected The pet sounds sessions box, Wild honey, I love you, 15 big ones, 20 20 and now the Smile sessions.
If you are a student of music, you'll never regret being a fan of and studying Brian Wilson's music. He will be remembered as one of America's very greatest composers. He'll be mentioned with George Gershwin, Aaron Copland.
I say he's up there with Beethoven and Mozart.