I’ve been thinking about the ongoing debate over which version of Smile is best—The Beach Boys’ Smile Sessions or Brian Wilson’s 2004 Smile.

I recently watched the 2-DVD set:
https://www.discogs.com/release/3353665-Brian-Wilson-Smile

My personal pick is now the live performance at Center Staging, Burbank, California, recorded on 26 September 2004 and featured on the second DVD. It arguably surpasses both studio recordings.

It might be one of the most “upgradable” live performances thanks to the visual component.

When listening to densely complex music with multiple instruments and layered vocal parts, it’s easy to appreciate the overall sound while missing the intricate individual elements that comprise it. That’s one of the joys of great, complex music: the magic of repeat listening and “discovering” new parts you hadn’t consciously noticed before, even after hundreds of listens.

But the Smile live performance on that DVD is probably one of the greatest shortcuts in the process of appreciating such detail. You don’t need to listen hundreds of times to discover the intricacies of the work. The camera continually alternates between musicians, perfectly syncing with instrumental and vocal entries. When a new section begins, the camera cuts to whoever is contributing that part, helping the viewer become fully aware of the dense arrangements and harmonies. The DVD makes you conscious of every important moment that might otherwise pass by in a purely audio experience. You can even see the exact instrument—or sometimes inanimate object—creating a particular sound.

It was an absolute joy to watch, and one of the most transformative visual experiences I’ve had in terms of deepening my appreciation for an album.

Brian Wilson is also in top form throughout. I couldn’t hear any vocal flubs or tuning issues. And if there was overdubbing involved, I honestly don’t care—authenticity isn’t the point here; it’s about appreciating the brilliance of the music.

I’m not sure if ripping the audio from the DVD would result in a version superior to the studio recordings, but as a complete audiovisual product, this is, in my opinion, the best way to experience Smile.

Hex E 14/15

I’ll also add that the first DVD—documenting the original unfinished album and the eventual resurrection of Smile leading up to the 2004 London concert—is deeply compelling. The stress of being rejected by his bandmates over the Smile project (and, I suspect, drug use) led to Brian Wilson’s first psychotic break.

The resurrection of Smile was essentially Brian’s attempt to heal from that trauma. The film captures his PTSD-like struggles while compiling and rehearsing the material. There’s a particularly moving scene showing a vocal rehearsal where Brian sits in a dissociated state, and bandmates express concern about his disengagement. Later, he gradually found the strength and focus to commit fully to the rehearsals. The film also reveals that he experienced a relapse of depression with psychotic features, including command auditory hallucinations instructing him to harm himself, which required a brief psychiatric hospital stay. His wife and the band were seriously concerned about whether his mental health could withstand the process.

Leading up to the concert, Brian was reportedly calling people anxiously, fearing the performance would fail. In a bonus interview, he describes panicking 30 minutes before going on stage and wanting to cancel, but then using meditation to get through the moment and perform.

The documentary ends with a triumphant performance, and Brian Wilson reflects that, through it, he was finally able to lay his demons to rest.

I have to say—it was a deeply inspiring watch.