SMiLE
by Brian Wilson
The 396th greatest album of all time
Brian Wilson Presents Smile (2004) is a solo reworking and completion of the famously unfinished 1966-67 Smile sessions originally conceived for the Beach Boys. The album uses modular song fragments, dense vocal harmonies and orchestral color to blend pop and chamber pop textures with psychedelic and classic rock touches, often referencing California and pastoral themes. Its sound emphasizes intricate arrangements, shifting song sections, and a theatrical, collage-like approach to melody and instrumentation.
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