Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

3.92
Rating
32170
Votes
1
2%
2
8%
3
23%
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31%
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36%
Distribution

Album Summary

Pet Sounds is the 11th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on May 16, 1966 by Capitol Records. It was initially met with a lukewarm critical and commercial response in the United States, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Top LPs chart. In the United Kingdom, the album was lauded by critics and reached number 2 on the Record Retailer chart, remaining in the top ten for six months. Promoted there as "the most progressive pop album ever", Pet Sounds garnered recognition for its ambitious production, sophisticated music, and emotional lyrical content. It is considered to be among the greatest and most influential albums in music history.The album was produced, arranged, and almost entirely composed by Brian Wilson with guest lyricist Tony Asher. It was recorded largely between January and April 1966, a year after Wilson quit touring with his bandmates. His goal was to create "the greatest rock album ever made"—a cohesive work with no filler tracks. It is sometimes considered a Wilson solo album that builds upon the advancements of The Beach Boys Today! (1965). Lead single "Caroline, No" was issued as his official solo debut. It was followed by two singles credited to the group: "Sloop John B" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (backed with "God Only Knows"). Incorporating elements of pop, jazz, exotica, classical, and the avant-garde, Wilson's Wall of Sound-based orchestrations mixed conventional rock set-ups with elaborate layers of vocal harmonies, found sounds, and instruments never before associated with rock, such as bicycle bells, French horn, flutes, Electro-Theremin, string sections, and beverage cans. The album could not be reproduced live and was the first time that any group departed from their usual small-ensemble electric rock band format for a whole LP. An early concept album, it consists mainly of introspective songs like "I Know There's an Answer", a critique of LSD users; and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times", the first use of a theremin-like instrument on a rock record. The album's unprecedented total production cost exceeded $70,000 (equivalent to $580,000 in 2021). An expanded reissue, The Pet Sounds Sessions, was released in 1997 with isolated vocals and instrumental versions, session highlights, and the album's first true stereo mix. Pet Sounds revolutionized the field of music production and the role of producers within the music industry, introduced novel approaches to orchestration, chord voicings, and structural harmonies, and furthered the cultural legitimization of popular music, a greater public appreciation for albums, the use of synthesizers, the recording studio as an instrument, and the development of psychedelic music and progressive/art rock. It has topped several critics' and musicians' polls for the best album of all time, including those published by NME, Mojo, Uncut, and The Times. In 2004, it was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. It has been certified platinum by the RIAA, indicating over one million units sold.

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Length: All Short Long

When I first listened to this (years ago), I wasn't paying much attention - I expected pop songs with harmony vocals, I kinda got that, I found the songs pleasant and moderately memorable, I put on the album occasionally as pleasant mood music. When I come back and listen more closely, I hear so much orchestration, so many interesting details - it's more complex than I thought, and in a good way. This album is quite different from anything else of its time, while strongly connected to lots of trends previous and subsequent. The richness of the music (chord structures, orchestration, production) rewards close attention. The lyrics are self-centred and sometimes immature - but can be read as a depiction of self-centred and immature/maturing adolescence? (I'm not taking a stance on whether Brian Wilson was brilliant or annoying or both.) For me, none of these songs are bad - it's quite a trip - it's Incredibly Wonderful, 10/10.

Widely regarded as one of the best albums of all time, this feels like an intimidating listen. Is it possible for an album to be too polished? Certainly, the best known tracks on this are deeply embedded in my brain and still sound as perfect as they ever did. However, there’s something about this that doesn’t sit quite right with me on repeated listens. Perhaps it’s the opening track “Wouldn’t it Be Nice” which is, when you boil it down, just about a horny teenager wishing that he could have sex with his girlfriend. Similarly, “Sloop John B” is someone singing about being home sick on a boat in the Caribbean, not a typical subject for a pop song. I find myself coming back to the instrumental tracks “Let’s Go Away For A While” and the title track as being the most enigmatic and interesting, as well as the final song “Caroline No” which ends with dogs barking and a train steaming off into the night. Four stars, but not quite five for me.

I think part of the problem people have with this album is its classified as rock - I don't think that label really fits. It's pop and a throwback to the Beach Boys love of the Four Freshmen and the Hi Los (groups that this list would include if it was serious about covering the history of music). They really fit in that tradition with compelling and beautiful vocal arrangements. This album is a masterpiece.

I have deep love for the beach boys and I'm not sure why, but I'm not against it. I found this a very pleasant listen

Déjà écouté avant. Tout a déjà été dit (et son contraire, probablement) sur Pet Sounds, je ne vais pas en rajouter plus que ça. Œuvre majeure d'un groupe qui ne semblait pas destiné, jusque là, à révolutionner l'histoire de la musique populaire ; expression sublime du génie d'un homme, Brian Wilson ; disque pionnier sans lequel l'album comme forme artistique n'existerait pas aujourd'hui ; bijou de pop orchestrale d'une richesse harmonique et mélodique inégalable et inégalée, et d'autant plus impressionnant 60 ans plus tard, qu'il n'a pas pris une ride ; … Pet Sounds, c'est tout ça, et encore plus, et c'est pour ça que c'est un album 5 étoiles intouchable. Top : God Only Knows Flop : Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)

One of the most beautiful and perfect albums of all time. Simply phenomenal. 11/10

Od Beach Boys mám rád ich najväčšie hity. Na tomto albume, okrem ich cca 4.hitov, ma zaujal hlavne zvuk, v ktorom bolo cítiť, že sa s ním riadne vyhrali. Za zvukovú stránku 5*, za samotné piesne 3*.

Whilst I recognise this as a classic, and it's got some 5* tunes for sure, it's not my style. 4 - a great album, even among this list

classic classic opener and then - Mm (dubious) bit boring kinda mediocre it does have god only knows

God only knows what we’d do without this album. And Sloop John B is won of my favourite songs of all time.

Pretty fun one to start! A couple classics I recognized. I think I’m going to struggle to commit to whole albums when I hear a song I recognize and want to ride that vibe to another artist.

it's the beach boys. what's not to like

It's a classic. Obv fav songs are the two timeless classics, wouldnt it be nice and god only knows

lot of deep cut songs that did nothing for me. classics hold up so well. God Only Knows is still one the best songs ever

💛💛💛 😆😆😆😆LOVE🌻🌻🌻🌻

A very pleasant listen. Did not wow me just now, but I suspect this might be one of those albums that do get better and better with more listens.

solid. beatles clear though

This is a fantastic album. All of the studio musicians on it are amazing and the stereo is perfect.

Grew up loving The Beach Boys, and while this album didn't have my favorite Beach Boys songs, it's hard to deny how good this album is.

fun lore about myself: i got this vinyl as a christmas present someway through high school and it was actively spinning when i learned my first ever romantic partner had said yes. that relationship went pretty much as well as you’d expect some mentally ill teens to handle it, and this album captures ever facet of that experience. one of my all-time favorites

This was cute

Something that I've learned from doing this project is that I don't like The Beach Boys as much as I thought I did.

Brilliant album, way ahead of its time

Incredible piece of music history, milestone in production, but most importantly stands the test of time on its own. Fun album and just nice to listen to. Road trip, party, just hanging, great job.

Great album, deserving of all the hype it consistently gets. Don't Talk and Sloop John B are especially excellent.

Awesome album. The beach boys are one of those bands that I think people would like more if they listened beyond the surfer style classic hits. Wouldn't it be nice is a top album starter on this list but it's great the whole way through

Timeless classic

BRIAN WILSON IS A GENIUS

Owned. Perfection

I wanted to like this more, but I did love God Only Knows.

It's 4.5

i mean wow

Ok overall, Wouldn't It Be Nice is by far the best song, the rest not particularly interesting.

Me surpreendeu bastante positivamente. Julguei pela capa feia mas é um disco realmente muito bom. Músicas bem cheias e completas, muito a frente do tempo em relação a época.

FIVE FUCKING STARS

No es el estilo de musica que mas me agrada, pero se deja escuchar

When it’s good it’s really good but when it’s not it’s kind of average.

Don’t really get the hype of this album although I would class it as a solid effort.

This for me is up there as one of the most overated albums of all time. It has always felt very other worldly to me, but not in a good way, it’s just so detached, joyless and cold. I don’t know if it’s the well known obsession with production that everyone gets excited about but the songs themselves are just so one-paced and well, simply boring. The only notable exception being Sloop-John which more evokes earlier work. The only point of interest is the album cover which fascinated me as a kid.

Mono was a good reminder of how stereo changed listening. Also the orchestration was great and something I’d forgotten. Overall really enjoyed this one.

Wouldn’t it be nice to live inside some album from the 60s (Название придумали специально, чтобы я и дальше позорился, путая Beach Boys и Pet Shop Boys)

Саундтрек моих пиздячек в школу утром по сугробам при температуре -30 в Тюмени.

Хоть убейте, не понимаю культовости ни альбома, ни группы

оч круто звучит для своего года, отдельные песни оч люблю, хоть и не фанат коллектива - тут даже 4 поставлю

Twee bubble gum pop with some catchy tunes. I'm not really sure why The Beach Boys are often considered a "serious band," but there are a few great pop songs here in among a lot of filler.

I understand the album's importance and influence, but The Beach Boys have never been my cup of tea. My main problems with album are their repetitive vocal arrangements and lyrical themes. While I find the music okay overall, those monotonous descending intervals always follow the same rigid rhythm—mostly in half or quarter notes. These descending melodic phrases end up sounding repetitive and formulaic. All the lyrics (which, by the way, Brian Wilson co-wrote with Tony Asher) revolve around the simplest, most egocentric premises: "I'm sad, nobody understands me" ("You Still Believe in Me"), "What will we do when we grow up?" ("Wouldn't It Be Nice"), and "I'm not made for these times" ("I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"). This is pure emotional masturbation, with no allusions and no metaphors. The protagonist doesn't reflect on the way the world works; he only obsessively dwells on his immediate fears of losing his comfort zone or breaking up with his girlfriend. To be honest, I used to enjoy listening to this album much more in the past, but over the years it has lost me as a listener. Now, only the awareness of its historical significance remains.

A lovely album containing some of the best pop songs ever written

A comforting and very familiar choice - some absolutely top drawer songs. A shade off a 5

Lovely stuff, I would normally question widely revered works but one this has all the answers. Thank you RGP and thank you Brian. 4 stars❤️❤️❤️❤️ Tom.

Some great tracks which compensate for those that are less worthy

Always an enjoyable listen. Nothin’ crazy

No Pet Sounds, no Beatles Renaissance! Deal with it!

If I could give this album six stars, I would. It is one of the most incredible records of all time. The songwriting is just the beginning of its grandeur. The vocal arrangements! The orchestrations! The melodies! The Captain Jon Stone!

Outstanding tour de force by the Beach Boys.

This is a solid and well-arranged pop album! I’m a bit burned out on the radio singles (I tend to think of the Beach Boys as a lightweight group) but the strength and consistency of the album tracks surprised me. I’d probably give the first six songs a 5/5, and “Sloop John B” and everything after a 3/5.

Yeah, it's Pet Sounds! It's really easy to listen to, but has as much pop complexity as you wanna find. Gotta admit I like the hits best - Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows.

Album #219: The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ It was five stars before I even turned this album on this morning, which is lucky for it, because I really was not in the mood for the twee nature of the Beach Boys on a Monday morning. But this one's pretty objective to me. I do think this is a masterpiece. I think this is an example of the lengths to which one can take pop music. What Brian Wilson was able to do with harmony, chord progressions, textures and tones is pretty unmatched on this album. I once sat down and tried to learn some of these songs on guitar, and the chord progressions he's using are just insane. This is not four chords and the truth music. This is properly orchestrated, near-classical music, but it's still pop. The tone of it is very twee. Lyrically, I do like it though. There's an undercurrent of sadness to all of these songs. It can seem soppy at times. But, that was the majoirty of pop music back then! I've been talking a lot about uncool artists recently, like Steely Dan and Blood, Sweat & Tears. I never really thought of the Beach Boys as uncool, but now that I think about it, they're not very cool. I don't think anyone's at the party putting on Pet Sounds. So it doesn't work on every level for me. But as a musical experience and as a piece of art, it's considered one of the classics, one of the milestones for a good reason. This was true for me and I have a hunch that it's true for others that people tend to listen to this and not listen to the rest of the Beach Boys' discography. They have a few other amazing albums, like Wild Honey, Smiley Smile and Surf's Up. I wrote them off for years on the basis of this album being the known masterpiece and didn't go into any of their other music. So they're well worth a deep dive if you're into this. It's an objective five, despite my moodiness.

Absolute classic. Nobody does harmonies better than the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson is a genius.

A long time coming listen for me. What an opening too with probably their biggest hit one I had of course heard before and liked quite a bit. Beyond that the rest of the album was new to me and I like it well enough. A bit odd as this is a legendary album that I thought I'd be all over, but maybe after a few listens it will click more.

no better example of sugar pop drivel. How this band made so much money and sold so many albums I will never understand. As an early beatles hater this is one of the few bands worse than early Beatles music. I made it through listening to the entire album by please no more. It all sounds the same and is just awful.

Beach boys.

Masterpiece

I really think this album is slightly overrated. Obviously amazing harmonies and such a nostalgic vibe but it missing something special for me

Not as good as everyone says

They just don’t make albums like this anymore do they

Mannnnn I can't stand beach boys Used to like them as a kid but as I grew their music got hokey to me.

God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice might be some of the best songs ever recorded.

Nearly a 5

Very influential album, almost everything is perfect.

This is fine. Doesn't do a whole lot for me either way. Never been much of a Beach Boys fan. This doesn't really hit as high as their highest heights for me - there's some nostalgia to some of their earlier songs and I don't get much of that feeling from this album. But it's not a bad listen overall. Decent enough. I suppose "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is probably the best song here.

mucha melodia me gustaron la priemra y la segunda, las demas muy repetitivas o con poca letra. creo qe si las escucho mucho me puede llegar a gustar

Loses a star for the hype. Fine album but I don't see why it gets the credit it does. Kinda blows

Ich lieeebe wie alles klingt richtig schön macht mich glücklich. God only knows erinnert mich an meine beste Freundin.

Pretty good for old farty dudes

An all time classic that changed music forever.

It's one of the best albums of all time, for sure. Quite amazing "Let's Go Away for Awhile", "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Here Today", "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", and "Caroline, No" are sooo good!

Even if this was just God Only Knows and 35 minutes of actual goat noises, it would still be an all time great

Ahhh I love this album! I have listened to it soo much I don't need to listen right now cuz it's already beautiful and fascinating

You should know that many humans that fucked each other while listening to this album have perished. I get that it is monumental &tc but it doesn't do much for me. Sorry Brian, you lose again. KOKOMO

Essential, of course. And influential. Plus, those harmonies!

Personally more of a SMILE enjoyer and actually like the beach boys a lil less coherent. its truly pretty beautiful and has very few duds on the list but sill manages to be one of the most over rated pieces of music ever released. Best tracks: Wouldn't it be nice, I'm waiting for the day 9/10

Beautifully crafted

Honestly not my favorite, really great production and harmonies but most songs felt the same

why did i avoid this for so long -- this is an incredible Panda Bear album!

Så här skrev jag i samband med Brians död >Har just lyssnat på "Caroline, No" 4 gånger i rad, rent objektivt är det historiens bästa 2 minuter och 16 sekunder, inte av musik alltså utan de bästa 2:16 av allt i hela historien.< Vad kom vi fram till när vi diskuterade i i tråden? Att Brian var ett geni, tror jag, efter att Dylan utfryckt sig så rådde konsensus. Jag skippar detaljerna, det skrev Dagge så bra. Istället pophistoriens fem bästa låtar. 1. Be my baby - The Ronettes 2. Das model - Kraftwerk 3. Caroline, No - Beach Boys 4. Blue Monday - New Order 5. God only knows - Beach Boys (Håll gärna den listsn emot mig när ni så önskar.) Alltså två av historiens bästa poplåtar på samma Lp-sida. Den Lp-sidan (b-sidan) är helt fläckfri. Bästa albumsidan i historien? Möjligen. Pet sounds måste vara ett mina mest spelade album någonsin och ett album man spelar från A - Ö. I god 60talsanda är inte heller "Good vibrations" med, den släpptes bara som singel, den är inte kattpiss heller direkt. Pet sounds är också det sista stora albumet man kan diskutera om man ska höra i mono eller stereo, 1966 är ju brytåret Jag föredrar mono, det ger bättre Wall of Sound känsla. Genius sa Bill. Geni sa Bull

God only knows, Sloop John B och Wouldn’t it be nice. Resten är bara utfyllnad.

Popalbumens popalbum. Oavsett vad man tycker om Pet Sounds är det svårt att tänka ett album som är mer 1001-albumkompatibelt. Att Wilson inspirerades av Spectors Wall of sound är tydligt. Men, och detta är till PS fördel, det finns en luftighet i musiken som annars kan försvinna i WoS. Arrangemangen är oerhört fina där de små detaljerna allt som oftast ligger helt rätt. Det kan vara ett slagverk, ett blås och inte minst den fantastiska stämsången. Jag gillar också att det finns en röd tråd i ljudbilden. Även om 60-talet är singlarnas årtionde kan vi här definitivt prata om ett album. Ett album fyllt av låtar som utan tvekan också håller som singlar. Det finns inga svaga spår men det är klart att I’m waiting for the day, Sloop John B och förstås God only knows förtjänar ett extra omnämnande. I know theres an answer, wouldn’t it be nice, Don’t talk med flera inte är så dumma de heller. I valet fria eller fälla, blir det det förstnämnda idag. Fem solar till strandpojkarna.

Jag kan imponeras av Brian Wilsons ambition och strävan att göra något mer av Beach Boys. Tyvärr tycker jag att låtarna i grunden är rätt tråkiga. Det är fortfarande lättsam surfpop i det allara flesta fall. Det finns partier i alla låtar som är intressanta, till och med bra. Men helheten håller inte. Jag ser hellre filmen med John Cusack i rollen som Wilson än lyssnar på Pet Sounds igen.

Disappointingly left me flat but kinda feel like I have to give it at least 4 for what it once did to me. RYM: Y (#28) Saved a song: N

Today the 1001 album generator blessed me with a listen of "Pet Sounds." I had heard this album twice before already, and both times just couldn't seem to understand it. I like "SMiLE" (or rather, "The Smile Sessions"), but I'm just not a "Pet Sounds" fan. Until today. Since starting this 1001 album reviewing journey a week-or-so ago, I've always kept a real-time log of my thoughts on the album. I then use those as a basis for the final review. They're also just fun things to archive for when I finish the journey. In the case of this album, and how I went from not understanding it to giving it a 5 star rating, I think those notes are better than this review would be. So here are some excerpts from the notes: ----- # 07:28 (Before listening) I've heard this album twice before. It's so close to being good, but for some reason I just can't get into it. (Started listening at 07:31) # 07:33 Honestly, ["You Still Believe in Me"] could be a "Pinkerton" B-side if you made it power pop. # 07:39 Well, SOMETHING clicked. This is genius!! The songwriting is absolutely incredible, the arrangements are beautiful, the harmonies are perfectly executed, the melodies are so natural they sound like they've existed for hundreds of years... how did I not get this before??? # 07:46 Dude???? "Let's Go Away for a While" might be the most beautiful arrangement of all time??????????? I'm so sorry to these guys for not liking their album before... I get it now!! # 07:58 I'm really not great at reviewing music, because all I can say about these songs is that they're unbelievably good. # 08:09 (After listening) It's rare that I'm begging for one more song after an album ends. But here I am thinking, "Why is this already over? Couldn't they have added more?" But perhaps that's part of the beauty of this album. Considering the topic of "love" is present in almost all of these songs, maybe The Beach Boys wanted to show that... actually I have no idea where I'm going with this. I used up all the cells in my brain for that thought. Maybe part of that is because I feel I can relate to some of the stuff said here. That's definitely a bit embarrassing to admit at all, let alone in an ALBUM REVIEW.. but it's true. Plus, it contributed to my enjoyment of the album, so it must be said, right? ----- That last bit pretty much sums up my thoughts. It says almost everything I'd want to say about this album. It really is nearly perfect. Despite that, when it comes to The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles, I'm still always siding with the latter. :) ----- #0008 Heard on: 22 Sep. 2026 Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ (9 / 329) Favorite track: God Only Knows Least favorite track: Pet Sounds

Pet Sounds it's one of the most acclaimed albums in history of rock music. It went so hard, that many people consider this a Brian Wilson solo album rather than a Beach Boys album. And there is no surprise to anyone. After hearing Rubber Soul by The Beatles over and over again, Brian Wilson as a leader decided that it was time to move on from Surf Rock and rock and roll and decided to choose a different sound. The whole band fought heavily for this new change of direction, and with the exception of Mike Love, most of the arrangements where made without consulting the rest of the band. The conviction and the will of Brian for changing their minds about the material after a Japanese tour, worked. Conceveid and recorded during the Summer of 1965, Pet Sounds it's one of the most ambitious and astonishing records of rock history, giving us something close to baroque pop, experimental rock, art rock and psychdelic pop, elaborating a conjunction of difficult vocal harmonies, electrotheremins, arab instruments, bycicle rings, chimes, bottles and even dogs barking besides of the usual rock instruments. Wilson associated with a young jingles composer, Tony Asher, to help him out wrote the lyrics. All of these aspects made this record a concept album that helped out music industry in terms of how to produce due to this avant-garde evolution of the band mixing, pop, jazz, something exotic and classic, promoting the cultural legitimization of pop music, crucial for art rock and prog rock. Without a doubt, this one is an album that if you end up listening to it, you are gonna have "good vibrations" after you finish it.

Eh. If you want to enjoy and love the Beach Boys, do the greatest hits

Has a lot of the hits on it, but also just some fantastic songs. Even the instrumentals were great. Loved every minute of it.

The Beach Boys aren't my favorite.

Masser af ikoniske sange som Wouldn't it be nice og God only knows. 60'er pop er ikke helt min ting, men Pet Sounds gør det så rent og med så mange specielle lyde og harmonier, at det bare fungerer

A love letter to teenage innocence. Through all the darkness that followed The Beach Boys, from Brian Wilson's sustained abuse from his therapist, Dennis Wilson's untimely death, Mike Love's brief stint as the worst frontman of all time, and Brian Wilson's much more timely, but quite sad, death much more recently, this album still stands as one of the most beautiful and wholesome albums ever created. Sweet, but not saccharine, vaguely old-fashioned but not mean or indignant in any way, lush and beautiful, trusting, starry-eyed, magical. I mean, just look at the cover. The band in a candid photo feeding various animals, their offer gazes and plain clothes, the photo not edited that much seemingly, with a bright, lush green title strip plastered above them. Some people disparage this cover, but I love it. It's exactly what a sweet album like this deserves. The songs back this up too: obviously there's a semblance of "old-timeyness," as seen in songs like "I'm Waiting For The Day," or "Caroline, No," but both of those songs work because, in one case it's a pretty respectful statement of waiting until someone is ready to be in a relationship again, and in the other it's in fact a pretty heartbreaking and beautiful example of what could be a misunderstanding, could be symbolism, but either way shows some sort of deep sadness for the death of innocence, one of the reasons I love this song's placement at the end of the album. Wilson's vocals aren't disgusted, but rather confused and sorrowful at what he seems to barely understand: "you said you'd never change, but that's not true!" it's a feeling of betrayal that the other person perhaps didn't even recognize as betrayal; by changing as a person, Caroline has upended the speaker's understanding of the world merely by doing what every person is bound to do. It's no one's fault, but an innocence has died. Other songs better portray that innocence, such as the adorable, catchy, lush, heartwarming "Wouldn't It Be Nice," in all of its perfection and childish wonder (fun fact, my dad gave my mom a CD mix starting with that song back in high school!), or "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)," which instills this beautiful and placid sense of love, and safety: when Wilson sings "We'll live forever tonight..." you believe it, or at least believe that he does. It's just such a simply wonderful song. "Sloop John B," no matter how silly, is not only super musically impressive, but also so fun! It's a fun, innocent tale, which is exactly what this album deserves. I also really enjoy "Here Today," which is both one of the catchiest and one of the wisest songs on the whole album: it does not badmouth the speaker's ex-girlfriend, but simply gives a warning, and one of the truest statements of all: "Love is here today, then it's gone." One of the album's catchiest choruses, a mature sentiment, and an oddly beautiful maxim. The two instrumental songs also add a nice atmosphere to the album, with the placid nature of "Let's Go Away For Awhile," and the lush and beautiful musical passages on title track "Pet Sounds." And then we have perhaps the greatest song on this album, "G-d Only Knows." Oh, the times I've sung this song, in the shower, with my dad, on guitar, on piano. A simple idea expanded into one of the sweetest, most genuine love songs ever written, with some of the best harmonies ever put to tape, one of the greatest song progressions ever conceived, and one of the most emotional climaxes of any song ever. It is truly a wonder of a song, and I can't say I trust the taste of anyone who doesn't at least respect it for that. There's also a separate underlying theme on the album, however: a sense of self-improvement. Songs like "That's Not Me," one of my personal favorites, or "You Still Believe In Me," point to a sadness brought on by one's own inability to live up to others' and also one's own expectations. In "That's Not Me," Wilson sings "I once had a dream, so I packed up and moved to the city / I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty." It's a song of hope for a greater good winning out inside one's own heart and practices, seen similarly in "You Still Believe In Me," which exclaims a passionate appreciation for the speaker's lover, who, even after all the speaker has done wrong, still believes in the good in him, and by extension, him. Later in the album, these themes are returned to: in "I Know There's An Answer," the speaker laments at the unfulfilling way people live their lives, claiming that he "[could not] tell them their lives could be better," and that the answer has to be found out by oneself. Similarly, the problems that are talked about in that song can be seen in "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times," where the chorus is the simple, but circumstantially heartbreaking line "Sometimes, I feel very sad," a feeling of detachment and depression. It's simultaneously the moment that betrays the album's maturity and its innocence plainly: though it sings plainly about the problems in one's life it does so just like that: plainly. It doesn't have mature words for the deep feelings that might be being felt, but it must voice its opinion anyway, in the same way that a child might do. The album as a whole reflects this, childlike and simple in nature, but sensitive, wise, and mature in thought. The production is also incredible. Impossibly lush, mixed to perfection, the music surrounds you but never quite overwhelms you. The Boys' choral performances are incredible, and the arrangements are spectacular. Each backing track reflects exactly what should be reflected: the beauty and innocence that populates this album. It is truly perfect in every way. This album, though to many quickly dethroned by The Beatles' Revolver, will never lose the place it holds in my heart as one of the best albums ever recorded, with some of the best songs ever written on it. I don't think I could love this album more if I tried harder than I already have. 10/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: ABSOLUTELY REASON: Seminal, beautiful, perfect.

Un classico senza tempo, canzoni come wouldn’t it be nice, god only knows e sloop john sono intramontabili

Bangers bangers bangers!