Prog bands influenced by The Beach Boys' SMiLE

Atavachron wrote:  ^ So you don't like Smiley Smile and you don't like Smile.   That means you probably wouldn't have liked the original album as conceived back in '67, which if given the proper attention likely would've rivaled Sgt. Pep for new and original pop music.   Smiley Smile, even as released in its stillborn state, was bold;  a whole new way of looking at experimental rock music which in '67 made Piper at the Gates of Dawn and Freak Out look undisciplined, and the Beatles tame.   It is a breakthrough if completely unacknowledged masterwork.

If the original Smile album was released as conceived back in 1967, I highly doubt that it would have rivaled Sgt. Pep. any more than the Four Season's Genuine Imitation Life Gazette album did when it was released in '69, as the musical times had quickly changed with the advent of acid rock mixed with social consciousness. As Jimi Hendrix once opined after first hearing Hereos and Villians, the song sounded to him like a  "psychedelic barber shop quartet". (His observation was not meant to be a compliment.)  However, without a machine to alter past events, the best we can do is speculate.





Edited by SteveG - June 16 2014 at 15:39

The Residents must have been influenced by this:

Got me a little confused on this one as the original Smile sessions were pretty much scraped and  what was salvaged was the inferior Smilely Smile album after Brian "lost it". I personally think the material on the recently released Smile Sessions album is overrated with the exception of the song Surfs Up. Back to the question on Beach Boys influence, Pet Sounds undoubtably influenced the Beatles to use the recording studio as an instrument for the first time, a key component of early prog as well as helping McCartney to envision the bass guitar as more of a lead instrument  and freeing it's role from that of a rhythym instrument only. I don't know off hand of anyone else they influenced then as their street cred quickly nosed dived but I heard a song recently from alt/folk rockers Fleet Foxes that was pure vintage PS and SS era Beach Boys, so obviously someone has been listing to these albums lately.






Edited by SteveG - June 16 2014 at 15:37

Even if they're not listed on PA (nor should they, just like The Beach Boys shouldn't), you definitely want to check out Animal Collective. Sounds like what you're looking for. Personally I consider albums like Strawberry Jam and Merriweather Post Pavilion, as well as the solo album from Panda Bear - Person Pitch to be modern heirtakers to the experimental sway of SMiLE.

 Agreed, I love both equally for different reasons (though you can't beat that first issue)

That is a toughie.   Phenomenal record in all its incarnations.   I'd guess the biggest influence would've been on what became known as 'avant garde';  Zappa, early Floyd, some of the Beatles later stuff, and maybe guys like Morgan Fisher and Dave Greenslade.   But the album broke so many rules and is so bizarre at times I can't see how it didn't have an impact on almost everyone.   At least those who listened.

How do you Like Brian's re-recording ?




Edited by Atavachron - June 14 2014 at 00:15