'Smile' or 'Pet Sounds'

[mr_oleary]

Apples & oranges.

Agree completely.  PS is all about visceral beauty, the other-wordly type sounds that only a few musicians in history have the ability to hear and write down.  I would give anything to be in the studio when those tracks were being recorded.

Smile is more intellectual and imo interesting, but musically isn't as pristine.  It's a trip, in more than one sense of the world, through the consciousness of classic Americana.  Each song (and parts with songs) are almost like paintings or snapshots of a story.  I think VDP's lyrics are really impressive as well.

So in short, what Mikie said.  For me, PS is about pure beauty in sound and Smile is more about an interesting story.  

[EgoHanger1966]

Apples & oranges.

I like apples more than I like oranges. Just because two things are totally different doesn't mean you can't compare and contrast.

[LetHimRun]

I think I'd go with Pet Sounds, slightly. If Smile was fully completed and realized and sat right after Pet Sounds in their discography, I'd probably go with Smile, but again, it's hard to say because it wasn't fully realized at the time. I LOVE TSS and can't stop listening to it, but I also can't stop listening to Pet Sounds. I find joy and newness each time I listen to both of them.

[stack-o-tracks]

Smiley Smile 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

First off, its spelled SMiLE!    But I would go with SMiLE by a mile personally. Even in its unfinished state it is fantastic.

[runnersdialzero]

First off, its spelled SMiLE!

It isn't nice to lie ;(

[Magic Transistor Radio]

First off, its spelled SMiLE!

It isn't nice to lie ;(

The truth? Yeah, I was terrified for my brother.

[NHC]

SMILE  is an experience.  Pet Sounds is for the heart.  At least it was for me in 1966 and thereafter.

[Cabinessenceking]

Smiley Smile 

well, if Smile had not been scrapped, there would be no Smiley Smile or Wild Honey for sure. So I'd prefer it like it is today rather than just having a Smile. Stories that are too blissful dont attract me anyway ;]

[Sheriff John Stone]

If I had to choose between any other two Beach Boys' albums - any other two - I could do it fairly easily. But, I just can't do it with Pet Sounds and SMiLE. It's like choosing your favorite kid; you can't do it.

[Reddiwhip]

If I had to choose between any other two Beach Boys' albums - any other two - I could do it fairly easily. But, I just can't do it with Pet Sounds and SMiLE. It's like choosing your favorite kid; you can't do it.

Very apt description of the way I feel.

[Shady]

This is quite literally the hardest decision I could ever make..

It really depends on my mood. At the moment I would choose "Pet Sounds", I've been listening to it a lot lately

[Emdeeh]

I prefer Smile, for its playfulness.

[originals]

I prefer Smile, for its playfulness.

 

[Mike's Beard]

Trim the fat off Smile a little and given a tighter edit, it could have bettered Pet Sounds. Maybe. As it stands Pet Sounds is the better record.

[Paulos]

Pet Sounds easily, because no Smile album exists.

[blank]

Wow, really great contributions by everyone on this thread...

it's true, it depends on the day, the mood, etc. but at the end of the day, I find that the more i try to analyze it and decide which one is the best, the less i enjoy the experience.




time to listen to Pet Sounds! (2006 Mono!)

[Summer_Days]

time to listen to Pet Sounds! (2006 Mono!)

'Atta boy.

[SamMcK]

Pet Sounds is my favourite album ever, SMiLE is my favourite piece of music in that it can take many different forms.

[Banana]

Pet Sounds is my favourite album ever, SMiLE is my favourite piece of music in that it can take many different forms.

Exactly!  What I love about "Pet Sounds" is the emotional beauty of it.  The emotions and experiences that Brian & Tony Asher set to some of Brian's most incredible music are emotions and experiences that so many of us can relate to on such a personal level.  It's about growing up and being unsure of yourself...or your place in the world.  It's the hopes and fears of growing up...sort of like an extended "(When I Grow Up) To Be a Man".  It starts with the hopefulness of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and ends with the emotional devastation of "Caroline, No".  It's perfect from start to finish.  I love the MUSIC of "SMiLE" so much...but it lacks that "complete package" that "Pet Sounds" has.  As the quote above says...it's a piece of music...a collection of different bits and pieces that can take many different forms...and that is completely fascinating.  That said....consider where Brian Wilson was at this point..."Pet Sounds" to "Good Vibrations" to "SMiLE".  Wow.

[SamMcK]

Pet Sounds is my favourite album ever, SMiLE is my favourite piece of music in that it can take many different forms.

Exactly!  What I love about "Pet Sounds" is the emotional beauty of it.  The emotions and experiences that Brian & Tony Asher set to some of Brian's most incredible music are emotions and experiences that so many of us can relate to on such a personal level.  It's about growing up and being unsure of yourself...or your place in the world.  It's the hopes and fears of growing up...sort of like an extended "(When I Grow Up) To Be a Man".  It starts with the hopefulness of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and ends with the emotional devastation of "Caroline, No".  It's perfect from start to finish.  I love the MUSIC of "SMiLE" so much...but it lacks that "complete package" that "Pet Sounds" has.  As the quote above says...it's a piece of music...a collection of different bits and pieces that can take many different forms...and that is completely fascinating.  That said....consider where Brian Wilson was at this point..."Pet Sounds" to "Good Vibrations" to "SMiLE".  Wow.

Definitely, the level of the body of work that Brian was creating in 66/67 alone is incredible, with the exception of The Beatles in their prime around the same time I don't think any other music artist/group has reached those peaks that they did at the top, and The Beatles had three brilliant songwriters to help each other out whereas Brian was for the most part leading the Beach Boys during their prime. God Only Knows, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Good Vibrations, Surf's Up, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Wonderful, Wind Chimes, Caroline No etc. Astonishing.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Apples & oranges.

What does Pink Floyd have to do with it?

[Banana]

Apples & oranges.

What does Pink Floyd have to do with it?

Well..."Apples & Oranges" was composed by Syd Barrett and Syd's life in some ways paralleled Brian's.   

[filledeplage]

I'm more of the hopeless romantic type, so I vote for Pet Sounds. Smile is more for the head than the heart. Nothing wrong with that; it's kept my head enterttained for many many hours. But- Pet Sounds is IT for me.

Pet Sounds, by a (S)MiLE) - SMiLE is a voyage; Pet Sounds is home.

Pet Sounds is the chicken; SMiLE is the egg.

The Pet Sounds Sessions CD is for me! Trombone Dixie and all the little pieces! 

[BB Universe]

Many really good comments and perspectives in this thread.

Both albums provide many great songs, taken individually. As far as listening to the entire album (well, perhaps TSS for SMILE), for me it just depends on the day.

Choosing 1 over the other is almost impossible but if I was ever forced to do so, it would probably be ... Pet Sounds ... by the slightest of margins.