Dood'll Doo

I love to tell everyone about how I first started listening to the Beach Boys.

The summer I turned twelve, I walked down to the beach with my mom. On the way back, I saw a pile of free stuff on the side of Bank Street. One of the items was a 8 track deck with four tapes on top- all by the Beach Boys. Endless Summer, American Summer, 15 Big Ones, and Good Vibrations: The Best of the Beach Boys. Naturally I took it home and was astounded it worked. All the tapes made good summer music except Good Vibrations. It was weird. "Heroes and Villains" freaked me out and "Friends" sounded stupid. Then "Sloop John B" came on. It was catchy and all until the second chorus came around and the backing track dropped out and the Boys' harmonies soared above me. Those four bars changed my life.

That instantly became my favorite tape. My Dad's copy of Pet Sounds mysteriously vanished from his car. I wanted as much Beach Boys as possible. Then in 2004 came Brian Wilson's re-imagined SMiLE album and I learned about its legendary beginnings. I saw myself as a missionary for Brian, telling all my friends about him and how the Beach Boys aren't just some surf band that plays the Melody Tent every year.

I loved that record. I saw the tour. I bought the doc. But it, and everything else, pales in comparison to the new SMiLE Session album that came out last week.

No. I am not exaggerating. This is the best pop album ever. Dennis Wilson was not kidding when he said "SMiLE makes Pet Sounds stink." This album IS a pop symphony. It is where Wilson went from imitation to originality. As great as Pet Sounds and "California Girls" are, they still have the apparent Phil Spector and Four Freshman influences. But SMiLE? I have no idea what SMiLE sounds like. Shit, I'm still convinced "Good Vibrations" was written by aliens.

It's tighter than the 2004 record. It is the sound of creativity and spontaneity. On "Vega-tables," you can almost hear Brian Wilson saying "OK today we're all gonna eat healthy food and stay in shape! Isn't that great?"

It really is no wonder Brian lost it. I can't imagine anyone sitting down and writing these notes. No wonder George Martin and Leonard Bernstein were knocking down Brian's door wanting to hear this. It's one of those times where music completely renders me speechless. The only thing I can say is please listen to this record. It'll do your soul good.

It's probably good it didn't come out in 1966. But I can't even say 2011 is a better time or even 2004 for that matter. SMiLE stands alone. It's in its own world. And I'm so glad I only have to turn on my stereo to go there.