Pet Sounds: Most Overrated Album of All Time?

I am very up on this album for the following reasons:

1) Production values. This is a beautifully arranged album featuring crackerjack session people. Aside from the vocals, the other Beach Boys barely play on this. Brian envisioned this as a thematic whole and the studio musicians were selected as such to enhance the sound. How many records do you own that so effortlessly weave together sleighbells, light trumpets, tympani and other effects? I am sure this sophisticated layering is what struck the Beatle's fancy.

2) Great song writing. It was Brian's attempt to make a more mature album, with more adult themed lyrics. The songs are haunting in their self-consciousness. Working with Peter Asher, the songs are wonderful compositions that reflect both suburban fulfillment and darker, more troubling visions of post-adolescence.

42 years on, this still feels like a classic. I think musicians will be singing its praise in another 60 years.

I think that you would have to rank it with the Beatle's Revolver, Dylan's mid-60's work and possibly Hendrix as the four most important and imitated albums that spawned a host of copy cat albums by lessor artists. Everyone from Tom Petty and Elvis Costello have sang its praise.

I agree with Jimjoyce25 is that Pet Sounds is an accurate reflection of Brian's mental state, obviously influenced by large self-medicated doses of LSD, which in 1965 was legal at the time. While Sloop John B sounds like a simple ode to the sea, it is also a reference to his intake, sporting the line "This is the worst trip I have ever been on." Trippy but true.

Brian could have easily gone the way of Syd Barrett. It is nice that he still functioning, especially his recent release of Smile!