Really? alot of the stuff on 'Today!' and 'Summer Days' could easily have fit on Pet Sounds. I take it you're referring to stuff like 'Surfin' USA'?

Listening to Pet Sounds now for the first time. I'm getting the same reaction that I think anyone my age who only new them as "Surfin USA" and their other beach surf songs, which is "Wow these guys are not **** like I had previously thought they were, in fact, they are pretty damn good".

As for Pet Sounds vs Sgt Peppers, I would go with Pet Sounds. However, Sgt Peppers imo is The Beatles weakest work, post Hard Days Night.

From all the pre-Pet Sounds songs I only like 2, and that's just "listenable" songs, nothing near the favorites.

time to resuscitate this thread:-

my fave Beach Boys album is Summer Days (And Summer Nights) merely cos of Girl Don't Tell Me

Today is great as well.

I like all their "slump" albums until Holland, after that they were a nostalgia band

but Beach Boys Love You is a severely underrated pop classic

Today, Pet Sounds and Smiley Smile are their best for me.

Brian Wilson really is a genius. They've discussed a reunion but I doubt they can get on the same page. I've really liked them since the late 70s & still follow them.

I love Good Vibrations. For some reason I've never got around to buying any of their albums though.

the full Smile sessions are going to be released soon

I love the Beach Boys. And many great bands attribute their sound to the Beach Boys and the Brian Wilson's harmonies.

^ Absolutely agree with starrynight. If you have those two albums, then you`ve got four of the Beach Boys` most beautiful and adventurous singles. After those tracks, which admittedly have been played almost to death on the radio, I think my favourite song would be Vegetables because it seems so simple, yet incorporates Brian Wilson`s best qualities as a songwriter; his charm, his originality and a kooky, childish vulnerability which most people don`t own up to in their recordings.

Just in case someone out there hasn`t heard it yet :-