Brian Wilson's SMiLE at Carnegie Hall Oct 12/13!

G

goldfish boy

Otium cum dignitate
#1
#1
(N.B. I have no fiduciary interest in these concerts or this album. I am not part of a marketing team or street team. I don't own any stock in Carnegie Hall, Nonesuch Records or Halliburton.)

If you've heard anything from the forthcoming album or from the original 1966-67 sessions, you know Carnegie Hall is the appropriate venue for this momentous NYC tour stop.

I'm posting about it so far in advance because after selling rather gradually over the past month, ticket sales have suddenly picked up and it looks like both shows are going to sell out.

The most renowned unfinished album in history is now finished and it's coming out Sept. 28. For the uninitiated, SMiLE was started in the 1960s as a Beach Boys album, the follow-up to "Pet Sounds," but producer/composer Brian Wilson shelved it and the vastly inferior rush job "Smiley Smile" came out instead. Last year, Wilson and original lyricist Van Dyke Parks finished and sequenced the work for a rapturously received European tour, and Wilson recorded a new studio version this past summer.

I've heard lots of it, and I fervently believe anyone who loves pop music will love SMiLE. This ain't "Fun Fun Fun" or "Be True To Your School," it's a through-composed three-movement pop symphony. The range of novel sounds, catchy melodies and intricate arrangements is dazzling. The lyrics are alternately impressionistic and heart-tugging, poetic and funny. Themes include westward expansion, loss of childhood innocence, the alchemical elements, pirates and vegetables. :)

If you're interested, tickets are available at carnegiehall.org. You can hear tracks from the album in lo-fi .mp3 at smilethealbum.com.
 
Whines

Whines

prefers formal greetings
#3
#3
It's great that this is happening. Of course, it's too bad that it didn't happen when it was SUPPOSED to, back in 1968 or whatever. I saw Brian Wilson sing all of Pet Sounds on some tour a few years ago. It was a good time. I mean, Brian seems to be really socially awkward and amazingly un-savvy (judging from his banter) but you can't knock those songs!
 
G

goldfish boy

Otium cum dignitate
#6
#6
If you want to go, you should probably get tickets real soon. At this point it looks like the only place you can get two seats together is the rear balcony. Of course, better seats may or may not open up closer to the date. Concert of a lifetime.

Sorry, I'm just really excited. The album comes out on Tuesday.

"Comparing Smile to pop music is like comparing the poster paint daubings of an infant to the vast canvasses of Velasquez. But Smile stands up with any of the great music of the 20th century. In its interweaved and repeated melodic strands it echoes Prokofiev's Kije Suite. In its appropriation of American folk it stands up there with the work of Gershwin and Copeland. In its sheer contemplative beauty it rubs shoulders with Miles Davis' Kind Of Blue. One of the greatest albums of the 21st century." – New Music Express

"There is a remarkable consistency about Smile's complex tapestry of delights. Wilson can rest secure in the knowledge that he's finally delivered the masterpiece that's surely the long playing equal of that still awe inspiring 'Good Vibrations'. Genius? You bet. Brilliant".
– MOJO (4 stars)

"The cumulative effect is almost overwhelming - sad, lush, startling, tragic and beautiful. What's ironic is that it makes far more sense now than it might have done 37 years ago."
Time Out
 
G

goldfish boy

Otium cum dignitate
#7
#7
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Tomorrow. The. Best. Album. In. The. History. Of. Pop. Music. Will. Be. Released. In. The. USA.

It's already out in the UK and Ireland. Those lucky bastards.

Rave reviews from just about everyone except the Chicago Sun-Times and a few Canadian papers.

The vinyl-only first single (Wonderful b/w Wind Chimes) is No. 29 on the UK singles charts. :)

There are two seats left (upper balcony) for Oct. 12 at Carnegie Hall. Oct. 13 is sold out. If you want to see this, be quick or be a very good friend of mine. :)

Less than 24 hours and a legend becomes real. :)
 
dishman

dishman

what the HELL is that??
#8
#8
I have a recording of the first (this year) Smile show from the UK. It is excellent, although the quality is just OK. I'd love to go to these CH shows but I don't know if I can shell out that cash. I will certainly purchase the album, though. Very fluid conceptual stuff. I am imagine it to be great live.
 
Z-Tab

Z-Tab

Grampa Spoonbread
#9
#9
I'm listening to it (the album) off of the VH1 website right now. It's pretty damn good. Personally, I prefer the versions released in the Good Vibrations Box Set of some of these songs (primarily, I suspect, because of the massive change in the timbre of Brian's voice - though, I must say that "Surf's Up" will never be better than the version with just Brian and a piano), but it is really great to hear the whole thing together the way Brian Wilson wanted it. And that orchestra sounds pretty damn good.

Album of the week? I think so, and for a number of weeks to come.

ADDED:

If that Wind Chimes/Mrs. O'Leary's Cow coupling had been released in 1967 all of pop music would be different today. Beatles who?
 
Last edited:
G

goldfish boy

Otium cum dignitate
#10
#10
Z-Tab said:
Personally, I prefer the versions released in the Good Vibrations Box Set of some of these songs (primarily, I suspect, because of the massive change in the timbre of Brian's voice
Click to expand...
They're fragments. The old attempts can never be a whole. I understand what you mean about BW's '60s voice, but the clock can't be turned back. Those recordings will always be there, but for me the totality of SMiLE trumps the old bits and pieces, no matter how lovely. Furthermore...listen to an uncompressed version of the album and you'll hear so much awesome stuff in the tracks that you don't hear on the old recordings.

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :inlove: !
 
G

goldfish boy

Otium cum dignitate
#12
#12
Z-Tab said:
I picked up the CD. It's certainly growing on me (his voice). But, where's "Cool Cool Water"?!?!?!?
Click to expand...
The backing track of "In Blue Hawaii" (originally "I Love To Say Da Da") was the inspiration for "Cool Cool Water," but "CCW" has never been part of Smile. It's a great song, though. They do use that weird "water" chant, though, did you notice?
 
Stacy

Stacy

that's me!
#13
#13
Extra tickets?

If anybody hears anything abou extra tickets, let me know. I'd love to check it out. It's a shame I waited too long to buy them :(
Have fun at the concert Goldfish Boy!!!
 
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