SMiLE question: Should I get the 2004 version, or a bootleg?

[TakingBackSunday]

I want to get this album because no fan of music should be without it, but I'm not sure I can stand a 60 year old Brian Wilson straining in the songs.  But I might as well ask.

Is the 2004 album good?  If not, which bootleg of it should I try and find?

[Robo]

Both.  Brian Wilson does a pretty good job singing on his 2004 version, if a bit creaky, and when he is overreaching, his backing band fills in for him.

And get the Purple Chick bootleg of the Beach Boys version.  They take liberties with some of the arrangements to mimic Wilson's 2004 version as best as they can, but of all the bootlegs I've heard, this one sounds the most "complete".

[TakingBackSunday]

Gotcha, thanks!

[Eric P]

purple chick reconstruction

[patrickula]

I heard the Brian Wilson release first and loved it, it's pretty damn good.
The Purple Chick reconstruction is amazing work though there are (understandably) a couple of rough sections... the vocals are vastly superior.  Thanks for mentioning it in a thread earlier Eric, I really enjoy it.

You should listen to both I'd say, but you could get a lot out of either.  Know that if you go straight for the boot, that it's composed completely around the 2004 release.  Which is a pretty crazy time warp.

edit: I don't really know any other bootlegs well enough to recommend them or not btw, I just know this one 

[TakingBackSunday]

I have the purple chick one now, and fuuuuuuck

it GOOD