SMiLE
by Brian Wilson
  • Record Label: Nonesuch
  • Release Date: Sep 28, 2004
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 522 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 398 out of 522
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 522
  3. Negative: 85 out of 522

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  1. JackH
    Oct 23, 2006
    10
    Simply the best album since Abbey Road.
  2. PaulW
    May 19, 2006
    10
    With Pet Sounds, I think Brian Wilson already established that he is one of the very top musical minds who ever walked this earth- I mean, listen to 'Don't talk (put your head on my shoulder' and 'Let's go away for a while'- it's way above Lennon and McCartney. 'Smile' is too good for this world, its ideas and execution so quirky and With Pet Sounds, I think Brian Wilson already established that he is one of the very top musical minds who ever walked this earth- I mean, listen to 'Don't talk (put your head on my shoulder' and 'Let's go away for a while'- it's way above Lennon and McCartney. 'Smile' is too good for this world, its ideas and execution so quirky and accomplished (the old West, a Victorian childhood, the earth, fire, water elements) that it will probably always be a 'cult' rather than popular classic. Make no mistake, think of the most famous composers you can think of in history and Brian Wilson's musical mind will be sharper. It's an insult to him to compare his compostional and production genius with The Beatles.… Expand
  3. IainS
    Jun 23, 2006
    10
    Saw this track by track in 2004, had the experience of Pet Sounds before that TWICE; Brian Wilson is THE living pop genius. If you can't appreciate the genius of Pet Sounds, Smile or Brian Wilson then there really is no hope for you :)
  4. JereW
    Jul 18, 2006
    0
    Brian Wilson's "Smile" is ridiculous. I laughed when I saw this score...
  5. JohnL
    Aug 19, 2006
    10
    It took me forever to finally get around to this, and I am absolutely blown away. It is BETTER than the raves. I honestly didn't know what to expect, with all the super hype, and I am just amazed. The last original thing he did that I loved was the self titled 1988 album. It would've been a wonder in 1967 to be certain, but I honestly can't imagine a better version than It took me forever to finally get around to this, and I am absolutely blown away. It is BETTER than the raves. I honestly didn't know what to expect, with all the super hype, and I am just amazed. The last original thing he did that I loved was the self titled 1988 album. It would've been a wonder in 1967 to be certain, but I honestly can't imagine a better version than this one. What a great ending to a great story !!!… Expand
  6. Illiniq
    Aug 21, 2006
    6
    Belongs right next to Pet Sounds as one of the most critically overrated pieces of work in all Rock and Roll history...silly and in many moments intensely unlistenable... How I wish it had been release in it's own era so it could have been properly assessed as fitting into the Beach Boys body of work just as one thinks of Satanic Majesties for the Stones, Let it Be for the Beatles, Belongs right next to Pet Sounds as one of the most critically overrated pieces of work in all Rock and Roll history...silly and in many moments intensely unlistenable... How I wish it had been release in it's own era so it could have been properly assessed as fitting into the Beach Boys body of work just as one thinks of Satanic Majesties for the Stones, Let it Be for the Beatles, or Nashville Skyline for Bob Dylan. Other than the classics we've already known for forty years (Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villians, Vegetables) the rest of this is just lame, annoying pop pasiche completely unworthy of any "genius" label.… Expand
  7. danh
    Jan 11, 2007
    10
    This album is better than pet sounds. It is amazing but would have been better if the other living beach boys were on it.
  8. MichaelT.
    Nov 3, 2007
    10
    This album more than lives up to its own hype. The only slight dissapointment is I don't think the vocal harmonies are as good as the original Beach Boys whould of been but I think his new group do a stella job anyway.
  9. AbrahamR.
    Nov 8, 2007
    9
    It's really a hard to listen album, although it is not so good compared with some albums from the 60's, it's still very good, if someone doesn't like it maybe you should listen to it more times, or maybe just listen to more music, maybe the problem is that you haven't learned how to appreciate it, I had to listen to it 14 times before understanding completely what It's really a hard to listen album, although it is not so good compared with some albums from the 60's, it's still very good, if someone doesn't like it maybe you should listen to it more times, or maybe just listen to more music, maybe the problem is that you haven't learned how to appreciate it, I had to listen to it 14 times before understanding completely what was so wonderful about this album.… Expand
  10. Rick
    Feb 19, 2007
    10
    After reading the majority of comments, I have come to this conclusion. The negative reviews are from young dead-eared rap-damaged musically retarded people who wouldnt recognize a good melody if it bit them and collegiate musical zipperheads w/ their heads so far up there own butts they judge music by how complex it may look on a score instead of by their ears,heart and soul! So sad for After reading the majority of comments, I have come to this conclusion. The negative reviews are from young dead-eared rap-damaged musically retarded people who wouldnt recognize a good melody if it bit them and collegiate musical zipperheads w/ their heads so far up there own butts they judge music by how complex it may look on a score instead of by their ears,heart and soul! So sad for you and the future of music and humanity. If you love melody,harmony and muisc as an artform this album is for you! Ignore these sad sad people and SMiLE instead.… Expand
  11. BenC
    Apr 28, 2007
    3
    The original is incredible, this is mediocre at best. It has so many stops and starts in the middle of songs that it gets annoying. Tedious is the one word i would use to describe this new album
  12. EliE
    May 29, 2007
    10
    Any flaws you could point out in Brian's vocals compared to the original tapes are drastically outweighed by the faithful attempt at reconstructing this greatest of lost pop albums.
  13. EvanW
    Jun 16, 2007
    8
    This album was truly one of the most unique listening experiences I've ever had. I'll admit to not exactly "understanding" everything I heard, but that's a good thing. Although I can recognize that a lot of critics writing up this album may be writing a lot out of nostalgia, the musical merits hold true. I think a lot of what people are missing in this album is its This album was truly one of the most unique listening experiences I've ever had. I'll admit to not exactly "understanding" everything I heard, but that's a good thing. Although I can recognize that a lot of critics writing up this album may be writing a lot out of nostalgia, the musical merits hold true. I think a lot of what people are missing in this album is its intention. It's supposed to be silly! The title is "Smile" for a reason. Perhaps some are a bit too jaded to appreciate this.… Expand
  14. kevink
    Jun 22, 2007
    10
    all of to say is pretty much what the last three people have said except the exact opposite. in the world of pop music brian wilson is god SMiLE is the bible
  15. liors
    Jul 13, 2007
    10
    it's really wonderful , buy this album if you have listened to "pet sounds" before, buy this album if you are willing to give "smile" a chance to be finished and not stay an inflated myth. do not buy this album only because it got a good rating on metacritic , music is a matter of taste not grades.
  16. JoséLuisS
    Jul 28, 2007
    10
    The best of the best... Brian Wilson is a true genius!!!
  17. LeeC.
    Sep 23, 2007
    10
    i think, this is better than 'pet sounds'.
  18. CarlP
    Nov 7, 2008
    10
    In 2004 when his 60's peers had long been spent forces creatively, Brian Wilson gave us SMiLE. If anyone tells you they have ever heard a record quite like this before they are lying because there isn't one. The most simple but remarkable achievement of SMiLE is that is it perhaps the first complete rock/pop "album'. It is not a collection of 3 minute songs recorded In 2004 when his 60's peers had long been spent forces creatively, Brian Wilson gave us SMiLE. If anyone tells you they have ever heard a record quite like this before they are lying because there isn't one. The most simple but remarkable achievement of SMiLE is that is it perhaps the first complete rock/pop "album'. It is not a collection of 3 minute songs recorded together where the sum of the parts is exactly the same as the whole. It is one song composed of many sounds and themes of simple but awe-inspiring scale. Melodies and orchestration that Burt Bacharach or Mozart could only dream of combine with the harmonies invented by Brian Wilson and which for nearly half a century have made his songs the most distinctive and inimitable in contemporary music. Not many artists do Beach Boys covers, because, quite simply, the techical skill and God-given voices required make them unmatchable and mean most mortals could only offer a pale parody of the real thing. But if another artist could never get near improving on "I Get Around" or "Fun,Fun, Fun" then SMilLE makes us all feel even more imperfect in comparison. To offer up Sgt Pepper or any of Brian's rivals best lp's to compare is pointless because they are not complete albums but collections of songs. Great though some of these may be, the likes of "When I'm 64" or "With a Little Help from my Friends" are songs that are not improved or given added significance by being juxtaposed on a long-playing record. "Surf's Up", however is truly magifnicent in its context and and "Heroes and Villains" is not the peak, but just the start of a musical journey we will all feel richer for taking, even if we do want to cry at the end SMiLE. The " man too tough to cry" or, for that matter, laugh, at and with this record really is "beyond belief". Some people might even claim that "Lovely RIta" and the songs recorded with it by The Beatles are better than SMiLE. But surely not with a straight face!!… Expand
  19. CG
    Jan 23, 2008
    0
    Completely overrated, unless it is placed in the children's section. By the way, I still think "Pet Sounds" is as charming as ever. I would normally give this a 4 or so, but it seems my duty to help average out all of the Wilson worship. The only musical "genuis" more overrated is Frank Black and that whole Pixies mess.
  20. AlexT
    Feb 12, 2008
    10
    Quite simply one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. It evokes a feeling of happiness and makes you appreciate the musical genius that is Brian Wilson. The arrangements, harmonies, melodies - everything about this album is perfect. While I can understand why some may find this album to be "childish", it is important to understand that it is not only intentional, but characteristic Quite simply one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. It evokes a feeling of happiness and makes you appreciate the musical genius that is Brian Wilson. The arrangements, harmonies, melodies - everything about this album is perfect. While I can understand why some may find this album to be "childish", it is important to understand that it is not only intentional, but characteristic of this particular genre. Created in a different fashion it would lose much of it's effect. A bonafide pop triumph!… Expand
  21. MarkS.
    Apr 26, 2008
    4
    I've always found Wilson annoying, sorry. Probably the most overrated album in history
  22. TimothyM.
    May 28, 2008
    10
    The best American album ever.
  23. ChrisS
    Jan 12, 2009
    10
    It's tough to figure out which i'm rating here, this album, or the music. Cause i have a bootleg that follows exactly what this release did with pretty much the same arrangements. and not surprisingly, i like that one better. His voice is amazing, and there's something about those old recordings that sound brilliant. The music is obviously great now, but i'm so happy It's tough to figure out which i'm rating here, this album, or the music. Cause i have a bootleg that follows exactly what this release did with pretty much the same arrangements. and not surprisingly, i like that one better. His voice is amazing, and there's something about those old recordings that sound brilliant. The music is obviously great now, but i'm so happy this got a release. i'm sure Brian feels so much better, he deserves all the accolades he gets. it isn't Pet Sounds (nothing is in my opinion). but SMiLE is a beautiful. and a triumph.… Expand
  24. ConnorM
    Nov 4, 2009
    0
    Looking at the comments I think either nostalgia has taken this website by storm, or a company was hired to vote positively, comment positively, etc. this album on websites.
  25. DenisL
    Mar 17, 2009
    1
    Absolutely useless.
  26. JoeS.
    Jul 18, 2009
    10
    'Tis very good, yeah!
  27. BenjaminBunny
    Dec 13, 2004
    5
    I just discovered the Beach Boys last year, so I'm no authority, but "Pet Sounds" has become one of my favorite records--an album that I think many would agree has transcended time and still sounds appealingly fresh and accessible. This, on the other hand, sounds about as fresh as a Laurence Welk rerun. On a certain level I can see its "genius"--all the complex vocal lines, I just discovered the Beach Boys last year, so I'm no authority, but "Pet Sounds" has become one of my favorite records--an album that I think many would agree has transcended time and still sounds appealingly fresh and accessible. This, on the other hand, sounds about as fresh as a Laurence Welk rerun. On a certain level I can see its "genius"--all the complex vocal lines, that's why it's a so-called masterpiece right? Because the songs really aren't that great, and frankly, the endless shoo-be-doo-wop woo vocals are just plain cheesy, despite their "brilliant" complexity. Whenever I put this on, I just find myself wanting to listen to The High Llamas' "Hawaii" instead. Sean O'Hagan captured the essence of "Smile" way more listenably than poor aging Brian Wilson has. Even if this had been released 37 years ago, people would still prefer "Pet Sounds," easy. Ugh.… Expand
  28. LuCindiM
    Dec 26, 2004
    10
    The world is finally ready for Brian Wilson-the complex Brian. He gave us his joy, his sadness, his dreams, his hopes, his fears, his dismay and we are all lucky to finally be able to thank Brian..thank you for your (audio/visual) "Smile".
  29. JohnF
    Dec 31, 2004
    9
    The finest collection of gumball jamz this side of the Baltic Ocean, hands down.
  30. ZapR
    Dec 13, 2005
    10
    Simply the greatest album ever released -- it transcends pop music to create something both new and old -- part Americana, part whimsical escapism, part pure pop, part symphony. The lyrics are both non-sensical and lucid, and Wilson's compositions are breathtakingly, beautiful, such as "Wonderful." This is music to make us smile.
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2004
3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2004
15
#15 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
97

Universal acclaim - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. Tiny Mix Tapes
    100
    Smile is quite simply the greatest triumph in the history of pop music.
    Read full review
  2. Village Voice (Consumer Guide)
    100
    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.
    Read full review
  3. Los Angeles Times
    100
    "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]
See all critic reviews »