rev_m_smile

BRIAN WILSON
Smile

as reviewed by Jack Crompton at Amazon.com, October 1, 2004

Listen... listen... listen...

I have to say, the release of this album took me totally by surprise. I wasn’t expecting it and it’s quite inspiring to take in.

Smile, the most notorious ‘unfinished’ collection of music in modern history has through four decades created an intense cult following due to the out-of-the-box, innovative snippets of music that were recorded at Brian Wilson’s absolute creative peak which sadly coincided with his mental breakdown. Now, in 2004, about 36 years later, the collection is now complete – put together in a seamless musical adventure that, to say the least, more than succeeds in living up to it’s lofty reputation.

This enigmatic set is put down with absolute perfection of the musicianship and vocals. This is not easy music to record, let alone perform live, yet Brian could not have found a more perfect fit of musicians than what he has assembled here, featuring probably the most versatile and creative bands performing today, the Wondermints as well as the very talented Jeffrey Foskett. A string quartet and brass section also backs Wilson, with several members of the Wondermints displaying their multi-talents on several instruments. All these players obviously have a deep respect and love for the music. You can see the joy in their faces as they perform.

I confess, I'm a long time Brian Wilson fan, although I think his solo career has been a mixed bag of both great and occasionally mediocre material and performances. But as Brian has gradually re-emerged from his personal darkness in the nineties, so has his prodigious talent gradually gained a new life. Truly, this release of SMILE has actually exceeded any expectations I may have had. It's a beautifully put together project, from the original compositions that span over 35 years, to the artistic seguay arrangements contributed by Wondermint's keyboardist Darian Sahanaja and others, and through to the performance and sound quality of the finished product.

It's quite affecting to those of us who have followed the career highs and lows of Brian Wilson to see him rebound like this at the age of...what, (sixty something?). Who would have thought he would have out lived his brothers and artistically buried the other band members 25 years ago when he was deep in the prison of mental illness? Yet here he is, sounding as good as he ever has, even if he has lost that superlative falsetto voice of his younger years.

It deserves to be noted that Jeffrey Foskett absolutely nails the upper register vocal harmony, singing like an absolute angel--as good as Brian ever did in his prime. That's not taking anything away from Brian or the original Beach Boys, it's just that he has assembled such an outstanding group of talented individuals here, that absolutely nothing is lost, only enhanced by the history of this music and many years of deep love and respect for the man that created it.

I loved the new (or old) lyrics to Good Vibrations. Heroes and Villians is wonderful, and as perfect as the original recording was, I think I prefer this one. Most effecting for me is the 'Father of the Man... Surf's Up segment'. This is music that goes way beyond just 'music'. It's magical, ground-breaking music and affects me like a spiritual experience. It was a great idea to re-record these songs from scratch, as it has a contemporary sheen to it and great sound quality, however, this music defies any category of 'time' or genre. It's not 'Pet Sounds', or anything else for that matter. It is what it is, and its an important milestone in the career of one of the the worlds most interesting and gifted composers.

Update on the DVD version: WOW! If you think the recording on the CD is good, you need to see the DVD! It's in two parts. The first disk is actually a very well done documentary about the whole project, going back in history to give the viewer the proper historical background on the story of smile. It then gets into the months of preparation of putting the project together with the members of the band. Some insightful moments are shown as Brian faces his demons of the past and deals with self confidence issues before the opening show of Smile... at one point he felt there was no way he could go through with it, and he was emotionally paralyzed. But with the optimism of his supporting musicians and his wife, he carried on. There's a touching shot of Paul McCartney appearing backstage before the show encouraging him.

By seeing these film clips, it's obvious that for Brian, completing and performing this work live required a huge catharsis and release of torments and dissappointments of the past. Lot's of very heavy emotional stuff here... which makes this final result all the more remarkable and satisfying. The second disk in the DVD set is the entire performance of Smile, from beginning to end, and it's amazing. It's not only technically great, and performed to perfection and with heart, but the emotions that are carried with the music are extraordinary. There is so much love in the room that you can actually feel it just watching this in your living room. I get goose bumps whenever I see this. For a work titled, 'Smile', the content lives up the name and much more. There is so much JOY coming through all the musicians and singers, they obviously each have a great deal of love for the music that they are creating.

And as for the previously melancholy and self doubting Brian Wilson -- once he takes the stage and the music begins, with the exquisitely beautiful 'Prayer' in accapella, he is a transformed man. It is like the loving and appreciative vibes of the place just lifted him out of his darkness. You see his face and it's like his inner Spirit just bursts out, liberated from years of repression. He is joyous from beginning to end. It's all very inspirational! Anyone with an interest in Wilson, the Beach Boys and this remarkable story needs to own this DVD. This is a historical event that will be long remembered after we all have passed away.

Take this one home and make time for a good listen. As the master once sang many years ago, long before any of us could really appreciate what he was saying: "Listen... Listen... Listen".

WORDS
REVIEWS

MUSIC