Curious about your love of BB's. For example, I grew up hearing their pre-Today!/Pet Sounds albums (i.e. their "surfer" music, when they were thought of as a "singles band"). My father really enjoyed that music and would play (usually greatest hits compilations) that era of BBs quite often when we were in the car. Now, as vocal music (and IMO) it is great. But I don't ever put it on. I find it boring and empty. I've also read a critic (can't remember which one) write about how the division of fans (not that you can't like it all) lies along a sort of reactionary/culture shift schism. The pre-Pet Sounds surfer music is safe, nostalgic and molded in "simpler" times (there's a reason my father enjoyed it). After that it became challenging.
Let me preface anything I'm about to say that I love them. Pet Sounds is one of my all-time favorite albums and I own a lot (prob too much) of BB's across multiple medias. But I don't think I'd ever put the group in a top 5 (the album yes, just not the group). TBH, I prob wouldn't really make a list, but if pressed I think their discography is spotty.
As well, I think the mythologizing of Brian Wilson as a genius is meh; it's an easy byline but it doesn't really say anything about the actual music. And there are great albums outside of Pet Sounds - Today!, Surf's Up, Wild Honey, Smiley Smile/Smile; really good albums - Sunflower, 20/20, Friends, Love You; ok albums - Holland; and a lot of junk too.
So, I guess what I'm asking is why do they make your top 5?
Hey there,
I also grew up "surfer" Beach Boys in the car with my parents (mostly Dad). I fell in love with the beach vibes, and we usually listened to them while in Mexico. (Reference - I am 33 years old)
To me, there are two tiers of "surfer" Beach Boy tracks
Tier 1 (Bottom): Surfin' USA, Surfin' Safari, Fun Fun Fun, Surf City
Tier 2: Don't Worry Baby, Be True To Your School, I Get Around, When I Grow Up To Be A Man
One is most exclusively dealing with "surfing" and the beach, and the other has a similar vibe but a little more substance in the subject matter. Both have always instilled positivity to me when I listen and remind me of hanging outside with the family.
I've also always been a sucker for falsetto vocals - give me some Beach Boys, doo-wop, malt shop mixes, etc.
Throw all of that on top of the advancement of their sound. As a musician, fan of music, Music-Grad and former Music Teacher, I can respect how advance some of their songwriting became. It evolved, but to me, I still always heard the beach. Enter Pet Sounds / SMILE / etc.
Songs like Wouldn't It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, Heroes + Villains, etc have now taken one of my favorite musical genres described above and mixed it with my familiar favorite of The Beatles, and other popular bands that were incorporating lusher harmonies, melodies and mature subject matter + advanced lyrical content.
I will always love The Beach Boys deeply, but I also know some of it was due to my exposure as a kid. If you hate the surfy Beach Boys, it may be harder to genuinely appreciate them outside of their highly regarded records.
That was a huge caffeinated flow of thought, but hope my response sheds some light!