1001 Albums Generator
Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

1966
3.92
Rating
32170
Votes
1
2%
2
8%
3
23%
4
31%
5
36%
Distribution
Genres: Pop, Rock Styles: Psychedelic Rock, Pop Rock, Vocal, Art Rock

Reviews (page 2 of 17)

Even though I don’t recall JB buying this album when it came out, it’s a deserved classic. Combining the genius of Brian Wilson and the musical chops of The Wrecking Crew, this was rightfully seen as amazing when it was released in 1966. The Pet Sounds Sessions box set is a bit of overkill, even for me, but there are some fascinating studio takes and rehearsals here. A solid 5.

This album is a classic. One of my early record obsessions as a kid. 5/5

I'm very familiar with this album and already like 11 out of 13 songs on this one. I'll admit a lot of this gradually grew on me over time - starting with the ones I heard on the radio like "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows" and then expanding from there. "God Only Knows" is definitely one of the best songs ever written in my opinion. Many songs on this don't follow traditional song structures - such as they are not all verse/chorus/verse etc. - which I think is one thing that makes them interesting and different. They also don't have typical rock song instrumentation. The lyrics tend to be more introspective and melancholy too. All of these things are very different from earlier Beach Boys - and makes these songs more difficult to get into immediately - but definitely rewards with repeated listens. The 2 instrumental tracks "Let's Go Away For Awhile" and "Pet Sounds" are cool too. Let's see if I end up liking the last remaining 2 songs upon further listens. Yep, the 2 songs I hadn't already "liked" on Spotify are also good - so this is a perfect album. Not really sure why I had skipped those earlier. Fun fact: in 2006 I had a chance to see Beach Boys with free tickets. I wasn't super interested, but figured why not. It ended up being a great show and I was surprised how I knew nearly all of the songs. My memory is hazy, but I'm pretty sure Glen Campbell opened and also played with them at that show.. Liked songs on Spotify: 13/13 (perfect album) Rating: 5/5

I feel half the songs appearing twice (mono, stereo) is a bit unnecessary.

This is in part better than a 3, but it is so uneven!

Great arrangements. The harmonies are nice but still a little too sweet for me overall.

Beatles vibe :(

Masterpiece. Very amazing and important album

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is just a fantastic record. Having seen Brian Wilson live made listening to it even cooler. Even though I didn't know every single song on the tracklist, the album still has so many great moments. It's just a really beautiful listen overall.

как всегда хороший рок

My favourite albums are Pet Sounds and a bunch of albums directly influenced by Pet Sounds

En pop pärla utan dåliga spår. Wouldn't it be nice och God only knows de som sticker ut.

God only knows what I'd be without you... Oh, I think Paul McCartney might have been right about that one

This 1966 album is considered their masterpiece because of the quality of the songwriting and innovative production. It's categorized as progressive art or chamber pop. It was influenced by the Beatles which then influenced them in return when creating Sgt Peppers. I didn't appreciate this album at first because I was expecting uptempo happy songs like Surfin' USA. While a few songs have more of that sound, most are more slower with introspective lyrics. And the orchestration/production really is good. I now see why is it considered a great album Top songs for me are below but the others with less vocals are also good. Wouldn't it Be Nice You Still Believe in Me Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) Sloop John B God Only Knows Caroline, No.

Vulnerable Brian Wison creates pure gold!

So this album is going to get a low rating. And that's just my personal feelings about the album. Historically, yes, it is THE Beach Boys album. But there's just not that many songs on Pet Sounds that I actually like. Outside of the critical acclaim, I tend to see this particular album as boring.

Behagelig musikk.

How funny this is the first album to come up as I’ve been obsessed with it all week!!!! Besides the obvious songs, my fave is I know there’s an answer. Great album that inspired one of my fav music genres (pop punk)!

4,5 stars

Holy Grail!

Without this album, we certainly would not have the music we do today. The mixing and harmonies are otherworldly, especially given the technology at the time. Brian Wilson is a god and the world is better for his music.

listened to this in full for the first time last summer after brian wilson passed and it genuinely ruined my life... heard i just wasn't made for these times n was like nice to know someone was going thru the exact same thing as me 60 years ago i guess

Good vibes. Contains the classics: "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" and "God Only Knows".

Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)

liked a lot, already heard. SO influential and awesome

one of my favorite albums of all time!! and such a perfect way to start this challenge since it was my first album given to me. everyone who says this is a perfect pop album is right. the harmonies and melodies are gorgeous, and there's so many little details in the production as well that's really fun to listen to. it can also get pretty emotional at points, too, especially with songs like "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" and "Caroline No"... this album also has two instrumental tracks, and they stand out just as much as the ones with lyrics do in my opinion. RIP Brian Wilson, he was such a genius

Maybe if I was in the right mood. I hate the wall of sound.

Beach boys are a classic for me, something so nostalgic about them

I had heard how revolutionary this album was when I was younger, but I had never taken the time to listen to it until now. It was fine, but there really wasn't any song that made me want to run out and buy the album.

Jag har såklart hört detta album flera gånger förut och som Grabbensomintekollarpåexplosioner så fint beskriver är det väldigt populärt. Jag måste hålla med om att albumet för mig inte riktigt är där heller, men det är ett riktigt bra album. Jag placerar inte det i någon topplista men det är riktigt bra. Det är möjligt att jag i och med detta inspireras till att lyssna mer och att det då kan bli en 10/10. Men nu får det räcka med en 9:a!

Helt ärligt nu… jag sitter här och skakar för att skriva denna recension. Detta album är i allas top 10 album någonsin och detta gör mig rädd. Jag förstår briljansen med album och hur bra det är. Men jag kanske inte lyssnar tillräckligt men något med albumet gör att jag inte kan ge detta en 10/10. Hinner heller inte skriva en full recension, och i och med hur kort tid jag har lyssnat så står jag fan inte fast vid denna åsikt, men ger albumet en 8/10… modigt jag vet. Grabbensomintekollarpåexplosioner out 🫡

wonderful

I think I like the instrumental more than the other cuts. Lush vocals for sure. Ear wormy tunes/. But I don't like the "atmosphere." Reverb? Delay?

Sometimes I think I overrate an album because the previous one wasnt quite my taste. Realistically though, even if thats the case, I'm fine with it here. I had a great time and it gives me energy to move onto the next album.

Best with nice headphones on

Honestly I kinda hate giving this a 5. But it's so far above anything else coming out of the U.S. in the mid 60s. I really enjoyed listening to it. The vocal arrangements are very nice. It almost feels a little pretentious at times... like they think they're better than me. I'll probably never put this on myself, but I can't deny it's one of the greatest albums ever written.

i dig the borderline carnival aesthetic. it makes mundane love out to be this magical fairytale thing. very cool unified sound. Let's Go Away For Awhile is just lovely. that being said rating it 5 stars is cringe

Rating: 8/10 Yeah it's really good and the most ahead of its time modern music defining shit ever that still holds up as well as it possibly could. Still, it hasn't ever fully cemented itself to me as an album I particularly love. Something hasn't click with me for Pet Sounds where I think it's the greatest shit ever or something. A very pleasant listen, delightful and bright with beautiful melodies. I'm still a sucker for Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows cause it's impossible to not love them. Caroline No is a great final song, and I like when Brian Wilson actually gets sad with it on I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

I eat this shit up. "Wouldn't it be nice", "God Only Knows", "Don't Talk" are there more perfect songs in existence? Sweet, soft, sad. The tenderest of kisses. I love the album art of these nice boys at the petting zoo.

sure, boring tho

Beachboys classic

Wilson seems to approach love much in the same way a child would. There’s nothing messy, he doesn’t want sex, he just wants to hold his lover’s hand. It leads to some truly beautiful songs, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, God Only Knows, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times. Wilson’s lyrics aren’t obscured by poetry, they just come straight from the heart, with some great songwriting and rich production, leading the way for artists to begin using the studio itself as an instrument. This album didn’t quite click with me the first time I heard it, but this time around I can say I get it.

Pretty good, a number of classic tracks that still stand up really well today. That said, there are a few filler tracks that drag it down a little.

It's a nice album, not really stuff i dig but it was enjoyable.

Goated BBs

This is a truly important mid-60s album that contributed to the use of the studio as an instrument in its own right. Lovely songs, if a little too sweetly expressed for my taste. Definitely a high placed album in this list.

I don't think I get the Beach Boys much, though I wish I did. The vocals and harmonies are slightly more annoying than pleasant to me, so I'm immediately struggling for dear life because that's their whole thing. And it seems to be a peeve that nobody shares, but I find the fade-outs aggravating. A song that's 2.5 minutes long has no business fading out! That's not nearly enough song to spend any of it fading out! Give me a satisfying and conclusive ending! There's a couple of lovely classics that I'm not churlish enough to deny, but the Beach Boys seem to have the opposite effect on me than they do on others. I guess I just wasn't made for these sounds.

Obviously regarded as one of the true classic albums and by most fans as the Beach Boys’ their best. Personally, I have never thought the same though. It used to be compared to Sgt. Pepper all the time and for me it is nowhere near that as an “album”. I just see it as three of their best-known singles padded out with other “nice” songs which bore after a while. I think I am in the minority thinking that this is not one of the best albums ever. I like the Beach Boys but this album does little for me compared to others by them. To put a Beach Boys album on and listen to in its entirety you can’t beat ‘Surf’s Up’ (which I do frequently). Another favourite is ‘Holland’.

Pet Sounds... more like Great Sounds! God Only Knows surely one of the best songs of all time.

Just wonderful! Production that still sounds unique 60 years later, Wilson's singular vision of how a wall of sound should, er, sound, fuses so many noises together that shouldn't work but absolutely do. And then on top of that the songs are so earwormy, the harmonies are heavenly, and the general mood of grit-your-teeth-and-bear-it melancholia is sublime. The second side of this album is pretty much perfect. Also, isn't it great that such a classic album has such a stupid cover!

Eh some songs were good. Some homophobia but expected in rap from the 90s.

I did not enjoy Brian Wilson's Smile as much, so I consider this to be his masterpiece album. I understand it can be seen as a Brian Wilson solo album, but the other Beach Boys make a lot of contributions to the overall sound. So I consider this to be a Beach Boys album and it has multiple classic songs on it. What I enjoy most about Pet Sounds is the Beach Boys worked hard to expand their sound and make an album of songs challenged them, then succeeded probably beyond what even they expected. I could probably have gone without the instrumental songs "Let's Go Away for a While" and "Pet Sounds," but overall, there isn't much to dislike on here. Even if you hate the album and/or the Beach Boys, it must be admitted this album is incredibly influential and worthy of inclusion in the book. I cannot recommend certain songs, as I enjoyed pretty much all of the songs.

Good old classics

A notable California classic; vintage Beach Boys.

It’s a classic for a reason guys. As close to a perfect pop album you can get. I only give it 4 though, because I’m a cunt who gets annoyed that it’s so short.

A really good listen with a fairly balanced album.

Good Album

I used to have a running bit to annoy my dad where if he ever asked if I knew who made a song he was playing, I'd always answer with "The Beach Boys". The end result is that I honestly only knew a few of the Beach Boys' biggest hits and little else. Going in, I knew I'd like Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows, I've heard them a million times and they're still good. What I did not expect was to love everything else. Pet Sounds honestly kicks ass. I think it was I'm Waiting For The Day that really sold it for me, and then both Sloop John B. and I Just Wasn't Made For These Times that sealed the deal. Fantastic album.

Wouldn't it be nice is one of the greatest songs and it opens this album so nicely and it stays great the whole way through

Pet Sounds is a true landmark in the history of popular music. Quite possibly the greatest album of all time.

* Sounds like Beatle but better * The range of songs were really good

Another familiar album, but one that I don't get tired of listening to. Every time I find something new in the less familiar tracks, while Sloop John B, God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice are just joyful every time they pop up. Lovely stuff.

Again, it’s great background music at your grandparents. It’s hard to listen to it more than that for me. Obviously done some belters and there’s songs I like on here but wouldn’t go out of my way to listen

What's there to say about a record that has more production craft and songwriting chops than virtually any record made before it and arguably since? 'wouldn't it be nice' might be the greatest pop song ever written. American music sounded different after this album came out.

I think its a really nice album, I wouldn't say its my favorite off all time but its really enjoyable, and you can listen to it when you want to be on a better mood, really cozy album, the orchestra was great, there was songs better than others , but in general a great experience, I would re listen some tracks of this album

I have never understood the fascination with this album The two hits are ok, but the rest is already forgotten

I have some light nostalgia tied to some of their music and liked 2 or 3 songs. The rest of the album however felt kind of boring. I know it did a lot for pop music later and it absolutely belongs on this list, but I will not be listening to it again.

Some songs I definitely recognised, and while I acknowledge that this record did a lot for modern day pop music, it doesn't take away from the fact that it's boring.

lo esperaba mejor

Very interesting, so many good songs, nice 60s style.

I didn't rate it, it's too relaxed and polite

I like The Beach Boys. There albums have a draw on me that I can’t explain. Every time I listen to them my mind takes me to California and sunshine. I’d rather listen to this and imagine I’m in some make believe California than listen to Metallica and imagine that I’m trying to escape a Eurovision Song Contest in Tallinn.

Sacrilegious, I know, but this didn’t do a lot for me. I was swindled by years of Beach Boys Get Introspective discourse into thinking it would be a bit less peppy.

Underwhelming. I've been looking forward to listening to this album for a while but, after three listens, I don't really 'get it'. A whole load of similar-sounding songs that don't really stand out from each other. With the exception of the 'hits', there wasnt a song I'd choose to listen to again. God Only Knows is an all-time classic, a beautiful song, but a bit of an anomaly on this album. Disappointed.

I HAVEN'T HEARD A SINGLE SOUND THAT A PET WOULD MAKE (OR EVEN A NORMAL ANIMAL!!) ON THIS ENTIRE ALBUM!!!! FALSE ADVERTISING!!!!! WE WON'T BE DOING BUSINESS WITH THESE "BOYS OF THE BEACH" ANYMORE!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER

By 1965 Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys had grown weary of the sun, surf and girls corner of pop music that they had spent the early years of their career selling to teenagers across the USA. The last two years had featured Brian Wilson stretching the tight boundaries of those limitations he invented by writing more complex compositions both musically and thematically. Songs like Don’t Worry Baby, In My Room, The Warmth Of The Sun and the deceptively innovative, psychedelic and symphonic California Girls. Brian was getting introspective and experimental with his vision, and a little competitive. He quit touring, holed up in the studio and produced Pet Sounds with LA’s greatest musicians the Wrecking Crew while the rest of the Beach Boys with a young Glenn Campbell, followed by Bruce Johnston, toured the globe playing all the hits the fans want to hear. Can you imagine coming back from touring playing Fun, Fun, Fun every night to check on what Brian has been up to, hearing Pet Sounds and then getting to sing those songs? This album is brilliant. Maybe the best pop album ever? I don’t know. The only ones I can think of might not sound quite the same if it wasn’t for Brian Wilson.

Don't have anything new to say that hasn't already been said. Listening with headphones really elevates the experience to me. I'm not even a fan of the Beach Boys overall but this album is an undisputed masterpiece.

Knew a few songs, but all in all not my type of music. Still interesting to listen to

Great opening for an album, Wouldn't it be nice is one of my favorite songs. The way how the innovate including non conventional instruments and making the album going into some valleys of tempos make it a good album to enter into my would listen again rack.

classic. god only knows

possibly the best album ever of all time.

One of the most influential albums of all time. Outstanding. 5/5

Obviously this album contains 2 of what are widely regarded as some of the best songs ever (and for god only knows, i’d agree). However, the rest of the album feels like padding. with 2026 ears nothing much else stands out. I did appreciate I just wasnt made for these times. Its impressive that a song from 60 years ago is still deeply relatable - and as someone who probably has very little in common with men from 60s California.

Not for me. I can only think how corny it sounds even compared to contemporaries

To quote the 1001 albums podcast - it's ballsy, melancholy, not a rocker, smart, drug addled and genius.

not bad but i just wouldn't listen to this

Es isch wück es guets Album aber au nach em 3./4. listen find i, dass es viel zu härt glaced wird.

Some truly great tunes but otherwise just a beach boys record. Wildly overrated

I know everyone loves Pet Sounds, but for me it's just pretty ok. Some really good songs mixed with some snoozers. It sounds as dated as it is, not that that's a bad thing. The Beach Boys had such a unique interesting sound though and it's definitely present on the album. I listened and really enjoyed my listen, but then I just kinda forgot everything I just heard. There was no real impact. That's why I can't give this a 5. It's a middling 4 for me. Standouts are "Wouldn't It Be Nice" "I'm Waiting for the Day" and "Pet Sounds"

Good, with classsics

Listened to many times... I don't get it!!

A stunning masterpiece. Love every track and the lush arrangements. Utterly beautiful. 5

WOULDN’T IT BE NICE DAAAMN BELLO NON ME LO ASPETTAVO. COME AL SOLITO SEPARIAMO IL GUSTO DAL VALORE OGGETTIVO CHE HA IL PRIMO CONCEPT ALBUM DELLA STORIA. NON SONO FAN DEL CANTATO, DIFATTI “LET’S GO AWAY FOR AWHILE” È QUELLA CHE RIASCOLTEREI PIÙ VOLENTIERI. BYE BYE 3/5

It's Pet Sounds. One of the greatest albums to ever exist.

Maybe this was groundbreaking when it came out, but now it just sounds like TV commercial jingles

мягкое звучание, довольно успокаивающее, для солнечного вечера пойдет. я каталась на велосипеде под эти песни, мне понравилось. песни очень короткие, но ничего

Lovely and upbeat :) my favs probably wouldn’t it be nice and I know there’s an answer.

I like early Beach Boys music, and I've read for years about this album as a groundbreaking piece of musical production, that it paved the way for Sgt Peppers and so many other studio albums. But this one had a little too much in common with Brian Wilson Presents Smile. While that album didn't come out until 2004, the original was imagined in 1967, the year after Pet Sounds. Parts of this album have a similar "whimsical juvenalia" (as one critic referred to BWPS in 2004) that I don't like. Still, there are a handful of songs on the album--mostly the singles--that I really enjoy. --Wouldn't It Be Nice --Sloop John B --God Only Knows --I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (my favorite) At a certain point, though, I just find Brian Wilson's voice grating and his lyrics kind of pathetic. The album's instrumentation is certainly interesting, although I think it probably was more striking when it first came out. The albums it inspired have long since surpassed it. But I'm surprised when I read praise for Wilson's lyrics and claims that they plumb "emotional depths". The only song that I feel that way about is "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times". My affection for that song, though, is colored by the way I first heard it, in the movie, "Echo in the Canyon". I tried to put myself in the year 1966 to remember just how unusual this was. But I can't extract myself from the year 2026 completely, and I think only a handful of songs on the album hold up to listening 60 years later. I'm giving it 3 stars because of the interesting production, but it'd get only 2 if I was basing it on my actual feelings. :)

Album is REALLY good very memorable songs and famous ones in this single album

Again, the score stays the same. Upon this relisten, I enjoyed 'I'm Waiting For The Day' and 'Pet Sounds' significantly more than in my previous listens! 'You Still Believe In Me' also stood out more, the harmonies are some of the best on the album. 'I Know There's An Answer' remained one of my least favourite tracks, while it's very enjoyable, I don't think that it's close to the high quality of every other song on the album.

This was good

Nice album but didn’t pull me in far enough, similar style ( outside of being the same genre) Wouldn’t it be nice and god only knows are favourites

Fun and I see why they’re called the beach boys

totalnie nie mój vibe XD

Wouldn't it be nice zajebiste, reszta trochę gorsza Dla mnie dużo lepsze niż np. Stevie Wonder

Released in 1966 with a remarkably pristine recording quality that rivals modern standards, The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds earns a solid 4/5 and evokes the cozy, jingly magic of watching an old movie on television during Christmas time. Brian Wilson's visionary direction shines through immaculate mixing, mastering, and instrument separation, starting strong with the tightly woven melodies and lovely harmonies of "Wouldn't It Be Nice." While tracks like "You Still Believe in Me" and "God Only Knows" land as just okay, and "That's Not Me," "Sloop John B," and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" feel a bit meh, the album is heavily carried by its brilliant highlights. "Don't Talk" captivates as a nice, emotional, well-sung piece backed by gorgeous strings; "I'm Waiting for the Day" bursts with bubbly energy before grand theatrical drums help it pop off; and "Let's Go Away for a While" dazzles with exquisite instrument separation, pretty guitars, and dreamy, chime-like piano work in the mid-section. The momentum finishes strong through the beautifully arranged percussion and instruments of "I Know There's an Answer," the nice pre-chorus of "Here Today," the jungly vibes of the title track, and the deeply emotional, well-delivered closer, "Caroline, No."

Enjoyed thoroughly!

Wouldn't It Be Nice is such a fun song but the rest of the album feels uneventful in comparison. Not bad by any means but I don't really get why it was so impactful

Knew a lot of these songs from childhood but never put together that they were all the beach boys. Amazing.

I will never understand the appeal of the Beach Boys or how they are ever in the discussion of being the best American band ever. They made campy surf rock then pivoted to cheesy pop that sounded like it belonged on the oldies station immediately upon release. After Pet Sounds they made disjointed attempts to latch on to whatever the sound of the season was for Friends and Surf’s Up. Pet Sounds has some moments of harmonious bliss and small snippets where the music veered into interesting, but it swerves back into boring quickly. The songwriting is often lauded as remarkable here but I find it embarrassingly childlike lyrically. The multiple layers of sound end up flattening the tracks. Less could have definitely been more here.

Some bangers, some really grating stuff though too

There's a couple songs I enjoyed here but this is overall not a sound that I gravitate towards all that much. But as is the case with the older albums, I'm sure this sounded a lot cooler at the time of release. 2/5

Superficially bright and breezy, subtly psychedelic, and occasionally sad and sombre, this is an absolutely spangly banger of mid 1960s west coast pop.

I actually loved God Only Knows way before Love Actually. The other hits on here (Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Sloop John B) still sound great. But these are the tent poles of the album. The rest is a swirling mixed bag that blends together - perhaps due to the same sounding instrumentation and of course the distinctive harmonies. Not as great as many people laud it for. But still pretty good.

I feel I should really give this 4 stars as it just drips quality but I can't say I particularly like it.

Very nearly a five...

Clearly this is a brilliant album and deserves its reputation as one of the greatest albums ever recorded. However this is my review and I just don't like them very much. I'll concede Sloop John B is a great song but its a cover. The songs they did write all seem to revolve around convincing women they love them and actually, wouldn't it be nice if we banged tonight? It doesn't speak to me.

Way overrated

++*: Wouldn't It Be Nice, I'm Waiting for the Day, Here Today, Pet Sounds ++: That's Not Me, Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder), Let's Go Away for Awhile, Sloop John B, God Only Knows, I Know There's an Answer, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, Caroline, No +: You Still Believe in Me 9,9/10

This was a nice, cute little album. Didn't blow me away but very enjoyable

I know this album is supposed to be a masterpiece--and I respect the opinions of those who think it is--but I just don't get it, you guys. I've tried to listen to it a bunch of times and it just does nothing for me. I don't know what to say.

Not my style but easy listening.

Full of well crafted melodies and compositions, this somehow manages to avoid common pop cliches while still being such a catchy album. It manages to balance fun, bouncy tracks with lush production and soft somber moments so well. It never feels like it dwells too long on anything and manages to keep engagement the whole run through. Any album that can go straight from Sloop John B to God Only Knows deserves high praise.

If you like The Beach Boys, this is the one to get.

I dunno. It just sounds like the Beach Boys to me, and I'm not generally a Beach Boys person. Like growing up, I always thought they suuucked. My view has since softened, but I still don't really like 'em that much. ALBEIT this is definitely the best B-Boys I've ever heard and seems like the go-to for that type shit. It's just, like, studio-heavy B-Boys, which is cool, but I'm still like whatevs. It's fine, like, it's okay; it's not, like, baaaad. I'd never put it on, but it's fine if others like it, and it seems a great-many do.

Some truly wonderful songs on this album, psychedelic harmonies, etc… a fair amount of poppy 60s teenybopper romance as well.

YESSSS!!!!!!@

Very good album. Definitely elevated the Beach Boys in my mind to give them as much music credibility as the Beatles, not just a pop boy band. They got musical chops.

It’s Pet Sounds. It’s getting a 5. One of the best albums of all time without any hyperbole. Nothing like it, few come close - who else could’ve made ‘God Only Knows’. Rest in peace Brian ❤️

pretty good

Pure unfiltered ass

I know this is regarded as an all time classic, and I absolutely appreciate it for what it is. It just isn’t really my thing enough to give it more than a 3. Everything about it is fine, and I appreciate a well written song, but it’s just not really my thing.

Such an amazing album. Great harmonies.

I was torn between a 4 or a 5 for this record, but the existence of “God Only Knows” and “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” push it to the top for me. They are both beautifully crafted songs, and the whole album honestly just makes me feel so many different emotions through the melodies and song writing.

Some great songs and production, but also lowk annoying

I will always be a fan of The Beach Boys. However, none of their other Albums top The Smiley Smile album for me. Therefore, Pet Sounds gets a 4 from me.

I should like this more than I do. It's okay! Technically good but not what I would want to listen to. Glad I didn't get it on vinyl back in my VMP days I guess.

Was a little torn about this one. It's obviously incredibly innovative, profoundly interesting, and sounds great. "God Only Knows" is perhaps the prettiest pop song every written, and "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is close behind (we played the latter at the end of our wedding ceremony). A lot of the other songs are great too. A few parts are a little too sleepy for my take and just doesn't reach the high highs of other portions of the album. Perhaps I'm wrong for grading this album against, like, itself, but I can simultaneously feel it's a masterpiece while not being totally blown away, right?

10/10 banger

Шо опять Хорошо звучит но Пеппер лучше

One of the greatest albums of all time. Truly an incredible album that still holds up today. Brian Wilson just decides he can't tour anymore, goes back home, and makes this? IN 1966??? What the hell? He must've made a deal with the devil. Truly incredible and such a joy to listen to even after years of it in my rotation.

Oikein mukavaa poljentoa ja ehkä jopa parempi ku se aiempi

Olipahan nukutusmusiikkia. Kai tää on aikoinaan ollu kovinkin mullistavaa, mutta ei se nyt auta enää.

JO OJ OOO

Aika paljon parempia Rantapoikia kun se edellinen. Toki myös entuudestaan tuttuja biisejä kourallinen, mutta koko levyä en ehkä ole ennen kuullut. Upeita melodioita ja hienoahan laulantaa. Ja onhan God Only Knows yksi historian hienompia kappaleita.

Not a perfect album for me but some brilliant tracks on here and one and an album I go back to. Legends.

I got through it but it sucked

Starting off with a banger like Wouldn’t it be Nice is unforgivable. This never should have been their response to The White Album. It’s not a Beatles clone, it’s the Beach Boys masterpiece. Holding the two albums side by side in comparison and going through each track would actually be very similar. Both have songs that you skip and both have some you put on repeat. Paying attention to just this album though, the songs that don’t cut it for me really do suck but the good and great songs make me forget that. Sloop John B? Seriously? It’s so good. I forgot about the instrumental song just before it that I hated. But we just can’t avoid the song elephant in the room. The bad songs on this are bad. The bad songs on the White Album are still ok. So I must score accordingly. Choice cut: Sloop John B

Previously known. Two really great songs and the rest is probably great if you're a music theorist.

A brilliant album. It doesn’t just have one of my all time favourites in “God Only Knows”, it’s a well constructed, produced and written album. Brilliantly performed and simple to the point of genius. Having come off the back a few Iron Maiden and Rush, this album really epitomises the less is more and delivers on it.

no me sirivó para darme ánimo en la oficina trabajando, a pesar de que tiene dos canciones muy buenas (las más conocidas, claro está).

Overall very solid musically - some great instrumentals and absolute bangers in here 4

Cheguei em I'm Waiting for the Day e tive a estranha sensação de que já conhecia esse álbum há muito tempo. Talvez porque ele me leve direto para o banco de trás do Uno quadrado azul do meu pai. Eu fico ali, pequenininha, observando os detalhes do interior do carro enquanto a cidade passa pela janela, sem imaginar que um dia aquele momento deixaria de existir. Acho que é isso que Pet Sounds faz comigo: ele não me lembra apenas da infância, ele me devolve a incapacidade que eu tinha de imaginar que ela acabaria.

I find it hilarious that they use sleigh bells and hoof sounds in some of their songs despite having nothing to do with Christmas. Great vocals and vocal layering. The instruments that the Beach Boys is what gives them such an iconic sound, like wood blocks and timpani drums

Sugar pop singing - not really my jam.

Overrated, IMO.

pretty great stuff, class8c

classic :3

Måske lidt forudindtaget på grund af Primavera-koncerten, men jeg kan godt li' det her album i sin helhed.

A classic, amazing groundbreaking album

It's Pet Sounds. It's a masterpiece.

chill diner music i guess

Absolute classic with beautiful harmonization

I've always heard that this is a good album. I'm not feeling it. Also it has the worst version of Sloop John B I've ever heard.

Excellent

A masterpiece

It's so good

A while back, I’d heard a few songs by The Beach Boys and found them only moderately interesting. I mean, how good can a band with that name really be... In another review, someone wrote “Teemu Beatles,” and that’s actually what it sounds like - though the comparison is completely off the mark, because the American band spared no expense and hired half an orchestra for “Pet Sounds.” That may have been revolutionary at the time, but the elaborate production didn’t do the recording any favors: everything is uniformly smooth, and you’ll search in vain for any rough edges. According to Jimi Hendrix, rock music means first simplifying everything and then exaggerating it. As you can see with the Beach Boys, though, it really depends on where you exaggerate. This is noteworthy in that many albums on this list could have used a bit more care in production. This naturally raises the question of whether such a mainstream-polished album should even be considered a milestone.

This album has a reputation that precedes it for sure, and is frequently listed amongst the best albums of all time. It’s hard to judge how innovative it was at the time when looking back by 60 years. It’s fantastic, that’s for sure. Beyond that, I will have to listen to it a bunch more to decide how highly I’d rank it all time.

Iconic. Influential. Etc.

Had to unblock beach boys. Have never cared for them. Does not bode well for this project but gave it a chance. liked maybe two of the songs, one of which in discovered was not on pet sounds ,(hang onto your ego)

I struggle with this album by no fault of it's own. I love some of the songs here and think the whole album is really solid, but I have one friend online (sorry Gooolixx) who loves this album to bits, and it just makes me perpetually feel like I'm missing something here. I do not at all see how this is influential either, sorry. Before I continue though, this doesn't really impact the album's qualify or rating at all, but it is important to me that I write down how I feel about the album. I know I wasn't around then and I absolutely could research it more, but I can't think of anything that's here really that wasn't already thought of or considered - like, I feel like if this band never existed, the things they did pioneer that I like (because I'm not the hugest fan of the more unconvential instrumentation with the specific instruments and sounds Wilson chose) would still have been developed around the time anyway. I do however think I should now shut up before I get shot. I'm really tired though now and don't have much more to say other than that Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows are absolute masterpieces and I do really love them.

So good!

I listened to their hits when I was a young lad but never got into them fully. I got The Zombies 2 days ago and remarked how they're exactly inbetween the Beatles and the Beach Boys. That made me listen to Pet Sounds for the first time just yesterday... I had it on in the background. I had always heard how influential it is but I was underwhelmed listening to it. Low and behold I get it today. So I have given it another, closer listen. I like some of the themes explored in the lyrics, songs like You Still Believe In Me and I Just Wasn't Made For These Times will stick with me. But overall the music just doesn't connect with me and I've narrowed it down to: 1. The vocals. Every line is doubled by a second voice and just like my problem with Crosby, Stills and Nash harmonizing everything, I find it hard to connect with what is being sung... just seems less personal or something. Also, the vocals have no soul.... I mean he's baring his heart and soul in the lyrics but the delivery has no emotion behind it. He's literally singing "sometimes I feel very sad" ... do you? Because a robot might as well have sung it. I also generally don't love the sound of Brian Wilson's voice, I find it a bit whiny. 2. The wall of sound. I think maybe I just don't like the Phil Spector thing. It makes all the songs kinda sound the same and anything interesting happening in the instrumentation gets mashed together. Nothing stands out, nothing is ever really featured, it's like a swamp water Slurpee... Might be sweet but is ultimately unsatisfying. Couple other notes. I enjoyed the instrumentals! And I'm baffled by all the love for Sloop John B, one of my least favourites on the album.

Hifi Magic

Oh boy, how did this become so beloved? Outside the couple of hits it's a terrible album. Blegh

Ok album. There’s a few classics on here, everything else is kind of mid. I realize it was a recording breakthrough at the time, but a lot of the material is a little weak.

One of the best albums ever made. Features Brian Wilson’s genius production. Great work by the Wrecking Crew. Beach Boys add vocals and harmonies. Great lyrics by Tony Asher. Almost every song is a classic Excellent songs: wouldn’t it be nice, waiting for the day, Sloop John B, God only knows, Caroline No. The album cover is one of the worst ever. An amazing album. Five big stars

One of the "great albums" which just won't make it into my own list...

Отличный альбом, классика. Слушал раньше неоднократно.

Great album. Not a ton to say about this honestly. I did enjoy it, and because of the time period (1966), every song was made for the radio, so the whole album was only about 35 minutes long or so. That being said, there is something about a beach boys love song that’s very nostalgic. They really had a chokehold on this era and genre. In a lot of songs, I was surprised by instrumental breaks with guitar, horns, bongos, real interesting stuff. Stand outs for me, of course “wouldn’t it be nice”, “Sloop John B”, and “god only knows” 4.1/5

10/10 This is the Beach Boys eleventh album in the four years since their debut. Brian Wilson produced nine of them, played and sang on them all, toured extensively and was the principal songwriter for the vast majority of the songs. Oh, and he was only 23 when this record was released. The fact that an album as compositionally complex, well produced and unique was able to come out of those circumstances is quite remarkable, and a testament to the genius of the man. In many ways, this is an odd album. The orchestration is less pop rock band and more a blend of folk group and chamber orchestra, and the song structures are frequently non-standard. Tonally, it’s also quite strange for a band famous for their easy-going, summery pop hits. This is an album of pensive melancholy, longing and introspection. But that is the kind of thing that speaks to me in a way that I find utterly compelling and beautiful. We are eased into the record with the song most reminiscent of the traditional Beach Boys sound, but from then on, we are taken on a journey through the slightly crumbling psyche of a man turning his attentions in on himself. There are moments in which the heartache and longing are almost overwhelming, but he also manages to weave in moments of hope and levity in a way that keeps the album from wallowing into a cloud of despair. I’m not speaking about the lyrics here, by the way. I think Tony Asher does a fine job lyrically, but it’s Brian’s music that tells the story of the album to me, and while the lyrics give it a voice, the real meat of the emotion lies within the composition. The harmonic complexity, not just vocally, but across the full spectrum of instruments is absolutely breathtaking and Brian cleverly passes around motifs, counterpoint and rhythm between different instrument groups and registers to create a fluid progression of musical narrative within each track. There’s also a touch of whimsy to this record, with the use of honking horns, barking dogs and other sound effects to add a slightly chaotic and out of the ordinary soundscape. I would say that the use of vocal harmonisations is perhaps not as prominent as in some of the Beach Boys work, but when he gets the group into full flow, it’s utterly glorious. There are moments of brilliance across the piece, but none really matches the round at the end of God Only Knows, which for me stands as a piece of musical perfection. This album ebbs and flows, with stark, open moments making way for dense, almost cacophonous passages, but it all feels so coherently arranged and produced that the album just flows and flies by in the blink of an eye. I can understand why the slightly twee nature of this may not appeal to some, and how the broad, slightly obtuse instrumental palette may be a little hard to grasp, but for me that makes this album stand alone in terms of it’s sonic characteristics, which only enhances the delightful vocalisations of the group, and the melodic and harmonic masterstrokes of Brian’s composition. It’s a masterpiece, and the only very slight criticism I would have is that he relies too much on fade-outs, an issue he would try to address on Smile, which was to be a more free-flowing piece. Wouldn't It Be Nice - It’s a lovely, uplifting sunny pop song that eases us in via the track that’s probably the most like a more traditional Beach Boys pop tune. The orchestration is full and lush, the call and response vocal parts are pretty and there are still moments of more restrained, almost reluctant composition that hint more at what’s to come. It’s quite a complex composition if yo listen to all of the different parts and how the play off one another, but it’s got so many great melodies and hooks that it just flows beautifully and has the airy feel of a pure pop song. A great start. You Still Believe in Me - And now we settle more into the more bittersweet tone that the album largely inhabits. It’s melancholic, and atmospheric, but has just a little edge of uplift to it that keeps it from wallowing. It’s much more stripped back in terms of orchestration, but it’s very pretty. The shifting vocal harmonies at the end are just gorgeous and I even love the silly little bike horn noise. Yes, Brian was a bit mad, but that’s all for the better. That's Not Me - I think the way Brian bounces from instrument to vocal to different instrument with little motifs is a really underrated part of his compositional skill. It keeps things moving and ensures there’s always something fresh to enjoy. He uses dynamic really well too, ebbing and flowing the orchestration and vocal harmony stacks to push and pull the emphasis. More gorgeous harmonies that move around in such a precise yet organic way too. Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) - As I mentioned on the previous track, Brian’s bouncing around of ideas is great. Here, he focuses a lot more on a low, brooding, bassy tone, but there are moments of lightness that sprinkle little motifs in the upper register to prevent the track from wallowing. Some of the chord changes that follow the vocal are really beautiful and there’s an achingly honest and pure delivery to the lead vocal too. It’s slow, considered, sombre and oh so beautiful. I'm Waiting for the Day - There’s a nice shift in pace and intensity between the different sections on this one. The playing off between the English horn and lead vocal is really nice and the timpani gives it a cool rhythmic base through the faster paced sections. There are some lovely bits of string work in this one too. They absolutely fly through tracks on this record and, while this is one of only three tracks over 3 minutes, it also speeds by in an instant. Let's Go Away for Awhile - A lovely, broadly orchestrated and peaceful, slow surf-rock instrumental now. It’s so pretty and the call and response between the snare and timpani adds a really nice flavour to the rhythm. It’s just so relaxing and well structured, taking you on a slow moving journey. Sloop John B - Brian’s take on a traditional song now. The rising vocal harmonies are lovely. It’s patient in its pacing and then has a solid groove once the beat kicks in proper. Football fans are no doubt bored of this melody by now, but Brian weaves it into something so delightful to listen to. The section where they drop out to just the vocals showcase the overlapping ingenuity of Brian’s composition of vocal harmonies. They’re in no way static, but roll over and around each other beautifully, which is part of what makes them oh, so special. God Only Knows - And to kick off side two, we get the greatest love song, and possibly one of the greatest songs ever written. It’s a bold move to kick off a love song with the line “I may not always love you”, but lyrically Tony Asher does a beautiful job for this song, teasing out heartfelt sentiment and longing with every word. The arrangement is fairly stripped back, but does everything it needs to, The strings are lovely, the offset rhythm gives it a nice push and pull too. And that vocal harmony round at the end. Good god. There’s so much to pick out from this song, and every part contributes. It’s a flawless piece of songwriting, performance and production. Stunning. I Know There's an Answer - There’s a lot of depth to the production on this and, much like the rest of the album, Brian is keen to bring in a roving, shifting tonal palette by employing a wide range of instruments that would rarely be seen in pop or rock music of the day. We even get a bass harmonica solo in this one. There’s a darkness to this that speaks to Brian’s early experiences with LSD, with an almost slightly clouded tone to the mix that gives things a slightly muddy, out-of focus sheen that works really well with the slightly unorthodox structure of a fourteen bar verse. It’s effective stuff. Here Today - The way the instruments slowly fade in and out through this track give it an organic, flowing push and pull of intensity that create a slightly uncertain but rewarding base. There are some nice harmonies in here and again it’s, structurally quite odd, but its oddness is part of the charm. It’s perhaps not the strongest track on the album, but it’s so interesting structurally and tonally that it’s still a great listen. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times - There’s some more beautifully layered vocal work on this and the depth and weight to the production is so tasty too. It’s so melancholic and longing in tone and it manages to be somehow both intimate and close and bombastic and broad at the same time. There are some really beautiful melodies on this song and it’s another triumph of orchestration and compositional nuance. Another stunning work of baroque introspection. Pet Sounds - Another nice piece of instrumental surf-rock work. The staccato guitar chords that punctuate the lead guitar line are so cool and there’s a drifting swagger and charm to this. Lots of depth to the production which makes it tonally very interesting too. I love the way the instruments roll around each other, all contributing to both harmony and rhythm. Lovely. Caroline, No - What a way to end an album. It’s stark and longing. There’s so much vulnerability and honesty to this and it’s one of Brian’s best lead vocal performances in my opinion. The subtle bubbling of the rhythm is delightful and the slow and patient progression of the composition is really rewarding. It’s probably one of the simplest tracks on the record, but everything is perfectly placed and beautifully balanced. Melodically it’s stunning too. A lovely, lovely end to a beautiful record.

Woof meow.

Good album.

It’s a classic. It isn’t my favorite among the classics but it’s still undeniably great.

Summer morning, nails painted, sandy feet. Reminds me of grandad 🫡

A band that has always made me feel slightly nauseous, and apparently still do. "Let's go away for awhile" was okay.

Among the multitude of descriptions of this masterpiece is this one: it is a work in the great American spiritual tradition of Transcendentalism. The harpsichord and organ are here as church instruments, signifiers of the holiness of love - and wasn't it David who used the tambourine all the time? ("I Know There's an Answer"). And of course this work is about seeking God in nature - primarily *human* nature, notwithstanding the occasional barnyard sounds; witness the eruption of passion on "I'm Waiting for the Day," Brian Wilson's controlled feelings of repressed love bursting forth in a way that seems to surprise him. And then there is "God Only Knows," one of the greatest love songs ever written precisely *because* it is full of doubt and melancholy, a prayer of deepest honesty: *Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief*. No wonder Wilson is a stranger and foreigner on the earth; he is capable of perceiving and expressing something purer and deeper ("I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"). *Pet Psalms*, more like.

Man…what a fucking record. If you love music, you should love this record. Every single song was meticulously crafted and shows off Brian Wilson’s incredible talent. It’s so ahead of its time and changed the game of high level production. It took me a long time to fully appreciate this album but I’m so happy I finally found my love for it. It’s an all timer for a good reason.

Cutely jolly. overall quite enjoyable :3

Mentiría si le diera más de una estrella. No es un álbum para mí personalmente.

Here we have Brian Wilson’s demons egging him on to produce absolutely gorgeous pop perfection before they completely rip him apart.

EEEEEE😊😊🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😄😄😄😁😁😁😋😋😝😝😝

What you think I'm a basic bitch for giving Pet Sounds five stars? Whatever, I'm not afraid of you, fight me.

Absolutely timeless, I find it incredible that this was recorded in 1966. The sounds are so masterfully crafted it’s just bliss to listen to. FT: I’m Waiting For The Day Rating: 5/5

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows". I am growing mad respect for this band. I get the impression they were totally unique and mad songs from their own inspiration and creativity.

Initial thoughts, pre-listen: Nah dude Beach Boys??!! 1 second in, im in at the start of a horror thriller on a rusty merry-go-round. Some big songs on here, unfortunately im not the most fan-ly of them. Big songs, songs I'd normally skip with no second thought. I guess i was being dramatic, this is fine. I like that it is short I dont want to talk about it.

Spotify had the option of Mono or Stereo. I tried it Mono as I guess it was originally but I highly recommend Stereo instead.

Just absolutely not my jam.

I have never understood why the Beach Boys are thought of so highly. For me, Sloop John B is the only reason I can rate this above 1 star. 2 stars or D+.

amazing, chill, beautiful. Really loving this, looping over and over

Pet Sounds is an album that really does live up to the reputation it has garnered. It's a band operating at their full potential in a rare way most bands never reach.

romantic, fun, catchy, iconic vocals & sound. favorite song: don't talk (put your head on my shoulder). 4.5

Very good

Välttelin tätä, koska tämä on tärkeä levy mulle, nostalginen, lukioajoilta. Toisaalta tiedän tämän niin hyvin, että tiedän edelleen rakastavani kaikkea tässä levyssä – oon kuunnellut tätä vuosien varrella uudestaan, mutta en kokonaisuutena. Ihanaa upota tähän maailmaan: oon ehkä halunnut säästää tätä myös johonkin hyvään hetkeen, mutta eihän semmoista tule. Nerokkaita modulaatioita, upeita harmonioita, lyriikoissa jotain tulkittavaa ja mystistä, todella hienot sovitukset, laajaa skaalaa laulussa, välillä tosi paljon harmonioita, välillä pelkkää tuplausta, vaihtelevuutta. Muistan että ennen God Only Knows oli lempparibiisi ja myöhemmin Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) ja nyt taas jysähtää tämä jälkimmäinen, huh. Huomasin ennen tätä kappaletta, että fade-outit on aika nopeita, tässä vihdoin vähän hillitympi. Haluaisin monesti kuulla vielä vähän lisää. No, älähän mitään: nyt tuli God Only Knows ja täällä kyyneleet silmissä kuuntelen… Huhhuh, on tämä vain uskomaton! Sloop John B. ja Here Todayn ”humppakohdat” aina vähän ärsyttää, mutta niistäkin siirrytään aina eteenpäin. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times oho, nyt vasta huomaan ekaa kertaa että tässä on lyhyesti lähellä loppua on ehkä theremin?! Tässä biisissä ehkä vähän liian iso kaiku paikoitellen. Levyllä on tosi dramaattinen loppu – mitä Carolinelle tapahtuu? Alkupuolisko puhdasta kultaa, loppupuoli 4/5, mutta nousee silti 5 keskiarvo ja hyvä niin. En muistanut näitä kahta instrubiisiä ollenkaan.

WHOA, tää yllätti nyt! Mikä sattuma, että kuunneltiin tätä isän kanssa ehkä viikko sitten mökillä. Auton (Penan) äänentoisto ei tosin palvellut kyseistä levyä ollenkaan… Lemmikkien ääniä kuuntelin myös eilen ikkunoita pestessä, mutta en silloinkaan päässyt ihan kärryille. Tajusin, ettei tää levy pääse oikeuksiinsa pelkkänä taustamusiikkina. Tässä tapahtuu niin paljon kaikkea koko ajan, että monia mehukkaita äänimaisemia menee kokonaan ohi, jos ei immersoi itseään kunnolla. Kuulin tässä ehdottomasti Louis Colen harmonioiden ainekset. Lauluäänetkin oli melkeinpä identtisiä. Ei ihme, että tässä oli siis jotain tosi tuttua ja turvallista. Välillä tuli myös vähän mikrotonaalinen fiilis, niinku joku ois vähän vinksallaan, ja se lisäsi mun mielestä luonnetta. Jostain syystä rakastin You Still Believe In Me teemaa, se kuulosti jotenkin vähän kummittelevalta ja maagiselta, vähän niinku joltain nostalgiselta tunnarimusalta. Oli kuitenkin useampi tosi hyvä biisi, joten vaikea valita omaa lempparia. Monessa kappaleessa jopa sanat yllätti pohdiskelevuudellaan.

Great album!

A little quirky. I always enjoy listening to albums i haven't before.

Wouldn’t it be nice is an all timer. The rest was okay too

I always wanted to get around to listening to this, but I find it cloying and awful.

I can appreciate why this is groundbreaking and a work of complete genius. But I never need to listen to it again.

Interesante! Hermosos dos himnos, el resto maso.

nah not my style

I listened to Sloop John B so many times in childhood and still so good today. The majority of the album falls a bit flat for me today but well appreciated. 3.

This is a lot more folky than I thought it would be. I was expecting surfer-style music the whole time. I am pleasantly surprised, but not mind-blown.

I wanted to not like this for some reason but I actually enjoyed it. Biking through the British summer fields with psychadelic surf harmonies created quite a dream like feel. Nice to contextualise the "wouldn't it be nice" and "god only knows" songs out of them being used commercially too.

This was pretty decent especially for a 1966 album. I can tell this would have been massively influential at the time. That being said, I don't love it. 3/5

Great album 4/5

Nothing wrong with that, three stars…

Good album - hits are top quality, but the non-hits were decent enough, but didn’t grab me enough to give a 5

Just very repetitive and boring

The Beach Boys were an important part of my musical upbringing. Their radio hits were always some of my favorite moments on my local Oldies radio station -- the bright sounds and harmonies were always something I looked forward too. When I bought my first cassettes, Little Deuce Coupe was one of my choices. It's music I largely left behind once I started developing my own contemporary tastes, so I somehow never got around to playing their generally-accepted masterpiece... even when I caught a proper obsession with The Beatles in my 20s. After finally giving this a spin, I think I see what some of the fuss is about -- but I don't think The Beatles had anything to worry about. The harmonies and bright pop sounds really aren't that different from their earlier work to my ears. The tunes are just more thoughtful and varied in subject matter. Of the songs I'd heard before, Wouldn't It Be Nice is definitely one of the best cuts -- almost the quintessential Beach Boys song. The lyrics wouldn't have been out of place on their early 60s fare, but the production is a definite step up. Sloop John B I've always thought was a mildly funny song, but not something I really loved. God Only Knows, however, is the crowning achievement of this record. It's one of the greatest pieces of music ever recorded. For some reason I'd always thought Good Vibrations was on this record. It would have helped to have another standout track... because I found the rest of this album to be very pleasant filler. I believe I could find some other standouts with repeated plays, but Caroline No might be the only one I hadn't heard before (or at least a lot) that stuck with me.

I enjoyed most of the songs on this album, even the ones I've heard a million times. This album definitely deserves to be on this list.

I don’t think I heard any animal sounds, wild or domestic

There are a few stone cold classics on here, but overall the album feels dated and repetitive.

Absolute genius - this version also includes Hang On To Your Ego, my favourite Beach Boys song of all time.

17/1001 Só pelo fato desse álbum ter influenciado o Sgt. Pepper's já diz o quão bom ele é Wouldn't It Be Nice - 100 You Still Believe in Me - 100 That's Not Me - 80 Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) - 85 I'm Waiting for the Day - 80 Let's Go Away for Awhile - 80 Sloop John B - 90 God Only Knows - 90 I Know There's an Answer - 80 Here Today - 85 I Just Wasn't Made for These Times - 75 Pet Sounds - 85 Caroline, No - 85 Media: 85.8

A classic with my favorite song of theirs' Sloop John B. Quite possibly the most perfect album ever.

Perfect in every sense of the word.

i'm glad many people throughout history found this great and inspirational. but i never thought this is anything special, no matter how much i listen to it.

classic beach boys, perfect road trip music. they also partnered with the San Diego zoo to make a music video of the album with the animals, awesome

Easy 5/5

OK kiddies. I know many of you will describe this album as mid or meh, but it deserves much better than that. This comes from a time when the Beach Boys were fighting it out with the Beatles, among others, for supremacy on the pop charts. This album is the Beach Boys’ response to the Beatles’ ”Rubber Soul” from a year earlier. You can hear in there Brian Wilson trying to expand the sonic palette of what was possible with a pop/rock album at the time, and this album also represents an early use of the recording studio as a musical instrument, despite the relatively limited technology available at the time. This is certainly of its time, but also way ahead of its time.

Absolute perfection!!

I have problems with the bad pun title and the quite disturbing album art. It's the sort of Capitol corporate budget packaging I'd expect on a Mantovani or other easy listening record rather than a modern (at the time) beat combo. As for the music, I was surprised the album was recorded in mono? The songs are all good. But God Only Knows is just special. It's one of a few songs that makes me damp eyed. The album could be 5 star for that song alone. But the packaging and recording takes some sheen away. Additional credit though for the train noises.

Masterpiece

Un álbum con unas armonías bellísimas God Only Knows es personalmente la canción más bonita de ese álbum, aunque tiene otras memorables, otras más pasajeras Lo que ellos hacían nadie más lo podía hacer, y se reconocía entre muchos de los grupos de la época Este álbum los hizo saltar un poco del surf rock a una especie de pop y fue un salto muy bien hecho, se aseguraron de trabajar con los mejores para lograrlo Es un excelente trabajo con sencillos muy buenos, como álbum completo siento que tienen otros que cuentan una mejor historia o se adhieren unos a otros de mejor manera, pero no le quito mérito ni impacto a este álbum Disfrutenlo

These boys were definitely at the beach

Opening with a gorgeous group of flowery pop ballads, this album swells to fill its reputation. Beautifully naive and reminiscent of a childhood I didn’t even have, this album encapsulates the bleach blonde Neverland that is some nonexistent Americana, which is fun to listen to for its novel effervescent simplicity. This in tandem with its joyous orchestration makes quite a standout LP.

65년???

One of the best LPs On this list

Obviously one of the most important albums with so many books and highly detailed writings about it. So this post is more about my opinion. While I don't really like or care for the Beach Boys, it's hard to not say that this is their absolute peak and best album compared to a lot of 60s manufactured slop they would churn out and "oh, you should at least check out Surf's Up!" crowd of Beach Boys fans tell me after I say my opinion. And I did check out Surf's Up earlier on this list. It was quite mid!! Production wise, this is definitely one of the best sounding albums of the 60s, really on par with Bob Dylan and The Beatles in that regard. I think my limitations with The Beach Boys is that I simply cannot dig that much into their songwriting on half of the songs. Wouldn't It Be Nice and Sloop John B are misses for me though I do really dig God Only Knows and Caroline, No as well as the two instrumentals (obviously). In spite of the high quality stuff in an era where people were still experimenting on how to get good sound, it can't change the fact that half the album isn't as exciting as the production. Fucking sue me if you disagree with me about that, I cannot care. I don't think it's a wrong or terrible opinion to say parts of this album suffer from the 'Seinfeld is Unfunny' effect. I do not think the same way about the production though, a big tour de' force on that one. Obviously Brian Wilson is good (most of the time) and aside from a few other members and especially not shitass Mike Love, they should have kept listening to Brian even as he got on to the deep end. Dude was a creative force and they'd rather institutionalize the dude than admit LSD is cool. I don't know where I'm going with this, or even who would want to read another random review of Pet Sounds, but it's definitely an album you should hear before you die. Of course

I GET IT but i don't think its for me. Don't hate it, wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it

perfectest album ever

nothing to complain about, nice catchy pop

One of the best American albums ever recorded. Apparently this record influenced the Beatles best albums that how good it is

Literally iconic

A revolutionary album. There was such a beautiful theme to this whole project, each melody was unique and engaging, and the lyrics were a work of their own. This is an innovation in sound and creativity that continues to leave its impression on modern music. This is simply put an absolute classic it sounds so pleasant and beautiful like a really nice spring day.

I’m part of a choir and we sang God Only Knows in our summer concert last night, so it was great timing to get Pet Sounds today. I’m not gonna say anything that hasn’t already been said. It’s perfect.

아니 어떻게 돌려도 1트에 펫사가 나오냐

Iconic album. Feels like a nice drive home. I'm Waiting For The Day and the instrumentals were my particular standouts. 6.7/10

I first listened to this album during my freshman year of college, and I appreciate it much more now. one thing that hasn't changed about my opinion, though, is how I most prefer the songs that have some rhythm and groove, like: wouldn't it be nice, sloop John B, pet sounds, etc. Generally speaking, it's hard for me to get into music that doesn't have any kind of groove, unless the melodies and arrangements are particularly compelling. Luckily, they are in this album. I can see how Brian Williams inspired Jacob Collier with his detailed and beautiful arrangements. The diversity of instrumentation, the harmony. The melodies and vocals and everything are super dreamy. I am reviewing this several days after the fact, so I can't remember so many details, but I know this deserves a five, if maybe a light one

This is a landmark album, of course, and its influence continues to be felt. So much so that it's maybe a little difficult to hear, now, how special it was when it came out, in 1966 - including for me, in the sense that maybe half of the songs on this album don't sound to me, 60 years later, all that special. But, in 1966, orchestral pop like this was pretty much nonexistent (although, as Wikipedia notes, Phil Spector's famous "Wall of Sound" did come earlier). So, another 4 or 5 album, but here I think I have to give it a 5 nod, with a bump up for its huge and ongoing positive influence on the development of popular music. P.S. Quickly skimmed through for a 2nd listen, and feel more certain about giving this one a solid 5.

This might be as close to a perfect pop album as I know It's a great lesson in pop songwriting. In most songs, a melodic hook is introduced, and a couple more ideas might be added, mixed and matched, but not too many. The key is simplicity. A better word is concision. Even though the orchestrations are complex and multi-layered, the melodic and harmonic ideas are organized and concise. I enjoy singing every song on the album. There are no stinkers. Maybe a few oddballs, but it's a 10/10 for me. Bonus points for the cohesion. You can comprehend a beautiful whole when you listen through. On top of all of that, there is emotional weight to just about every track. A lot has been said about the record, and I won't cover it all. Primarily I want to express awe and gratitude

Es un buen álbum. Wouldn't it be nice y God only knows son clásicos. La mitad de las canciones están bastante bien, aunque la otra mitad son un poco flojas.

An album that manages to do what the White Album wasn't able to do in the same 60s era. The album is a good viewpoint into what makes beach/surf rock such a trend back in the day withe groovy instrumentals, melodic singing that comes off almost as a faded memory, and a vast range in different tools and instruments being used across the tracks. Many of the vibes I was able to follow along with and can see the major influence on pop-rock, but it's another set of tracks I could put in the background and not feel like I didn't miss anything vital. The album may not be my cup of tea but nowhere near bad.

I get why this would be considered an experimental album in the 60's. And I do appreciate some of the sounds on the album but not something I see myself returning to.

No notes

The beach boys in their OG form, finally! Fun fact, I got WAY more into the Beach Boys after watching LOST (IYKYK). Still, lots of new songs (to me) here. I enjoyed it, but no new songs popped out as favorites to me, so for me I think it's only 4*, maybe because it was great for its time, but now sounds just ok. Highlights: wouldnt it be nice, god only knows

Any album that has ‘God Only Knows’ must be very highly rated, in my opinion. It’s just a fantastic pop song, hands down. And plenty of other fabulous tunes here, too - ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Sloop John B’, ‘Caroline, No’ and Brian Wilson’s elegy, ‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’. I’m finding it hard to find fault with this collection of songs, so I guess it has to be 5 stars.

I mean, it's an easy five stars, isn't it? Just beautiful.

i have like 5 left i cant believe they didnt give me one of my favorite albums of all time until now. its essentially the 60s in the most perfect package you could ask for. rip brian.

𝘗𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 was the album that proved The Beach Boys could be far more than a group singing about surfing, cars, and the California lifestyle. More than anything, it feels like the work of Brian Wilson, who pushed the band into more ambitious and emotionally complex territory than anyone could have expected from their early records. It’s hard not to notice the parallels with The Beatles. Both bands started with relatively straightforward pop songs before rapidly expanding their musical horizons in the mid-1960s. Whether that similarity was coincidence or the result of the friendly rivalry between the two camps, the comparison feels inevitable. And then there’s 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀. If someone asked me to play a single Beach Boys song, that would probably be the one. Beautifully arranged, emotionally direct, and effortlessly melodic, it’s not only the highlight of the album but one of the strongest songs Brian Wilson ever wrote. For me, 𝘗𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 isn’t quite a perfect album, but it’s very easy to understand why so many people consider it one of the defining records of the 1960s.

Enjoyed it. Innocent.

This sounds like an amazingly modern album - I don't know much about 50/60/70 music, but this is not what I was expecting by the Beach Boys. The opening song is a classic, but "That's not me" predates music by 10 or so years, from what I could understand. "Let's go away for awhile" is NOT normal rock, it has some orchestral influence, there's a bit of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin there. This is honestly incredible, there's jazz, swing, theremin, modern rock, and ancient rock. All at once. That's some amazing music, I knew nothing about this, this is not my country's musical history, so I wasn't ever exposed to it. But I'm flabbergasted, although this is not my favorite genre of music. But damn, I can hear the basis of 80s music, there's a lot that survived up to the 90s, and there's meaning into it. Wow. Simply wow.

I love me some Beach Boys, but a whole album is a bit much

A 23 year old man, deaf in one ear, high on LSD, locked himself in a studio while his bandmates toured Japan, spent $70,000, drove everyone around him to the brink of madness, plucked the inside strings of a piano, recorded bicycle bells and Coca Cola cans, hired an advertising jingle writer to pen the lyrics, and accidentally invented the concept album. His bandmate called him the Stalin of the Studio. Capitol Records responded by releasing a greatest hits collection at the same time to compete with their own artist. The goats on the cover photo were horrible and ate someone's radio. This is the origin story of every ambitious, expensive, slightly unhinged studio album ever made. Without Pet Sounds there is no Sgt. Pepper. Without Sgt. Pepper there is essentially no modern rock music as we understand it. Brian Wilson built the house, lost his mind furnishing it, and never really recovered. You Still Believe in Me opens with what sounds like a teenage boy discovering his vocal range in real time. This is technically intentional. The opening notes were made by plucking piano strings from the inside, which is either genius or what happens when you run out of normal ideas and your producer has gone to sit in his car. Is it on your regular rotation? Absolutely not. It sounds like your parents' road trip playlist filtered through an existential crisis. But somewhere in those bicycle bells and cracking harmonies is the DNA of basically everything you have ever loved. 3 out of 5. One star for the audacity. One for the bicycle bells. One because the goats ate someone's radio and that deserves recognition. The remaining two stars are somewhere in Brian Wilson's sandbox, where they have been since 1966.

Brian should’ve left I Know There’s An Answer as it’s original title, Hang On To Your Ego.

God only knows is pure fucking magic. And the rest is really good as well.

Always enjoyed odd songs by the beach boys but funnily enough never listened to pet sounds all the way through it’s a pretty decent album

i still cry when i hear wouldn't it be nice. this album will always have a special place in my heart.

The classic album, it's just brilliant

I'm sorry; I know this album is super important, but I have to be honest with myself and admit this did absolutely nothing for me.

I know this was new and interesting at some point but I’m not sure it holds up. Lyrics are simple and juvenile

In terms of historical context, it’s a 5. Amazing arrangement and really wild instrumentation for the time. Personally, I hate the vocals and don’t find the lyrics all that amazing, but I’ll cave and average it out to a 4.

Some darker than I expected. Don’t talk best? God only knows can’t be beaten though.

3.5 Revisite de cet album après plusieurs années. Je l'apprécie beaucoup plus maintenant ! J'ai bien aimé certaines des chansons, les mélodies sonnent très jeunes, teenager, très sympa. Chanson préférée : that's not me

A parte would'n it be nice che avevo sentito su fallout non mi é piaciuto un granche

God only knows is possibly the most romantic song of all time

Fua bro ¿qué pasó? ¿Por qué me siento así? Es como si el álbum hubiese dado en el clavo. Es un 5/5 sin dudarlos. Gran sonido, buena lírica que aunque parezca simple acompaña muy bien lo instrumental.

I get it. bit overhyped though innit?

Bet good

Decent. Not sure why people say pet sounds is the best beach boys album

love these boys

I am not a Beach Boys fan at all. I find the singing to be whiney and the songs drone on and on. I rate this a 1. Would not listen again.

rock n roll-y sounds