Smiley Smile

[monkee knutz]

Well you have a long way to go before you convince some of the more prestigious posters here, not to mention our fearless leader.

Our fearless leader... This guy?!! Nope....

OHHhh... THIS guy!!

[matt 1234]

wait we arent geeks for discussing this on this board? cause im sure 99% of the general population would laugh at both sides of this argument.
i just think the album is bad, i think it shouldve had a different name or something, plus it upsets me to hear sych horrible rendintions of such great songs. how can you get mad at a guy when he doesnt like to hear what he considers to be the best songs written in the last fifty years butchered and distorted and changed all around.

whether or not it is better or worse is opinion, i will agree to that, but cant you see how if smile is your fav album, smiley smile could have the tendency to really piss you off.   the ablum gives me bad vibes, to me its like a zombie version of smile. a ghost of it or something. i dunno, theres bad vocal tracks on it, laughing, mess ups, slow stupid version of wind chimes.  i dont think i would hate this album nearly as much however if smile had been released, i think its a combination of the weird renditions plus them not releasing the far better album(smile)

i got really mad too and was pissed when i made my first post cause i just read a post that said the orignal smile tapes are only fun to listen to for a novelty aspect, or something to that affect. its my fav album of all time i think, even unfinished. i feel bad for anyone that doesnt feel that way, i feel like your missing out, i wish you could understand the way that album makes me feel, then maybe u would be arguing on my side, not against me and insulting someone who loves brian wilsons music 

[Jason]

Kevin I thought our fearless leader was the fella in your avatar.

[monkee knutz]

My mistake! See above edit! The Wine-stoned Cowboy.

[mike8902]

Whatever happened to a good old debate? You guys obviously don't engage in them much, you just throw insults at someone who has a different opinion. I don't see how anyone was being a dick except you guys. Is it okay to like smiley smile? Yes cause it's your own opinion. Is it okay to hate smiley smile? YES. No one is telling you how to think, I think it's the other way around. We just said that we hate smiley smile, and you and your nerd friends gang up on us and hurl insults.

There are other people out there that are actually allowing you to listen to and discuss music?

What is your problem? Me and matt are constantly discussing the beach boys and having insightful conversations. In fact Matt is my favorite person to discuss music with. He knows what he is talking about, because we are both avid musicians so we can actually discuss music face to face, in depth, instead of on a board where assholes like you bitch about typos and grammar.

[I. Spaceman]

Go and discuss it with Matt, then! Just remember to use protection!
We'll have fun being nerds here and making fun of people we don't like. 

[mike8902]

OOOOOO OWWWWWWNEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDD

[Jason]

If you two have such insightful conversations then why don't you prove it? Maybe then we'll all get off of your backs. Just a thought.

[I. Spaceman]

Yeah, exactly what I was thinking. Haven't seen any insight yet from the butt brigade.

[Jason]

Guys, we can take differing opinions here. But when you come on and try to tell us how you think we should think and how you THINK we think, that's a problem. You're the ones who look like assholes, not us.

Hell, we should start a flame-war thread in the Sandbox if these two guys don't wise up.

[mike8902]

Okay you want to know what is wrong with smiley smile?

Heroes and Villains- Pretty much the same as the Smile version EXCEPT they left out the "In the Cantina" section which makes me pretty angry.
Vegetables- I think this is crap. I hate the "low-key" aspect of this version with the stupid bass playing the roots most of the time. The Smile version had much more going on. Innovative percussive fills, better vocals, and just a far superior arrangement.
Fall Breaks and Back To Winter- Probably the weirdest smiley track, but in a bad way. It gives me really bad vibes and is really bland. Fire from the Smile sessions is just so much better.
She's Goin Bald-  One of the only reasons I gave Smiley a 2. I like this version of the song except the end.
Little Pad- Another one I like, but I have a feeling if it was a Smile arrangement it would've been way better, I'm not a fan of the laugh/singing parts.
Good Vibrations- The best version of the song, but it should've been the climax of Smile and not Smiley.
Wind Chimes- This song is one of the reasons I really hate Smiley. They took every bit of energy and emotion out of the Smile version when they re-recorded this "frankenstein version". The backround vocals just flat out suck, and I simply can't comprehend the reason people like this more than the smile versions. The "Tinkling" part makes me want to throw up. Just terrible.
Gettin Hungry- Another okay song. But it's just okay. Mediocrity.
Wonderful- The other reason I really hate Smiley. The arrangement is very similar to wind chimes. The Smile version of this is perhaps the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard, and the Smiley version is probably the worst piece of music I've ever heard. No emotion and no depth.  I just don't know what the boys were thinking on this one. Brian must've been very pissed. 
Whistle In- Stupid and bland.

I really don't know what else to say about this album. The Beach Boys arrangements of Brians songs are just terrible period. Brian Wilson is the best songwriter and arranger ever, not the beach boys. This album is what happens when you don't give Brian full control. This album ruined the Beach Boys career whether you guy's want to admit it or not. Pet sounds was them at the top of a mountain and Smiley Smile is them all falling off the peak and landing 300 feet below.

[Jason]

If you listen to the session tapes for this album, Brian is VERY much in charge. And yes, it did ruin their career. But we've had almost 40 years to listen to it. Some of us appreciate it for what it is. For me, it's a very relaxing album.

You left With Me Tonight out, by the way. 

[I. Spaceman]

Wind Chimes is my favorite BB recording, ever.

[mike8902]

Sure, it's relaxing but I'm just very mad that smile wasn't released and this was that is all. And with me tonight is okay too, but again it's kind of bland.

[mike8902]

Wind Chimes is my favorite BB recording, ever.

It's one of my favorites too but NOT the smiley version.

[I. Spaceman]

SMiLE was released. It's name was changed to SMiLEY SMiLE.
The SMiLE version of Chimes is bland and undynamic to my ears.

[Jason]

What if I told you Smile WAS finished contemporaneously (reasonably)?

[mike8902]

SMiLE was released. It's name was changed to SMiLEY SMiLE.
The SMiLE version of Chimes is bland and undynamic to my ears.

I just really can't understand where you're coming from, sorry. Clean out your ears maybe?

[matt 1234]

wind chimes is bland? wow man. if you think the smile version is bland how could you define the smiley smile version as any but.  and are u seriously resorting to calling me a fag? the butt brigade? im not calling you gay, questioning your sexuality, and you would never say that to my face if we were discussing this.  honestly, i want to discuss this but stop taunting me in ways you never would in person.

[Jason]

He does have a point, Wind Chimes isn't one of the better examples of Brian's production genius in its Smile incarnation. It benefitted from a minimalist version that appeared on Smiley Smile. The tune is more beautiful that way.

[matt 1234]

anything but*
and that guy from the bbc program said it best when he said the name smiley smile serves as a headstone for smile

[matt 1234]

im not talking about 2004 smile, im talkin about the old stuff.  im never reffering to the 2004 smile

[Jason]

Smile was finished in 1971 by Brian Wilson. Just not many people know about it.

[I. Spaceman]

wind chimes is bland? wow man. if you think the smile version is bland how could you define the smiley smile version as any but.  and are u seriously resorting to calling me a fag? the butt brigade? im not calling you gay, questioning your sexuality, and you would never say that to my face if we were discussing this.  honestly, i want to discuss this but stop taunting me in ways you never would in person.

Oh, yes I would. And more.

Chimes on SMiLEY is creepy, melting and intense.
It's just a nice little transition on SMiLE. On SMiLEY it's a major work.

[Jason]

Chimes on SMiLEY is creepy, melting and intense.
It's just a nice little transition on SMiLE. On SMiLEY it's a major work.

I agree 100%, man. Great post.