I just heard on the news that the Beach Boys are finally releasing their official Smile album! This is the unfinished album that was to be after Pet Sounds. Now Pet Sounds has been called the most important rock album ever made and one of the first psychedelic albums ever. It was made in response to The Beatles' Rubber Soul and in return Sargent Pepper was made in response to it. So I can't wait to hear Smile, which Brian has said we couldn't handle for 44 years. The tapes for this thing were made in 1966-67 and were never released. They have been locked in a vault since then. Brian Wilson was on the show stating that it was never released because the sound was too advanced for the times. He felt it would have been rejected back in the 60s but the time has arrived. Here is the LA Times article.
I heard some tracks from the Brian Wilson 2004 solo recording, and the production is just missing that analogue magic that was there in the 60's. The Beach Boys' SMiLE re-release is where it's at. Ideally listened to with some herb. The album does come off as simple pop on the surface, but that's a deceiving notion. It truly is a groundbreaking artistic masterpiece, and this is coming from a 19 year old.
