User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 522 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 398 out of 522
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Mixed: 39 out of 522
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Negative: 85 out of 522
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DavidPOct 7, 2004
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williamfOct 7, 2004never was that much of a brain wilson fan, but wow!!!!! this is a classic
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JimDOct 8, 2004An amazing aural experience. Totally unlike anything else by the Beach Boys in many ways, but the harmonies take you back.
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JEOct 9, 2004i love it. it's a great album. i think everyone who is digging it is suffering from a little bit of nostalgia, but that's only natural..
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JohnSJan 10, 2005
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DaleJun 6, 2005If you are a fan of BW or the Beach Boys, Smile may (or not) tickle your fancy, but if you are just a casual fan taken in by the critical acclaim it has received from this site (like yours truly), DO NOT PURCHASE THIS ALBUM before listening to it first. It is overrated by any standard and most may find the dated sound and (lack of) song structure rather unpalatable.
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JoeGMar 9, 2006I wanted to love this, I really did. It's from a genius isn't it, one of the great lost treasures of 60's pop! A few of the sequences (Heroes and Villians) are excellent, but I struggled to warm to much else, some of which is positively flaky. I've just sold it on Ebay, and hope the buyer enjoys it more than I did.
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markhJun 8, 2006greatest album ever. hahahahahahahahahahha yeah right, refund please.
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GiovanniOAug 17, 2006Why are most reviewers giving this album a 10? When you rate an album do you consider overall enjoyability for adults that did not grow up in the 60's? As an open minded individual I can appreciate any music regardless of age or type, but as a reviewer I could not give a 10 to an album based on its history or lenght of creation. Rome was not built in a day but it fell in one...
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erikbMay 7, 2007one of those albums that you'll force yourself to hear all the way through because you "should," and then realize it is totally impossible to listen to. Can't really say I enjoyed this one at all, which is tough to admit given all the hype. Maybe I don't "get it" but I think the emperor's new clothes comment got it right.
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AlexanderB.Aug 6, 2007For me Smile is the greatest album of all times! Period.
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HankBMar 2, 2010More of a triumph than anyone could have expected. Still, it's a bit tragic that the world didn't get to hear this finished piece in '67 with the original Beach Boys.
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VinceH.Oct 1, 2004
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JensKOct 1, 2004Forget about 1967, this is a great, great, great record today!
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LarryJOct 6, 2004It just keeps getting better with each time I listen to it. I especially love the middle suite of "Childhood" songs -- "Wonderful." If the original BB had been involved in this production, particularly the late-Carl Wilson, it would have rated off the chart. The album and Brian's backstory, in my opinion, serve to reinforce the overall theme of these tracks. I'm happy Brian can SMiLE.
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MichaelCSep 30, 2004The Only thing wrong with this album is Brian's voice, if he had that classic falsetto, it would be perfection. But I'd only drop the album 0.1 of a point for that, so I'd give the album 10 out of 10. L&M
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WJFlywheelSep 30, 2004Good stuff for the Mike Love Fanclub.
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hitchynonejusthitchy!Oct 13, 2005
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JindrichHJan 15, 2005Beautiful....
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ArielNJan 18, 2005Smile Brian, You Did It Again.
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MurielB.Jan 20, 2005Look ! Listen ! Vibrate ! Smile !
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jimsJan 2, 2005Pop symphony, have never heard anything like it
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joejJan 4, 2005Brilliant!
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MartyMJan 7, 2005Brilliant. Smile is finally released and I was not disappointed at all. The hype was definitely deserved.
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bobbycJan 7, 2005
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stevepApr 12, 2005A true Classic ! ! !
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ErickC.Jun 27, 2005
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DaveNAug 5, 2005Who would have thought that the band Brian really wanted to play in was the Moody Blues?
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DriRSep 7, 2005Wonderful! Brilliant!
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AndrewFOct 3, 2006One of the top 5 albums of all time. His voice is a little different, but certainly not bad, and the backing band is better musically than the beach boys. The only thing it is missing, is Carl, Mikes, Brian (in his 20s) voices. Only albums ahead of it are Pet Sounds, Revolver, Highway 61, and Sgt. Peppers.
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RaleighRJun 28, 2006
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BenSep 17, 2006It would have been a disapintment if released earlier... simply not comparable with pet sounds or any beatles records
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RogFeb 12, 2007Outstanding music - for any era.
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DarylSMar 10, 2007
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TedGMay 21, 2007What's so impressive about this album is how ahead of it's time it is today, 40 years since it's conception. The Polarized reviews speak to this. The album beautifully details American mass culture, with both ideas deep and adult, as well as childlike and innocent.
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danielbMay 3, 2007
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RoccoSJun 12, 2007
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ScottW.Aug 20, 2007Now here as an album that should put a smile on your face. Not just because of its fun and catchy songs, but because your hearing what would have been classic Beach Boy tunes. This was a lost album for almost forty years, from one of the best rock bands. Brian Wilson gives us a true classic and a must have.
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TerryApr 8, 2008A masterpiece. Good for you, Brian.
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patf.Jan 30, 2009Best thing i have heard in years! surfs up, h&v, cabinessence the list of great songs is very impressive.
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DuncanL.Jan 2, 2010The great thing about this being the best rated album by the music critics is that it shows very clearly just how superficial and sheep like those critics actually are. This is no more than a piece of fluff good for a couple of spins and then put away at the back of the cupboard with that Nirvana record. But hey there are plenty of other sheep who agree with them so they must be right.
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LuisIFeb 10, 2010Pop orchestra, brilliant sound, brian wilson and a legendary record.
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DanDFeb 13, 2010It sounded like Brian Wilson threw mud at the wall while high on drugs through this entire album until "Good Vibrations" magically appeared. Frankly it was the only track where the mad combination of his doo-wops and strings and novelty sounds worked together. I'm sorry, but even a monkey could type the Iliad if he tried enough times.
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ChrisLFeb 9, 2010Pristine.
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FeidoVApr 12, 2010A great album.
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MarycOct 1, 2004I never heard anything like this before.
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engelbertcockswallowerOct 10, 2004gee this suxx!! get sum papa roach doodes!!
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JackBOct 1, 2004
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StevieOct 1, 2004
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GaryEOct 14, 2004Now we can see how expendable the rest of the Beach Boys really were. Brian was obviously the brains of the outfit.
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AaronS.Oct 15, 2004Better late than never. This beautiful musical curiosity sounds like nothing else, totally unclassifiable. It sounds as out of place today as it would have back in 1967! Highly recommended to those with adventurous tastes.
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StillaKidAtheartOct 15, 2004Simply a Masterpiece! I first heard Sgt. Pepper's at the age of 14, and I have the same kind of feeling listening to Smile today...I can't stop listening to it...Thank you, Brian...You reached me.
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MattMNov 7, 2004Pretty freakin' boring. The only really good songs are the ones we've heard before: "Good Vibrations" and "Heroes and Villains."
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brianwilsonOct 2, 2004It sucks, overrated piece of trash.
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TazmanianDevilOct 2, 2004Can't stop listening... enjoy every moment of this CD
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alcOct 2, 2004love this album the most!!
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GeraldKOct 22, 2004
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midnightdreadDec 2, 2004
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jonhDec 31, 2004if possible, I'd take this music to those who have never heard it-a musical missionary if you will-to not hear this glorious soundscape can be nothing but a lost connection with sheer musical perfection-
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NickKOct 24, 2004I didn't think it was a good idea that Brain was re-recording SMiLE from scratch. However, he proved me wrong-- this is a masterful psychedelic pop opera, and I enjoy it much more than the bits and scraps we've been listening to for the last decade through bootlegs and official Beach Boy releases.
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RICHARDBOct 2, 2004Not much to say, except "blown away!" This goes into my top 5 of all time. The tracks released on the Good Vibrations box set really wetted my appetite, and now the complete album...it's....it's...words don't do justice.
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bingobongoOct 20, 2004Good, but not-so-good. Sgt. Pepper is far better, and I understand why Brian Wilson, obsessed by Beatles, destroyed this album. He wanted realize something better, but he couldn't. Pet Sounds remains his best.
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JMOct 3, 2004Who would have thought it could turn out this good almost 40 yrs later? I can't stop listening to it!!!
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JimMOct 30, 2004Great music, great composer, GREAT band! Brian's band pulls off what the Beach Boys never could. I can't get enough of this CD!
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BrianFOct 4, 2004The second "suite" is worth the purchase price alone...brilliantly beautiful! Deduct 1 point for the odd animal and power tool songs - give me more music!
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RobbieWOct 4, 2004I always thought "Pet Sounds" was the best LP Brian Wilson would ever make. Now I have to say that "Smile" is even better. Even though I had high expectations, this CD has exceeded them. A++++
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ChristopherFOct 4, 2004A wonderful concept album fully realized. Comparisons to Sgt. Peppers are not inaccurate because Sgt Pepper isn't a concept album: it has no central theme. Brian Wilson is a phoenix rising form the ashes, again.
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dickjOct 5, 2004Ambitious, banal, silly, over-produced, schlocky, depressing, sappy, 37 years too late and egotistic
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EoinOct 5, 2004A good album, but the songs are not as strong as on Pet Sounds. But as concept albums go it's quite good.
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paulaOct 7, 2004the best 45 minutes of popular music i've ever heard.
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BigStuartOct 9, 2004It has *sheep sounds* in it! god sake! and his voice is incredibly annoying! this sucks so very very bad.
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ShaneSep 28, 2004
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MikeASep 28, 2004A Masterpiece
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NickJSep 30, 2004Prepare yourself for something new at every listen. A superb mix of feelgood pop, art opus and grand slam genius eccentricity. However in terms of mood, for 'eccentricity' replace this word with 'electricity' as far as this bands performance goes.
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DennisSSep 30, 2004Words could not describe the first time I heard it!! It is by far the best rock concept album of all time!!! A true Brian Wilson Masterpiece!!!!!
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RayGSep 30, 2004
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DamonFSep 30, 2004When I heard this album after hearing the reviews, I am convinced that it has already obliterated every album made this year, out of the sky. This includes the new Morrissey album. This is how a decent album should be made by an artist. Sung brilliantly and layered and arranged without the use of meaningless computer technology
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dfSep 30, 2004STUNNING
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MattWSep 30, 2004This is one of the best records I've ever heard. Seriously.
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GaryRJan 13, 2005Awe-struck! More appreciated in 2004/5 than it would've been in 1967. Actually makes the music of 67 and yes even Peppe, sound dated. Smile was made for these times!
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BrianYJan 18, 2005A triumph of the human spirit and a beautiful piece of utterly fun, pop, perfection. The best album in years.
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PeterBJan 19, 2005Astounding!
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SuzanDec 16, 2005Melodic, masterly crafted, way ahead of its time for the late 60's, simply smile-worthy!!
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DustinBOct 26, 2005
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GaryNJan 5, 2005Outstanding CD. Complex music that grabs you from the first listen. Unique, expanding the meaning of rock music. Vocals are complicated but catchy so they don't leave your head. Heard it several times and it gets better with every listen.
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JRJan 6, 2005
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DaveDJan 7, 2005Best album since Brainwashed. That's along time.
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JohnDJan 7, 2005Just awful.
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harrypotterOct 9, 2005Opt for the Beach Boys originals instead. This is the sound of some demented old geezer trying to relive his glory days while equally demented old critics and musos oddly lap it all up. The emperors new clothes springs to mind. Waste of time. Complete and utter.
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AllanHFeb 16, 2005Everything you hoped and dreamed it would be and more. For it not only to live up to it's legendary reputations after all these year, but exceed it is a simply remarkable acheivement.
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GraemeHMar 28, 2005Did they put the wrong CD in the case when I bought this? I bought based upon these reviews but was disappointed. It's OK but not great.
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JürgenRMar 4, 2005The best album of all time!!!
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MichaelVMar 7, 2005Comparisons to Beatles Sgt. Pepper. Critics are dreaming. My copy of this is for sale. Very disappointing.
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TomFMay 13, 2005SMiLE is just undoubtedly the greatest music ever written. While the new tracks are missing a little of the heart of the 1967 tracks, they are close enough. The production on this album has yet to be tested by another musician.
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mattaMay 27, 2005Not as classic as "Pet Sounds" but still amazing, especially considering this was really all written back in the 60's. Too bad that it wasn't released back then, becuase if it had been, it probably would have the same status as Pet Sounds does today. IN any case, it is a great album, but something has definetely been lost by the four decade delay of the release.
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ScottSJun 25, 2005
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ChadSJun 26, 2005
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CaseyBJun 5, 2005
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StevePJul 4, 2005Hugely overrated. I believed the hype ... the missing masterpiece ... the follow up to Pet Sounds. All the hype is rubbish. If the album had come out 37 years ago it would now be considered a very average 60's album with a couple of good tracks.
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AndyMcDJul 5, 2005Ummmmm... We get it Brian, you like singing "doo wop." Just because this was acceptable in the 60's, doesn't make it so now. Pretty darn overrated.
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Awards & Rankings
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Smile is quite simply the greatest triumph in the history of pop music.
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Smile's post-adolescent utopia isn't disfigured by Brian's thickened, soured 62-year-old voice. It's ennobled--the material limitations of its sunny artifice and pretentious tomfoolery acknowledged and joyfully engaged.
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Los Angeles Times"Smile" emerges as a beautiful and cohesive work, at times deeply moving, at others oddly whimsical, at still others eerily disturbing but celebratory. [27 Sep 2004]