2/7/2025
I will admit to not having been the biggest fan of SMILE! when it dropped. I wrote about it on RYM already, how I felt Porter was undercutting some of his most powerful moments with dated humor (and I still stand by the fact that both Russian Roulette and Mona Lisa should be way better than they actually are), not to mention a lot of the songs feel pretty forgettable. I did go see him live on tour in October, though. That changed a lot of my opinion on SMILE!; it's an album that needs to be experienced live, with all the extra little quirks that Porter can give it. Even Russian Roulette felt easier to listen to in the Hollywood Bowl.
Favorite tracks
SMILE! :D
7/26/2024
