Pet Sounds

Super clean production and lots going on. They set the bar for harmonizing and are untouchable. The mix of a variety of instruments with the vocals, and the blending of both seamlessly makes this a great listen.

nog steeds geen fan van beach boys

Goat album

blasphemous but I just don't care about the beach boys. I've listened to this album many times and there are some abso classics but most of it elicits zero response from my brain, I'm sorry. That being said I KNOW it's a genre defining album and the first concept album which is so cool but just not my bag baby Song's added to playlist: - wouldnt it be nice - I'm waiting for the day - sloop john b - god only knows - here today

I have owned this one a long time and to me it is THE Beach Boys album. Still has those classic Beach Boy sounds, harmonies but the songs have more depth, a bit edgier. The arrangements a bit more innovative. I know this one has received a lot of public acclaim but on a personal level this is one of those albums that resonates with me as it did on first listen.

RIP Brian. Pet Sounds is a masterpiece and the recent remastered version (note - not the version this site links to) lifts the fog of the original mixes so you can now clearly hear how much is going on in the mix. Simply amazing what was achieved using 60s studio technology. So many layers to the various tracks. All of them interesting and original. Finally it has God Only Knows - quite simply one of the greatest songs of all time. Achingly beautiful and somehow still manages to give me chills every time I hear it. Genius at work.

I have tried for years with this album, I just can't get there. I like parts, just not all

I got this album the day after Brian Wilson died. Not sure if coincidence or not, but what an impact on pop music. 5/5

I’ve heard different people and music critics reference Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys as a definitive album in history. I’m not a big fan of the band myself but I was interested to see what this album was all about. Right off the bat you notice the sound quality and production. And I do like Wouldn’t It Be Nice. Good album opener. A little rocky with songs 2-4. Although I did enjoy That’s Not Me. The sweet spot for me on Pet Sounds is from I’m Waiting For The Day to Here Today. That little stretch is quite good. The last three songs are okay. I think I can understand why this album receives so much praise. I would listen to this again. A 4 rating from me. 4/5

Nice to get this one to review a few days after Brian Wilson died. It's timeless.

Classic trendsetter

Not bad but not really my jam

Remarkable and historic album. All the songs have a great production and sound. Will keep it in rotation as I haven't really listened to it all that often.

RIP Brian. Choo Choo.

RIP Brian Wilson

It's okay.

Brilliant! Genius! One of my favorite albums of all time. I get chills every time I listen to this. Sadly, Brian is gone now, but he left us with little slice of Heaven.

Classy, classic and historically significant.

The most album of all time. I know many adore this album, some hail it as the greatest to ever be made. Unfortunately, I can't get there. It irks me and for some reason I pin it as the reason we have the modern pop music that sucks ass. 5 for its impact

I own this album on vinyl, and haven’t listened to it in quite awhile, but in my head I was set to give this one four stars. But I listened to it today with headphones, and it really made me appreciate how much was going on musically, more so than before. Also, I am guessing that it’s more than a coincidence that this was the album for me the day after Brian Wilson’s death. In any event, I am giving this one the elusive 5 star rating…I think it really is that good.

One of my favorite band. Some great tunes including the great "Wouldn't it Be Nice". Great album.

I’ll admit, I’ve got some baggage with The Beach Boys. I spent high school working at a car wash called Surf City where their Greatest Hits played on repeat all day, every day. So I have spent 25 years of avoiding them, but I'm trying to come into Pet Sounds with as open a mind as possible. For 1966, this was clearly a game changer. The arrangements are complex, the instrumentation is creative, and there’s no denying the influence it’s had on music since. That said, the vocals wear on me. It often feels like an a cappella group decided to start a band, and over time, it becomes more work to sit through than I’d like. There are moments of brilliance, but maybe it’s PTSD, or maybe it’s just not for me.

Good stuff.

One of the most important albums of all time, regardless of genre. RIP Brian Wilson

beautiful songwriting

first one is a claaassic, bäänger 7th song was real not as much pet sounds as I hoped but very chill and very nice, me like

SO fitting for the day. This sparked a chat between the crew of favorite beach boys song of all time. Mine is Forever. I appreciated this celebration of the band and its members, and some new saves.

My favorites were Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows, Sloop John B, and surprisingly the instrumental part of Let's Go Away For Awhile was very moving to me! I loved the variance of musical textures contained within the album and enjoyed it even more than I thought I would.

God only knows is really good

This is good album. Make me feel better on sad days. Nice to listen to it again xx 10/10

Way more appreciation for The Beach Boys after listening to this album. I always thought they were a 60’s version of a boy band.

Truly a Master piece of an album. Stands the test of time for a reason, this is music that takes you somewhere

RIP Brian Wilson. Em and I listened to this album a few months ago as it was near the top of a Best Albums of All Time list. I get that it was pioneering at the time, but unfortunately I don't really see the appeal as most of the songs are just so slow and sleepy. But hey at least there were some actual pet sounds at the end.

Not a big Beach Boys guy, even though I know that heaps of indie hipsters praise their perfect pop symphonies and this record is always in the top 10 all time lists. The album really is sugary but longing and sad, richly overlapping, soaring, baroque. Some hugely great single songs (I really like Sloop John B and Wouldn't It Be Nice), but some very skippable others. It's like a tiramisu: lots of layers, complexly sweet, with a darker underlying bitterness. And like tiramisu, I would not want it everyday, and there are some empty calories.

The AI bots must be listening to honor Brian Wilson. This is an album I would not put on on a whim. However, each time I do, I am amazed with the production and themes. Classic.

The first sentence of the blurb for this album on Apple Music reads: “No matter where you’re at in life, stepping into Pet Sounds can feel like stepping back into childhood.” That really resonated for me, even though my parents were definitely not listening to Pet Sounds when I was a kid. The hooks in “Sloop John B,” for instance, seem to be deeply imprinted in my subconscious. I also realized how deeply influential this album has been, decades later. Like, does Vampire Weekend or The Shins exist without it?

Some great songs but some snoozers too

I forgot how great this album is.

Listened to it yesterday, happy to listen to it again today or any day. RIP Brian Wilson, fuck Mike Love.

Hang Onto Your Ego hits differently today. Also, is it weird that the mono version sounds way better then the stereo version?

Some okay songs. Never been a big beach boy guy. RIP Brian Wilson though

Such a game-changing album. Harmonies are incredible. Just a few slow areas to not make this a 5.

Will always love this album.

It’s perfect

Perfect

Obviously, and quite famously a masterpiece - listening to it now it’s hard to believe it’s almost 60 years old. All these years later, it’s easy to take these song structures and production techniques for granted but this one album changed the pop record format forever. It’s hard sometimes to listen to a record of this stature and hear it objectively but really, everything else aside, these are all great songs. What an incredible album.

Off the cuff remark: A fabulous piece of pop. Gorgeous harmonies and plenty going on to catch your ear. Standout Track: "God Only Knows" very possibly a wee bit cheesey?? But I think it is wonderful. Revisit?: Have to confess it has been a while, but it's such a heartwarming gem, I will return. In fact I'm going to put it on again now.

So hoist up the John B's sail... 8 year old Chub classic. Don't generally listen to The Beach Boys but always feel good tunes. Abersoch journeys etc

Absolute classic. Love this. So wondrous and magical. So good in the summer too. Really enjoyed listening to it back to back. Haven't really listened to "I know there's an answer' before and thought it was a cracker. Sloop John B still gives 'all the feels' (to use Pudge language).

A day after Brian Wilson passed I get this, I'm sure it was mildly planned and I love it. The album used to be great but as time has gone by it's just settled into good. I guess time does that.

This is simply a delightful listen. Every song carries so much momentum and variety. The WALL OF SOUND is spectacular, always so much going on and different things to listen for, including the occasional bike horn. Perfect harmonies. Perfect instrumentation. Masters of the art of the Coda. 10/10 no notes RIP Mr. Wilson and I wished more bands included timpani in their recordings.

The God Only Knows needle drop in Boogie Nights is an all timer. Rest in power young king

I understand why this is such a tremendous musical achievement, but it just didn't click all the way for me. RIP Brian Wilson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On comprend que ce soit un classique mais y'a besoin d'un peu plus de percus quand même

Mythique et tellement complexe

Un peu lent mais de très bon morceaux

Personally, this is an exercise on evaluating albums on their current quality and whether they have endured the test of time by still outshining everything else. Pet Sounds might have set a lot of things in motion back in the day and paved paths, but listening to it today, it was just average pop which didn't really impress at any stage. Similar to artists like Neil Young or David Crosby who invoked similar feelings but with a different genre, this album will receive a 2.5/5 and be bumped to 3. The saving grace of thee Beach Boys in this instance, is that the album didn't bore as much as Crosby and Young did so in spirit they are better even if the rating won't allow it.

3/5: Influential album for their time. Mostly melancholic lyrics with an underlying coming of age theme. Lots of mid-tempo catchy tunes. However, overall it didn't really feel like a masterpiece to me. It's fine but not exceptional. Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows are two classics though.

Really set the bar for music production innovation on a pop album. 'Wall of Sound' really comes through with everything so densely layered. Just never really liked the barber quartet style of singing and the cheesy harmonies so it loses a point purely on that. Songs like God Only Knows are pure magic though. 4/5.

Listening to this album right after Brian Wilson passed away is special. Back in the day, the Beach Boys made a big impression on me. I even had a compilation album. I had never listened to Pet Sounds in its entirety

pff. undeniable. part of me thinks it’s annoying. it consistently shuts that part of me up. has the hooks to have on in the background, and the arrangements for a deeper listen.

This album is absolutely haunting and has such a visceral effect on me. It’s the strangest thing I listen to all kinds of genres and all kinds of freaky weird music but something about Brian Wilson’s songwriting and composers give me a sense of dread and pending doom. Which I guess is the sign of great art. Real emotional response. Creeping aside, his album is really interesting. It hits all the Beach boy tropes but from a different angle like mostly pop or mostly surf but also very psychedelic and a very strange way. On this album, Brian Wilson was exploring the concept melding unique voices into one instead of layering or stacking them. Like sewing different body parts onto one body and calling it whole. Definitely a weird way of looking at composition. In a video I saw he described it as taking a piano and a guitar and making them one instrument and the same would go for vocals, etc. etc.. Listening to this album you can definitely hear that everything kind of becomes indistinguishable like your lost this barbershop Wonderland in Brian hunting for your head. I’m waiting for the day is a standout for me. It has the Phil Spector drum parts which were made famous by Phil Spector‘s Christmas album. This song is the best example of this Frankenstein methodology. You can hear Phil Spector‘s production for sure you can hear the other members of the Beach boys chiming in here and there, but the body is Brian Wilson and everyone is so to him and he calls it one. He is Frankenstein and he’s coming for you. Anyways, I heard that this album inspired the Beatles to write Sergeant Pepper. That’s kind of cool that they were exploring and challenging each other musically overall great album, but I probably won’t listen to it again heebie-jeebies

This was a very easy album to listen to! Learning that The Beach Boys inspired the Beatles makes so much sense. It is a lighthearted listen! I don't really love a lot of the songs on their own, aside from the well-known hits, but I still enjoyed the album.

Well I Feel So Broke Up, I Wanna Go Home 1001 Albums Generator 51 (06/12/2025) Man, are we sure that this "random album generator" is really all that random? Brian Wilson died yesterday. He was one of the great American songwriters of all time and was best known for his time with The Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is their eleventh album and it is considered their magnum opus, with only The Smile Sessions coming close to the level of acclaim leveled onto this album. I remember the first time that I listened to this album, I didn't really get it. I had heard "best pop album ever", "inspired The Beatles", etc., and I just couldn't see it. Don't get me wrong, I recognized instantly the genius of Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows, but I found a lot of the other songs to be unmemorable. However, due to its short length and easy listening, I found myself coming back to it over and over again. I don't think it has quite entered into my personal canon of best pop album ever, but goddamn, I have seen the light. Wouldn't It Be Nice, the opening track, is a unique piece of pop. The majority of popular music romanticizes youth. Be it partying or innocence, young love or young lust, this commonality exists amongst Western pop. However, the Beach Boys open this album (after a modulation from the A major of the intro to the F major of the majority of the song) with a simple question: "Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?" This turns the aforementioned common theme of pop music on its head, with a yearning for the future, rather than a reminiscing on the past or a narrow-minded focus on the future. This 1-2 punch of a harmonically dense and interesting modulation into interesting, sweet lyrics is the perfect way to open this album. Of course this song is a classic; you don't need me to tell you that. God Only Knows, which opens the B side, is the other transcendent piece of music on this album. Believe it or not, the invoking of "God" in the title of a piece of pop music was seen as scandalous during that time, but the song was so undeniable that it became a hit anyway. I believe, along with most of the human population, that this is one of the greatest love songs of all time, in both its lyrics and its music. That outro is particularly special. Look, basically every song here is great. The main melody of You Still Believe In Me has been stuck in my head for days. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) has this drone in the background that is haunting and so strange. Here Today is super underrated, being one of the least played songs on Spotify. It has an infectious energy and such a fun trumpet part in the chorus. The instrumentals on this album are often cited as the weak points, and I somewhat agree. Let's Go Away For A While is the weakest song on this album. It has a strange energy, but doesn't go anywhere. Pet Sounds (the song) isn't so bad. I love The Beach Boys' take on exotica, and it does stand out among all the songs on this album. Besides these songs, there is really no obvious weak point on this album. I would also hate to fail to mention Phil Spector. His Wall-of-sound production style is in full swing here even though he himself was not involved with the album. Brian Wilson definitely channeled Spector's production techniques here, to great success. Pet Sounds is a classic for a reason. It is one of the best and most interesting pop albums of all time, and I understand why The Beatles took so much inspiration from it for Sgt. Pepper. RIP Brian Wilson. 4.5/5 rounded up to a 5. Favs: Wouldn't It Be Nice Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) God Only Knows Least Fav: Let's Go Away For A While

Rest in Peace, Brian. This album has so many delightful songs. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a classic and an excellent opener, Sloop John B is great as well, and God Only Knows has the honor of Paul McCartney calling it the greatest song ever written.

First of all, RIP to the legend Brian Wilson. Kind of crazy that I would pull this album on the day that he died. It seems like a perfect tribute to me. Second, man this is a lot of music for an album from the 60's. There's a lot of filler here that's just passable at best. This is an album that consistently makes me happy, and even if it's really not my thing I can still have a great time listening to it. There are very few things to criticize on this album, but for me personally, I just think that as a whole, it doesn't really hit me the same way as it does for others. After a while, I kind of get the point and am ready to listen to something else. Especially with 27 songs on an album that goes on for an alarmingly long 1 hour and 16 minutes. There's only so much joyous music I can take at a time. Speaking of, my favorite songs are the ones I've heard before. I think the most successful song here really is the best one, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is great, as are "Sloop John B", "and God Only Knows." I don't believe I'd heard "That's Not Me" before, but it was also one of my favorites.

Sempre pensato che fosse un album meme, invece dar da mangiare alle capre funziona. Belle sonorità bel sound, un po' distante dal mio stile ma comunque catchy.

Really good piece of music. It lacks a bit of edge though...

How convenient this album n the wake of Brian Wilson's death. I knw there's an answer is a great exemple of the melodic genius of the guy. But let's face it, it got old. While they were groundbreaking at the time, greatly influencing th elikes of the Beatles, their sound is dated.

God only knows... why it wouldn't it be nice !! That's a major album that changes the world music... but it's a bit old now and some tracks are far below the excellence of some tracks That's why only 3 stars

I don’t find the whole thing consistently strong or inspired, but it clearly feels more ambitious than their previous pop formats. Nevertheless, from them, I mostly like the surf rock hits and those pop vocal harmonies that sounded so definitive : I wanted “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”’s energy across all 13 tracks! Here, unfortunately, the attempts to intellectualize only work on a few tracks, like God Only Knows. It’s certainly an influential concept album I probably needed more time to fully absorb, but this isn’t my first attempt since childhood. To me, Pet Sounds ultimately stands as an inspiration but also a proof of the greatness of Sgt. Pepper.

I actually had to wait a few days after Brian Wilson's passing to listen to this album, even though I'd been hearing lots of Beach Boys tracks on the radio. I still remember listening to Pet Sounds for the first time about 30 years ago, and I am still moved by it today upon re-listen. While "God Only Knows" is deservedly the most acclaimed song on the album, I’ll name "You Still Believe in Me" as a less-talked about high point of the album. The arrangement is something special, the melody of "I wanna cry" gets me every time, and the backing harmonies are just heavenly.

Probs would have been a 3/5, but was reminded what a masterpiece ‘god only knows’ is.

There’s so much joy on this album. What a gem of a legacy for Brian to leave behind, and to be assigned this album so soon after his passing made it so much more moving.

Альбом, який є одним із найвпливовіших в історії сучасної музики. На ньому гурт відійшов від звичних легких поппісень про серфінг та пляжі й почав більше звертатися до тем внутрішніх переживань, надаючи пісням більшої емоційної та інтелектуальної глибини. Це також один із перших альбомів в історії попмузики, який можна розглядати як цілісний твір, що об'єднує пісні спільною концепцією. А звучить він і досі як справжня насолода. У той час Браян Вілсон почав використовувати незвичні звуки та робити композиції багатошаровими, показуючи, що попмузика теж може мати глибину, бути складною та інтелектуальною. Якщо ви послухаєте ці пісні уважно, а потім звернетеся до сучасного арт-попу чи чембер-фолку, то почуєте безліч мелодійних рішень саме з цього альбому. Є навіть думка, що Pet Sounds надихнув The Beatles на створення легендарного Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Звісно, сьогодні він уже не вразить так, як колись, адже, як і Бітли, він залишив слід, який ми чуємо нескінченну кількість разів. Але тільки уявіть: ви в 60-х, купуєте платівку попгурту, який грав веселий і легкий рок-н-рол, а ще минулого року співав вам Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow. Ви вмикаєте її, і перше, що чуєте - легендарну Wouldn't It Be Nice, яка начебто натякає на те, що гурт робив раніше, але водночас звучить зовсім інакше, так, як ви ще ніколи не чули.

I'll never forget my hippie farm coworker Dave who played Pet Sounds for the plants, saying it helped them grow. I was in high school, and it helped me grow at the least

I am so grateful that this music exists. I truly believe this will be remembered as one of the most beautiful albums of all time. Rest easy, Brian.

Ashamed to admit that, despite having a friend who creams his jorts over The Beach Boys, I’ve never listened to this album in full. Just the hits. And they were good songs, fun to sing with the homies, but based on those I could never really understand why everyone thought these guys were geniuses. I get it now.

How ironic that this album came to listening on the following day after death of Brian Wilson. I think Beach Boys fits perfect to following: happy, non-bothering, feel good backgroud music.

I know this is a milestone in studio work, sound engineering and production, but as a pop record the music is nothing special at all. In fact I find it quite forgettable, most of the album just faded into the background as I listened.

The sounds of a genius at work!!

Perhaps not the greatest album ever made but production and thematically wise one of the most interesting. Its opening line "Wouldn't it be nice if we were older" is pure anti-rock n roll sentiment, and sets the tone for something very different. For some reason it's not one I have played much down the years - I tend to go to go for of the "lo-fi" trilogy that followed this, and more recently Sunflower - but listening again to it's beauty I'm not sure why - maybe my 20 year old self simply overplayed it.

Served on the day Brian Wilson died, which seems a common theme and which I think is a terrible idea given it opens up the potential for positive bias through sentimentality. This is likely to lead to less objective reviews than would otherwise be expected resulting in a higher average rating. We didn’t get a Sly Stone album this week, why not? He also died and has albums on the list. Anyway rant over. I like Pet Sounds but have always considered it one of the most overrated albums of all time. For context, I’m not a beach boys hater, I consider good vibrations to be one of my favourite songs of all time, appreciating its creativity and musical layering which is also present throughout Pet Sounds. It pre-dates peppers FFS, it’s a landmark album no doubt. My issue is that as collection of songs, it’s just not that strong. Theres a lot of filler tracks on the album that drag and go nowhere in particular. I mean two of the opening three tracks are just “meh” and there’s plenty of mediocrity throughout, admittedly interspersed with some absolute gems. The originality and thought raise it above the norm and its historical importance give it weight. Does it deserve a place on this list. Absolutely! 5/5 Is it one of the greatest albums of all time? No, far from it. If it wasn’t for Wilson’s death I may have given it a harsh 3. As it is, I’m feeling sentimental, so it gets a 4.

Pretty hard not to enjoy this. Weather is warming up and I got the beach boys, 4/5.

i suppose they were kinda the platonic ideal of the “cheery melody + melancholy lyrics” dynamic which i frequently enjoy so i do like that aspect of their music. I <3 FEELING BAD. the production is very lush and expansive but that combined with the vocal harmonies results in a music hall choir type effect which i found grating after a while especially on an album like this where there isn’t a huge contrast in overall sound between each song. well i’ll always cry listening to ‘i just wasn’t made for these times’ anyway. fav tracks: god only knows; don’t talk (put your head on my shoulder); that’s not me; sloop john b; wouldn’t it be nice; i just wasn’t made for these times

i hate being that person but i just don't GET the beach boys. like on paper i can understand the reasoning for their importance and i know they altered the trajectory of like all of music forever because of their revolutionary production techniques and i really was trying to focus on and hear that in pet sounds. but the music itself has just never resonated for me, it sounds like children's music. (maybe that's the point? the contrast between the music and the lyrical themes? okay fine...but i still don't want to listen to that.) it's pleasant enough so i'm not unhappy listening to it, but it's just not something i would ever put on.

Omg, guys, Caroline just got a haircut. Stop being so dramatic.

I appreciate this one being bumped up to the front of the queue for everyone the day after Brian Wilson's passing. Easy 5 for me - it's a masterpiece that deserves its place in the canon. Some individual track comments: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - Excellent writing; I always related to this one when I was young and anxious to get married. "I'm Waiting for the Day" - Love the drum sound on this one, and the big dramatic swing around the 2:35 mark right when it feels like it might be ending. Great energy. "Sloop John B" - They even made a sea shanty sound great. "God Only Knows" - Great representative of the dreamy atmosphere of Pet Sounds. I love the "bah bah bah" part here (I'm mostly a "sing the bah bah bahs" kind of person). "I Know There's An Answer" - Think this one's new to me but I like it. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" - Electro-theremin solo! Apparently this is the first instance of theremin-like sounds being used on a rock album. Very cool. "Caroline, No" - Great closer. For all the effort crafting a consistent mood across the album, they couldn't resist slapping on a random train sound effect. The name of the train is The Owl, by the way. All that and more in a tight, cohesive 36 minutes. I've got a Beach Boys "best of" compilation I bought years ago that has many of these songs, but they play even better in the context of the album (I happen to like the "beach party"-type songs like "Help Me, Rhonda" too but they're a different vibe).

Groovier than I thought this would be. God Only Knows is one of my all-times - bumps this up a star.

one of the GOAT albums but some tracks don't quite hit

Old head music

I actually listened to this at the beach which has to count for something? I remember thinking this album was a little greater when I first heard it. I know it’s pretty legendary but upon listening again many years later I didn’t find the same draw. Still good, but not a timeless masterpiece. Definitely a couple legendary tunes, but the whole album doesn’t entirely hold up.

This is one of my all-time favorite albums. I've listened to it hundreds of times. It's the only Beach Boys album I ever listen to as an album, rather than in compilations. It's getting a 10. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is such a beautiful song. It's one of their biggest hits and it doesn't disappoint. "You Still Believe in Me" slows it down a little and focuses in on Brian a little more. He crushes it. I love the percussion on "I'm Waiting For The Day". There's so much going on. I love the big raucous instrumental sections broken up by quieter solo vocals. Is there a flute in there? It's ripping. A calming and centering instrumental break in "Let's Go Away For Awhile" is nice. We're about to go into a banger, so it's nice to have a few minutes of respite. "Sloop John B" is one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. This is not a hot take. I love the a capella section in the middle. I chuckle occaisonally when he says 'this is the worst song I've ever been on'. It's easy for the lyrics to fade away into general positivity when you're not listening actively, and that line always pulls me back in. The song has an interesting history going back a century before the Beach Boys interpretation. It is originally a folk song from The Bahamas. It's worth reading a little about it. "God Only Knows" is ALSO one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. The musical arrangement is beautiful. The Beach Boys are a combination of so many things I love in a band. The songs are short, the harmonies are beautiful, the piano & organ are perfect. Brian Wilson's voice is so iconic and enjoyable to listen to. We are listening to this the day after Brian Wilson died, so this felt like a nice tribute. I see you pulling the strings Mr. 1001albumsgenerator.com. RIP Brian. 10/10

I know this is considered one of the best albums ever, but this really does require context to make that claim. When listening to it as a solo album with GenX or later ears, it’s a good album with some classic hits. Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and God Only Knows, the last song played in Love, Actually in which everyone wanted to confess our love for Keira Knightly via cardboard, are all standouts. But when taken in context of the evolution of the original B-Boys, from beach kings to embracing both the psychedelic age and their own fame in a changing musical/social landscape, this album was huge. If I had grown up with The Beach Boys listening sequential order with baby Boomer ears, I would have either loved or hated this album because it was so different. Being honest, it probably would have been the latter. This was a passion project rather than a Beach Boys album. Brian Wilson pretty much did this album with the Wrecking Crew (shout out to Carol Kaye’s bass work!) because he didn’t think his own brothers were talented enough. This album was his Sgt. Pepper or Cloud Nine. The problem is the B-Boys turned a corner and wouldn’t see the same commercial success until Kokomo in the late 1980s. So the question is roused: though great, was this album actually the beginning of their end?

Random thoughts: * Why do they offer this in mono and stereo. Stereo is better period. There's a reason all new recordings are stereo by default. * This is a no doubt classic and is legendary for inspiring the Beatles to new heights with Sgt. Peppers. However, this does feel somewhat more dated than the Beatles. I'm not sure why it doesn't have a more timeless feel. * Brian Wilson clearly had been dealing with mental health issues. How can you listen to this and not hear his mental struggles in songs like "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" and "God Only Knows". I'm glad we got to have Brian Wilson on this earth for a good long time. * On the latest listen (I listened to this album at least 3 times for this endeavor), the song "Pet Sounds" kind of caught me by surprise and felt like just a good instrumental. I added it to my Summer playlist. * A definite classic but maybe a bit dated today.

Getting this album the day after Brian Wilson died is crazy

Damn bro. I know why this album was generated for me, but makin me critique his music when his body isn’t even cold yet is tough. This music is fun, but I was raised on parodies of it. So I have a hard time taking it seriously. Add in that the lyrics are simple as simple gets. It’s really just okay.

Yup. Whether for the layers.. layers to the music.. the lyrics.. the story.. or for just the face value hits, I think I'll always love Pet Sounds. So happy. So sad. One of the trends in my higher rated albums seems to be if an album feels like a world, or an escape. If I'm not paying attention it's something that goes by too quickly. Then I play it again, and it's another ride. If I am paying attention, it's colors and textures, dumb horns and dumb fade outs haha, waterfalls of feelings and ideas, a dude just pushing himself and pouring in and out so much of himself.. like there's nothing to rate, I'm just grateful. Thank you for sharing, Brian ❤️

Masterpiece. Album feels much longer than the 37 min runtime which is a testament to the quality and variety of the songwriting. Standouts are "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B." and "God Only Knows".

Smooth melodies and deep harmonies

Is this the most overrated album ever? God, how most of the songs drag! Track 2-6 is a snoozefest beyond compare, as are the last 3. The remaining 5 songs are good good real good, though

Iconic, unprecedented, unique, robust, diverse, melodic, vibrant, warm, uncanny, and timeless. The Wilson bros struck gold on the eve of Sgt. Peppers and came up with this Laurel Canyon sunshine washed harrowing piece of music. On the day after we lost Brian Wilson this album especially hits the hardest, knowing what I know about the internal struggles of the band this gem is a surefire standout that has lasted for generations. There was a comical allure of this album as I was coming up in age but its completely warranted.

ja, sicher auf der höhe der zeit, aber was bleibt sind die single-highlights. 11 alben in 4 jahren? da verstehe ich, wenn der künstler mal eines (dieses!) als gesamtwerk und ohne füllmaterial abliefern wollte. ob es ein erfolg war?!

Zufall? Am Tag nach der Nachricht vom Tod von Brian Wilson das entsprechende Album. Auf alle Fälle grossartig!

Pet Sounds was still having an impact in the early 70s. It’s the album that transformed The Beach Boys from a surf/hotrod themed barbershop quartet from SoCAL to something bigger. Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Sloop John B, and God Only Knows (and some of their earlier hits) were still getting radio play through the late 70s. Then everyone lost interest and they faded. Production value aside the album doesn’t hold up as well (and has less hits) than I remember. It comes in at (2.45*s) Did get some pet sounds at the end…

I know Pet Sounds is a heavily championed album and have listened to it a few times before. I was never too impressed and still am not but after reading the synopsis, I can understand for the time it was groundbreaking. The opener sticks to the simple surfer vibe The B-Boys are known for but after that, Brian Wilson explores unknown territories for the group. I give credit for this but I was only half in throughout my listen. "God Only Knows" and "Sloop John B" take top track spots but the later is a cover so. Overall, the record is pretty good and for the trail blazing it did on the production side of musical recordings, it makes the list. Tough one to rate based purely on my overall musical enjoyment but I'm giving it a solid 3 stars.

There's no denying the importance of The Beach Boys. I'm not the right person to discuss whether or not their music holds up 50+ years later but I know that it's a little too bubble-gum for me to enjoy in anything other than small doses. A song here or there is fun in the right scenario but I don't listen to the Beach Boys with any sincerity. They are icons for their influence in rock history and Pet Sounds is probably their most notable work but it didn't do much for me on this listen. It's a relic of a bygone era, and while important and deserving of this list its not something I plan to listen to again any time soon. 2.12 stars

I <3 the beach boys and this album slaps

My most controversial music take is that this is the most overrated album of all time. For me personally, it's somewhere between a 3 and a 4 - I have given it the benefit of the doubt because the highlights are so incredibly strong ('Sloop John B' and 'God Only Knows'). Beyond them, there's a couple of good tracks, but I never understood the appeal of this whole sound.

🐐

Nothing to be said here that hasn’t already been said, but fantastic album.

lol

I'm aware of the phenomenal impact this album is meant to have had. Unfortunately, for me, while I like a lot of the beach boys' music, this dragged on in a slightly unsatisfying way. There's something to be said for being a pioneer, but I don't think it's unreasonable to prefer the refined, polished more modern takes; like preferring a new iphone over the original one.

I've always enjoyed The Beach Boys, and pre-highschool would have considered myself a fan of this “oldies band.” While skilfully recorded and mixed (if you don't mind that high-pitched ambience of the style and times of the 1960s-70s... which I do), this album has never been one of my favorites because many of the songs just don't do it for me. It doesn't matter how skilfully performed and recorded the album, if I don't love most of the songs I just can't find it within myself to give it the 4 or 5 star rating that everything else tells me I could. I will say it CERTAINLY belongs on this list for the precise, complex, and basically game-changing production work that Brian Wilson brought to this.

I was never going to love a pop-rock album from 1966, but points for creativity. One of the lessons learned from this project: I don't know shit about the Beach Boys. This was much more in line with expectations than "Surf's Up" but still a little surprising. 2.7

10,000/10 Perfection, a special shout out to the masterful vocal breakdowns in Sloop John B followed by Carol Kaye on Bass Sax.

I've never been a Beach Boys fan, but I tried to listen to this record, as I know of its importance and how it's always in someone's top 100. I got to track 4. Had to stop. Just not my thing.

Brian Wilson just died yesterday... and this is arguably the greatest album ever made. RIP.

Good album , never really dates

Not my favourite. It’s a mess. It’s inconsistent and it has some brilliant songs but it doesn’t hang together like smiley smile or cabinessence. Love you is a better album. It is the one most people love though. 3.5

This is a tough one to rate. Brian was making moves in the album and singles before this, California Girls being a great example of what was in his head. Finding a good lyricist in Tony Asher was a coup. So what's going on? Some fantastic melodies, quite extraordinary arrangements and an eclectic range of instruments played by some very fine players. The vocal arrangements similarly are magnificent. And so to the songs. A lot of them are fairly pedestrian, forgettable. No one is lauding That's Not Me for example. Sloop John B came from an idea by Al Jardine, and is fantastic. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a masterful work, brilliant sound, great melody and a very interesting lyric coming from LA in 1965. Tony Asher, a bit of Don Draper by day, seemed to hit on a place in transition, everything was changing so fast in the mid sixties, and this is nostalgia for a simpler time. Ditto God Only Knows, Brian's greatest song, but also a brilliant piece of lyric writing by Asher, such a beautiful juxtaposition of emotion, mood and love. Then we have I Just Wasn't Made for These times and Caroline No. The rest truly pales in comparison. So a couple of things: it was Rubber Soul, the American release too mind, that inspired Brian, Pet Sounds pre dates Revolver. Now the original British release of Rubber Soul does something that Pet Sounds doesn't: its a complete record of an equally astounding standard across all the songs and an ensemble performance. Brian didn't and never found a partner worthy of his talents in a way that Lennon had McCartney and they both had Harrison. And Tony Asher, a little like Hal David, is not given enough recognition for the beauty of his lyrics, songs like God Only Knows are great because of his words. Brian wrote and arranged great songs, but he was never consistent and he was not a genius. Troubled sure, who wouldn't be with Mike Love in your life, but no genius.

Brian Wilson died today. There is near universal acknowledgement of incredible aptitude for melody and harmony, but really, I think we have been collectively mourning Brian Wilson for decades now. Was Pet Sounds, so beloved by hipsters, both the career zenith and breaking point for Brian Wilson? It feels unkind to suggest that he subsequently disappeared into a miasma of drugs, mental illness, internecine conflicts and his own legend. The Legend of Brain Wilson is one of the foundational myths of popular music, a piece of trauma porn that allows music snobs a visceral thrill on the basis of Brian's suffering. I think Brian's story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of a fucked-up father, too much success too fast, and the exploitative nature of the music industry (and the predators that lurk around it). Personally, I'm glad he seemed to find some stability and peace with his wife, Melinda, whom he credited with making his life possible. I saw Beach Boys with Brian Wilson live in 2012. They were performing in Central Park, NYC, for Good Morning America, so I got up at 6am to go see them. They only did a few songs (Help Me Rhonda, Good Vibrations, God Made the Radio, and maybe something else). Brian was super cranky, and berated the crowd for bumping around the giant beach balls that the production had provided during the lengthy breaks between performances. And I felt like he has been wheeled out against his will to perform like a curiosity and I could understand his bad mood. It is my usual (and somewhat) heretical view that Brian Wilson is over-rated and nearly everything he did after Pet Sounds is self-indulgent and unfocussed and often meaningless ('Vegetables', anyone?), the occasional good song excepted. Anyone who claims to truly love the 'Surf's Up' LP is just too pretentious. But Pet Sounds really is something else. Loathe as I am to admit it, Pet Sounds is really great. It's difficult to hear with fresh ears because so many of these tracks are really important and much played vital pieces of pop music history. I can see why the Beatles felt the need to up their game in response. Five stars. Vale, Brian, you just weren't made for these times.

This album is a perfect encapsulation of youthful exuberance, naivety, and yearning. In this way, Brian Wilson will be young forever.

Quack.

like drinking honey. or drowning in it

Rather spookily, this came up for review the day after Brian Wilson passed away. With The Beach Boys being one of my favourite bands, I felt a more heartfelt, conversational review was needed as a tribute. Obviously, this is one of those albums that has loads of accolades and is considered to be a timeless 'classic'. But there's a fair amount of people who don’t like the more mawkish elements etc. So here are a some of my thoughts. 1. I can see why some may not like it, or get it. It’s not directly linked to any lifestyle, culture or political movement, the lyrics aren’t particularly clever or enlightening, it’s crap to dance to, it‘s too feminine (or un-masculine) to be considered a rock album and it’s a bit too personal, weird even, to be a true pop album. At times the arrangements can be as sickly sweet as syrup, combined with melancholy it can come across as being gauche, naive and almost childlike (years later Brian recorded an unreleased album called adult/child). 2. BUT, oh well, oh my, oh gosh, oh gee, this is a gorgeous album to escape to, via its reverb drenched and dreamy, exotic landscapes. A place where sleepy woodwinds integrate with pounding kettle drums. Where insistent arpeggios of multiple guitars chime sweetly in the background. Dense layers of music that somehow sound 'green' like the cover, which make me picture inland Hawaii. 3. The lyrics (written Tony Asher, apparently an advertising agent) aren’t particularly poetic but their simplicity really does convey meaning in each song. The lack of pretense perfectly complements each individual track; like the sense of loneliness in ‘That’s Not Me’, the heartfelt romanticism of ‘Don’t Talk’, the sense of eternal mystery in ‘I Know There’s An Answer’ or the loss of innocence in the closing ‘Caroline No’. 4. The musical arrangements are outstanding; the counterpoint harmony, the combination of instruments that blend into a “wall of sound”; the prominent, jazzy, melodic bass lines (acoustic and electric); the dynamic changes in sound and tempo, from a full blown orchestra to a simple clarinet line, or the Theremin wailing at the end of ‘I Just wasn’t Made For These Times’, the French Horn introduction on ‘God Only Knows’, the incredible use of various percussion. I could go on. 5. The melodies and vocals are so passionately sung, soulful, uplifting, melancholic and at times, the harmony and backing vocals breathtakingly complex (and more sparsely utilised than previous albums). 6. It is an evocative, emotional record that you have to actively listen to. You have to allow yourself to be drawn into fantasy and the exotic landscapes of it's creator. Anyway, it’s status as a top tier album in the history of pop music is well deserved, and ultimately (apart from Smile) probably the only bona fide Beach Boys album to be considered a classic i.e. find mass appeal, commercial success and near universal praise. NB - For me (and many fans of their middle period), Pet Sounds was the start of a fantastic run of albums going from 1966 up to 1973: Pet Sounds, Smile / Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, Sunflower, Surfs Up, So Tough and Holland (oh and not forgetting the formidable AM rock of their 1973 live double album). Increasingly, there albums were more of a group effort, but each of these incredibly diverse records are equally superb in their own homespun, unassuming way. On there own terms, these delightful records add up to the most underrated cannon of works in pop music (says me). R.I.P. Mr Wilson, you will be missed. Ps it transpired the BBC selection today wasn't random (!) but all the above still stands.

Great album by a great songwriter and producer. RIP Brian

Rip Brian. Its a weird album from the concept to the songs. I find it odd that they were such a big pop hit with their faceleto harmonies and their kinda spaced out sound. This had some classics on there.

Undeniably good, even if I'm not the greatest fan of the Beach Boys. RIP Brian.

Iconic and changed the face of music. 4 1/2 stars because listening to the whole thing at once it's too much, like eating a whole black forest gateau. But it's hit after hit and has just genius scoring.

No way is this 1001 generator is random: getting The Beach Boys the day after Brian Wilson's death! (Narrator: it wasn't random.) Feeling quite sentimental about it, such a great album! (I'm blissfully ignoring the lazy fade outs.)

Album art:2

Look I'm well aware this is sacrilege and it's so clear this was mindblowing and innovative in 1966 but I really just....do not like baroque pop. I like Sloop John B but that's about it.

i got this as my album of the day today and knew it was going to be a 5 star review because this is one of the greatest albums of all time and i love brian wilson, but i got this album on june 11th 2025 and brian wilson passed away today, RIP Brian Wilson, you were the greatest.

A classic. I like some of the Beach Boys, just heard the hits really.

lindas vibras

Basically perfect and wonderful in every way, everything that can be said has been said so I'm not gonna kick a dead horse. Let me just immediately contradict that though and tell you that God Only Knows is a perfect song and one of the best things I've ever heard.

Recognized as among the greatest and most influential albums in music history, "Pet Sounds" is often compared with the Beatles "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band," though I believe that no comparison can be made. Brian Wilson had made his own, extraordinary mark on musical history. The charming "Wouldn’t It Be Nice" is the album’s opener. An upbeat song with angelic vocals, complex arrangements and youthful innocence (“You know it seems the more we talk about it / It only makes it worse to live without it”), Pet Sounds starts off with a banger. Although the most obvious 'weakness' of the Beach Boys is their monotony, with most songs following the same formula, "Pet Sounds" avoids this problem. The similarity between songs only adds to the realism of the album. "You Still Believe In Me" and "That's Not Me" are achingly beautiful tracks with angelic harmonies, and "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" is a dreamy love ballad. The Beach Boys's cover of "Sloop John B" is fantastically trippy. Definitely my favourite cover of theirs. Additionally, "God Only Knows" is arguably the best love ballad ever written and a true testament to Brian Wilson's songwriting. The lines "I may not always love you / But long as there are stars above you / You never need to doubt it / I'll make you so sure about it" are simple but achingly tender. I'm glad Carl Wilson sang this number—his soft voice compliments the song exceptionally. "Here Today" is dichotomous to the rest of "Pet Sounds," as it offers a more cynical view on love. Not my favourite, but a good song nonetheless. "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" and the title track are weaker but don't noticeably disrupt the listening of the album. "Caroline, No" is another focal point of "Pet Sounds" and a stark contrast to "Wouldn't It Be Nice." It is raw, albeit dramatic, and filled to the brim with heartbreak. Oh, Brian, you diva! "Could I ever find in you again / The things that made me love you so much then? / Could we ever bring 'em back once they have gone?" TL;DR, "Pet Sounds" makes me feel like I'm foolish and young and in love again. Definitely one of the GOAT.

Truly a classic. Musical legends at the heigh of their career. But damn, it was a such a simpler time.

A classic pop album, with lots of baroque and psychedelic elements. I love the vocals and production here. 9/10 Favourite: Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) Least Favourite: None

temu beatles

Decent album, the hits definitely help it but I enjoyed it overall

Always felt like I'm missing something when I listen to this

Quaint and dreamy, although very much sounding of the era it was made.

We agreed to a break on the day we got Pet Sounds – I had things to do, you had things to do. Then Brian Wilson died. I thought it would be easier to come back to the album after a few weeks. My initial thoughts were all over the place. Perhaps, after some reflection on Wilson's significance, I would have a better idea. Once, a radio producer invited me onto a radio show to talk about Pet Sounds. I didn't realise it was a panel show, where the guests talked about their favourite albums. I'm still not sure why he thought Pet Sounds would be one of my favourites. Maybe there was a space to fill. Regardless, I had less to say about it than the albums chosen by the other two guests: Purple Rain and Forever Changes. Historically, I've had troubled articulating much of anything about Pet Sounds. I've never owned a copy, although I've had copies of and enjoyed the record that proceded and followed it: Today and Smiley Smile. It's hard now to discuss it, knowing that in the deficit of reviews to catch up on, I've to write about Today as well. A review of that album can't ignore what we now all know was coming. There is no dispute that Pet Sounds is a great album – beautiful sounding, confidently pieced together, challenging but accessible, eccentric but average. However, it never speaks to me the way that other great records do. Brian Wilson's teenage symphonies to god are specifically to a distant god and teenagers from long ago. He was twenty-four when he wrote all this, but it has the emotional complexity of someone younger writing for people younger still. Except for God Only Knows, where the simplicity horse-shoes round to profundity and universality. That songs shows what Wilson can achieve with great lyrics, but the truth – not a hidden truth by any stretch - is that the words have little to do with the success of Wilson's – not the Beach Boys' – records. The emotional depth and artistic curiosity is solely in the music and Wilson is constrained by the sentimental conventions of pop music – which he couldn't challenge himself, so relied on collaborators – and even by the idea of a band itself. How much closer to Wilson's vision – and therefore his true personality – we would be if the Beach Boy group vocals were replaced by a faceless choir, no longer the product of a pop brand of which Wilson is only a part, but the tool of Wilson the composer. Imagine Beethoven had to write for the boy band of which he was also a member – the Gary Barlow problem. The elements of Wilson that we might relate to, the human understanding that we might uncover, is in that strange music: sunny, but sad; explorative, but homely; short, but all tangled up with each other. As this project goes on, I am forced to concede that pop music is, predominantly, a charismatics medium: a force of will and personality, an artform of individual tastes pieced together for sale. Brian Wilson's genius, then, had to come second to his charisma. And he had none. Charm, perhaps. But not charisma. In the final product, his facility is too often subservient to other people's concerns. There are musical forms in which facility is paramount, but mid-twentieth century pop music wasn't one. Quite accurate, he just wasn't made for those time. 4 “Now tell me who's gonna hold your precious hands?/Who's gonna kiss your ruby mouth?/And who's gonna talk your future over/While I'm out there workin' like a dog way down in the south?” (Solomon Burke ‘Hard, Ain’t it Hard’) Brian Wilson! Brian fucking Wilson, Solomon that’s who. Listen to the lyrics of ‘I’m Waiting for the Day’ - the tale of a woman who doesn’t actually want the song’s protagonist but, having been hurt, is exposed to attachments by this sort of barnacle. Perhaps it was the unlucky precedence of Solomon Burke’s lively, virile record but the Beach Boys’ album struck me today as nothing if not flaccid. The barnacle analogy is unjust I dare say - unlike the noble, hermaphroditic barnacle, there is an utter sexlessness, musical as well as lyrical, about Pet Sounds. It has no genitalia. This is an effect of the music as well as the lyrics. That big reverb wash, a sickness of American pop albums in the 60s, positively castrates the drums. The Beach Boys vocals I have always winced at; performances like Wouldn’t It Be Nice? are the very soul of whiny, wet, nasal, vocal manchilding; little conviction and no passion, only a somnolent sense of correct notes being dutifully oozed out lest the baby wake up. And who is that baby? The grown women that the Beach Boys are so conspicuously interested in never having an unchaste thought about before marriage (before which neither can ’be happy’) ‘Goodnight my baby/ Sleep tight my baby’ Ugh.  Now what about the ‘genius’ of Brian Wilson’s musical architecture? Chord sequences wandering off from key centres like a boy wandering the dance floor in search of his prom date. No final resolution. Every track ending the night back home by 9, alone, unsatisfied.  Since writing the above Brian Wilson has died. Rest in peace Mr Wilson, you were a brilliant songwriter. I was going to write more above anyway. There would have been a ‘turn’ in which I acknowledged that I actually think Pet Sounds is very, very good and that God Only Knows is one of my absolute favourite records; a song almost worth castrating oneself to have the honour of having written. I was going to give Pet Sounds 4/5 but I will bump that by half a point now because I too am basically soft and sentimental. And I didn’t even go to my school formal. 4.5/5

I listened to the original release, which included fourteen songs. A few of these were big hits, and still can be heard often on the oldies stations. Brian Wilson gets credit for his sometimes complex harmonies and arrangements. For me, the songs generally seem old and tired.

I already liked the idea of this album even before I knew it had goats on it! What a delight. Also, "Pet Sounds" is a great name because both of those words can be a noun or verb. A lot of these tracks were the first songs I downloaded when I got my own computer, and they still hold up. I guess they're a little samey, and certainly old-fashioned, but also very poppy and harmony-y and, dare I say, emo, with some funny little instruments thrown in. In a way, it reminds me of a slightly more normie Magnetic Fields. I was not expecting 2 instrumental tracks -- the first one didn't really hit for me, but they're pleasant enough, and written-for-a-Bond-movie 'Pet Sounds' does seem like it was written for that. I don't particularly like some other Beach Boys hits I know ('I Get Around', 'Good Vibrations'), but this album was cohesively flawless. I was going to give it a 4, but looking at my highlights list, maybe it deserves a 5(!!) Highlights: 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' (featuring a "12-string mando-guitar"), 'You Still Believe in Me', 'I'm Waiting for the Day', 'Sloop John B' (one of the most mysterious song titles of my lifetime; where's Sloop John A?), 'God Only Knows', 'Here Today', 'Caroline, No' (a mishearing of "Carol, I Know"! that's Mike Eindetitle), 'Hang On to Your Ego' (this isn't on the original version, but still)

They mixed this on tapes. Incredible work. It took a long time for this album to sink in for me, but now that it has, I adore it.

Songs I grew up to.

I hadn't listened to this before and now understand why it tops the greatest of all time charts. Fantastic album.

So much good music on this one.

he disfruta la vd, me ha relajado mucho de cara al examen de psicologia. volveria a escucharlo

I know it's iconic and everything but honestly it's hard for me to understand why. Still, not bad though. 7/10

This influenced so many artists

While I like some of their songs, I'll never understand how they are so popular.

хорошие, столько хитов я отсюда знаю оказывается. странная версия с 27 песнями

I realize the contribution they made to music and know it's heresy to not worship the Beach Boys, but I find most of their songs a bit boring. With that said, I will admit that God Only Knows is an amazing song. But one song can't make up for the other 12 rather average tunes.

this album makes me happy:)

Cracking

I know this is a 'should be 5 stars' album based on what so many people say, but there are a couple tracks that are just kind of there. I'm comfortably at a 4.5, but just can't quite give it the 5 that it seems like it's supposed to have.

Great album! Especially loved the opening track "Wouldn't it be nice". They're classics for a reason.

sugar cane Beatles aah pop

Nice catchy stuff. 4 stars

I have a backlog of albums, which I’m waiting for the best time to listen to. Today is the day I chose to listen to Pet Sounds. Not to critically listen to what is considered one of the best of albums of all time, but to just bask in the genius of Brian Wilson. Rest in Peace 1942-2025

Some of the B-sides were surprisingly cool like Sloop John B. Some of it is sort of corny but you can really see the influence it has on stuff that comes after.

decent

This album was boring. The Beach Boys are a boring band.

Couple good songs

Mainioita biisejä

Undeniably one of the most influential albums of the rock era, but what struck me most on this listen was how really just three songs here managed to seep into the consciousness of the general public and remain more than six decades later. As revolutionary as it was for its time, most of the tracks here seemed to serve as pointers for what others (most notably the Beatles, of course, on Sgt. Pepper) would quickly be doing much better.

Amazingly catchy and fun. Very ahead of it's time. I do think it's a tad bit overrated considering some say it's the best album of all Time. And in comparison I feel it's a little dated in comparison of sgt peppers and not quite as good. Very strong 4* could grow towards a 5*

RIP Brian Wilson, this is a production masterpiece with a couple of the best songs ever recorded. 5 Stars.

80s synth pop! honestly some of the simplest lyrics i’ve heard in a while but still good!

Truly an album that needs to be on this list. The concept of this album seems to be how a person views the theme of "love" and how it changes as they mature (or at least just different view points on love). I really appreciate what this album is expressing and how it advances The Beach Boys sound from previous albums. A few duds in here but overall a revolutionary album which changed the music scene. Liked songs: Wouldn't be Nice, That's Not Me, I'm Waiting For the Day, God Only Knows, Here Today, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Caroline, No.

I mean .. it's pet sounds! Well known that it's a masterpiece, and I don't disagree

It has one well-known song, and that's it. The album is very boring.

Solid classic

Lots of songs I already knew and liked - coincidentally had listened to the album a few days ago when a friend put it on. Really enjoyed it but not sure I would listen to the whole album again - although I wouldn’t object to it being on. Fav song: God Only Knows - a classic Least fav: Here Today - it’s fine just didn’t like it as much as the others

Beach boys feeding themselves on the cover. Fantastic album. This is what I was looking forward to getting. Banger after banger. Also happy that they included sounds of pets at the very end for accuracy. Specific rating - 4.7 Fav song- god only knows Least fav- you still believe in me

A nice chill morning vibe! Very good for a cup of tea and relaxing

Kind of hate that Brian Wilson was 23 when he made this album. But I love everything else about it. Some true classics I've heard many times and some amazing songs I've never heard before but will definitely hear again. Favourite: God Only Knows Least: Let's Go Away For Awhile

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is honestly one of the most influential albums in the entire history of music. This record is pure genius. every listen just makes you fall deeper in love with it. It’s the kind of album that reveals more and more each time, whether it’s the little production details, the harmonies, or just the emotion behind it all. It kicks off with what might be the greatest intro of all time. Wouldn’t It Be Nice immediately pulls you in with one of the greatest songs ever written, a track that’s as joyful as it is bittersweet. From there, the whole album flows beautifully, carrying you through this warm, grand, and cozy soundscape that only Brian Wilson could create. The production is otherworldly. The layers, the arrangements, the harmonies... they’re all just breathtaking. Brian Wilson was a true musical genius, and this album is proof of that. Rest in peace to an absolute legend who reshaped what pop music could be. Every track contributes to the journey, and there’s never a dull moment. Songs like God Only Knows show just how emotional and timeless this record really is, still hitting just as hard today as it did in 1966. Pet Sounds flows so perfectly, and you never get tired of revisiting this masterpiece. It’s one of those rare albums that feels both intimate and massive at the same time, a record that changed music forever and continues to inspire generations.

Why do so many songs have such unsatisfying fade outs? Just have a definitive end to a song!

Not bad.

Una joya!

Some good tunes, but not something I want to listen to often

This is the algorithm’s way of making me feel bad for giving that Kid Rock album 3 stars. Giving me one of the best albums of all time the next day, with like, 6 of the greatest songs of all time on it.

It was an okay album with some major ups and downs. Wouldn't It Be Nice and I Just Wasn't Made For These Times were both 10/10 amazing songs, the rest of the album was anywhere from pretty good to rather boring.

J’aime ! Quelques bangers et surtout un son super cohérent mais qui reste surprenant morceau après morceau. Un album qui me fait ressentir des choses.

Good

Helt ok

Revolutionary for its time. Not necessarily my favorite music to listen to, but the depth of the songwriting is shocking for music that seems so saccharine at first glance.

YOOOOOOOOO I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH!!!! YOOOOOOOO BANGER AFTER BANGER AFTER BANGER EASY 5/5!!! AAAAAAAA

know it. love it.

Jako jako dobro. Mrvicu monotono, ali God only knows sve nadoknađuje

jako fora. neke su pjesme izvrsne, a neke su trunčicu lošije jer su tipične ljubavne pjesme. al ipak vrhunski izvedene

"Pet Sounds" is the 11th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys. The Wiki-listed genres are progressive pop, chamber pop, pyschedelic pop and art rock and it continued their progressive sound from their previous album "The Beach Boys Today!" The album was primarily produced, arranged and composed by bandmember Brian Wilson. The album is recognized for "its ambitious production, sophisticated harmonic structures and coming of age themes" and is cited as one of the best albums of all time. Brian was motivated by the Beatles' release of "Rubber Soul" and aimed to make the "greatest rock album ever made." The other Beach Boys (Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson) mainly contributed vocals as Brian used a lot (I counted 56) of other studio musicians including members of L.A.'s famous Wrecking Crew (as they became). Commercially, the album hit #2 in the UK and #10 in the US. In 2000, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for its artistic significance. A 12-string mando-guitar opens the album in "Wouldn't It Be Nice." Brian on lead vocals including using his falsetto which he does quite frequently on this album. Gorgeous backing vocal harmonies which took a long time to reached Brian's expectations. 16 different instruments used. A young couple longing for adult independence. Side two begins with "God Only Knows." Carl Wilson on lead vocals. 20 different instruments used in this song. More terrific harmonies particularly at the end. A harpsichord and a French horn at the break. The protagonist contemplates the end of a relationship, asserting that only God could fathom that. Critics cite this as the only baroque pop song and album, and, oh yeah, one of the best songs ever. I would agree. Mike Love takes over lead vocals on "I Know There's an Answer." Tack piano, horns, tambourine and a wall of sound production. It was a critique on the escapist LSD culture. The first single released is the last song on the album, "Caroline, No." Cymbals, a water jug used as percussion, vibraphone and a flute. A melancholic song on lost innocence and irretrievably love. I always take notes when listening to these albums in this challenge. I pretty much gave up on this one. Brian uses so many different instruments, lead instruments, instruments to open songs, random noises, multiple instruments playing to same melody and so on. A lot of times, an album this "busy" would annoy me. Besides being one of the best albums of all time, it is by far the best "busiest" album of all time. Everything works, just brilliant production. The harmonies are fantastic and complex. There is so much background on this album, I would need a month to give it justice. Bottom line: great album and rightfully given its place in history.

The bangers are bangers and the meh songs are meh. Averages out to a 4, I'd say.

Tons of memorable tracks. Very unique sound, love these guys.

Iconic, but sounds like the theme tune to a not-very-good film now through overuse.

Loved this album! Some solid songs on here and pretty great production consider the release year!

This is a nice album and it deserves its place in history. Inspired by Revolver, Brian Wilson created this which then in turn inspired Sgt Peppers so it’s an icon of rock history. It’s just not as good as the album it was inspired by nor the album it inspired. The highs of this album are great and the Beach Boys always harmonise well but I’m just always underwhelmed by this album.

Amusing, listened while working.

Gut. Bisschen angestaubt…

A must.brilllant

Besides the well known singles, it wasn’t my cup of tea

Back in the day, this must have been revolutionary. But now you hear all the vanilla flavors of pop music time and time again on the radio, so needless to say, it didn't quite grip me.

While it may have historically contributed a lot, by today's standards it really isn't all that exciting. First to feature a theremin? Great. I hope the people who praise such firsts on old albums aren't the same people dismissing every new sound that is first introduced in other genres and new music. That would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?

Cool probably earth shattering for 1966 but not the best album ever, although very solid

Wow. Incredibly beautiful. And I thought the Beach Boys were just beach songs…

Mid

Beautiful vocals and arrangements, classic harmonies mixed with interesting range of instruments. Can remember 20 years ago hearing this for the first time with headphones on at the mall, most songs and the style totally new to me, utterly transfixed. Not something I'm always in the mood for but always captivating once I start to listen. Standouts: God Only Knows, Wouldn't It Be Nice, I Know There's an Answer

Nice

Love this album.

Listened to the Mono versions. Wow, what a classic. Highlights like Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, and God Only Knows are surrounded by some of the greatest sounds of psychedelic rock. I'm finding that I really like prog and this is certainly an early exploration of that genre.

This album takes me somewhere beautiful. It makes me feel five years old. It’s so wonderful. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) is one of my favorite songs ever. The sound is all enveloping, surrounding you on every side. You can float away on it. Oh to be a child again. We need another Pet Sounds these days, a record without a hint of cynicism in it. Carefree, innocent. This is music for a simpler, better time. This is music for a perfect world. This is music for the kingdom of heaven.

Fuck these spoiled brats

Love it.

Probably more of a 3.5, but round up to 4. Some big hits on here and also some songs that were probably first listens. Good mix, easy to listen to, all around enjoyable album.

Absolutely unfuckwithable.

Stale bread in the form of music. Fuck off.

super cute and summery, definitely beachy cheers beach boys. um definitely average but not bad!!

i really really enjoyed this. it kind of gave beetles vibes . the first song all i could think of was that one tv advert. SOOOOOOO summery . such a lovely chill vibe . i loved the guitar. these albums have really started becoming one of the highlights of my day . unless its metal . FUCK METAL

absolutely banging album with a couple of my favourite songs ever on there (god only knows and thats not me). really liked "here today" which i hadnt heard before buy bit of a shame the rest of the album disappointed me a bit, i was really excited because of the songs i already knew and unfortch it just didnt deliver, still incredible though, i just had high expectations! love their sound

Pet Sounds is one of the greatest records in the history of pop music. Every part sits where it belongs and this makes it still relevant More than 50 years later.

Some catchy tunes but mostly boring

Loved it, and especially learning about it. Will revisit even if it’s not an album that blew me away. Was a very enjoyable listen and appreciated all it meant for pop music as I read about it

Brilliant pop from the 1960s about coming of age in a more innocent and puritanical time. Complex harmonic structure and melody are combined with unusual instrumentation. Unfortunately, Brian Wilson's bizarre, perpetual falsetto has aged poorly. To modern ears, it's a weird affectation. Still a great album.

Better than Coldplay.

I listened to most of this album but I love me some Beach Boys. This album has some great tunes and vibes. I would definitely give this a listen again and recommend it to others!

3.5

Untouchable pop music, Wilson was an absolute genius on this one. Contender for best album of all time l.

No way to write an objective review here. This album is the soundtrack to a few important periods of my life. Sometimes I think that the insane song construction, genius level harmonies, and true emotional depth make it my favorite album. Other times the lyrics are just a little too twee and cringey. Hard to say I guess. But props to Brian for making the transition from fun songs about cars to whatever the fuck this beautiful mess is.

Det her matche på ingen måte været og på få måter humøret, men det e ganske fint likevel, og æ kan skjønne koffor folk like det. Æ like det, men æ kommer jo ikke til å høre på det med vilje igjen.

I'm only listening to the stereo version and only rating that version. Great first song of course. The overall album is alright though. Pretty standard, run of the mill album.

A masterpiece

really good album with some outstanding songs to carry it. I (obviously) liked Wouldn't it be nice & Slop B john, but I also really enjoyed Here today

Decades ahead of its time.

Based and Hawthornepilled! Previously listened to 4 songs off of this album (Wouldn't It Be Nice; Sloop John B; God Only Knows; Caroline, No) This is one of those albums where I feel like I probably should have waited for the perfect moment to listen to it, but this was still an amazing experience. I'm from the same town as the Beach Boys, so I feel as though I generally have this sort of love for them that stems from a perceived "chance at making it big someday." Something could indeed come from good ol' Hawthorne, CA. Another thing I'll briefly add is that I thing aside from a few songs, there aren't many I'd listen to as "stand-alones" this is truly best experienced as an album. I feel like the music on this album gently caresses you and then twirls you around. It's an intimate, but fun dance. I imagine bright colors and trippy scenes. I often wonder what the trajectory of my music exploration would look like had I delved deeper into my interest for the Beach Boys vs my interest for other 60s bands. I can see so much of myself--or perhaps a different version of me--in these songs and yet it's not the Sterling I know now. It's part of me, for sure, but a much lesser component. All of this is to say, I adored this album. I will have to wait for the perfect day to put this on. I can almost see it now... Favorite Song: I Know There's An Answer

it's ok.. not a huge beach boys fan though

Perfection.

a favorite of mine. It's like the sunniest, happiest album ever made, with a dash of jingly-ness to it. Favorites for Only God knows and I wasn't made for these times!

Fav tracks : Wouldn't it be nice , sloop b John , God only knows, here today Great music throughout some do sound quite similar but the floor is quite high for most of the album

I listened to whole album again. It's good, but I don't understand why it's always in the top 10 best albums. As far as I'm concerned it's not that good

Some of my all time favorite songs are on this album. There are songs that are skippable though.

Legends. Excellent "old sound" and thick taste of 60th music.

The magnitude to which this album changed modern music is immeasurable. A few of these songs have been iconic for decades, while those that haven't have quietly burned at the back of the minds of some of the other most influential artists since. The introduction of actual production: the use of the studio to be a part of the album instead of simply what captures it, was groundbreaking. It gave way to Bowie, Timbaland, and many others to sit behind the desk and guide others to their eventual success Also its just a near perfect album

I didn’t know of any of their songs other than surfin USA so this was a pleasant surprise.

10

I enjoy this album but it's difficult to imagine how innovative it was at the time. Listening to the stereo mix it's hard to imagine it in mono as well. Ahead of it's time and mostly stands the test of time.

Good :)

Kinda overrated it's more like a basic 60s pop album to me but I like a couple songs

I felt like every track on this album ranged from being decent to quite good stand alone songs. As a whole, there's a wide variety of sounds and instruments which keeps the album interesting and fun. However, it could be argued that it falls into "jack of all trades, master of none" area. The album is consistent when it comes to quality (which is good, but not the best I've heard from Beach Boys), but it is not as consistent when it comes to creating a cohesive album theme or narrative.

Very narrowly a five. Lacks some depth

9/10

I know this is supposed to be their masterpiece, but I really didn’t like it all that much hence the “3”. I think it was the orchestral elements that make it less appealing to me. That said, it’s a good album. I should probably give it another listen given all the critical acclaim and Wilson’s apparent descent into madness.

Just doesn't grab me, decent pop tunes but not enough

Rating: 4.5/5 | Favorite Track: Wouldn't It Be Nice --- Obviously this is an icon and influential album and popular music wouldn't be the same without it. I don't love it nearly as much as others, but still a great album.

5 stars might not do it

Total classic. Production and harmonies are outstanding. Content is a little shallow, but they're just some boys at the beach right?

All timer

just for god only knows it's a 5, but overall it comes pretty close anyway

7/10 This, on first listen, sounds like ancient swooning pop. But there is a wistful sadness is some of these songs and I like me a sad song, even if it's bittersweet. 4-27-2025

Seminal, amazing work that honestly only gets better with age. As someone who grew up on the more Beatles side of things, it's interesting to hear the different, more passive perspective coming from the Beach Boys during this time of experimentation. It's sincere, sweet even. God Only Knows remains one of the great songs ever written.

I've tried so hard to "get" this album, I even made a video essay about it, but even though I know each and every point in this thing's favour, something about it doesn't ever quite click for me, a defeated 3*

Blind album, know the hits and the artist and have heard countless songs. Plenty of catchy tunes that can warm your heart and make you feel good. Great album that stands the test of time.

Sound of cool

the beach boys are SO CUTESY!!!!! this album screams sunshine and rainbows and i am here for it. “wouldn’t it be nice” is a CLASSIC. this album is in apple music’s 100 best albums for a reason. 4/5 but only because this isn’t my usual style.

Bukvalno isto kao onaj beatles album samo kao da je malo više namijenjen odrasloj publici. Ništa bolji ni gori. Mrzim ovakvu muziku.

There's a reason why this is considered one of the greatest albums ever.

Pretty good. Lived up to hype…almost.

just too whiney for me!

Too fluffy

Pure sunshine alchemy. Every harmony feels like it’s been filtered through a warm late spring breeze. It’s gorgeous and strange and full of color. The Beach Boys ditched the striped shirts but kept the innocence, just layered it with something way more ambitious. It’s all sweet and sad and a little cosmic. Spins: All Day Playlist Additions: - Wouldn't It Be Nice - Let's Go Away For Awhile - Sloop John B - God Only Knows - Caroline, No

Exceptional. I listened this while doing the dishes and making iced tea. I'm trying to think of what they could have done to make the album better, and failing. It just seems like the apex of a musical trajectory, where a group is making the best music that they can make while still retaining their own style, being distinctly themselves. Haven't listened to this album in a good 15 years and forgot what a singular experience it was. There is such an ache at certain parts it's really touching. You'd never expect this kind of sound from a group called The Beach Boys, and that's just one of the things that makes this such a special album.

Just the beach boys

Nice jangly sounds and catchy songs

stopped listening because I don't want to hear the same songs 2 X in a row 3/5

Perfect. Genius. Magic. Masterpiece. 5

This is the soundtrack to so many important moments from my childhood and I was an 80s kid so I think the impact can not be understated for this one

The "sheen" of this is oppressive.

Grandpa Del, Monday morning commute before vacation

Pet Sounds is the epitome of the type of album you *should* find on this list. It's largely considered a masterpiece. It has critical acclaim and commercial success. And, it's innovative, either within the genre or in a technical aspect. In the case of Pet Sounds, it's both. I remember when I first heard this album. I was 22 years old, studying abroad in England, caught between a failing relationship back home and falling for a different girl who was in my dorm. We were having a conversation about the best albums of all time, and she mentions this one. Fast-forward a couple of weeks, and long story short, she had moved back to the States. I was shopping in a used record store, and I saw this CD on sale for cheap. I immediately fell in love. I listened to it before bed, on the bus, walking to class, and so on. Of course, there was the strange sentimental attachment to it, and surely that has just as much to do with me remembering my first time hearing it as the greatness of the album itself. Classic and memorable in every sense.

Good vibrations is a masterpiece

Not all of the words quite deserve the status accorded to them but the music does. You can hear its influence everywhere.

This album had the Beatles sweating, Brian Wilson is a genius but this also meant the beginning of the end for our tortured artist.

Booming. Ethereal. This thing ate my last review even though I saved it, I thought. Listened to this like 5 times through. Very good Easter music.

4/18/25. Yes, I've been a member of the Pet Sounds bandwagon and it's one of my all time favorites! Perfect album to my ears. Love the unique arrangements and themes covered that still hold up very well today. Everyone should listen to this.

It’s challenging to rate an album with two of my favorite songs on it any lower than 5 stars. Even more challenging to go any less for the genius of The Beach Boys at their best. Nothing else quite like it.

forgettable music :(

Cmon, it's pet sounds, people. one of the best pop records of all time. simultaneously melancholic and unbearably sunshine-y and radiant

Iconic

Decent. I like their beach tunes, but there were a couple of tracks that sounded more like Vegas lounge jazz.

solid album, sounds just like home.

It was okay. Definitely not my favorite album of theirs

8/10 REALLY Good, First listen over a year ago I didnt like it but love it now

Algjört meistarastykki. Feel-good er alltaf gott.

It bored me. The fadeouts were especially repetitive

First listen on this list! Vocals really didn't gel with me, and they stopped me from appreciating the instrumentals. Might have to listen again just for that. Standouts: Let's Go Away For A While • Pet Sounds, precisely because there were no vocals. These reminded me a bit of Takanaka, in that tropical summer dreamy vibe. Other than that, kinda meh for me.