User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 522 Ratings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 398 out of 522
-
Mixed: 39 out of 522
-
Negative: 85 out of 522
Review this album
-
-
Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.
-
-
Submit
-
Check Spelling
- User score
- By date
- Most helpful
-
Aug 20, 2023I enjoyed listening to the album. It reminded me of old rock albums. I think it is definitely a timeless album that will never get old.
-
Jun 11, 2022It took a while for me to really "get" this album, but when it did I was speechless.
Better than Seargent Pepper? Absolutly, this is a masterpiece.
Way better than I thought it would be, I am stunned. -
Mar 28, 2022I can't understand who (apart from Brian Wilson, who apparently ran out of money in 2004) needed this album. It's bland, secondary, and has nothing to do with the magic of the old Beach Boys. The production is also not amazing. I was terribly bored (but I did like two tracks - unfortunately, these were the two I already knew).
-
Nov 18, 2021Smile is simply one of the greatest albums of all time. There's something that really warms my heart when I listen to this. Wilson's old yet smooth voice is relaxing to say the least. Please, listen to this album.
-
Sep 2, 2021Really emotional, a brilliant masterpiece. Take a moment of your time to listen this album, don´t listen this album as your background sound, you will miss a lot of excellent stuff and ruin your entire experience.
-
Aug 15, 2021
-
Jul 29, 2019Just like the beach boys and most of the music from this time. It's boring repetive and not very good. Maybe I am just a cynical person but I couldn't stand this albumm
-
Apr 2, 2019A missing Beach Boys album that could have just become a holy grail of lost content if not for Brian Wilson's reimagining much later. Great on its own the layered accapella vocals are near perfect beach music.
-
Aug 9, 20169.0
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz -
Oct 22, 2014
-
Sep 17, 2014
-
Apr 9, 2012Surf's up is possibly the best song ever made and Smile is possibly one of the best albums ever made/not made. 2nd only to Pet Sounds, Smile in its newest most complete incarnation is ecstasy.
-
Feb 24, 2012Smile was and is a landmark in pop music. Building on his masterful work on Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson creates a complex, moving and bewildering flow of music.
-
Nov 10, 2011
-
Oct 2, 2011
-
Sep 29, 2011
-
Mar 21, 2011The greatest album of all time. Without a doubt. Despite being 37 years old, and with Brian's voice not being anywhere near what it used to be... it's is still astonishing. A tapestry of sounds, imagery, words, ideas and spiritual energies. You have to be fairly bright to "get it".. but my god, if you do.
-
Jan 24, 2011
-
FeidoVApr 12, 2010A great album.
-
-
BrianEMar 26, 2010Perfection in Sound
-
-
AnthonyLMar 26, 2010Best album ever.
-
-
HankBMar 2, 2010More of a triumph than anyone could have expected. Still, it's a bit tragic that the world didn't get to hear this finished piece in '67 with the original Beach Boys.
-
-
KamilKFeb 23, 2010"SMiLE" is the best album of 00`s & One of the greatest off all time. Definitely.
-
-
DanDFeb 13, 2010It sounded like Brian Wilson threw mud at the wall while high on drugs through this entire album until "Good Vibrations" magically appeared. Frankly it was the only track where the mad combination of his doo-wops and strings and novelty sounds worked together. I'm sorry, but even a monkey could type the Iliad if he tried enough times.
-
-
LuisIFeb 10, 2010Pop orchestra, brilliant sound, brian wilson and a legendary record.
-
-
ChrisLFeb 9, 2010Pristine.
-
-
JohnYJan 19, 2010
-
-
GlynnM.Jan 18, 2010Reignited my faith in music and rediscovery of the Beach Boys.
-
-
DriJan 15, 2010Classic album of a genius.
-
-
RobertB.Jan 8, 2010I love this album. He makes it all seem so easy. Don't think I have ever listened to a pop record that is this far ahead of the game.
-
-
DuncanL.Jan 2, 2010The great thing about this being the best rated album by the music critics is that it shows very clearly just how superficial and sheep like those critics actually are. This is no more than a piece of fluff good for a couple of spins and then put away at the back of the cupboard with that Nirvana record. But hey there are plenty of other sheep who agree with them so they must be right.
-
-
BillWDec 31, 2009I think it's the album of the decade. I love it more as the years roll on. I listen to it more now than ever. When I hear people dis it I get confused, how can this music not move you? THis is not even "my kind of music" yet when it's on I am in a semi-meditative state and it's one of the few peices of music that can stop my in my tracks.
-
-
ConradC.Dec 16, 2009Worth every minute of the wait!
-
-
SebastianWDec 15, 2009I may just not understand its context, I may just not be enough of a Beach Boys fan, but considering this album takes the throne on metacritic, I find it's simply too counter-modern and envisions its listeners too narrowly.
-
-
MIkeYNov 20, 2009I give it a 2 because there are only two real songs on the album. The two are excellent (Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains). The rest does not make any sense.
-
-
MikeA.Nov 20, 2009A true masterpiece of sound and emotion. It was well worth the wait!
-
-
ruggeroruggeroNov 16, 2009
-
-
JamesH.Nov 7, 2009This is probably my favorite album to turn to at any time. I just love the songs and how they roll from one to the next. I can just hit play on the iPod and have an hour of total indulgence.
-
-
ConnorMNov 4, 2009Looking at the comments I think either nostalgia has taken this website by storm, or a company was hired to vote positively, comment positively, etc. this album on websites.
-
-
JohnE.Nov 1, 2009
-
-
TiagoA.Sep 18, 2009A great album, this have soul and it's brilliant.
-
-
AdamSSep 8, 2009Sounds like a good album, but 97! I think this score may have been boosted by critics nostalgia trips.
-
-
ShivaM.Aug 25, 2009Well worth the wait. It is definitely one of the best albums of the decade. Anyone not affected by this piece of art is probably just a 20 year old idiot with no taste at all.
-
-
DavidH.Jul 27, 2009A perfect composition.
-
-
JoeS.Jul 18, 2009'Tis very good, yeah!
-
-
SethG.Jul 13, 2009I've listened to this album so much. At least once a week, sometimes much more. It's so good!
-
-
JohnCMay 17, 2009
-
-
ToddSMay 9, 2009Absolute perfection!
-
-
KimMMay 2, 2009Simply superb.
-
-
DenisLMar 17, 2009Absolutely useless.
-
-
patf.Jan 30, 2009Best thing i have heard in years! surfs up, h&v, cabinessence the list of great songs is very impressive.
-
-
ChrisSJan 12, 2009
-
-
peterJan 6, 2009Beautiful and haunting. I cant imagine how anyone could walk away from this unchanged.
-
-
PlatoSDec 23, 2008
-
-
KjellBNov 13, 2008
-
-
CarlPNov 7, 2008
-
-
RoyceLNov 2, 2008This album does absolutely nothing for me.
-
-
YaronS.Oct 6, 2008
-
-
SteveSep 23, 2008
-
-
PhilipD.Sep 22, 2008
-
-
JonathanW.Sep 19, 2008No originality? Maybe I'll post more later, but for now I'll just listen to "Surf's Up" one more time, i.e. my favorite song.
-
-
GeneDSep 13, 2008
-
-
nickc.Aug 25, 2008
-
-
ButchAutomaticAug 11, 2008Ouch! Brian, like Paul McCartney, should relaize when it is time to sit back and enjoy their spoils. Guys - you did well - it's time to stop before you implode and totally ruin what could be fond memories for us. LEARN A NEW HOBBY!
-
-
kaylixAug 9, 2008What is going on here? This wasn't as great as the reviewers claim. I could barely listen to the whole album. Based on the reviews I kept hoping there was something better in the next track. I gave up and deleted it from my music library.
-
-
ClifC.Jun 22, 2008
-
-
JonathanF.Jun 18, 2008Such a beautiful wondrous album so different to pet sounds yet strangely familiar and instant classic in 2004 although i fear it may be released for many year people giving it 0 out of ten im sure would not have if this was released in 1967 and i wish it was as i think pop music today would be a little (if not alot) different.
-
-
AndyD.Jun 8, 2008Truly stunning music. Love it!
-
-
MikeL.May 31, 2008Godhead!
-
-
TimothyM.May 28, 2008The best American album ever.
-
-
FredMMay 21, 2008
-
-
GavinFMay 21, 2008I downloaded this purely because of the high ranking it received on this site and I have to say I though it was dreadful. It's all bee-boop-a-doo-daa non sense. Good Vibrations being the only exception.
-
-
SameerV.May 7, 2008This is one of the greatest albums. I think it's up there with pepper. Sure, it probably would sound better if all the beach boys were on it and this was 66', but it's still great. It takes a couple of listens. Keep in mind, most of this was written in 66'. If it came out then, I think people would have appreciated it more.
-
-
ThomH.Apr 26, 2008This is the single most important work of musical art that has ever been produced. Thank you Brian Wilson.
-
-
MarkS.Apr 26, 2008I've always found Wilson annoying, sorry. Probably the most overrated album in history
-
-
MartinPApr 25, 2008I haven't listened to this album but i find the fact that some people are rating it 10 to counter the people who rate it 0 which are countering the general reviewers.
-
-
TerryApr 8, 2008A masterpiece. Good for you, Brian.
-
-
KenS.Mar 1, 2008Were it not for "Good Vibrations", I would have given it a ZERO. What a disappointment. Pitiful.
-
-
dhFeb 20, 2008Perfect. Only comparable to the Lonely Hearts Club Band.
-
-
AlexTFeb 12, 2008
-
-
nickm.Feb 8, 2008This isn't the highest rated album on metacritic. The highest rated is London Calling by The Clash, which scored a 100. My score is just the avg, this isn't my actual score.
-
-
CGJan 23, 2008Completely overrated, unless it is placed in the children's section. By the way, I still think "Pet Sounds" is as charming as ever. I would normally give this a 4 or so, but it seems my duty to help average out all of the Wilson worship. The only musical "genuis" more overrated is Frank Black and that whole Pixies mess.
-
-
JustinBDec 29, 2007Wondrous!
-
-
MaxM.Dec 3, 2007Who?
-
-
AbrahamR.Nov 8, 2007
-
-
MichaelT.Nov 3, 2007This album more than lives up to its own hype. The only slight dissapointment is I don't think the vocal harmonies are as good as the original Beach Boys whould of been but I think his new group do a stella job anyway.
-
-
lonnieMOct 10, 2007Smile..... A masterpiece in many ways.... to many ways to put into words.... Listen to the album alone, without distraction, and any negative thoughts of the record will disappear..... I'm just glad I had the experience of Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks seeing this vision through. The record is and always will be ahead of it's time.
-
-
CarlesI.Sep 26, 2007This is the best album of 10 years ago, please close this web.
-
-
LeeC.Sep 23, 2007i think, this is better than 'pet sounds'.
-
-
ScottW.Aug 20, 2007Now here as an album that should put a smile on your face. Not just because of its fun and catchy songs, but because your hearing what would have been classic Beach Boy tunes. This was a lost album for almost forty years, from one of the best rock bands. Brian Wilson gives us a true classic and a must have.
-
-
AlexanderB.Aug 6, 2007For me Smile is the greatest album of all times! Period.
-
-
SophieJul 31, 2007A really wonderful album, with some very slight faults. If only we had the original with us.
-
-
JoséLuisSJul 28, 2007The best of the best... Brian Wilson is a true genius!!!
-
-
PeterDJul 21, 2007An American classic. Like psychedelic Gershwin.
-
-
davebJul 21, 2007
-
-
liorsJul 13, 2007it's really wonderful , buy this album if you have listened to "pet sounds" before, buy this album if you are willing to give "smile" a chance to be finished and not stay an inflated myth. do not buy this album only because it got a good rating on metacritic , music is a matter of taste not grades.
-
-
DaveMJul 12, 2007BRILLIANT!!!!! It took me back twenty years, then forward the same. A true work of art. It definitely left me with "Good Vibrations".
-
-
kevinkJun 22, 2007all of to say is pretty much what the last three people have said except the exact opposite. in the world of pop music brian wilson is god SMiLE is the bible
-
-
fagrJun 20, 2007how did this shit get up here... it seems that when critics see the beatles or the rolling stones or such oldies they feel the obligation to slap a 100 on it. NOT GOOD, put me to sleep
-
-
EvanWJun 16, 2007
-
Awards & Rankings
-
Smile is quite simply the greatest triumph in the history of pop music.
-
Smile's post-adolescent utopia isn't disfigured by Brian's thickened, soured 62-year-old voice. It's ennobled--the material limitations of its sunny artifice and pretentious tomfoolery acknowledged and joyfully engaged.
-
Los Angeles Times"Smile" emerges as a beautiful and cohesive work, at times deeply moving, at others oddly whimsical, at still others eerily disturbing but celebratory. [27 Sep 2004]