Legends of Laurel Canyon

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   Brian Wilson was certainly living in a different world during the time period when he was writing and recording SMILE. He certainly aimed to capture Americana however it adds an outsider music approach which wasn't totally like Psychedelic to me and in certain cases crossed into insanity not unlike the L.A. freak scene in the late 60s.  

Songs like "WONDERFUL" and "WIND CHIMES" were sort of ballads but very odd as Van Dyke Parks lyrics were dreamy and captivating . In "WONDERFUL " the story of the girl being in love with her liberty and perhaps walking through the forest alone and loved by her mother and father is fascinating and luring. In a way she was a misfit and the whimsical aspect of the song crosses into dark depression.

"WIND CHIMES " is drifty, flowing, and fairly unusual in its overall expression. "Though it's hard I try not to look at my wind chimes" This song projects a kind of airy sadness and hope . 

"CABIN ESSENCE" is quite different from any style of writing I heard in the late 60s.  The song "SURF'S UP" is a masterpiece and it differs from the other tracks on the album.

"THE ELEMENTS FIRE ( Mrs. O' Leary's Cow) is rather insane for its time. Brian Wilson handed out LSD to the band and they wore fireman hats riding around in a fire truck tripping their minds out. This comes across sounding much like The Residents. 

The problem is that SMILE wasn't released in 1967..although people did in fact buy bootleg copies of it. Brian Wilson re-recorded the album in the 90s ( I believe?)..but it didn't do anything for me. The original Beach Boys SMILE was interesting and worthy of a listen. Some people in the past have commented the following: "I don't understand what anyone would see in this" You obviously have to like The Beach Boys...but as soon as you've said that you begin to encounter Beach Boys fans who loathe it because they find it all weirded out and disturbing in sections and long for songs about surfing and hot rods. 

Brian Wilson was in a strange mindset when he wrote it and some fans cringe when they hear it. I think it's odd for the times. You can obviously tell that it's them singing but they sometimes use phase shifters and echo on their voices which creates a different affect on the album.  They employ some J.S. Bach and quirky 2 minute instrumentals that are reminiscent of The Residents Tales Of Two Cities. I've played this album for people under the influence and they become thrown off and can't conclude why they recorded this kind of album. I wonder how it would have affected people in 1967 if it had been released.  Danny Hutton claimed that Brian Wilson had short pieces or bits and pieces he recorded.  ..but Wilson edited those bits to form a concept album. The bits fall between the songs clocking in between 3 to 5 minutes.  It's more like a Rock symphony. I like it because it's unusual. 