The Smile Sessions (studio album)
by The Beach Boys

After many more listens throughout the years, there isn't a single track I don't enjoy here (although or some of them I prefer the "Brian Wilson Presents Smile" more completed versions). Sure, you could say "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations" are the highlights but I really love "Vega-tables" (and the version on this record is by far my favorite one), "Cabin Essence", "Wind Chimes" and of course, one of Brian Wilson's best compositions, "Surf's Up"! The unfinished Elements Suite is also quite interesting (I just want to point out to Repo that “Fall Breaks and Back To Winter” is actually a modified version of the original "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" here, the fire element Very Happy ).

Some of the tracks like "Holidays" and "Love To Say Dada" would be later completed for the "Brian Wilson Presents Smile" project so I slightly prefer those versions but I just feel like there is a cohesive theme in this record and it has a lot of charm, partly due to all members of the band being at their peak in terms of vocal ability, something that got lost in the 2004 version.

From flamingyesdept 10/31/2024 19:27

Still the best album ever

I mean it’s very innovative. I can see where they were going on this one. But I feel the difference between this album and for instance Pet Sounds or tracks Good Vibrations or Heroes And Villains (Smiley Smile Versions) is the lack of songwriting. It sounds like a collection of tracks, not songs that have a fell. They get lost in each other too much and can’t stand out, besides maybe Vega-Tables, Elements: Fire, Surf’s Up, and the two I mentioned earlier, and possibly Cabin Essence. I think they go a little in over their heads. Most of it sounds good, just bit off more than they could chew.

From flamingyesdept 04/22/2023 20:11

The greatest album that will ever be made by anyone ever.

The set piece moments within the album are incredible such as “Heroes and Villains” and “Good Vibrations” but there are moments with the transitional tracks between the big songs that feel like there’s a lot of style over genuine substance consistently through the album.

No one will argue that The Beach Boys made beautiful and complex music. This record is no different. It’s pleasing to listen to and some of the vocal harmonies and unusual instrumentation will leave you with a smile (get it?).

But the inclusion of a version of “Good Vibrations” gives the game away. None of the other songs, for all their beauty and interesting complexity come close. This really is a compilation of bits and pieces, albeit a compilation that’s nice to listen to.

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A peak in songwriting and creativity. Brian Wilson makes some beautiful, beautiful music.

There is a lot to love on this record and so many beautiful compositions to delve into. This album is extremely multi-layered and so much fun to look into and find these small nuances that you missed in your first listen making you want to come back for more. You can see the potential all over the album and this record really could have been one of the best albums of all time. However, that record was not released and we have this instead which is still a great collection of songs and is probably the second or third best the group created but just not up to that same level. Overall, well worth a listen if you love top class production and just pure musical genius in places.

Truly amazing, I wish this was finished in the 60s, but am grateful it was at least released. Brian Wilson is really one of a kind.