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September 29, 2004
Smile
I spent a little time tonight listening to Brian Wilson's long-lost masterpiece, Smile. It was originally intended for release in 1967, but then Wilson went nuts and the Beach Boys broke up.Some of the songs, like "Good Vibrations," were included on Smiley Smile, which was released back in the 60's but it was never complete until now. Wilson re-recorded the whole album as it was intended earlier this year and finally released it yesterday.
I can't say I was ever a big Beach Boys fan. I listened to some of my mom's old records when I was a kid, but by the time I was old enough to pick my own music, I had dismissed the Beach Boys music as useless sugary pop stuck in the 60's.
That was before I discovered Pet Sounds in college, which, while still sounding like the Beach Boys, was something much more. The familiar vocal harmonies were still there, of course, but Brian Wilson's innovative songwriting and instrumentation and production genius were now at the forefront.
Smile goes manys steps beyond Pet Sounds. The eclectic mix of synths, strings and horns on top of layered harmonies in tremendously detailed multi-part songs sounds like what many indie bands are trying to do today with varying levels of success.
Posted by Half-Cocked at September 29, 2004 09:56 PM
Comments
dude, i'm doing it again, i'm posting weird stuff that has nothing to do with your topic. i have been to freeper land! holy cow. they are out for blood.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1226176/posts
see you tonight!
Posted by: julee at September 30, 2004 04:29 PM
I listened to parts of it online, still need to buy it. I am a huge Brian Wilson fan, though. Such a talent.
Posted by: musclehead at October 6, 2004 09:12 PM