Listen to the first few notes from harpsichord on "Wouldn't it be Nice" and hear Brian Wilson's descent into madness. The mother lode. Otherworldly. But oh so musical. This is arguably my favorite album ever. Packed with gorgeous harmonies and brilliant instrumentation, "Pet Sounds" is Wilson's masterpiece. (Pound for pound, I still think it beats 'Smile,' Wilson's "symphony to God" that he started recording with the Beach Boys in 1966, but wasn't released until 2004, with back-up from members of Wilson's then-touring band.) Wilson's artistic response to The Beatles' "Rubber Soul," -- whereas "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was The Beatles' commercial response to "Pet Sounds" -- "Sounds" includes the Caribbean-drenched classic "Sloop John B" and the existential "God Only Knows" (used to great effect in the 1997 feature film "Boogie Nights"). The 11th studio album from the Beach Boys,Wilson had shucked sun and surf for a bit of lysergic acid diethylamide. Is "Sounds" trippy? Wonderfully so. But, the album -- sorry, showing my age -- is also one of the most grounded recordings ever. Listen to how the violins, drums and piano mesh beautifully on "Let's Go Away For Awhile." A towering musical feat, "Sounds" is not without its social commentary. Released just as hippiedom was starting to penetrate the mainstream -- and young people in droves were beginning to "tune in, turn on and drop out" -- "Wouldn't it Be Nice" is an ode to bourgeoisie domesticity. It's not exactly equal to Frank Zappa slaying hippies on his 1967 classic "We're Only In It For the Money," but the tune appropriately zigs when, at the time, everyone else was zagging. Need any more evidence? Wilson's slighlty sentimental, yet no less powerful "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times."
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