Smile

a vibe!

beach boys member re-issue 2004

A very interesting work -- and very important to fans of the Beach Boys and pop music history. Finally, almost 40 years later, Wilson's vision gets realized. I enjoyed how surprising and dramatic it was, despite the familiar sounds of the Beach Boys. I genuinely had no idea what was next. The structure is very unusual: many songs will abruptly come to silence — it sounds like a little death — and then explode into a new structure completely. The lyrics do drive me kinda nuts, though. I mean, Barnyard: what the hell is this?

I just don’t like The Beach Boys. Cool, you got your £76 house because you didn’t buy avocados or whatever

Could not finish it

This is a historically fascinating album, a time capsule no doubt, for those alive upon its release—brand new Beach Boys songs 38 years after their initial recording. Their harmonies are beautiful, and the mix is pretty exquisitely crafted—a strange dichotomy exists between the quality of the recording and engineering and the content so clearly from a bygone era. I find that while the album is pleasant—and there are plenty of avant-garde elements that are surely of interest to prog fans and the like—it's not terribly... Memorable? Exciting? I find the second half is a little more engaging. Vega-Tables is good fun and did in fact make smile. Mrs. O'Leary's Cow is like listening into a parallel dimension, one where they venture into hard rock and pioneer along side with Black Sabbath. Heros and Villians is also particularly interesting. There's a craftsmanship to this album that I really appreciate, but I feel like I cannot rank it higher than a three because it's highly unlikely this will get much replay from me.

This album did not make me smile. Honestly, it was hard to get through this in the year 2025. I can appreciate the vocal harmonies here, but that's about it. 1.7

I don’t understand why Brian Wilson should be relevant in 2004.

Brian Wilson is incredibly creative and it was interesting to hear some new songs and envision what the original album would have sounded like if the younger Beach Boys had released it in the 60s. Overall, it was enjoyable but not as Earth shattering as some of the Beach Boys work, in my opinion.

I've always had problems matching people's veneration for the Beach Boys and subsequently Brian Wilson with what I'm hearing when I'm listening - this is no exception. But while I usually am able to file their music under pleasant enough pop - and successful in setting itself apart from what came out of Britain - this here is jingles. An odd musical. In its one-man extravaganza with all the (also literal) bells and whistles like clips from a children's Tubular Bells. And then the 2004 production? Makes it kind of eerie. I did not not enjoy this, in a way - now skipping between it and the Smile Sessions - and there's some magic happening between "Song for the Children" and "Surf's Up" and also Good Vibrations, of course, but there's also an equal amount of musical moments where a clown is appearing on stage. Or Homer Simpson tripping on psychedelic drugs. Bit weird, the whole thing. And not the endearing weird. Don't know what to do here, I'll leave it at 3.

Im good 🫩

It's a lot of noise with a handful of decent arrangements and harmonies. Only weirdo boomers and true music snobs will appreciate this. 2/5

what is this??

Really interesting. That Pet Sounds wall of sound is amazing. I’m not a musician but I can tell it’s an amazing feat to produce and engineer an album with this much going on. Should be a 5, but I rate off of my pure enjoyment factor.

Not sure how to rate this, but it’s very original which I like, I just enjoyed this less than I hoped but can’t put a reason on it. Some great gems in here and I’ll probably revisit eventually.

Meh

It sounds like many ideas unfinished or polished, sounds the same throughout.

I love a lot of bands influenced by The Beach Boys and have tried many times to get into them but just can’t. This was interesting but unlikely to ever play it again

An interesting concept to re-visit songs writeen decades earlier and record them as a solo project without any other Beach Boys. The songs are fantastic but they need redoing?

Great harmonies

Favourites: Heroes and Villains, Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine, Song for Children, Surf's Up, Vega-Tables, Wind Chimes, Good Vibrations

8/10 Smile is an album that needs assessing as a whole, as it’s very much an example of the ‘Album as Art’ rather than as a collection of songs. I’ve done a song-by-song for it, but there is so much referencing of ideas from all over the album in so many of the tracks, including full sections running over into one another, that listening to the odd song is just incoherent and doesn’t do it justice. This album was a long time in the making. It was the album that pushed Brian Wilson over the edge, and for him to eventually come back around to complete a version of it must have been incredibly cathartic. However, the intervening years do weigh this album down a little. Brian’s voice is obviously weaker than it would have been 37 years previously, and he’s seemingly in a more mentally stable place. To that end, the album is a little more uplifting and buoyant than the old recordings were, which adds an extra sheen of saccharine to proceedings, which is doubled down on with the sparkle of modern production. It also means that, rather than being the groundbreaking follow-up to Pet Sounds, there were nearly 40 years of musical invention and development that had happened by the time it was released. With all that being said, there is so much going for this album. The composition and arrangement of the multitude of vocal parts just endlessly flow, dive and soar over one another. The harmonies shift and shimmer and I personally find them incredibly beautiful and, in places, moving. I also get a lot of kicks out of how silly it all is. To some this might be a turn of, but there’s a lot of humour and surrealism in there, not only in the lyrics and subject matter, but in the odd little sound effects, slide whistles and other bits and pieces of ear candy that he throws in to the mix. It’s all just gloriously bonkers, yet musically brilliant, it’s still a joy to listen to. I ran it three times just this morning, and I found new bits to smile at every time. While this was never going to match up to the mythical ’Smile’ that Beach Boys fans had been clamouring for for the previous 40 years, it was a really good effort, and for Brian’s sake, I’m delighted he could finally get the Smile monkey off his back. Our Prayer / Gee - This is the kind of harmonic composition that I refer to when I comment about more ‘static’ harmonisations from the likes of CSN&Y. All of the parts move around one another, modulating through a variety of chords, rather than sticking with a single note, or just moving with the lead. To me, this kind of thing is glorious. It’s a great intro to the album. And then we get a twee little transition that works in a snippet of Heroes and Villains before we get there properly. Heroes and Villains - An absolute classic. The different elements roll over each other and intertwine in an ever-changing blend. It’s unashamedly silly too, with the slide-whistles, laughs and spoken word bits. There’s also an undercurrent of simmering threat about it too. This one kind of encapsulates the madness of Brian Wilson. Brilliant melodic and harmonic writing that’s just a little bit unhinged. Roll Plymouth Rock - This is more sombre in tone. There are a lot of references back to Heroes and Villains and it’s almost a link track in some respects. On its own, this would be completely nonsensical, but in the context of the album, it’s great. Barnyard - A silly little number complete with animal noises. It’s mad, but the musical hook is nice, and I really dig it. Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine - Another slice of melancholy madness before we move on. Cabin Essence - Such a beautiful song. It has so much dynamic range, from the little bouncy, low-key sections through to the full sections with the backing vocals rising and falling, before it drops back and then slowly builds back up to the ending. Lovely. Wonderful - Another really lovely song. Brian’s voice is perhaps at its most exposed here, but once the backing vocals come in it’s so good. Love those ever changing harmonies so much. You could never accuse post surf-pop Brian Wilson of creating static music, there’s always something going on, some development, variation or movement taking us forwards. Song for Children - It’s kind of hard to review this album song by song. This again takes ideas from Wonderful and Child Is Father of the Man, works them together, spins out new ideas and throws in bits from other songs too. It’s really bloody good though. Child Is Father of the Man - There’s again a darker tone here. It’s sparse in places and little motifs from all over the album. As with a few of these other short tracks, on its own, it’s mental, but in context it’s great. Surf’s Up - I prefer earlier versions of this song. There are elements of it that still stand up, but it lacks the bereft beauty of the version on the Surf’s Up album. But that wouldn’t work in the context of this album, so here we are. There are still some really beautiful washes of sound on this though. Soaring harmonies and rotating vocal parts that just dance over each other, oh yes. I'm in Great Shape / I Wanna Be Around / Workshop - Another little jumble of ideas that are all nice and a little bit crazy in their own way. Vega-Tables - Yes, Brian is a strange man. But this kind of lunacy connects with me so hard. It’s funny, it has moments of beauty it’s wrapped up with some really interesting composition. On a Holiday - Another silly little one. More calls back to other songs. More moments of melancholy. More beautiful rolling harmonies. Wind Chimes - This transitions from more low-key, small-scale sections into full almost big-bang bombast as it goes along. Another one where it’s kind of hard to separate it from the album, but as part of it, it’s fantastic. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow - This one’s pretty batty. It’s more of a soundscape than a song in some respects. In some ways it’s quite jarring against the inherently melodic nature of the rest of the album, but it feels dangerous and threatening, which (history suggests) was the point. In Blue Hawaii - This transitions us slowly away from the fiery madness of the previous track, and then boom. We’re back to something more upbeat, with the occasional echoes of sadness. It’s quite nice. Less exciting than some of the rest of the album and more reminiscent of some of Brian’s post breakdown music. But that doesn’t last for long before we dip back to a bit of Our Prayer and on to… Good Vibrations - Well it’s not THE Good Vibrations, is it? That original was magic. Here’ the lyrics have changed, the vocals miss The Beach Boys even more than the rest album, and the production is almost too clean. I mean, it’s still a really, really good track. But when you compare it to the original…

Wilson was an excellent singer, a great songwriter and such an influential figure for pop and music in general. This record is a collection of a lot of work over the years, and it's a mythical piece of work that seemed lost for many years. Beyond the mysticism surrounding it and the legendary status of Wilson, the record ends up being a good pop album, driven by Wilson's vocals but not much more than that. Again, the singing here is the standout. The backing vocal melodies are as beautiful as ever. The songwriting is pretty good and fun too. One of my favourite aspects of Wilson/Beach Boys are the bridges, they manage to deliver these spectacular variations, that are very moving and expand the songs so much. But given Wilson's history, I expected this record to go further and present more interesting ideas. I feel like the fact that it's essentially revisiting an album from the late 60s, it feels like the ideas are well executed but not as innovative as they would've been back then. "Heroes and Villains" is an excellent song and "Roll Plymouth Rock" was pretty good and catchy too. "Surf's Up" and "Good Vibrations" present interesting versions of songs that were part of the Beach Boys catalog. My favourite song was "Child Is Father of the Man", which is more ambitious sonically and I loved the place it goes to, particularly with how it flows into "Surf's Up". I would've liked the album to work more in this space.

Went in expecting Beach Boys, got Beach Boys but also The Wiggles on ecstasy. It's good to have something that's kind of silly every once in a while

Really great album

Too much of a musical theater vibe for me

a weird collection of weird songs I like "Good vibrations" but does that count?

Unless you're a Brian Wilson or Beach Boys fan, this is probably not going to be that impressive.

Tröttsamt efter en stund :(

Härlig vibe, kände inget särskilt dock, typ lagom.

Oväntat trist.

Perhaps an album I ultimately respect and recognise as brilliant rather than truly loving like my favourite albums. I feel like you had to be a Beach Boys fan at the time to properly understand how much Wilson recreated and found that sound again decades. One of the most challenging and surprising pop albums you’ll hear.

I like it. Kind of like clown music

I appreciate the history and story behind making this. I recently watched ‘Love & Mercy’ (a must watch I think if you have this album come up) which really looks into Wilson’s mental health issues and everything that came with it when he originally started writing this album. I listened to this album and was like yeah I get it but also, I don’t really like it, at all. Personally, I think ‘Pet Sounds’ is an alright album and ‘Good Vibrations’ is a brilliant song on it, and it was the only one I enjoyed on this album. It was so long, and I looked down at one point thinking “jeez this song has been going on forever” but it was three tracks in and it just had all blended into one noise. I think if you were a huge Beach Boys fan back in the day you would really get off on this album just on the nostalgia alone.

Good vibrations was mijn favorietje

Too long

Day 17 First listen- Its an alright album, felt a bit stretched at times.(3/5) RIP Brian Wilson

Yes, ok, it's really bloody good. Happy now?

I like Brian Wilson and I like the Beach Boys but there's something about this album that a slog to listen to. What's probably a 1 is a 2 for me because its Brian Wilson.

I guess I should’ve expected it to sound just like The Beach Boys, huh?

There’s something potentially weird, of course, about a cultural idea/artifact that doesn’t actually reach the public until decades after the milieu that first sparked it. But the distance—from both 1967 and 2004—helps shake some of *that* weirdness off now. BWPS is genuinely beautiful. In places, it’s so, erm, smooth that you sorta yearn for more edge, even. Despite the smoothness, there are all sorts of unusual effects and sonic places to enjoy. And Wilson’s voice sounds much like it did 35 years before. In the end, it’s an almost brilliant (secular) oratorio from a long-ago era of psychedelia. I can’t quite discern its actual message, if there ever was one. And that’s a problem, of course. But given the beauty, it’s a problem I can live with.

point3.

I am not a fan but from everything I read I am in the minority.

Nice

another awesome album

An ode to the joy that is Brian Wilson and his wonderful accomplishment with Smile's delivery.

Apparently, the context of this album is absurdly deep, and it even has a documentary called 'Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of Smile'. If we skip all the personal life of Brian Wilson, we get that this album was an unfinished project from The Beach Boys that started back at 1967. That's why it may sound a bit out of place for a album that was released in 2004, since it primarily feels like a project from Beach Boys's golden years. This album is a compilation of some charming pop-rock tracks, but with a much modern production. What shines the most for me is the notable use of multiple vocal layers. With that being said, in spiste of the great performances, sound and positivity, I left a bit uninterested, but enough to overshadow my positive feeling about it, so I'm giving it 3 stars.

Finding this one really hard to rate. Some of that is the weird context of the album, but the production is great and I’ve never heard an album flow from one song to the next as effectively—it plays like one fever dream.

Great for lounging poolside to.

Glad he finally this out of his system I guess…but the fuck? & this guy had the audacity to say that 2000s “rap music” was the lowest point of the music industry? This is some Sgt Peppers shit. Only reason it’s not getting a 1 is cuz Good Vibrations is that good & the occasional reminder that this is The Beach Boys guy.

What a mistake to put Good Vibrations on this album to remind the listener of what was. It’s certainly made me appreciate every “genius” musician that died young.

It was fine

Wonderful. To emulate the sound of the Beach Boys so well nearly 40 years later? Wonderful.

Ooh, a bit weird. I felt a lot of it was a bit samey and boring, but then some bits suddenly made some interesting choices. Not sure I'd relisten though.

Such a talent

Not much else to say about Brian Wilson.

Sunshine genius

You know those scenes at the start of a really shitty children's movie where the main character goes through their breakfast routine, dancing around the kitchen, all that stuff, then they go for a nice walk done the street to wherever, sun shining brightly, and has that annoying upbeat music to go along with it? That's this album, but instead of it being 10 minutes long, like those scenes, it's an hour long. I'm not even listening to it anymore and the idea of it pisses me off Everything pisses me off about this one. The backup "singers" (the ones going dum dum dum all the time), they piss me off. The production pisses me off. The fact that Brian in the big 2004 released this thinking it was worth the time of it's listeners pisses me off. Even the fucking album cover pisses me off Long story short, I am pissed off because this album does a phenomenal job of pissing me off

This was like being led through a dream by a barefoot genius in a bathrobe. Where am I? In a barn? A courtroom? The transitions are chaotic but deliberate, and it’s got that Beach Boys-ish vocal blend, but run through a kaleidoscope. Not something I’ll be blasting at a party, but it was interesting and fun. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Heroes and Villains - Surf's Up - Good Vibrations

Oh, what could have been. Feels like had this been recorded at this team it could have been an all time classic, but the 2004 children's tv sounding, over polished production is just too much to look past for me. Sorry Brian, you're still one of the greats

Meh. I like the beach boys enough but it just feels very 'samey' after a while. This album even more so.

How very "Brian Wilson"

Good

6/10 - the aura is bigger than the music

OBRA MAESTRA.

This album is pretty decent. Kinda sounds like Beach Boys of course but it almost has a more experimental vibe to it. I enjoyed it.

I’m enormously happy for Brian that this exists but it’s also fair to say that there are fragments of genius here that are struggling to form a coherent whole

High school boys choir set to either 1) adult contemporary soft rock or 2) Disney movie soundtrack. This was released in 2004? Not worthy of a 2nd listen…this is not my thing. 1/5

Too much...

Kind of sad

Whimsical and upbeat, reminds me of the Beatles. Very solid album, would listen again.

What a talented man, may he rest in peace. I loved the sounds from this album and I can see how this solo album was a departure from the Beach Boys.

Didn’t personally enjoy as much as I expected, but it is definitely genius

Seeing the date of 2004, I was utterly confused why it felt so much like the Beach Boys until I really thought about Brian Wilson's name. That aside, the album did feel a little scattered not in the way I really enjoy. It's interesting that this second part to Pet Sounds never made it in the 60s production and that it was so publicly troubled and controversial. That all aside, I just didn't love it that much, it's an ok album

RIP Brian. We'll remember you for better albums than this.

2.5

Expected to like this one more than I did. Probably if it came out when it was originally worked on it would be viewed differently (although I don't know if I would like it more). Technically, sonically it's very cool but a little "crowded" in a way that doesn't bring a lot of punch for me.

Raro, se nota que había muchas ideas y conceptos en la cabeza de Brian Wilson que no creo hayan podido ser bien implementados. El sonido en general está bien pero se me hizo largo.

Loved this

Classic

Radiating with a big Smile.

wind chimes is pretty good

I have to say I was expecting a bit more from the founder of the Beach Boys.

Could live without hearing

Pretty good.

If he’d finished in 1969, this would have changed poo music forever. As it is, it’s a fascinating time capsule of what could have been.

3.5. Good music, really stupid lyrics.

Diving deep and researching this album, I wasn’t aware of the history of this project. It’s cool that this was realized after 37 years on a shelf. I wish it had been carried out with The Beach Boys, but undertand why it didn’t. Overall, cool album. May not be my favorite, but I agree everyone should give it a listen. Do yourself a favor, read up on this album before you listen to it. 1001 album worthy: yes - 94/172

From Wikipedia: "Revisiting 'Smile' was an intense emotional undertaking for Wilson, as he had been deeply traumatized by the circumstances that had originally surrounded the project." Me: stop acting like a f*cking baby it's just an album But then: "Jardine, who did not use drugs, compared his position to 'being trapped in an insane asylum', citing an incident during a 'Heroes and Villains' session when Brian instructed the band to crawl around the studio and mimic pig-snorting noises." Also me: hollup what the f*ck type of album was this

This album is barely a 3 It's all over the place and not the best from a man who had some great musical talent

Cannot imagine the pressure of finishing an album you abandoned 40 years ago. The production on this is immaculate, an almost magical quality. Some real experimental stuff on here especially Mrs O'Leary's Cow. I didn't know much Beach Boys / Brian Wilson before he died. I'm glad I got this and could appreciate this in the sun.

Pretty creative but not my cup of tea

It’s hard to imagine what would have happened if this had been released when it was originally made by the Beach Boys in the 60s. And I’m glad that Brian Wilson was able to release this in a version he was happy with. I’m glad I got the opportunity to hear it, but I don’t think I NEEDED to hear it. I just don’t think the vocals are a patch on the original Beach Boys at their peak. That might be harsh, and Brian still had better pipes than people half his age, but I’d probably prefer to listen to the Smile Sessions. Again, RIP Brian. And again, NAGAPS.

Although it's silly and goofy at times, the compositions, arrangements and vocal harmonies are all reminiscent of the best aspects of the beach boys. A lot of great stuff here

There are some things I like - there’s a lot of variety in the album, pure sounding voice, but sometimes it just sounded like noise. Initially I thought I was listening to The Beach Boys again! But it’s different, and overall I’m liking it.

Feels like a retirement home version of The Beach Boys. Still good tho

Enjoyable enough …

WHY NOT PET SOUNDS

Heroes and villains was good I love lyrics and funky music

There is no doubt this album is pure genius. It's very well thought-through. It sounds like a suite, no matter which tempo and chord changes there are throughout the songs. Motives are coming back all through the album. And the arrangements are as complicated and fine as can be. Having said that: the composition is in my humble opinion better than the music. For me it's just not happening. And it's a little outdated. That's not fair criticism, but these barbershop choirs, well, that's an acquired tasje. I haven't acquired it.

It’s aight

Not that interesting RIP though

I liked it

You can hear the beach boys in most songs

Fiebertraum Musik. Wenn es ein Paralleluniversum gibt in dem alle Menschen Clowns sind läuft solche Musik 24/7 im Radio.

The answer to the question of do we need a drummer? Naw let's just get 6 dudes to go bum bum bum da bum bum bun

Five stars, no notes. Unreal, surreal experience. RIP

Listens: 2 Standout tracks: Heroes and Villains, Child Is the Father Of Man Wild coincidence. Brian Wilson has passed away and the very next day I get to listen to (one of?) his solo album(s). This is barbershop quartet meets acid trip. Musical layering, harmonies, weird sounds, farm animal noises, singing about "vega-tables", kazoos!?. Pretty out there if you ask me, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it. There's a carousel-like quality to the music; its evocative of the kind of music you'd here on a carousel, at a theme park. Round and round... It also kind of reminds me of the Beatles, probably Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band or Yellow Submarine. All the whistles and kazoos. It's quite the piece of music for a solo musician.

1,4/5

Fitting tribute!

You're doing this today? Fuck OK. Five.

Can't deny Good Vibrations and I do love a"No, this is how it should have sounded" release 40 years later. Weird animal bits tho

LIstenable.

The great. Showed up just a few days after his death. So poppy, risk taking dreamscape sounds. Pure genius.

I’m sure this is brilliant and I’m just too much of a heathen to understand it. But to my primitive ears, it sounds like Wilson is trying way too hard (“Oohh, lyrics in the native Hawaiian tongue”) 🌺. And at the same, time, it’s very predictable. I’ll pass. It’s a 2 — maybe a 1, but he just died, so … 2.

Incredible harmonies. Really great voice and a tragic loss.

i’ve gotten this album the day after brian wilson’s passing :(( i don’t really have much knowledge in brian wilson or the beach boys. i’ve listened to pet sounds and i know good vibrations. that’s about it. it’s not quite my thing but it is sounding really nice. i’ve always enjoyed the harmonies from the beach boys. movement two; wonderful to surf’s up is really lovely. i enjoy this a lot! but in general it’s quite uninteresting and nothing feels particularly coherent. good vibrations is an absolute choon tho. 3/5

Since Brian Wilson passed away yesterday, getting this album today isn't a coincidence, is it? I just can't get into this music, it all sounds hokey and something I would have heard during a wedding reception as a kid in the 70's, played by the local band made up of the bride's Dad's friends.

Probably would like the Beach Boys version better

so random to get this album today after Brian Wilson just died. Such fun and joyful tracks- great distinction between tracks.

This was a hard one for me. There’s a lot of genius on here, and a lot of experimental-sounding or half-finished stuff that is interesting if you’re in the right mood, or like an irritating fever dream if you’re not. I definitely think it’s worth a listen, and I’m interested to hear the 2011 version. I don’t know how to rate this, so am putting a placeholder 4 (for the uneven genius in this record). Brian Wilson was a tortured artist and in many ways a true genius. I hope he found peace and happiness in the end. RIP.

Nice harmony's, very reminiscent of the Beach Boys days, but for me rather forgettable. Perhaps it needs more listens to appreciate the nuance.

shoo wop wop wop

This was a super interesting album. It started off with a very Beach Boys vibe (which, well...duh), and then morphed into something very Sting-like, while still retaining hints of the Beach Boys vibe. Overall a really cosy album to listen to. 4/5

I guess I had gotten too old and dismissive of the Beach Boys as a 60s phenomenon by the time Brian Wilson got around to "finishing" this album twenty years ago, nearly four decades after he started working on it as his perceived ultimate masterpiece. I vaguely remember it coming out, but I honestly don't think I ever listened to it fully until today, the day after his death. It's really quite amazing, and I had a far more positive reaction to it than to a coincidental re-listening to Pet Sounds a couple of weeks ago. The songs of that LP have been just a part of my life since before I was even aware of music, so they tended to underwhelm. This album, while maybe a bit too "slick" at times in its efforts to provide cohesion to some songs that were first written and recorded at a time when Wilson himself lacked complete mental cohesion, really feels like the revolutionary effort Pet Sounds was in its own time. Not perfect, by any means, but really quite great.

72% Best: Heroes and Villians; Surf's Up; Good Vibrations Must-Hear? No. RIP Brian Wilson

I don't like the sound of Brian Wilson songs. I don't know what it is. I appreciate the complexities and nuances in his work when I'm listening for it, but I don't like the sound he's going for. The Beach Boys songs without him are dumber and emptier, but I tend to like them more (although I'm still not big on them). I honestly don't know what it is. I can't hate this, but I can't like it, either.

#400. 6.12.25

Chill

🎧Some of these songs showcase Wilson’s unique brilliance and others make me feel like I’m in a funhouse mirror Beach Boys hell.

This is some really great stuff here. Pure pop, but with great and inventive musicianship - and humour, to boot. "Heroes and Villains" is the first hook, and it keeps on going. "Cabin Essence" is so unusual, with its echoes of renaissance choral music! Superb album.

"alte" Musik im neuen Gewand, wird dadurch nicht besser

Not for me

Quite enjoyed In Blue Hawaii but I've never really gotten into the beach boys so this one was a bit of a miss for me. I think maybe some of his other records might be better but this just felt all over the shop.

Maybe not the best album from Brian Wilson or the Beach Boys, but still very, very good. Rest in peace to a legend and a musical genius.

❤️ 3.5

Great Brian Wilson sound. But to truly appreciate this, I would need to listen to it on a great sound system, which I didn’t do. I’m sure I would really like this album with a lot of listens.

Found this rather boring

To listen to this the day after he passed away is great. Personally, not a great album for me. Great production and a few stand outs but just sounds like mental illness. Fly high Brian!

This is odd. Like an echo of Beach Boys from way back, wrapped in more modern voices and musical layers.

To me, a Brian Wilson Beach Boys song always sounded like a mathematical proof. Something perfect and eternal, that just hadn’t been expressed musically before. Somehow, he saw the shape of these sounds that had always been around and had the ability to translate them to music. There’s a satisfying completeness to a Brian Wilson Beach Boys song. Everything is being covered. Does any of this make sense? Alas, I’d like to think this album is self-evident even with the loss of the legendary Brian Wilson. This is a beautiful soundscape. Not a note misplaced, from second one. Pure joy, pure honey. Brian was just showing us something that had always been there. He was the one who could access it. May he rest in peace.

I don’t think, as someone who didn't grow up with the Beach Boys in the same way I did The Beatles (with parents who listened to the latter and not so much the former), have the context to understand why this piece is so important to so many people, and why it hits so hard for some. I used to think the Beach Boys were a gimmicky band. Even once I moved past that notion, I didn't and still don't "get" Pet Sounds. I wrote that in my review, but I don't understand how it competes with or why people compare it to "Sgt. Pepper's." So with my ignorance acknowledged, I came to this album with an open mind, but also ready to be blown away based on people's reactions and feelings about it. I wasn't blown away, but I also wasn't overly disappointed. This felt like something on the same level as Pet Sounds for me, something that I can appreciate for its quality of production, the vocal harmonies, and the intent of the creator(s). But I just don't get it. I guess I need someone to explain to me what else the Beach Boys have to offer besides the harmonies. I'm not hating on them when I say that, I just don't understand the hype and need it explained to me. Maybe I'll never get it... Anyway, the album. There's some beautiful stuff here, and knowing that Wilson saw this as a sort of redemption of material he really believed in does add to how I enjoy and view this album. "Our Prayer/Gee" opens the album and the harmonies there are stunning. On from that, it does feel an awful lot like a Beach Boy's album, which I've never been totally on board with. The amount of whimsy and silliness in some of these songs (the slide whistle?) is kind of off-putting for me. It muddles the message, or at least makes it harder to understand what it's supposed to be. Like there's a whole song about a barnyard...? Ok. And vegetables? Like, ok man, cool. Whatever you say. The production of each song is layered, with different vocal elements and instruments stacked on each other to create what is sometimes a really interesting collage of sound, and what sometimes falls flat for me and is distracting. I know this was my album for this day because of Wilson's death. I can acknowledge the importance of this man, his music, but I still don't understand it. Three stars. It wasn't bad, it was always interesting, I just didn't get it. Standout Tracks: Our Prayer/Gee, Old Man Painter/You Are My Sunshine, Good Vibrations

Some really great tracks. Not sure I fully embraced this but a good listen. Will slide it to the 4 side of a 3.5.

Surprising

One of the small number of albums I didn't listen to all the way through.

What's there to say? Very Beach Boys. Good harmonies, sometimes undermined by instrumentation, and usually silly lyrics (often involving a cappella / scatting style nonsense). I get that the siliness is mostly intentional, but come on. And melodies are recycled from song to song here, it just feels like someone doodling around the same ideas over and over. I feel bad picking on this album so soon after Brian Wilson's death, but it just ain't my jam. "Good Vibrations" is what saves this from a 2-star rating.

Familiar voice and sound.

..

Fun

I get that he's a genius but only pockets of his music resonate with me. THis was okay, probably needs repeated listens to truly appreciate. Mid 2s

Crazy this came out in 2004. Even knowing the history it sounds exactly like a record conceived in the 60s and then recorded with contemporary technology in the 2000s. So it sounds new and dated simultaneously. Never been the largest Beach Boys fan although when they hit for me they really hit. Glad I listened to this but I’m not sure I’ll come back to it. 3/5

This is a work of genius. Does that mean it is great all the way through? Hardly. Does it have moments of brilliance and beauty? Absolutely. Does it have some head-scratching stuff too? Yes.

Smile was an unfinished Beach Boys' project; intra-band disagreements and Brian Wilson's mental health issues led to the project being shelved. Wilson had envisioned the project as a modern "Rhapsody in Blue," and the Beach Boys had extensive recording sessions related to the album. Historically, the Beach Boys' Smile has become one of the most - if not the most - famous "unreleased" projects in modern music. After a series of concerts in 2003, Wilson decided to revisit the project, and released it to universal critical acclaim, including a Grammy for one of the instrumental tracks. Since the release of this album, much of the original recordings have been published, giving rise to debate over the "real" version of Smile. Smile was to be the Beach Boys', and Wilson's, Magnum Opus. It was conceived as a rock opera, of sorts, in that window of time when bands were attempting this sort of project. It is a good album, but perhaps mythologized as the dream realized from the famous "unreleased" project.

One of the all-time greatest albums!

3.5 Nice vibes and good to hear, but no song which completely flashed me

Not sure this was randomly generated, coming a day after his death. Nevertheless, I always love to hear his voice. Even though some of these songs weren't that great, I still enjoyed listening to this album.

This one gets a 3 for the unique circumstances

Not Brian in his prime, some remakes of classic songs that aren't quite as good as the originals.

This sucks. A lot. I can't stand The Beach Boys, but I tried to go into this with an open mind, because solo music doesn't always sound exactly like the band the artist was in. Except this shit absolutely does. And it sucks. How did this album come out in 2004? It just sounds like some shitty 50s Beach Boys outtakes. I don't get it, there even appear to be Beach Boys covers? I don't know, and I can't be bothered to look it up. If you like this album, congratulations on having made it to your 80th birthday, I guess.

Coincidentally (or not), I tried to listen to this storied album last year. I made it 4 songs into the record before abandoning it. One year later, against the background of Wilson's death, nothing has changed. All of Wilson's trademark sounds are here - the obnoxious harmonies, the busy vocal multi-tracks... And the fact it all unfortunately does not interest me in the least.

This was my first time hearing his solo work. Lovely harmonies, as expected from him. A lot of songs sound disjointed or unfinished though. It's a shame. The strangest song was Mrs. O'Leary's Cow. My favourite part was Child Is Father of the Man & Surf's Up and of course Good Vibrations.

RIP

gosh, no, not for me. Too good-natured for my taste, I think. Maybe it lacks some kind of contrast for me to appreciate it more. I definitely need some blast beats now!

# Playlist Track - Surf's up # Notes - What an amazing coincidence. Just read all about this album, because of Brian Wilson's death a couple of days ago. - Pretty sure that knowing the story and paying attention to the melodies affects the experience a lot. - It's interesting, it's super rich. Chockfull of beautiful harmonies, I'll give it that. - But it's also too long and gets tiresome. A worthy listen, but not on my favourites.

Rest easy, Brian.

## In-Depth Review of Brian Wilson's *Smile* Brian Wilson’s *Smile*, released in 2004 as *Brian Wilson Presents Smile* (BWPS), is one of the most storied and ambitious projects in pop music history. Conceived in the mid-1960s as a follow-up to The Beach Boys’ *Pet Sounds*, the album was famously abandoned in 1967 due to creative tensions, technical limitations, and Wilson’s deteriorating mental health. Nearly four decades later, Wilson revisited and completed the project with his band and lyricist Van Dyke Parks, offering the world a realized vision of his “teenage symphony to God.” This review explores *Smile* through its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and concludes with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Surrealism, Americana, and Fragmentation** The lyrics on *Smile*, primarily crafted by Van Dyke Parks, are a radical departure from The Beach Boys’ earlier straightforward narratives. Instead of clear stories about surfing, cars, and romance, *Smile*’s words are abstract, allusive, and often surreal. Parks draws on American history, mythology, and landscape, using fragmented imagery and wordplay to evoke a sense of both nostalgia and irony[1]. - **“Heroes and Villains”**: Uses Wild West motifs as a metaphor for Wilson’s disillusionment with the music industry and American society. The narrative is intentionally elusive, capturing moments rather than telling a linear story[1]. - **“Cabin Essence”**: Continues the American journey, referencing railroads and westward expansion, but with a dreamlike, elliptical quality[1]. - **“Surf’s Up”**: Perhaps the album’s lyrical apex, blending poetic imagery of innocence lost and existential yearning with lines like “Columnated ruins domino.” The meaning is open to interpretation, contributing to the album’s mystique[1]. - **“Vege-Tables”**: Embraces absurdity, using playful puns and nonsensical lines to create a whimsical, almost dadaist effect[1]. The lyrics oscillate between humor, sarcasm, and introspection, often using irony to undercut the apparent optimism suggested by the album’s title[1]. --- ## Music **A Sonic Kaleidoscope** Musically, *Smile* is a tour de force of pop experimentation. Wilson’s arrangements fuse baroque pop, doo-wop, Americana, jazz, and avant-garde techniques into a seamless, multi-movement suite[3][5]. - **Modular Construction**: The album is built from “modules”—short musical fragments that are stitched together, sometimes abruptly, to create a collage-like effect. This approach was groundbreaking in the 1960s and remains unique[3]. - **Orchestration**: Wilson employs a wide palette—harpsichord, tack piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, and unconventional percussion (including bicycle bells and water jugs). The arrangements are lush but never cluttered, balancing complexity with clarity[3][5]. - **Vocal Harmonies**: While the 2004 version lacks the full Beach Boys’ blend, Wilson’s band delivers intricate harmonies that evoke the spirit of the original group. The choral arrangements on tracks like “Our Prayer” and “Surf’s Up” are especially striking[6]. - **Melodic Invention**: Despite the album’s experimental edge, Wilson’s gift for melody shines throughout. Songs like “Wonderful” and “Child Is Father of the Man” are both haunting and beautiful, their tunes lingering long after listening[5]. The album’s flow is deliberate, with recurring motifs and musical callbacks that reward attentive listening. The three-movement structure—Americana, the Cycle of Life, and the Elements—gives the album a symphonic scope[3]. --- ## Production **Retro-Futurism and Emotional Resonance** The production of *Smile* (2004) is both a tribute to 1960s studio wizardry and a product of modern technology. - **Recording Techniques**: Wilson and producer Mark Linett used a Pro Tools HD rig but adhered to many 1960s practices, such as recording in discrete sections and using vintage equipment (notably, a Universal Audio tube mixing console similar to the one used by The Beach Boys)[3]. - **Instrumentation**: The band replicated the original sound palette with digital keyboards, real upright piano, and timpani, augmented by a ten-piece string section. The result is a sound that feels both timeless and contemporary[3]. - **Vocals**: Wilson takes most of the lead vocals, which, while emotionally resonant, lack the textural variety of the original Beach Boys lineup. This is one of the few production drawbacks noted by critics and fans[6]. - **Mix and Sequencing**: The album is meticulously sequenced, with smooth segues and careful layering. Some flourishes from live performances were omitted to focus the studio version, resulting in a cohesive listening experience[3][6]. The production is polished but never sterile, capturing both the ambition and vulnerability of Wilson’s vision. --- ## Themes **America, Innocence, Irony, and Redemption** *Smile* is as much a meditation on America as it is on Wilson’s own psyche. - **Deconstructing America**: The album explores what it means to be American, moving beyond the consumerist optimism of The Beach Boys’ early hits to grapple with history, myth, and national identity. The journey is both literal (across the country) and metaphorical (into the heart of American experience)[1]. - **Loss of Innocence**: Many songs reflect a sense of lost innocence and maturity. The youthful exuberance of earlier Beach Boys records is replaced by a bittersweet, sometimes ironic smile[1]. - **Absurdity and Humor**: The album juxtaposes moments of joy and whimsy (“Vege-Tables,” “Look”) with introspection and melancholy (“Surf’s Up,” “Child Is Father of the Man”), creating a tension that is both unsettling and compelling[1]. - **Personal Struggle and Redemption**: The story of *Smile* is inseparable from Wilson’s personal journey. The album is imbued with the emotional weight of his struggles with mental health, creative ambition, and eventual triumph in completing the project decades later[5]. --- ## Influence **A Legacy of Innovation** *Smile*’s influence is immense, even though its original form was not released until decades after its conception. - **Pop Experimentation**: The modular approach, genre-blending, and use of the studio as an instrument paved the way for later artists in pop, rock, and beyond. Albums like The Beatles’ *Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* and later works by Radiohead and Animal Collective owe a debt to *Smile*[2]. - **Myth and Mystery**: The legend of the “lost album” inspired generations of musicians and fans, contributing to the mystique of unfinished masterpieces and the allure of artistic ambition[2][5]. - **Critical Acclaim**: Upon its release, *BWPS* was universally praised, earning Wilson his first Grammy and securing a place in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time[3]. --- ## Pros and Cons | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Unparalleled ambition and originality in pop music | Lacks the full vocal richness of the original Beach Boys lineup[6] | | Lyrically sophisticated, blending Americana with surrealism[1] | Some may find the lyrics too abstract or elusive[1] | | Masterful arrangements and inventive orchestration[3][5] | The 2004 vocals lack the youthful timbre of Wilson’s 1960s voice[5][6] | | Cohesive, symphonic structure that rewards attentive listening[5] | Some fans prefer the rawness of the original Beach Boys sessions[4][6] | | Emotional resonance, reflecting Wilson’s personal journey[5] | Requires context to fully appreciate; less immediate than earlier hits[5] | | Groundbreaking influence on later artists and genres[2][3] | Not as “fun” or accessible as classic Beach Boys albums[1] | | High production values, blending vintage and modern techniques[3] | Some arrangements feel “samey” due to Wilson singing most leads[6] | --- ## Conclusion *Smile* stands as a singular achievement in the history of popular music—a work of visionary ambition, emotional depth, and musical innovation. Its lyrics are poetic and enigmatic, its music a kaleidoscope of American sounds, and its production a loving reconstruction of a lost masterpiece. The album’s themes of innocence, irony, and redemption resonate both as a commentary on America and as a reflection of Wilson’s own life. While the 2004 version cannot fully replicate the magic that might have been captured by the original Beach Boys in 1967, it is nonetheless a triumph of artistic perseverance. Its influence continues to reverberate, inspiring musicians to push the boundaries of what pop music can achieve. For all its quirks and imperfections, *Smile* is a testament to the power of creative vision and the enduring human spirit.

It was ok. standout songs: Heroes and Villans On a Holiday

Pretty sure this came up because Brian Wilson passed yesterday. So much for random album selection. I’m going to call this a okay album because I feel like I’m missing something that others are seeing as brilliant. Sometimes it sounds like The Beach Boys with the lush harmonies. I can see where this would have been a follow up to Pet Sounds with the orchestral elements. But this mostly felt like a bunch of song fragments patched together in the studio. The lyrics were often childish and tiresome. Had anyone else done this album, I feel like this would’ve never been released.

RIP

Heroes and Villains // Child is Father of the Man // Surf’s Up // Good Vibrations // 3.5/5

Great album. Such an interesting story to how it was made.

Still don't understand the appeal of The Beach Boys or Brian Wilson

I liked it. Never heard of him before.

Reviewing this the day after Brian Wilson's death. I didn't know anything about this album, really, except that it took a long time for him to finish it. It's very experimental, with random sounds, some goofy like slide whistles and birds chirping. And laudable attempts at doing harmonies and the old bop-bop Beach Boys-like stuff with his more limited and kind of flat vocals. The remake of Good Vibrations was pretty good and saves this album from a 2/5.

Slightly creepy again. Never liked this sound. Dragged on for a long time

Disappointed. Sounds like the Beach Boys went to the circus. Was weird.

elska þetta. yfirdrifnar útsetningar, brjálaður samsöngur. í raun allt sem ég dýrka.

RIP

Not my cup of tea

Dig it.

Great album

I understand the timing of receiving this album. He was a fine musician but how is this one of the must listens of the year 2004? Must be something I'm missing. Album is fine but that's about it.

Excellent

Before this album was recorded and release, I had a friend who was obsessed with the mythical Smile. So I've always felt that this album was for people like him. Ride or die Brian Wilson fans who were absolutely in it for the long haul. I'm not a huge fan of Smile but I appreciate the songwriting and the lush vocal layering.

God only knows

Hmmm.... ok. Nao é minha praia

I admire the backstory to this album but this sounds like some weird silly children’s album

Rip

UM HOLY SHIT??? HE JUST DIED??? this isn't some kind of site-wide memorial thing where everyone gets specifically this album today right??? (edit: I think it was lmfao) anyway I love the beach boys, even if this is only one of them it still has the same youthful vibes and surf/beach lyrics that remind me of my childhood. however it's also a lot proggier, with many songs having distinct parts similar to "good vibrations" (which is also on this album). it's nothing mind-blowing but it is a really nice, rewarding listen. also shout-out to brian (rip) for still having such a good voice at 62. favorite song: "good vibrations" obviously. overall: 8/10

i hear fantastic mr fox. i like. rip icon ★★★½

He's clearly one of the greatest musicians ever but I just don't think it's really an album. More a collection of bits of songs

New artist Interesting. Really enjoyed some songs and wasn’t a fan of others.

Really good stuff

Miles

Brian was nice

What an interesting coincidence to randomly be assigned this album the day after Brian Wilson's passing. RIP.

RIP

I got this to review the day after Brian Wilson died. Spooky! It's a hard album to review in many ways. Firstly the songs are good to great, ignoring the odd interlude numbers. Possibly, it should be rated as a whole, rather than the individual songs? It was a good listening experience. Very much an album out of time, as it retains its essence of the late 60s. Lovely vocal arrangements and beautiful melodies. The second movement was good, pleasant enough but nothing memorable for me, the same for the third. Ultimately I liked this a lot when it had its 'Beach Boy' moments. This album did make me Smile. 3* Would I listen again? Yes Would I buy this album? No. Movement one 1. "Our Prayer"/"Gee" 2:09 - Nice choral introduction. Beautiful harmonies. As a track on it's own 3*. - In the context of this album it fits 4* 2. "Heroes and Villains" 4:53 - This is a well known song and is quite brilliant. 5* 3. "Roll Plymouth Rock" 3:48 - Nice enough. Interesting soundscapes and instrumentation. Harmonies are good. I won't repeat that. Nice repeating melodies. 4* 4. "Barnyard" 0:58 - 3* 5. "Old Master Painter"/"You Are My Sunshine" 1:04 - 3 * 6. "Cabin Essence" 3:27 - 5* This is a great song. Movement two 7. "Wonderful" 2:07 - 3* 8. "Song for Children" 2:16 - 3* 9. "Child Is Father of the Man" 2:18 - 3* 10. "Surf's Up" 4:07 - 3* Movement three 11. "I'm in Great Shape"/"I Wanna Be Around"/"Workshop"1:56 - 4* 12. "Vega-Tables" 2:19 - 3* Silly nonsense. Made me smile! 13. "On a Holiday" 2:36 - 3*. Quirky 14. "Wind Chimes" 2:54 - 3* 15. "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" 2:27 - Silly nonsense again, to begin with. It then gets interesting. 4* 16. "In Blue Hawaii" 3:00 - 3* 17. "Good Vibrations" 4:36 - 5* all the way. Superb song. Iconic.

There’s a real sense of triumph to this album. A man’s lifelong dream that caused him so much stress and trauma, finally realized. Maybe not to the extent he hoped, but it’s pretty darn good. The compositions are so deep and complex, the sound is so rich, it’s hard not to be completely engrossed in it. I was worried before listening that this would be an instance of the story behind the album being more interesting than the album itself. That is definitely not the case. When you put the story and the album together, it really is an experience you cannot get anywhere else. It’s an album I really look forward to revisiting in the future. Absolutely loved it.

What a beautiful record! I like the Beach Boys a lot and I can see why BWPS can be as divisive as it is, regarding its authenticity. However, as a body of work, it's a cohesive, engaging and even magical record. One can't help but imagine how it might have shaken the music scene if it were released in 1968, which kind of relegates BWPS as an interesting relic of one of the most legendary recording sessions in popular music history. A must listen!

There are the so-called guilty pleasures in the music world, but when it comes to the Beach Boys, I came up with a brand-new concept I call "Guilty Unpleasure" — it describes the situation where I hate something that everyone else seems to love. As universally acclaimed as the Beach Boys’ work might be from Pet Sounds onward, I can’t stand it. Of course, there are songs from that era that I do love — like Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows, and in the case of that album, Good Vibrations — but the rest I find simply unbearable. ------------------------------------ Existem os chamados "guilty pleasures" no mundo da música, mas quando se trata de Beach Boys eu criei um conceito inédito chamado "Guilty Unpleasure", que define a situação de quando eu odeio algo que todo mundo ama. Por mais universalmente aclamado que seja o trabalho do Beach Boys a partir do Pet Sounds, eu detesto. Claro que há músicas que eu adoro dessa fase, como Wouldnt it be Nice, God Only Knows em no caso desse álbum, Good Vibrations, mas o resto eu acho simplesmente insuportável.

tf

Brian Wilson died yesterday, so I guess this is pretty good timing. I really like this because it sounds like a beach boys album, but the vocals sound slowed down, probably because of Wilson’s voice changing as he ages. It’s an out there album, and almost everything feels like “good vibrations” could start at any moment. A lot of this feels like stream of consciousness turned into beach boys do jazz, not a huge fan of that but there is something very compelling about it and I bet if I listened a few times it would work for me. I think it’s because my mind is trying to predict what is going to happen next. Once I don’t have to do that, I wonder how I would feel about it. I did not look at the track list and when good vibrations started I was honestly surprised! A lot of this album, especially the more experimental sounds, reminds me a lot of experimental Beatles songs.

Not sure I necessarily 'get' this album - fun and whimsical in places but does feel like a bunch of snippets of songs. I haven't listened to other beach boy songs and maybe in context it makes more sense

I just don't care for this

It's an interesting artifact, but honestly, sometimes experiments don't really work. It's very piecemeal, jarring, and strange.

Okay, Brian Wilson is an undisputed genius. However, this is what happens when even a genius is unchecked by a producer. It's wildly overproduced and he throws everything including the kitchen sink into it. Subtle banjos, penny whistles, circus organs, you name it. The harmonies are brilliant, as usual, and the songwriting is great. But it's just got too much in it. Kinda like late Beatles, actually, same problem. Good album, potential to be great, but needs someone with a critical eye to edit.

Magic in a bottle (album)

3.5, rounding up to 4. I love me some Beach Boys so this album was an interesting listen after learning about the lore. Some songs are peak Beach Boys (loved Heroes and Villians & Song for Children) but then others are a bit too silly (looking at you Vega-Tables & Wind Chimes). Ultimately a pleasant bop.

This was a fun listen to celebrate the life of Brian Wilson.

Mstig

Outstanding music from the master of sound! Five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Honestly, I'm not a fan, not of the beach boys either

Nice

It does not fall apart from the Beach Boys. Same style, guitars, voice… Sounds like a tribute to Beach Boys.

Quite brilliant but a bit silly. I bounce between loving it and shaking my head. I'll listen more. I do think I'll love it once I give it more time to sink in.

Love this album.

I feel like I should like the Beach Boys more than I actually do. I really liked this album but something just felt really off about it that I can't put a finger to.

Cover: 5 Have to do multiple listens. The first listen didn't do it, but the second, I got into some of the songs. First six tracks are really just one long song. I guess the second half would be one or two long songs also. It's pretty cool, if you've got the time. The concert is available on YT. Very much worth it if you like this album.

Weird middle but you can’t say no to some good vibrations

okay so this is a bit contradictory because i couldnt wait for it to end (sorry it was TOO long for my liking) BUT at the same time i knew it was a good album as i was listening to it, hard to explain. i think if i took the time to properly listen to it, id enjoy it so much more, so for that, ill give it 3 stars. my fav was Good Vibrations

Mostly happy songs, good vibrations the only hit. It kind of saved the album at the end 2.5/5stars

It's a musical score? This is tough. It's technically brilliant but not terribly enjoyable.

Some good songs but overall meh

Så märkligt. Dagen efter Brian Wilsons bortgång slumpas hans livsverk fram. Trots att det sätts och blötts i en evighet innan det till slut gavs ut låter fortfarande som ett skissblock. Ideer som prövas och avlöser varandra utan riktning i ett vansinnigt tempo. Samma tre-fyra melodier upprepas om och om igen. Eller är 50 olika låtar fördelade på 17 spår? Det är klassisk Beach Boys, det är pretentiöst, det är samtidigt tramsigt. Är det bra? Kanske snare intressant. I all sin ombytlighet blir det till slut enformigt

Definitely sounds like a Beach Boys record, Wilson has a very unique songwriting style. Overall album sounds good and was easy to listen to, didn’t hear much that made me want to give it more listens.

Cute, but not as good as actual Beach Boys stuff, kinda just a bummer

;( It's good, but a bit all over the place

Not my thing - sound kind of like a kids' album.

First off I’m not a fan of The Beach Boys. At all. I find them annoying and repetitive. I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this. I did find it better than I expected, but that’s only because it’s so weird. Most of the fully fleshed songs were the stuff I don’t like, but the whistles and silliness were at least something different.

This is a joke right? RIGHT?? Basically unlistenable. I understand Brian Wilson's mental health issues. If he meant this as a joke/prank then haha, but also fuck you for wasting an hour of my time. If it's supposed to be taken seriously then it just adds to the sadness and tragedy of his story.

RIP Brian Wilson

Same as Cat Stevens and Simon and Garfunkel: beautiful production, perfectly composed songs but not something I’m going to seek out on my own. Cool that the generator assigned it the day after his death, though.

Great albums. The vocal harmonies are incredible.

5/5, has to be. Beautiful album written by such a beautiful soul! RIP Brian Wilson

I was given this one the day after Brian died, so thought it was going to feel very significant... maybe there's still too much punk in me but I've never gotten the hype around Brian Wilson. Surely I'm missing something, I know those arrangements on Pet Sounds are incredible well thought out and the harmonis are beautiful... but it never grabbed me. And this? It sounds every bit of the long battle it took to make the record, in a bad way. It's ambitious for sure, but it feels to me like someone very consciously trying to create their magnum opus, getting in their own way and ultimately failing to realise it. It's a mess. Unfocused, indulgent, goofy, the lyrics and use of old tunes are very cheesy and all in all the songs just aren't there. Very talented man with an extremely difficult upbringing, but remove the mystique and this is little more than giving free reign of the studio to someone who would have been a great choir master.

Smile is a legendary album with a few versions out, so just to be clear, I listened to the smile sessions version. I sobbed uncontrollably. This is one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Despite technically being unfinished, It moved me in a way almost no other album has. Brian Wilson was a genius and insanely influential producer, and he perfectly created a lush, breathtaking experience from front to back. I read through his history while listening, and it was so much to take in. Creating something like this masterpiece in the face of so much tragedy is so unbelievable. Rest In Peace, Mr Wilson, I'm so sorry I couldn't appreciate your work to the fullest until now. 10/10

Something about this project does not sit right with me. Did Wilson genuinely want to do this project or was he manipulated into making BWPS? I've read quite a bit about this project and I'm really not sure. Musically, it lies somewhere between 1960s Beach Boys and a Gershwin-esque exploration of pop music. It is both pop and classical music. At the same time it sounds like a pastiche rather than authentic. I cannot put my finger on it, but it sounds sterile. An oddity.

3/3.5

Standout Songs: Cabin Essence This feels like an album made for children, there is even a song titled Song For Children. Why is this on the list of albums I need to hear before I die? I might have likes this when I was 2 but listening to it today was just a drag.

I really wanted to like this one, but it just felt like songs for kids. The highlight was hearing “Good Vibrations.” I don’t even know what this album was supposed to be really.

5/10

Can appreciate why this is meaningful for many but just, not my thing

I tried, but it was too flowery for me. Plus I kept thinking about the scene in Walk Hard, where Dewey Cox is in his Smile phase and brings goats into the studio....

RIP Brian

This sounds like the beach boys, *looks up Brian Wilson*, ah because it is. I don't know why, but his specific sound doesn't hook me very well. Despite that, I can't deny the musical complexity and impressiveness of his work. This album goes easily, with an air of silliness, but it's not bad at all.

Without question, Wilson is a highly inventive songwriter, capable of complex harmonies and chord progressions. But this album has two major flaws: First, Wilson is too old for the youthful tone he seeks here. He needed to adapt the album to his much older sensibility, or record it 5 decades ago. Second, it's just too much of him. Too many stacked layers of his odd falsetto and weird vocal rhythms. He needed more musicians to fill out the sound, even if he's the mastermind. It would have been brilliant in the '60s, but it's an odd anachronism decades later.

His fifth album. It's the 12th June 2025, Brian Wilson died today 😢. Brian Wilson is a musical genius. He can hear entire symphonies in his head. He was also a floored man who overcome major mental health issues. This album is him riffing, playing with ideas and having fun. His catalogues of songs will live forever. Thankyou Brian ❤️

Better than coldplay

I like the beach boys hits but was not overwhelmed by the albums. This is no better, a few ok songs and a lot of questionable material. 2.5 stars rounded to 3.

3.3

Hard to score it as a 2 star, but it’s pretty rough at spots.

I tried. No.

I was not expecting it to be such a nice and unique album. Very interesting and just well, very enjoyable.

Meh

Wow, given this right after his death. I don't know if it's a coincidence or on purpose but I guess I was meant to listen to this. It's very long for an album and is jam-packed with catchy melodies. Every song is unique and fun, which is mainly what I look for in an album.

It's ok! RIP Mr.Wilson

Quite disparate, sounds fragmented, the sounds of a genius trying to wrestle with a mind fragmenting united by strong harmonies but lacking the cohesion of pet sounds.

that one I sold. didn't like it much.

This album made me feel physically ill.

RIP Brian Wilson. Unfortunately, this doesn't work for me, similar to The Beach Boys work as a group with harmonies I can’t find a better way to describe than annoying. Much of this album is bizarre. Sorry!

RIP Brian Wilson.

Getting this album one day after Brian passed was a strange vibe. This guy had the gift, with no doubt left after the masterpiece that is Pet Sounds. A master of song-craft and harmony, whose legacy will probably live forever. His fingerprints are all over modern music....I can't listen to a Panda Bear record and not think of Brian Wilson. This is a good record. He kind of makes you work for it at times, and that is ok. At times, it does feel incomplete. A likely product of the huge gap from conception to completion, which included a re-visioning. There is also a nagging feeling of competing headspace for McCartney's work at that time. I could be imaging that one though. All in all, a super solid album with some truly beautiful moments.

R.I.P. to the best Beach Boy (I grew up loving The Beach Boys).

Dude... Brian Wilson died yesterday! How bizarre is that! I wonder if this album was purposely generated or if this is just a weird coincidence. I generally love this album. I just don't care for "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow." very obnoxious and off-putting but the rest of this is amazing.

Huh well isn’t this a quinky dink?Brian Wilson died yesterday. I’ve never listened to this before. Feels like a good day for it. Unpopular opinion alert, I just don’t like this. I know it’s genius and original but it just doesn’t hit for me. I feel bad that I don’t like it more. At times like this I am starkly reminded how un California I am.

Our Prayer/Gee

This was an interesting album I can definitely hear the influence of it being a show that was on Broadway, but I definitely hear the beach boys obviously! But it was still pretty good to hear and see what he was thinking about for the beach boys!

3,5

Such beautiful harmonies

I mean the songs on themselves weren’t the best but together it works quite well. R.I.P 4 stars

Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.

Largely forgettable, but then again, I was listening on the airplane where I was drifting in and out of sleep. But obviously the album wasn't doing much to keep me awake. Truthfully, I don't remember much about the album so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt with a 3.

Never heard Brian's solo music. I can see why the generator gave me his album now (RIP) 2/5

It’s apt that I got this on the day Brian Wilson died. I assume that it was by design, though maybe because I’d already had Pet Sounds? Who knows. Either way, this review will probably a little biased in light of his passing. I’d never heard this one before but I knew a little about the story of Smile, the Beach Boys album that never was. This was a lovely listen and I particularly enjoying the new version of Good Vibrations. The original is one of my favourite songs and this rework was just as beautiful. Rest in Peace Brian and thanks for all the Good Vibrations, God Only Knows how much we’ll miss you.

I was originally gonna go 2.35 star, but then I read the widlki article. 1 star

Quite disappointing

I enjoy this but I'm not always in the mood for it. I do like this reworking of the old album, though.

What I'd hope a late era Wilson album to be. Pet Sounds it ain't but it is still a fun listen

I think everyone got this the day after Brian Wilson died, 11-Jun-2025. This showed up the next day. I have heard this album when it was released and I felt at the time that it was incomplete, and had to be listened to as a whole, not individual songs. On the whole, the album is very good. Individual songs, not really. Even the version of Good Vibrations isn't that good compared to the original. I really understand why people say that Brian Wilson was a true genius when it came to song writing and melody and harmony, as that's why the Beach Boys were so popular. This album probably would have not done so well if it were completed in 1967. Surf's Up from The Beach Boys which was released in 1971 was what I think came from this work. It still feels incomplete to me. I love the direction it was going. I don't know if it ever got there. 3/5

the legend is better than the songs, but there's something particularly ghastly about this late-career reenactment. yer better off listening to smiley smile, which is a better album than its reputation and a lot more fun than this. those unsatisfied can dig the smile sessions released in 2011, or dewey cox's masterpiece "black sheep" ("i want an army of digeridoos... fifty thousand digeridoos!")

The album as a whole is okay and Brians voice is easy to recognize. But to me there is something missing that a lot of beach boys songs have and I can't quite put my finger on what. This isn't bad by any means but not something I will listen to again I think.

Amazing complex harmonies

12/06/2025 Obviously this was for the passing of Brian Wilson. It was okay.

Niet heel goed kunnen luisteren, maar volgensmij kan dat zowel goed als slecht zijn. Saai/ kinderliedjes? Wel R.I.P., genie!

I respect the man and all but this wasn't it. RIP.

This is crazy. 12 hours ago the news broke that Brian Wilson had died. I love Pet Sounds so much, and there are many similarities on this record, which is great. But it lacks some of the magic from Pet Sounds. It’s not as grand, but there are definitely some great, great moments on here. Brian Wilson leaves an amazing legacy behind. Rest in Peace

Top track: Wind Chimes

Brilliant album. Rest in peace, Brian.

Great example of how to use vocals as an instrument.

Thank you so much 1001albunsgenerator for send this one day after Brian Wilson's death. His legacy will be eternal!

I just wish he'd gotten to live long enough to see Mike Love die first.

Wow, crazy timing here considering the unfortunate news of Brian Wilson's passing yesterday. Unless this ISN'T random today... I'm well aware of the story behind this album, despite not listening before today. For those who aren't; "Smile" was originally supposed to be the Beach Boys' follow-up album to the massively successful "Pet Sounds", but ended up being scrapped and mostly reworked into "Smiley Smile". This did a number on Brian Wilson (always one to be hard on himself), and he eventually re-recorded the material from the original "Smile" concept many years later. This was actually debuted beforehand via a session of live concerts too. I can only imagine being an older Beach Boys fan in 2004, with the almost mythical "Smile" album finally seeing the light of day in this form. As for the album itself, it sounds and feels like an amalgamation of ideas pasted together. It's very avant-garde and ambitious (to be expected from Brian Wilson). I think the context of how this album came to be overshadows the content itself. The re-recording of "Good Vibrations" is still high quality, though. "Heroes and Villains" and "Vega-Tables" were other fun highlights too.

i enjoyed the short tracks, the beach boys style is just undeniably enjoyable, it feels like a messier album in a good way, very good, rest in peace brian wilson

With Brian Wilson's death yesterday, receiving this album today feels a bit eerie. I am a fan of the Beach Boys, but a fan of the original Beach Boys material prior to 1970. With the exception of Kokomo, I am not a fan of pretty much any of the later work. Academically, I admit, I was intrigued to hear a 2004 version of "Good Vibrations", and the rest of the album, but ultimately, with due respect to Brian's significant accomplishments in American pop music, these versions felt like they lacked the vitality of the originals, and the rest of the album didn't click with me at all. They were just a pale imitation of the originals. The performance skills were top tier, but the changes to the material were not. I am stunned that British don't hear the difference.

First time listen but it felt so familiar. Perfectly Brian Williams. Could have done without Barnyard but loved the rest.

Day524 - rip brian wilson a real genius and this album might not have the hits but the sounds made me smile

Maybe this just caught me on a sad day, but this album made me sad even though it's literally called "Smile." As great as Brian Wilson was, there's just something missing without the harmonies from all of the Beach Boys. 3/5

Not a Beach Boys fan and this just The Beach Boys in the 2000s.

I only ever liked a couple Beach Boy songs. This is actually pretty bad.