What studio album is the third pillar?

[shelter]

I would say Sunflower. It's the best evidence that contrary to popular belief, The Beach Boys hadn't "lost it" ever since the Smile fiasco. And for that reason I would say it's their third most important album.

[DonnyL]

Tier 1 - Pet Sounds, Smile

Tier 2 - Sunflower, Surf's Up

Tier 3 - Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20

Tier 4 - Today, Summer Days

Tier 5 - Love You, Holland

I think that's the general consensus.

[adamghost]

For a big picture consensus guess, I'd say either SUNFLOWER or TODAY.  SUNFLOWER is probably the most universally regarded BBs album outside of the other two, and unlike a lot of the other albums bandied about on this thread, is a very consistent album from a songwriting point of view.  TODAY I would argue be the other choice for its highly praised second "ballad" side, and being a pretty good consolidation of the Boys' classic sound going into PET SOUNDS.

Every other album (with the possible exception of POB if you count that) runs into, in my opinion, issues of consistency that kind of rule them out.  SURF'S UP and HOLLAND have a lot of charm but they're wildly uneven.  I suppose you could argue FRIENDS, but the album is so low key it's sort of anti-statement.  It's got a definite constituency, but not as much as the two albums above.  LOVE YOU has a similar quality...you love it, or hate it.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I always look at the groups career as being in four distinct sections:

Surfin Sarafi - All Summer Long/Christmas Album: THE EARLY YEARS

Today! - Smiley Smile/Wild Honey: THE BRIAN GENIUS YEARS

Friends - Holland/In Concert: THE GROUP YEARS

15 Big Ones - onwards: THE LATER YEARS (aka THE DECLINE)

[MBE]

The concept here is to count TSS as a finished LP? If so it would rank with Pet Sounds and Sunflower to me. I also rank Wild Honey, Today, and All Summer Long as being exceptional.  I like all the 1963-73 albums really. Xmas is only half great but anything after 1973 except POB isn't near what came before. Certain tracks are very good after In Concert but I never loved Love You or came close.

[MyGlove]

I'd hate to see Love You as the third pillar..it's so goofy/corny(excluding The Night Was So Young)..definitely Today because it's something most people would enjoy not just beach boys fanatics.

Aren't you the person who likes the White Album so much? Don't get me wrong, i do too. but that's just as goofy and corny as Love You. In fact, love you might have been my choice, except i don't really think i've listened to it as religiously as Sunflower and Friends. Love You is great

[KokoNO]

I always look at the groups career as being in four distinct sections:

Surfin Sarafi - All Summer Long/Christmas Album: THE EARLY YEARS

Today! - Smiley Smile/Wild Honey: THE BRIAN GENIUS YEARS

Friends - Holland/In Concert: THE GROUP YEARS

15 Big Ones - onwards: THE LATER YEARS (aka THE DECLINE)

That's exactly how I view it. Only real argument for me is whether or not Wild Honey fits into the latter category. It's hard to say, but I kind of see that album as given us a better glimpse into the individual personalities of the group for the first time and also that Smile was kind of the end of an era for the group. Otherwise, I think you've pretty much nailed it.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I always look at the groups career as being in four distinct sections:

Surfin Sarafi - All Summer Long/Christmas Album: THE EARLY YEARS

Today! - Smiley Smile/Wild Honey: THE BRIAN GENIUS YEARS

Friends - Holland/In Concert: THE GROUP YEARS

15 Big Ones - onwards: THE LATER YEARS (aka THE DECLINE)

Well, the entire Wild Honey album was written and recorded in what must have been a matter of weeks, so i kinda think that counts as a pretty decent display of his genius too 


That's exactly how I view it. Only real argument for me is whether or not Wild Honey fits into the latter category. It's hard to say, but I kind of see that album as given us a better glimpse into the individual personalities of the group for the first time and also that Smile was kind of the end of an era for the group. Otherwise, I think you've pretty much nailed it.

[Custom Machine]

Sunflower - chock full of a wide variety of incredibly great music and vocal performances

[Wall of (Pet) Sound(s)]

Easy:
1. Beach Boys Today
2. Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
3. Pet Sounds
Bim, bam, boom: the height of Brian.

I'm inclined to agree with this, and really if one includes All Summer Long and SMiLE at the beginning and the end of that list, there is a very clear progression. Parts of Summer Days were a bit of a step back, but they are more than made up for by California Girls.

Friends and Sunflower are two my favorite Beach Boys albums, but they don't capture Brian at his then-peak. All Summer Long is when they really started putting together cohesive albums that were strong from start to finish. So if we begin there and continue through SMiLE (excluding Beach Boys Party and parts of the Christmas album), we see Brian continually topping himself, as each consecutive album was better than the last.

If we're only talking three pillars, then I'd have to put Today! as the third one -- I've always considered it as sort of a little brother to Pet Sounds.

Love You is very interesting, however, so I can see why some people like to put that in their Big Three.

[Wall of (Pet) Sound(s)]

Shucks, I'm new here and didn't realize there was already someone named LittleBird. My apologies! I'll see what I can do about changing mine.

[cablegeddon]

I'm going to try to make the U2 comparision

A combination of War and the unforgettable fire - Today

Joshua Tree - Summer days

Achtung Baby - Pet Sounds

A combination of all the experimental stuff U2 has tried through Zooropa, Pop, Dismantle an atomic bomb and No line - Smile

[D Cunningham]

Is this choosing the top 3?  Then I'm with GroganB

BBs Today
Summer Days and Summer Nights
Pet Sounds

And to think those 3 discs composed The Beach Boys Deluxe Set -- making it the best release by the band in its career (including best cover photo), to my mind.

and I just wish The Little Girl I Once Knew was in there somewhere.

[rab2591]

I'm going to try to make the U2 comparision

A combination of War and the unforgettable fire - Today

Joshua Tree - Summer days

Achtung Baby - Pet Sounds

A combination of all the experimental stuff U2 has tried through Zooropa, Pop, Dismantle an atomic bomb and No line - Smile

Boy-War - Surfin' Safari - All Summer Long
Unforgettable Fire - Today
Joshua Tree - Pet Sounds
Achtung - Zooropa = SMiLE

Joshua Tree is U2's defining album - thus its Pet Sounds status.

Achtung Baby was U2 really pushing the bounds of what a mainstream rock band could get away with...thus its SMiLE status.

[groganb]

Easy:
1. Beach Boys Today
2. Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
3. Pet Sounds
Bim, bam, boom: the height of Brian.

I didn't mean in this particular order. Pet Sounds is No.1 in any list of mine. The other two are like the musical cornerstones on which it rests.

[Alex]

The three pillars are Still Cruisin', Summer in Paradise, and Salute to Nascar!

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Can I just quickly use this opportunity to say that U2 are crap? Thanks.

[cablegeddon]

I'm going to try to make the U2 comparision

A combination of War and the unforgettable fire - Today

Joshua Tree - Summer days

Achtung Baby - Pet Sounds

A combination of all the experimental stuff U2 has tried through Zooropa, Pop, Dismantle an atomic bomb and No line - Smile

Boy-War - Surfin' Safari - All Summer Long
Unforgettable Fire - Today
Joshua Tree - Pet Sounds
Achtung - Zooropa = SMiLE

Joshua Tree is U2's defining album - thus its Pet Sounds status.

Achtung Baby was U2 really pushing the bounds of what a mainstream rock band could get away with...thus its SMiLE status.

We have a small disagreement here. Pet sounds is not BB's defining album in terms of sound and hit songs.

 U2 are famous for the sound they developed on Unforgetable fire and Joshua tree. The same can be said for the sound on All summer long, Today and Summer nights. Pet sounds is an experimental and critically acclaimed album, to me it's just like Achtung Baby (AB was definitely more successful for its time though). U2 don't have a Smile in their discography. The closest thing to me would be a collection of songs spanning from Zooropa through pop, atomic bomb and Vertical Horizon OR just Vertical Horizon alone. But nothing from U2's catalog has the same reputation as Smile so...

[Alex]

Can I just quickly use this opportunity to say that U2 are crap? Thanks.

Bono is a pretentious asshat, but don't be knocking the Edge.

[Newguy562]

Can we use another example besides U2?

Radiohead?

The Bends - Today (The beginning of their sound.)
Ok Computer - Pet Sounds (Their peak)
Kid A - Smile (Most creative album they released.)

The Kinks?

Something Else - Today
The Village Green Preservation Society - Pet Sounds
Arthur - Smile (Hit or Miss)

Michael Jackson?

Off The Wall - Today
Thriller - Pet Sounds
Bad - Smile (Hit or Miss)

Pink Floyd?

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Today
The Dark Side of the Moon - Pet  Sounds
The Wall - Smile

The Who?

Tommy - Today
Who's Next - Pet Sounds
Quadrophenia - Smile


WOW! Those were amazing examples

[rab2591]

I'm going to try to make the U2 comparision

A combination of War and the unforgettable fire - Today

Joshua Tree - Summer days

Achtung Baby - Pet Sounds

A combination of all the experimental stuff U2 has tried through Zooropa, Pop, Dismantle an atomic bomb and No line - Smile

Boy-War - Surfin' Safari - All Summer Long
Unforgettable Fire - Today
Joshua Tree - Pet Sounds
Achtung - Zooropa = SMiLE

Joshua Tree is U2's defining album - thus its Pet Sounds status.

Achtung Baby was U2 really pushing the bounds of what a mainstream rock band could get away with...thus its SMiLE status.

We have a small disagreement here. Pet sounds is not BB's defining album in terms of sound and hit songs.

 U2 are famous for the sound they developed on Unforgetable fire and Joshua tree. The same can be said for the sound on All summer long, Today and Summer nights. Pet sounds is an experimental and critically acclaimed album, to me it's just like Achtung Baby (AB was definitely more successful for its time though). U2 don't have a Smile in their discography. The closest thing to me would be a collection of songs spanning from Zooropa through pop, atomic bomb and Vertical Horizon OR just Vertical Horizon alone. But nothing from U2's catalog has the same reputation as Smile so...

Definitely see what you mean. But to me U2s latest albums play it safe in regards to experimental stuff.

Good points on Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby.
______

And U2 isn't crap.

[MaxL]

To throw in a comparison to Prefab Sprout:

Many consider "Steve McQueen" to be their "Pet Sounds" and "Jordan: The Comeback" their "Smile", but I prefer this analysis (any Sproutheads feel free to disagree):

Steve McQueen (1985) - Today!
Jordan: The Comeback (1991) - Pet Sounds
Let's Change the World with Music (1993/released 2009) - Smile (debatable)

With that in mind you could call "From Langley Park..." their "Summer Days...". Mmmaybe even stretch to calling "Andromeda Heights" their "Friends". Ok I'm done.

[Aegir]

Can we use another example besides U2?

Radiohead?

The Bends - Today (The beginning of their sound.)
Ok Computer - Pet Sounds (Their peak)
Kid A - Smile (Most creative album they released.)

The Kinks?

Something Else - Today
The Village Green Preservation Society - Pet Sounds
Arthur - Smile (Hit or Miss)

Michael Jackson?

Off The Wall - Today
Thriller - Pet Sounds
Bad - Smile (Hit or Miss)

Pink Floyd?

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn - Today
The Dark Side of the Moon - Pet  Sounds
The Wall - Smile

The Who?

Tommy - Today
Who's Next - Pet Sounds
Quadrophenia - Smile


WOW! Those were amazing examples

Those are terrible examples. especially the Floyd one.

[MyGlove]

  Newguy, I have agree with Aegir. Hardly any of those make any sense. If anything, Kid A is Radiohead's Pet Sounds, and they haven't had a "Smile" yet. The Kinks I'll agree with.. Michael Jackson... shouldn't even be compared. Pink Floyd really shouldn't be either. And as for The Who, I think you're an album behind on each. It should be 'Sell Out' matched up with 'Today', 'Tommy' matched up with Pet Sounds (tho this is of course a loose interpretation), and Who's Next/Lifehouse matched up with Smiley Smile/Smile

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I'm going to try to make the U2 comparision

A combination of War and the unforgettable fire - Today

Joshua Tree - Summer days

Achtung Baby - Pet Sounds

A combination of all the experimental stuff U2 has tried through Zooropa, Pop, Dismantle an atomic bomb and No line - Smile

Boy-War - Surfin' Safari - All Summer Long
Unforgettable Fire - Today
Joshua Tree - Pet Sounds
Achtung - Zooropa = SMiLE

Joshua Tree is U2's defining album - thus its Pet Sounds status.

Achtung Baby was U2 really pushing the bounds of what a mainstream rock band could get away with...thus its SMiLE status.

We have a small disagreement here. Pet sounds is not BB's defining album in terms of sound and hit songs.

 U2 are famous for the sound they developed on Unforgetable fire and Joshua tree. The same can be said for the sound on All summer long, Today and Summer nights. Pet sounds is an experimental and critically acclaimed album, to me it's just like Achtung Baby (AB was definitely more successful for its time though). U2 don't have a Smile in their discography. The closest thing to me would be a collection of songs spanning from Zooropa through pop, atomic bomb and Vertical Horizon OR just Vertical Horizon alone. But nothing from U2's catalog has the same reputation as Smile so...

Definitely see what you mean. But to me U2s latest albums play it safe in regards to experimental stuff.

Good points on Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby.
______

And U2 isn't crap.

Yes they is.