Week One: Smiley Smile

Jun 23
Nicolas - i'm already listening to it. i'm going back to Wind Chimes. I think i just missed a lot in that one.

Jun 24
Bryan - There's really a tension in this one that I find pretty scary. The way the line "Close your eyes and lean back...." is delivered, with that sort of forced annunciation just makes me think that Carl is sitting there gazing at the sharp, silver blade in his hand.

Jun 24
Bryan - Or is that Dennis?
This brings up one problem I have, telling these fuckers apart. I can pick out Mike (spit) Love and Brian, but it's hard for me to tell who is who.

Jun 24
Nicolas - yeah. they are all singing on that track too. ill listen to it again. but i think Dennis is a little more 'breathy' than Carl.

Jun 24
Nicolas - you know, i think that's Dennis. the wikipedia page on the song doesn't give enough info to know. they just go on and on about the original version for Smile. As a matter of fact that's all anyone talks about when they talk about this record. I mean i understand the huge impact that that record has essentially by not existing but let's talk about what IS instead of what should have been.

Jun 24
Bryan - Oh he's breathy all right.

Jun 24
Nicolas - 'i'm the kinda guy, who loves to mess around'

Jun 28
Bryan - After listening to most of Smiley Smile with Derek last night, he pointed out that Carl was actually the breathy one. Just listen to Wonderful, that's some breathy shit. He compared Carl's voice to Chet Baker, which I think is pretty apt. Still, I think the "Close you're eyes and lean back" is still Dennis.

Jun 23
Bryan - I'd like to be the first to say, fuck Mike Love. Just the way he says, "too late baby, ain't nothin upside your head" it feels like the dentist just drilled into my nerve.

Jun 23
Nicolas - yeah. chris and i were just talking about him. why's he so creepy? apparently there's some Bruce Johnston interview that i can't seem to find where he makes the caveat that Mike Love is not Hitler. Which means what? he's only as bad as Stalin or something?

Jun 24
Nicolas - "And one of the greatest things that interested me was that he (the Maharishi) said 'You don't have to give up your Rolls Royce...and forsake all your pursuits of material pleasures...to develop innerspiritual qualities'. That sounded real good to me."
..................................Mike Love, 1968

Jun 24
Bryan - Dear Beach Boys,

The name of my favorite vegetable is the Armenian Cucumber.

Thanks for asking.

Love,

Bryan

Jun 25
Nicolas - asparagus...maybe...

Jun 24
Nicolas - do you feel better now? wait...didn't you just acquire an armenian cucumber for the first time and you put it in that salad when i was at your house?

Jun 24
Bryan - No, we have a long-standing friendship.
I'll feel better when Brian knows.

Jun 24
Nicolas - yeah well, it was considerably more dynamic than a regular cucumber, but your 'favorite'? really?


Jun 29
Nicolas - also, "All versions of the song feature the novel use of vegetable chewing as percussion. During the Smile sessions, Paul McCartney was recorded chewing celery. Al Jardine remembers that "the night before a big tour, I was out in the studio recording the vocal [for 'Vegetables'] when, to my surprise, Paul McCartney walked in and joined Brian at the console. And, briefly, the two most influential musical Geminis in the world had a chance to work together."

Jun 29
Bryan - We need a note here about the astrological implications of having two Geminis working together.

Jun 29
Nicolas - ill get on that

Jun 29
Nicolas - ok. this is from www.novareinna.com, which, based on the artwork alone, looks pretty reputable: "This should prove to be a compatible combination in that both would, at least, understand each other's changeable nature and sexual demands (or needs) would be mutual. There is the potential for an excellent partnership here, particularly where the principals are engaged in corresponding vocations, such as singer/composer or author/publisher, for example. The Gemini penchant for change and variety will keep this relationship "on the hop" and whether it produces happiness or sadness will depend largely upon one of partners paying attention...if only for some of the time. Discussion are likely to be lively ones between this pairing and while life will probably be restless and ever-changing, neither one would prefer it any other way. In short, The Gemini/Gemini mix makes for a versatile, charming and vivacious pair who will never get bored (or be boring) due to their interest in just about everything. Being fascinating conversationalists, this pairing will have a multitude of friends and the lifestyle pace is likely to be quite frenetic. However, plenty of socializing is paramount to this combination leading a happy life totether. This mix is comprised of two curious, witty and talkative individuals, both of whom will be somewhat childlike in their love of exploration and variety. They are unlikely to take life as seriously as most other couples.

This combination also has certain potential weaknesses in common which are likely to come to the forefront...being overly-willing to abandon a project or relationship when it becomes too difficult or demanding, for instance. Given that Gemini individuals live within their heads, there may also be a tendency to avoid paying attention to the other's feelings. When together, there may also be frequent word games, intellectual sparring and light banter. In other words, there is the potential in this pair to employ humor in order to gloss over serious topics and emotional issues which may lead to the relationship becoming superficial, unstable and extremely restless. The Gemini/Gemini combination actually stands a better chance at longevity if the couple meet later in life. However, this mixture will enjoy some wonderful times together no matter how long the relationship is fated to last."

Jun 24
Nicolas - I'm really liking "Gettin' Hungry" and i'm especially liking this cover for the single:

Gettin' Hungry

Jun 25
Nicolas - yeah, this is my favorite song on here. that organ sound is really great. especially the bass line in the chorus.

Jun 24
Nicolas - interesting tidbit. Paul Tanner, the theremin player on Good Vibrations was actually a trombone player in Glen Miller's band for years. He also donated the theremin that he used in that recording to a hospital to use for hearing tests.

Jun 24
Nicolas - Brian Wilson radio interview about Smiley Smile
creepy Brian Wilson solo performance of Good Vibrations

Jun 28
Bryan - The video is kind of sad. You gotta feel for the guy.
The lack of echo on the album is fascinating. That's something I didn't pick up on. I'm assuming he's talking about reverb. Now I need to listen to it again with that in mind.


Jun 28
Nicolas - oh yeah man. def feel bad for him. it's super sad. i mean granted a lot of the damage was self inflicted but i think daddy really screwed them all up.

Jun 28
Nicolas - the lack of any instrumentation is fascinating. it hit me the last time i listened to it that other than "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibes" most of the track only have about 3 instruments on them. I guess i just never saw that because their voices just sound so full.

Jun 30

Bryan - It's been a good week, listening to smiley smile again. I have to agree with you, Nick. I really want to talk about what is instead of what could have been. Smile didn't happen. And really, whether you're judging Smiley Smile against the merits of Pet Sounds or against the promise of what Smile could have been, there's no doubt that Smiley Smile comes up short.
Still, I remembered what a revelation Good Vibrations was to me after hearing it all my life on the radio and tv, and suddenly hearing it lodged between these strange songs that seemed to be so disconnected from the sun and fun Beach Boys.
I can't help feel some sadness moving on from here. I'm pretty sure things get worse as Mike (spit) Love takes more control.



Nicolas - This is a long road man so you might want to look at it a little more positively as we've just begun. but yes, i'm glad that we didn't get bogged down discussing Smile tracks or, even worse, that "Smile" that came out a few years back...yikes. Anyway, in summation, i found Smiley Smile to basically be discomforting. It's really difficult to find anything cohesive to grab onto. It jumps all over the place. You have these tracks like Heroes and Good Vibes with huge arrangements smashed between some of the most starkly produced recordings they've ever made. So while the quality of the songwriting may (or may not) go down hill after this record at least the records tend to make a little more sense.|