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Review
Finally it's time to see what triumphs, reality or myth, the destination or the journey. We've waited almost 45 years for this, the near-as-dammit definitive version of one of the great lost classics. So was it worth the heartache, the horse-trading for bootlegs, even the filler surrounding the odd SMiLE relic on flaky later albums like Smiley Smile or 20/20? No doubt about it. The world has a decent sense of how this is going to turn out from those bootlegs and – more pertinently – the 2004 version fashioned by a croaky Brian Wilson, lyricist and co-conspirator Van Dyke Parks and Beach Boys understudies the Wondermints. But there's surely nothing like the real thing. Or the real-ish thing.
It all started with SMiLE's closing statement Good Vibrations, a 1966 number one and mini-masterpiece that reputedly took Wilson a year to complete as he experimented with ‘modular’ recording. Despite the sheer ball-ache, the modular method – the recording of individual elements that could be grafted together at a later date – was to inform the creation of this entire album, a move that put session musicians through ridiculous paces and tried the patience of Capitol Records and the other Beach Boys to such a degree that something had to give. That something was the actual release of the record.
That's one take, anyway. Memories are fuzzy, but the music now it's here is pure and gorgeous, the familiar mesh of brotherly voices exquisite as ever. Its glittering peaks are singles Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains, along with Surf's Up (a different recording from the finale of its 1971 album), harmonic jewel Our Prayer and Wonderful (far prettier and fuller than its cousin on Smiley Smile); but Wilson and Parks had envisaged SMiLE as a song cycle, a "cartoon consciousness" in Parks' own words, that would be naturally symbiotic, the songs hanging together as one. All the sadder, then, that it was shelved and then filleted for ensuing albums.
Some constituents aren't perfect, with Wilson's sillier side peeking out on beautifully constructed follies like Holidays, Barnyard and Vega-Tables of course, but even at their least remarkable these are stepping stones to the good stuff. And, my, if you want stepping stones (remarkable or otherwise) The SMiLE Sessions has got 'em: the standard release is one CD with the cherishable album and another with the best of the earlier/alternative takes, but if you're prepared to remortgage your sandbox you can get five CDs of this, serving up each fascinating (and occasionally less fascinating) ‘module’. Not to mention a 3D SMiLE shop and custom-built surfboard. That's one for completists, then. But your Beach Boys collection hasn't been complete until now, has it? --Matthew Horton
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Uncut - November 2011 - *****
"The unfinished symphony, in five formats, with a wealth of extras. Picking and choosing from the original session masters, Linnett and Boyd's 49-minute 'approximation' of the cancelled 1967 album dominates all five formats of The Smile Sessions - 1CD, 2CD, 5CD deluxe box set, vinyl and download. Arranged chronologically for each song or section, the stereo discs are packed with isolated verses, choruses, inserts and overdubs, allowing us to eavesdrop on the intricate draughtsmanship of Wilson's creation; virtually every bar of it."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree with the last reviewer that this really is one of the most remarkable and in-depth explorations of LSD-fueled music ever. Personally, I think it encapsulates the late '60s and the sense of creative freedom that prevailed during that halcyon time. In terms of the music, I don't really know where to begin as this is unlike any other album I've ever heard. It is stunningly beautiful in places as you'd expect from any record associated with Brian Wilson, it is highly eccentric (you can almost feel the LSD pulsating in the music), at times it is extremely eerie, playful and wistful. Basically I get the vibe that this album is not so much a 'teenage symphony to God' but more like a kaleidoscope musical cry for help from a desperately sad Brian Wilson who during this album completely lost touch with reality; I can't think of too many albums that musically chronicle a man's mental breakdown, besides those by Syd Barrett or Pete Green. It's highly unfortunate for the composer but what a musical journey it offers the listener!
I agree with what Brian says that this really is ahead of its time and was way too alternate even for back then. This type of creativity could only be fully appreciated by today's culture of anything goes (postmodernism). I'm not even going to make comparisons with Pet Sounds as that is meaningless when dealing with a creative exposition of this type, suffice to say that it is not easy listening BUT essential listening. It's the type of art work that grows on you each time of listening. It is definitely as important a musical statement as Pepper and will no doubt go down in the music history books as an extraordinary musical offering from a genius who, although whilst writing the music went completely mad and lost interest in life, eventually came back to tell us all of the dark journey. Was it a price worth paying? I would say definitely!
I agree with what Brian says that this really is ahead of its time and was way too alternate even for back then. This type of creativity could only be fully appreciated by today's culture of anything goes (postmodernism). I'm not even going to make comparisons with Pet Sounds as that is meaningless when dealing with a creative exposition of this type, suffice to say that it is not easy listening BUT essential listening. It's the type of art work that grows on you each time of listening. It is definitely as important a musical statement as Pepper and will no doubt go down in the music history books as an extraordinary musical offering from a genius who, although whilst writing the music went completely mad and lost interest in life, eventually came back to tell us all of the dark journey. Was it a price worth paying? I would say definitely!
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been listening to various fan made reconstructions of SMiLE for a few years now and it's great to have an official release, the sound quality is much clearer of course and this IS the definitive SMiLE.
The packaging on the 2cd box is very nice and the 2nd cd is worth having for the stripped-bare versions of Surf's Up alone.
As for the songs themselves well you have to listen from start to finish as most of the tracks aren't designed to be listened to in isolation, Side Two of Abbey Road by The Beatles is a reasonable comparison though many of these songs don't have verses unlike that long medley.
The highlights and possible exceptions to this would be Heroes And Villains, Good Vibrations, and the wonderful Surf's Up which has to be one of the finest songs of this or any era (even if the lyrics don't make any sense!).
Jimi Hendrix referred to the Beach Boys around this period as sounding like "a psychedelic barber's shop quartet" as if that was a bad thing, it's actually a very good description of the album - you'll either like it or hate it depending on whether you fancy hearing such a thing.
The packaging on the 2cd box is very nice and the 2nd cd is worth having for the stripped-bare versions of Surf's Up alone.
As for the songs themselves well you have to listen from start to finish as most of the tracks aren't designed to be listened to in isolation, Side Two of Abbey Road by The Beatles is a reasonable comparison though many of these songs don't have verses unlike that long medley.
The highlights and possible exceptions to this would be Heroes And Villains, Good Vibrations, and the wonderful Surf's Up which has to be one of the finest songs of this or any era (even if the lyrics don't make any sense!).
Jimi Hendrix referred to the Beach Boys around this period as sounding like "a psychedelic barber's shop quartet" as if that was a bad thing, it's actually a very good description of the album - you'll either like it or hate it depending on whether you fancy hearing such a thing.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having grown accustomed to the "Brian Wilson Presents ..... " version of SMiLE, and the subsequent reconstructions using that tracklisting and original Beach Boys recordings created by, amongst others, Purple Chick (I assume most people reading this are aware of her version of SMiLE), it was with a real sense of curiosity that I hit the play button and settled down to listen to this release.
Firstly, it is wonderful to hear such crisp versions of these recordings. Some of the various bootlegs and reconstructions that have sustained us over the years have excellent production values, but they don't match the clarity of the sound found here. This version of SMiLE sounds fabulous, richly textured. It is this that is the real revelation here for me. Have we ever heard "Heroes & Villians", "Surf's Up", "Cabin Essence" etc etc sounding as good as this? Surely, not.
As for the tracklisting, I can't say that anything struck me as being out of place. Generally, it flows nicely. It is clear that some of the tracks were not truly finished. There are the odd few seconds here and there of a lone bass treading water or some instrumental noodling at the end of a track that would seem to suggest that more work and extra instrumentation was intended to be added when the recordings were originally made. Perhaps those are examples of where the "linking sections" were never recorded or satisfactorily nailed in the studio. However, I am glad that, to the best of my knowledge, no modern additions have been made to these recordings to make them sound more finished.
I think it's fair to say that this release could never be SMiLE. That long-awaited, much delayed and, ultimately shelved LP from 1966-1967 will never be released. This isn't being released as SMiLE, though. This is "The SMiLE Sessions". I'd say that this is more akin to a pretty darned good, near complete rough draft of what SMiLE would have sounded like. The quality of the recordings and the fact that most do appear finished would seem to suggest that the album was much closer to completion than might have been realised at the time.
To conclude, lets thank God and Brian Wilson, and the other Beach Boys, for finally letting the world hear the best approximation of SMiLE that we'll ever have. It isn't perfect, but it is nonetheless wonderful to listen to.
Firstly, it is wonderful to hear such crisp versions of these recordings. Some of the various bootlegs and reconstructions that have sustained us over the years have excellent production values, but they don't match the clarity of the sound found here. This version of SMiLE sounds fabulous, richly textured. It is this that is the real revelation here for me. Have we ever heard "Heroes & Villians", "Surf's Up", "Cabin Essence" etc etc sounding as good as this? Surely, not.
As for the tracklisting, I can't say that anything struck me as being out of place. Generally, it flows nicely. It is clear that some of the tracks were not truly finished. There are the odd few seconds here and there of a lone bass treading water or some instrumental noodling at the end of a track that would seem to suggest that more work and extra instrumentation was intended to be added when the recordings were originally made. Perhaps those are examples of where the "linking sections" were never recorded or satisfactorily nailed in the studio. However, I am glad that, to the best of my knowledge, no modern additions have been made to these recordings to make them sound more finished.
I think it's fair to say that this release could never be SMiLE. That long-awaited, much delayed and, ultimately shelved LP from 1966-1967 will never be released. This isn't being released as SMiLE, though. This is "The SMiLE Sessions". I'd say that this is more akin to a pretty darned good, near complete rough draft of what SMiLE would have sounded like. The quality of the recordings and the fact that most do appear finished would seem to suggest that the album was much closer to completion than might have been realised at the time.
To conclude, lets thank God and Brian Wilson, and the other Beach Boys, for finally letting the world hear the best approximation of SMiLE that we'll ever have. It isn't perfect, but it is nonetheless wonderful to listen to.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Long lost treasure
Had the bootlegs like almost anyone else I know much better sound think the
booklet in my double cd version could have been better would have liked
the song pictures... Read more
booklet in my double cd version could have been better would have liked
the song pictures... Read more
Published 1 month ago by sixtiesman
Just very silly, I'm afraid...
Firstly I should point out that I bought 'Smiley Smile' (in vinyl, of course - still have it) back in that amazing year of 1967 the day it was released - yes, I was there, and in... Read more
Published 1 month ago by G. Cleaver
Help Please!
I have nothing to add to the five star reviews on this 2-CD set except a couple of points:
the US would never have accepted SMiLE back in 1967. Read more
the US would never have accepted SMiLE back in 1967. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nemo
The Old Master Painter
IMPORTANT: This CD clearly prominently states, in bold capitols, that this is "The SMiLE Sessions", not SMiLE itself. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rooksby
The legend is here at last
I put in my order as soon as I knew it was being released. I am a bit surprised this was issued in Mono, I feel the effort to create a stereo album should have been done, however I... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bring_back_the_60s
One big Smile
Weel worth it, this 2CD covers what any
non-obsessive needs including the legendary
2 part Heroes and villains as bonus;
sound q is good; all the rumoured... Read more
non-obsessive needs including the legendary
2 part Heroes and villains as bonus;
sound q is good; all the rumoured... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. R. Liddle
***The SMiLE Sessions - Double CD***
The album that nearly was...
Listening to this remarkable music directly after Pet Sounds you can see how Brian Wilson was developing his music and pushing boundaries,... Read more
Listening to this remarkable music directly after Pet Sounds you can see how Brian Wilson was developing his music and pushing boundaries,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kenneth F. Mcara
The Smile Sessions at Last
It was great a few years back when Brian Wilson completed and recorded Smile. Now the original sessions are available featuring the the young voices of all the original Beach Boys. Read more
Published 4 months ago by W. McLaren
"Smile Sessions" CD by The Beach Boys
What a great product by the genius Brian Wilson an his group. I think they are as important as The Beatles have been for the world of music. Read more
Published 5 months ago by W. F. G. Lammerts
Forget these recent reviews! This release is fantastic!
I was surprised to look at the reviews here and see bad to average ratings being given recently! It seems to me these people aren't the target audience this project is aimed at and... Read more
Published 5 months ago by ms j oliver
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