Pet Sounds — The Beach Boys (1966)

Pet Sounds is Brian Wilson's 1966 masterwork, recorded with 90 session musicians across 17 studio sessions while the rest of the Beach Boys toured—a production scale that was 30% larger than the average album of its time. Paul McCartney called it 'the album that made me most jealous,' directly inspiring #1 Sgt. Pepper's; NME ranks it #2 greatest album, solidifying its legacy. With over 10 million copies sold, it is slower than the typical rival to fade from cultural relevance, remaining a constant touchstone for generations.