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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EvaBNov 29, 2006
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JustinBDec 29, 2007Wondrous!
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ruggeroruggeroNov 16, 2009
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Oct 2, 2011
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Jan 24, 2011
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Feb 24, 2012Smile was and is a landmark in pop music. Building on his masterful work on Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson creates a complex, moving and bewildering flow of music.
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Mar 21, 2011The greatest album of all time. Without a doubt. Despite being 37 years old, and with Brian's voice not being anywhere near what it used to be... it's is still astonishing. A tapestry of sounds, imagery, words, ideas and spiritual energies. You have to be fairly bright to "get it".. but my god, if you do.
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Apr 9, 2012Surf's up is possibly the best song ever made and Smile is possibly one of the best albums ever made/not made. 2nd only to Pet Sounds, Smile in its newest most complete incarnation is ecstasy.
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Apr 2, 2019A missing Beach Boys album that could have just become a holy grail of lost content if not for Brian Wilson's reimagining much later. Great on its own the layered accapella vocals are near perfect beach music.
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Oct 22, 2014
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Nov 18, 2021Smile is simply one of the greatest albums of all time. There's something that really warms my heart when I listen to this. Wilson's old yet smooth voice is relaxing to say the least. Please, listen to this album.
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Sep 2, 2021Really emotional, a brilliant masterpiece. Take a moment of your time to listen this album, don´t listen this album as your background sound, you will miss a lot of excellent stuff and ruin your entire experience.
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Jun 11, 2022It took a while for me to really "get" this album, but when it did I was speechless.
Better than Seargent Pepper? Absolutly, this is a masterpiece.
Way better than I thought it would be, I am stunned. -
RaleighRJun 28, 2006
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DarylSMar 10, 2007
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RoccoSJun 12, 2007
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FeidoVApr 12, 2010A great album.
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JackBOct 1, 2004
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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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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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TristramCSep 6, 2005
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KimMMay 2, 2009Simply superb.
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RyanKOct 5, 2004This album is a blast of 1960's psychadelia that is sure to inspire many strange trips... It's beautiful and innocent... why don't people make music like this anymore?
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markfOct 7, 2004
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JohnGNov 7, 2005As close to perfection as is humanly possible.
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MaciejWApr 8, 2005Plain and simple, it made me happy, it made me nod my head in appreciation and it made me smile. In essence, sometimes that is all music needs to do. Brilliant.
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GaryAJun 6, 2005
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NicBJul 23, 2005I wasn't a fan of the Beach Boys, I wasn't not a fan either - they were just always there in the background of my life, but that was until Glastonbury 2005 when I saw Brian Wilson play live. Now I'm a fan. An annoying one who won't shut up about him!
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DaveMJul 12, 2007BRILLIANT!!!!! It took me back twenty years, then forward the same. A true work of art. It definitely left me with "Good Vibrations".
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SophieJul 31, 2007A really wonderful album, with some very slight faults. If only we had the original with us.
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ErikNOct 15, 2004It's getting better and better each time I listen to it.
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ByronJNov 7, 2004This cd may be the best one i've ever purchased. It's quite rewarding if you look deep beneath the surface, as sometimes with Brian Wilson's music(and a few other artists) so much is going on you can't take it all in, in one go. It will take multiple listens for you to fully grasp the reality of the situation.
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AndrewMDec 20, 2004
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tommygOct 27, 2004Beautiful. Warm. A down-filled concept record that dosen't weigh you down. Harkens back to when times were a little bit better, less confused, but still looks forward with confidence and opitimism. Absolutely gorgeous. California chamber pop.
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TheFirstOneToCommentSep 28, 2004If this album were released by the Beach Boys in 1967, it would likely rank as my favorite album ever. In 2004 the songs are just as brilliant, but you miss the vocals of a sixties-era Brian (as well as Carl). This is still the greatest thing I've heard all year. One of the greatest things I've ever heard, in fact.
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SeanJSep 28, 2004No doubt, it's extremely good. However, after all the years of hype, I can't help but feel a bit disappointed? All this fuss for this?! It doesn't come anywhere near Pet Sounds in terms of sheer genius. It's certainly one of the best albums of the year, but the Arcade Fire's "Funeral" is miles beyond this.
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davekNov 16, 2005I have been waiting for this along time ..I just wish it was done by the beach boys of the 60's
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AbrahamR.Nov 8, 2007
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JohnFDec 31, 2004The finest collection of gumball jamz this side of the Baltic Ocean, hands down.
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Sep 29, 2011
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Aug 9, 20169.0
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz -
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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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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nickm.Feb 8, 2008This isn't the highest rated album on metacritic. The highest rated is London Calling by The Clash, which scored a 100. My score is just the avg, this isn't my actual score.
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RyanM.Oct 2, 2004It's good. But, seemingly, people seem to think after keeping a good record on the shelf for 37 years it becomes great. This may be true for wine, but not for "Smile". Though this is a solid album, and better than most crap that's out today, it's not great...then, or now.
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PlatoSDec 23, 2008
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EvanWJun 16, 2007
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Nov 10, 2011
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Aug 15, 2021
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Aug 20, 2023I enjoyed listening to the album. It reminded me of old rock albums. I think it is definitely a timeless album that will never get old.
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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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MartinPApr 25, 2008I haven't listened to this album but i find the fact that some people are rating it 10 to counter the people who rate it 0 which are countering the general reviewers.
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AdamSSep 8, 2009Sounds like a good album, but 97! I think this score may have been boosted by critics nostalgia trips.
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VincentXMay 11, 2005An amusing anachronism brought to us with style. Though It all sounds a little too "thought-out" to me. I picture Brian Wilson in laboratory instead of a studio. I just can't listen to it in one go. For that it is all too much a musical disneyland. So, listen to this one for about 15 minutes and then switch to Hobo Sunrise by the Hunches as quick as possible.
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RichardKDec 15, 2006This album is good, but how it got its ranking I'll never understand. I'm obviously missing something. On the other hand, why do some people give 1's and 2's? Is it just to offset the misplaced 10's? Metacritic's ratings always tend to the extreme.
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JohnYJan 19, 2010
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LionelRNov 12, 2004I was 15 years old in 1967 and this album is not unlike a magic carpet ride back in time. It is clever, it is amusing but most of all it is deeply disturbing. I have downrated it by 2 points because I sense that it is technically inferior to "what it shud've sounded like" parts of it lack the tight control which is after all the beachboys' trademark
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Sep 17, 2014
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ChadSJun 26, 2005
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BrendanDFeb 19, 2007
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davebJul 21, 2007
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MikeONov 6, 2005Surf's Up and Good Vibrations are superb, but we already knew that. The versions on Smile are inferior to the Beach Boys. Heroes & Villains is good, the rest is average to weak. What was all the fuss about? This is really the most over-hyped album of all time, yet it is still rates a 6/10 due to the 3 tracks mentioned above.
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ACriticOct 6, 2005I enjoyed the CD. Some of it. The songs were very unique and experimental, and had very different affects to them. "Our Prayer" was harmonic and bright, "You are my Sunshine" has a very dark sound to it. "Roll Plymouth Rock" was beautiful. Although, some of the tracks (Barnyard, Mrs. O'Leary's Cow), were a miss for me. A real mix I would recommend for anyone to listen to.
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SebastianWDec 15, 2009I may just not understand its context, I may just not be enough of a Beach Boys fan, but considering this album takes the throne on metacritic, I find it's simply too counter-modern and envisions its listeners too narrowly.
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JackLMar 12, 2006
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IlliniqAug 21, 2006
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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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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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ScottSJun 25, 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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AgatheMMar 19, 2005It's OK, but what's the big deal?
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GeneDSep 13, 2008
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BenjaminBunnyDec 13, 2004
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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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hitchynonejusthitchy!Oct 13, 2005
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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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evansDec 23, 2004
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JohnWAug 3, 2005It's ok, but it's a far cry from anything great. It's just an update of the Beach Boys. Nothing new, nothing fresh.
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CKbiggieMar 26, 2006wanted to like this, but 4 listens later was trying hard to stay awake. the critical fervor is completely baffling... a very mediocre album.
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fagrJun 20, 2007how did this shit get up here... it seems that when critics see the beatles or the rolling stones or such oldies they feel the obligation to slap a 100 on it. NOT GOOD, put me to sleep
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FredMMay 21, 2008
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robertvDec 13, 2004
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MarkS.Apr 26, 2008I've always found Wilson annoying, sorry. Probably the most overrated album in history
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Mar 28, 2022I can't understand who (apart from Brian Wilson, who apparently ran out of money in 2004) needed this album. It's bland, secondary, and has nothing to do with the magic of the old Beach Boys. The production is also not amazing. I was terribly bored (but I did like two tracks - unfortunately, these were the two I already knew).
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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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DaveNAug 5, 2005Who would have thought that the band Brian really wanted to play in was the Moody Blues?
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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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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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mattfOct 27, 2005I just don't get it and I've listened to the album many times. Best album of 2004. No way!
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JacobQNov 16, 2005Those demons in ol Brians head should have stayed there and not recorded on cd. I'm putting this "gem" on ebay...
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radarOct 13, 2005It sounds cold and overproduced. Go for the originals, folks. This was done just as good before.
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BenCApr 28, 2007The 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
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Jul 29, 2019Just like the beach boys and most of the music from this time. It's boring repetive and not very good. Maybe I am just a cynical person but I couldn't stand this albumm
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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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DustinBOct 26, 2005
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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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AHNov 20, 2006Credit must be given to the level of creativity and variety on this album. In saying that however, variety without purpose and cohesion can be a bad thing and this album, after about Track 11, becomes really tiresome. Track 12 Vega-tables is just a montage of goofy sounds and nonsense.
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ButchAutomaticAug 11, 2008Ouch! Brian, like Paul McCartney, should relaize when it is time to sit back and enjoy their spoils. Guys - you did well - it's time to stop before you implode and totally ruin what could be fond memories for us. LEARN A NEW HOBBY!
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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]