The 2nd best Beach Boys Album?

[Mendota Heights]

This poll should have been Best Album Besides Pet Sounds, not everyone's second favorite.

But SMiLE's better than Pet Sounds.

[Myk Luhv]

It's like with the release of the Smile box set last year some people have forgotten that Smile never materialised in 1967 and so it cannot be the group's second-best album.

[Mendota Heights]

Friends. It's the second most cohesive, creative, beautiful, and charming BB album behind Pet Sounds.

I really wish I could get into Sunflower, but Got To Know The Woman and Tears In The Morning* are bummers for me - both songs repeat way too many lines.

*Someone recently pointed me towards an alternate version of Tears, and it was incredibly beautiful - wish it had been on the released album!

That someone was EgoHanger. Just reminding the name of our fellow Smiley Smiler.

Where can we listen to that version?

[EgoHanger1966]

Friends. It's the second most cohesive, creative, beautiful, and charming BB album behind Pet Sounds.

I really wish I could get into Sunflower, but Got To Know The Woman and Tears In The Morning* are bummers for me - both songs repeat way too many lines.

*Someone recently pointed me towards an alternate version of Tears, and it was incredibly beautiful - wish it had been on the released album!

That someone was EgoHanger. Just reminding the name of our fellow Smiley Smiler.

Where can we listen to that version?

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45WwGS_tke0

[Mendota Heights]

Friends. It's the second most cohesive, creative, beautiful, and charming BB album behind Pet Sounds.

I really wish I could get into Sunflower, but Got To Know The Woman and Tears In The Morning* are bummers for me - both songs repeat way too many lines.

*Someone recently pointed me towards an alternate version of Tears, and it was incredibly beautiful - wish it had been on the released album!

That someone was EgoHanger. Just reminding the name of our fellow Smiley Smiler.

Where can we listen to that version?

Enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45WwGS_tke0

Well, I just might.

[BB Universe]

With Pet Sounds being #1 and the qualifier that "Smile" wasn't released as an album (ie. TSS doesn't count for this subject), I went with Sunflower.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Who the hell voted for That's Why God Made The Radio? Talk about hyperbole...

I did. Problem?

No problem. As someone rightly commented following my post: everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, and if you happen think that a Beach Boys album containing heavy use of autotune, and no involvement at all from Dennis or Carl, is better than all of their classic albums from the '60's and 70's - bar one - then that is entirely up to you... Everyone is entitled to their choices, likewise everyone is entitled to express their opinions on said choices.

[MaxL]

Who the hell voted for That's Why God Made The Radio? Talk about hyperbole...

I did. Problem?

No problem. As someone rightly commented following my post: everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion, and if you happen think that a Beach Boys album containing heavy use of autotune, and no involvement at all from Dennis or Carl, is better than all of their classic albums from the '60's and 70's - bar one - then that is entirely up to you... Everyone is entitled to their choices, likewise everyone is entitled to express their opinions on said choices.

My choice is based on what my 2nd favourite is, not what I think the 2nd best is. I would've voted for Today! going by the thread title, but the choices and discussion in the actual thread lean more towards preference rather than what people think is best. Either way I think TWGMTR is a great album. Carl and Dennis are no longer with us, it would be unfair to mark down an album for that.

[SMiLE-addict]

I don't think Smile really counts in this context...

I counted it.

Smile #1.
Pet Sounds #2.
Summer Days #3.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

But SMiLE's better than Pet Sounds.

Now who's being naïve, Kay?

[Junebug]

Pet Sounds ain't doing so well ................
I put it 2nd , behind Surf's Up.
Friends, Sunflower and Love You making up the rest of my Top 5.

[sockittome]

Just for the sake of argument, designating Smile as an "imaginary" album, here's my top 3:

1-PS
2-Sunflower
3-Wild Honey

[Lonely Summer]

Sunflower is my #1. #2 is Wild Honey.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Yeah what's with all this assuming we all think Pet Sounds is their best album? Perhaps this thread should've just been a simple What's Your No 1 Beach Boys Album question?

[EgoHanger1966]

Probably an unpopular statement, but Pet Sounds hands down is their best album. Because best and favorite are so totally different. Even if it's not your favorite, or the one you like the most, or the one you connect with the most, Pet Sounds is such a groundbreaking, cohesive, emotional rollercoaster ride of a record. Sometimes I feel like fans knock Pet Sounds a peg down because it's become so cliche to call it the best Beach Boys album, and also the fact that it hogs away press from other very good Beach Boys albums. But, still, Pet Sounds, that's the one.

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Probably an unpopular statement, but Pet Sounds hands down is their best album. Because best and favorite are so totally different. Even if it's not your favorite, or the one you like the most, or the one you connect with the most, Pet Sounds is such a groundbreaking, cohesive, emotional rollercoaster ride of a record. Sometimes I feel like fans knock Pet Sounds a peg down because it's become so cliche to call it the best Beach Boys album, and also the fact that it hogs away press from other very good Beach Boys albums. But, still, Pet Sounds, that's the one.

I'm with you, Dude!

[filledeplage]

Had the band gotten their act together and completed SMiLE proper back in the 60's, Pet Sounds would have made second place...

Seriously, with a song like Winchester Cathedral being released at the end of 1966, and beating out Good Vibrations for the top spot of the year, no one could wager how well anything else would do.  1967 was hardly better.  If everything was perfect it might not have mattered.  Good Vibrations WAS perfect.  Winchester Cathedral was a compete freak event. 

It was better for SMiLE to age as fine Cabernet and get its proper reception when it did.  It all worked out as it was destined.  JMHO 

I voted Surf's Up.  Eclectic, creative, social awareness raising, etc.  That might be 70's political correctness! 

[buddhahat]

This poll should have been Best Album Besides Pet Sounds, not everyone's second favorite.

This did occur to me after I'd started the poll! Give it a while and we'll try that and see if Snflower still comes out on top.