Okay....... MIC or the Smile Sessions

[beatnickle]

 I am primarily a Brianista and, being a somewhat cash strapped
artist, I am treating myself to either The Smile Sessions or MIC.
 I am torn between the two. Both appeal to me.
 I own a lot of of the Beach Boys catalogue .

  For those who have both... which would you recommend. Thanks in advance....
 

[Wirestone]

Get MIC and then buy the 2-disc version of TSS.

[Mendota Heights]

I am a primarily a Brianista and, being a somewhat cash strapped
artist, I am treating myself to either The Smile Sessions or MIC.
 I am torn between the two. Both appeal to me.
 I own a lot of of the Beach Boys catalogue .

  For those who have both... which would you recommend. Thanks in advance....
 

Buy a Spotify account or use Grooveshark.

[hypehat]

Buy MiC, go to local record store that carries TSS, rob them of one (1) copy.

[buddhahat]

Smile Sessions all the way - the whole thing's a work of art.

[juggler]

I own a lot of of the Beach Boys catalogue .

This is the key bit of information.  If you already own most of the catalog, then buy the Smile box.  MIC is a nice set, but it likely duplicates much of what you already own.  The rarities, alternate versions and live tracks on MIC are fun, but I'm not sure I'd exactly classify them as 'mind-blowing.'   The Smile box, on the other hand, seems to feature one mind-blowing track after another... for 5 discs.

My answer might be different, though, for a more casual fan who owned only, say, a Greatest Hits CD and Pet Sounds.  If you have little or no exposure to the group's great work in the '70s (as well as some of the lesser-known but stellar songs of the '60s), then MIC will provided you with a more comprehensive appreciation of the BBs.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Get MIC and then buy the 2-disc version of TSS.

But aren't the tidbits from the TSS LPs and 2 CD TSS set on MIC?

[EgoHanger1966]

Buy MiC, go to local record store that carries TSS, rob them of one (1) copy.

He's gonna have to bring a mighty big backpack!

[Les P]

Based on your self-description, TSS.

[doinnothin]

TSS

[Phoenix]

The Smile Sessions!

[Mike's Beard]

Depends how much you like listening to studio sessions. Both my TSS and Pet Sounds sessions got a couple of plays when I first got them but they're not something I want to hear repeatedly. On the other hand MIC is getting played to death in my house.

[zachrwolfe]

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[beatnickle]

 Thanks guys...... I did buy the two disc Smile sessions....... I'm still torn.......
 The two are really apples and oranges.......... both sound great.
 How I wish there was a stereo Wild Honey CD.

[SonicVolcano]

MIC

[pixletwin]

Smile sessions is definitely the bigger bang for your bucks.

[Ram4]

The 5 disc Smile Sessions may not be as interesting to you if you don't care about tons of sessions, so the 2 disc version is a nice condensed version of it.  But if you love the 2 disc version and want more, then bad news, you're going to want the big Smile box too!

My local library has the 2 disc Smile Sessions.  You could have "borrowed" it from there!

So you say you bought the 2 disc Smile box.  Did you also buy MIC? 

[ash]

Smile Sessions
It's so good it deserves a sequel. How's the declicking of the recent Durrie Parks acetates going Alan ? Looking forward to hearing those soon.

[Mikie]

Torn between two lovers.....feeling like a fool.

Get 'em both.  The MIC and Smile Sessions can be obtained very inexpensively on the internet if you know where to look.

[job]

Must buy both.

[hypehat]

Srs answer now - if you like session recordings, the Smile Sessions is worth the investment because you get to hear Brian making the greatest music ever made. As I'm sure you know from the second disc of your Smile set, but there's more and it's incredible.

However, the rare stuff on MIC is an eyeopener (ignore the bitching around the board, it speaks volumes that they only have problems with a perceived treble problem and about the mixing on two other songs). And the stereo mixes are really cool, especially if you've got a few mono mixes already. But the smile set held the most revelations for me personally.

It depends how invested you are in Smile. If you think Smile rules.... you need TSS.

[leggo of my ego]

I love the Unsurpassed Masters  CDs and can listen to them incessantly... so I am going to have to say The Smile Sessions. 

[JohnMill]

The Smile Sessions easily.  MIC has some gems but the entire "Smile Sessions" box set is a gem.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I hate to say this because I am so NOT a Brianista, but I'd go with The Smile Sessions.... For the amount of money either costs, TSS is an event and the box itself is a finely crafted work of art and it is the culmination of musical legend. MIC is awesome indeed, but is a "best-of" .... I'd say grab ALL the original albums for everything not Smile and go from there.

[Mikie]

I hate to say this because I am so NOT a Brianista, but I'd go with The Smile Sessions.... For the amount of money either costs, TSS is an event and the box itself is a finely crafted work of art and it is the culmination of musical legend. MIC is awesome indeed, but is a "best-of" .... I'd say grab ALL the original albums for everything not Smile and go from there.

What the hell difference is it if you're a "Brianista" or not to prefer the Smile Sessions? The Smile Sessions recordings consist of THE BEACH BOYS as a band - not just Brian Wilson. Same with the Made In California box. What is it here with the polarization of Brianistas and Mikeanistas and whatever the hell else Anistas Here?  We're talking about the entire Beach Boys band's involvement with Smile and the Beach Boys and Beach Boys band members' involvement on the Made In California set.