This would probably be the least surprising inclusion so far for many. Pet sound has for the last 40 years or so been ranked as one of the best, if not the best album of all time. The influences of this album are far to numerous to mention (i.e. I can’t be bothered to google all of them, but you can go ahead if you want), and like modern philosophy can be construed as a thesis/antithesis to Socrates, much modern pop music has been made trying to better Brian Wilson’s masterpiece. Few, if any, have succeeded.
And yet, there is no way to get around gushing about the pure wonder of this album. If the object of art is to move us toward emotions, even to evoke certain emotions independently of our own experiences, this album is art at its finest. The beauty of the arrangements and harmonies are simply out of this world, the happiness and sadness conveyed wondrous.
“Caroline, No”, “God Only Knows”, and “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) get me misty just thinking about them. If you have ever listened to an artist or an album so much that you can go through it in about three minutes, you can relate. And the rest are just as good. So go, if you don’t own this album, get it, listen to it. If it doesn’t appeal to you now, come back in a year or two years. It will.
