Listening to Smile

I find it's not really possible to hear smile in the proper context. When I listen to it now I hear the High Llamas, Jellyfish, and the Boo Radleys among others. The album's greatest attribute is it's originality which is not as clear now as it would've been 30 years ago. The album is significant, and surprisingly listenable, but terribly out of context now. Good Vibrations must've sounded pretty incredible when it was recorded, but now most of us think of the old Sunkist commercial. I still feel it's a great track that has been over-exposed a bit.

Glad it finally got released, and it is far from the massive disappointment I was expecting, however it's lost some of it's magic over the years.

London Calling on the other hand has lost none of it's mojo and the re-issue is recommended.

R