SMiLE - A Newbie's impressions
From The Smile Shop
SMiLE - A Newbie's impressions, by Laurie Arleen
So I finally bought my own copy of Smile, and listened to the entire album for the first time (please don't hate me for waiting this long). My expectations were a bit of hesitance at first, knowing a bit about the history of the album and the time period in which it was conceived. I expected something dark and strange, and to my pleasant surprise, I found something bright, colorful, and very multi-dimensional. My overall impression of the album upon hearing it for the first time, was utter amazement at the detail, the complexity yet simplicity of the songs, the multitude of instruments and sounds so carefully arranged, while at the same time having such sophisticated vocal arrangements. I noticed the "movements", as in the many classical pieces that I have played on the piano throughout my life, and I love how the songs are all connected with little melodies. The second movement especially is my favorite, as it is very bright, positive, and magical. You can feel the positive energy and brightness of this music... as if the light from the music moves from your ears and infiltrates through your whole body, causing you to feel as if you radiate with a positive beautiful glow. The 60's feel is there, and the modern technology of the instruments/sound recording simply enhances a wonderful package.
And now I will go through my impressions of each song. Perhaps my review won't go into the technical details as many of you have done, but this is how the album impacts me on an emotional/spiritual level...
1. Our Prayer/Gee - an awesome introduction of spiritual harmony... I listen with my eyes closed and picture myself in one of the many Basilicas that I have visited in Italy... to hear this on one of those magnificent churches would be simply breathtaking. Then to follow, an upbeat vocal intro to lead into Heroes and Villains...
2. Heroes and Villains - excellent song. Brian does a wonderful job here. The cantina part is a pleasant interlude. I love the instrumental part with the orchestra.
3. Roll Plymouth Rock - This one is interesting. At the beginning, there is a pleasant yet anticipatory mood with a sense of foreshadowing for something to come, then it breaks into the mysterious piano/harpsichord section with the Heroes and Villains chanting bringing some drama into the song. This goes back and forth for a bit, and the song ends with the mysterious piano/harpsichord taking a positive twist and moves into the Barnyard
4. Barnyard - Cute song, rhythmic background, nice little harmonies in the background, funny lyrics, and animal sounds make it a nice little break...then it moves gently into...
5. Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine - So similar to the original version, but Brian singing Dennis' part gives me a sense of eerieness, though Brian does the part very well.
6. Cabin Essence - Sounds like something out of the old west... maybe a relaxing visit to a simpler time, simpler lifestyle...then all of a sudden breaks into a symphonic celebration, only to move back into the original western mood, again into the full-bodied celebration, the transition into the next song is simply wonderful with the strings and vocal chorus.
7. Wonderful - I love this song. Slow and wondrous... bright and beautiful, love the contra vocal patterns, the harpsichord was a wonderful choice of instrument to accompany this piece.
8. Song for Children - evolves into an upbeat section (very sixties sounding almost Turtles/Association - sounding). "Father of the Son" slower part, then hear a sneak peak of some Good Vibrations phrasing on the glockenspiel...
9. Child is Father of the Man - more mature, less whimsical, yet same chorus pattern comes up, indicating a grown-up with the child still in him. Almost a struggle between maturity and childhood innocence...and at the end a beautiful strings transition into....
10. Surf's Up - very polished piece of work - smooth, dreamy, calm, relaxing mood... complexities of the music and vocals are there but they are very subtle so as not to interfere with the mood. Brian's falsetto is still there, albeit more mature sounding than his early days, but it's there. Such a beautiful song. And the the vocals towards the end seem to come from many directions, as erratic as an ocean current but still with smooth waves....
11. I'm in Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop.. - a waltz, almost curious in nature, moving into a psychadelic brief moment, and then almost a lounge-type style, reminiscent of torch singers...and then does a 180 degree turn into a construction zone, yet the transition is smooth with the cello ...
12. Vega-tables - Very nice version of this song... I've heard 2 other versions before and this one is more interesting, clean-sounding, and has some incredible sound effects that greatly enhance the mood of the song. Kind of childlike, is the mood of this song, with some of the sound effects like those made by little kids on the playground.
13. On a Holiday - Whimsical, start with the xylophone and stacatto flutes, evolves into a nautical theme. I'm waiting to see Popeye and Olive Oyl jump out at me. And it nicely brings back the Roll Plymouth Rock chorus too...
14. Wind Chimes - great visual imagery with xylophones makes you see hundreds of windchimes tinkling in the breeze... I think this is a song about recalling past memories in vivid detail, and the windchimes seem to bring back perhaps a painful memory... Very cool transition at the end
15. Mrs. O'Leary's Cow - Very wierd and amazing instrumental, dramatic and powerful. Creates a feeling of chaos, desperation, anxiety. Perhaps this reflects some of the inner turmoil that Brian has experienced in his life.
16. In Blue Hawaii - The starting of this song reminds me of the calm after the storm... but quickly moves into a positive feeling again... almost optimism... dreaming of Blue Hawaii, optimistic outlook and an indication of good things to come, a beautiful strings section at the end followed by those angelic voices from the beginning, leads into...
17. Good Vibrations - slightly different lyrics, but I like it. However I miss the Beach Boys vocals in this one. Though this version sounds great too. A great ending to an absolute masterpiece!
