A baffling, yet brilliant follow up to Pet Sounds (Smiley Smile - Beach Boys)

Member Name: DAC1983

Product:	Smiley Smile - Beach Boys
Date:	18/05/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Brian's creative licence left to roam - and unlike anything else by the Beach Boys

Disadvantages: At times patchy

The Beach Boys follow up to the seminal Pet Sounds is a both baffling and thoroughly rewarding experience. Brian Wilson road to mental decline has been well documented, and this record serves as the perfect illustration of his desire to out-do both The Beatles and his own past achievements.

Containing some of The Beach Boys very best moments - notably Good Vibrations, Heroes and Villains - alongside some Wilson oddities (She's Goin' Bald for example), the record serves as the perfect reminder of the brilliant, yet at times flawed, genius of Wilson and Co.

A likely winner of any "Strangest follow-up to a hit record" competition, Smiley Smile is a utterly facinating listen, chronicling Wilson's battle with his own inner demons and illustrating his limitless imagination and desire to experient, Beach Boys Today! this is not - but certainly it's none the worse for it.

At times patchy, but nonetheless absolutely brilliant, Similey Smile ranks right up there with the very best of the Beach Boys output - Pet Sounds included.

Summary: Not for casual Beach Boys listeners, but a facinating insight into one of music's greatest stories