The Beach Boys

Long known for being the most famous unreleased album in Rock history, The Beach Boys “Smile” has finally seen the light of day. “Smile” was originally to be the follow-up to the bands iconic “Pet Sounds,” but the original 1967 release date for “Smile” was delayed and the project was shelved (several reasons have been given, but the pressure for Brian Wilson to make a stellar follow up to the critically lauded “Pet Sounds“ surely must have weighed heavy on his shoulders) .

Now some 34 years later, the record finally makes is proper debut (though Brian Wilson did release a solo version of “Smile” in 2004) as part of the Beach Boys catalogue, yet slightly re-titled as "The Smile Sessions." One listen brings up the question of why the record was ever delayed in the first place.

“The Smile Session” is a 2 CD set with 19 tunes (plus 22 bonus tracks!) that are, for the most part, near perfect. While not a concept album, the records opens up with the harmony layered “Our Prayer” and ends with was most likely the best single the band ever recorded, “Good Vibrations.”

In between there are some magical moments as the acoustic wonder "Wind Chimes" and “Surfs Up, “ which appears as if it’s gonna be just another beach song about “hanging 10,” has little to do with their earlier odes to the sea and sand on the beaches of California.

Wilson was at his most experimental and competative (while the British Invasion was waning, the UK music scene was still a dominant force on the scene) during this time, so it is little wonder that “The Smile Sessions” are nothing short of prodigious.

In addition to this release, the rumor mill is overflowing with talk of a 2012 tour with of all the remaining Beach Boys, which give the bands faithful many reasons to smile.