Smile

Boris: "Smile" - While it is not as much fun as most of the last several Boris releases, Smile is still a lot better than "Altar," that strange disc that Boris made with Sunn (0))) and a bunch of other people. "Smile" starts off with FlowerSunRain, a nice mellow song that they had previously recorded on "Rock Dream" that is just as good as the original and contains a sheer, blistering guitar solo that is cut off before jumping into the baby babble that leads off "Buzz-In," a shouting and blistering rocker that could easily have been on "Pink." Ditto for "Laser Beam," which is some parts Judas Priest, some parts Guitar Wolf. "Statement" is a so-so rocker, while "My Neighbour Satan" is a boring J-popper,although the guitar freakouts are sufficient enough to satisfy my nonetheless. "Ka Re Ha Te Ta Sa Ki" sounds a bit different - very fast, very blurred and speedy. The guitar noise eventually fades a bit, and there are the vocals. "No Ones Grieve" doesn't leave much of an impression. "You Were Holding An Umbrella" has a lot of tinny drum machine until nearly four minutes into the song when it rips apart into a ton of ugly feedback. Glorious, the best song on the album. This song has Michio Kurihara on it, and I suppose he sticks around for the next track, simply called "[]", which also has one of the Sunn (0))) guys in it. It is sort of boring, except for a few moments of really deep deep bass. Buying this through Amazon I could get a card which allowed me to download an additional track, a live version of "You Were Holding An Umbrella," which is okay. The Japanese version of this is quite different, and maybe just a bit better. At least it has better graphics, but it doesn't come with the extra songs on the download card (which also makes a nifty souvenir even after you've used it).

I just recently got into Boris and I have to say this is great stuff. If you are interested in Japanese music at all this is a must have and for those looking for a different kind of rock music experience then take the plunge!

I love everything that they've done so far. I hope that they keep it together for a long long time.

boris as always is excellent live great cd

Great!

All Music says that this version of Smile is better than the US version in the quality of the mixes, as well as the versions. Granted the packaging is better - while the US version is a regular CD with a picture of an airplane and nothing special about it, the Japanese version is packed in floppy plastic and sponge, with a transparent heart window. Nice. Opening song "Message" is weird drum machines with some soprano vocals, and bursts of squealing guitar. "Buzz In" starts off with baby sounds, probably from Wata and Atsuo's daughter Yema, then become a regular blasting rocker. "Let Go" is all over the place with strange abrasive guitar sounds and more drum machine weirdness, ending with pretty acoustic guitar. "Flower Sun Rain" sounds similar to the version that opens the US release. "My Neighbour Satan" sounds like a pop song from Spitz, while "Karehatetasaki" is a monster rocker that is full of sound and buzz and pounds on unrelentingly. "You Were Holding An Umbrella" gets off to a mellow start for the first four and a half minutes before fading out and coming back in a big way with really BIG feedback and noise.............Boris released a double live album of this song, with the same spongy cover but in grey.

I like Boris. I saw them with Nine Inch Nails and they sounded great. Heard a few of their albums before that and then I went to hear some of their older stuff and was surprised to learn these guys compress their records within a millimeter of their life.Who would have thought this band out of all bands is trying to win the loudness war? I know they like loud but I would have thought they wanted all their dynamics too. Well, there are none on this record as it is up there with Death Magnetic in loudness.Album isn't too bad, though, it's not something I would put on a whole lot, and I really cannot listen to it loud without hurting myself. It does have some nice guitar and experimental tones to it. I just wish the mastering wasn't so ridiculous.

I'm not sure why this album is so cheap to buy. I got it from Southern Lord for $1.00!Its awesome. It has a really eclectic bunch of songs on it as you might expect. No two songs sound the same, and the last track has a guest appearance by the mighty Steve O)))Malley. Totally worth it if you dig Boris.

Seminal Boris. Not overrated, not underrated. Experimental rock bliss.You Were Holding an Umbrella is one of the most fascinating songs in their discography.If you're looking to truly grasp the depths of this fascinating record, I highly recommend purchasing both the American and Japanese recording.

Uno de los discos más trascendentales de Boris (junto con Akuma No Uta, Flood, Pink y Feedbacker) que pierde fuelle en su edición estadounidense. Las canciones son reinterpretaciones más accesibles de las incluidas en la edición japonesa, a excepción de la fastuosa pista final inédita "Untitled".La edición japonesa es muy muy difícil de conseguir, así que, si eres fan de Boris, no dudes en hacerte con esta edición. En relación calidad / precio, es el título más asequible de su discografía para nosotros los occidentales.

ゆらゆら帝国のやり口に近いものを感じました。（それもそのはず、プロデュースには石原洋さんのクレジットがあります。）何を削り、何を残すのか？ここには、単に轟音ではない響きとグルーヴがあります。このことは、US盤（Borisのセルフプロデュース）と聴き比べるとよりはっきりします。US盤は、より従来のロックのフォーマットにのったプロダクションがされていて、強力なギターのリフが引っ張っていくのですが、邦盤では（曲によっては）それが思い切ってカットされ、それによって逆説的に強いグルーヴが生まれているように感じられます。やっぱりギターが鳴ってくれないと、という方にはUS盤を、テクノ以降の音がお好みなら邦盤（こちらもギターは強力です。為念。）をお勧めします。私はどちらかを選べと言われれば邦盤を選択します。＃邦盤には栗原ミチオさん以外にもゲストのクレジットがあります。＃7.からつながるボーナストラックがあって、7.は30分近い長尺の曲としても聴けます。＃邦盤はスポンジをビニールで包んだ特殊パッケージです。

強力なギターのリフが引っ張ります。4.Statementがビルボードのチャートに入ったそうです。（2008.03.22-29）邦盤と比べると、US盤は、より従来のロックのフォーマットにのったプロダクションがされていて、強力なギターのリフが引っ張っていきます。一方、邦盤では（曲によっては）それが思い切ってカットされ、逆説的に強いグルーヴが生まれているように感じられます。やっぱりギターが鳴ってくれないと、という方にはUS盤を、テクノ以降の音がお好みなら邦盤をお勧めします。＃1.5.7.で栗原ミチオがギターで参加しています。

overrated