![The Beatles - Paul McCartney once said that Pet Sounds blew him]()
The Beatles - Paul McCartney once said that Pet Sounds blew him "out of the wate", stating that "Sgt. Pepper's was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds". The Day Tripper even cited 'God Only Knows' as his favourite song of all time. Brian Wilson also credited Rubber Soul as inspiration for Pet Sounds. To think that both bands inspired each other to produce two of the most seminal concept albums of the 60's is remarkable.
![R.E.M. - R.E.M. have always been a unique band in terms of style and sound, to the extent that extracting their influences from their music is at times, a formidable task. However, 'At My Most Beautiful' from 1998's Up is arguably the closest any band has come to reviving the sound of Pet Sounds. From the Wilson-esque piano part to the tambourine shakes to the leaping harmonies, this R.E.M. track could sit comfortably amongst the Pet Sounds track listing.]()
R.E.M. - R.E.M. have always been a unique band in terms of style and sound, to the extent that extracting their influences from their music is at times, a formidable task. However, 'At My Most Beautiful' from 1998's Up is arguably the closest any band has come to reviving the sound of Pet Sounds. From the Wilson-esque piano part to the tambourine shakes to the leaping harmonies, this R.E.M. track could sit comfortably amongst the Pet Sounds track listing.
![David Bowie - As unique and diverse as Bowie was, the Thin White Duke did not shy away from embracing his peers' work. His darker and rawer cover of 'God Only Knows' from 1984's Tonight pays homage to Pet Sounds in a style that almost camouflages it as a Bowie original. The pop chameleon's climatic and adventurous choruses found in the likes of 'Life On Mars' and 'Starman' could also be echoes of those found in Pet Sounds.]()
David Bowie - As unique and diverse as Bowie was, the Thin White Duke did not shy away from embracing his peers' work. His darker and rawer cover of 'God Only Knows' from 1984's Tonight pays homage to Pet Sounds in a style that almost camouflages it as a Bowie original. The pop chameleon's climatic and adventurous choruses found in the likes of 'Life On Mars' and 'Starman' could also be echoes of those found in Pet Sounds.
![The Flaming Lips - known also for their inclusion of bold harmonies and orchestrated sounds, The Flaming Lips brand of psychedelia certainly draw parallels with the Beach Boys. 2002's Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is the best example of Pet Sounds' inspiration. It's an experimental album that incorporates all of the boundary-pushing commodities found in Pet Sounds that brings the Beach Boys' classic into the 21st century. Space synths and contagious melodies are in abundance here.]()
The Flaming Lips - known also for their inclusion of bold harmonies and orchestrated sounds, The Flaming Lips brand of psychedelia certainly draw parallels with the Beach Boys. 2002's Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is the best example of Pet Sounds' inspiration. It's an experimental album that incorporates all of the boundary-pushing commodities found in Pet Sounds that brings the Beach Boys' classic into the 21st century. Space synths and contagious melodies are in abundance here.
![Bruce Springsteen - Big sounds combined with high-octane energy remains the catalyst for The Boss' well-known three-hour sets. Unsurprisingly, these elements that are mirrored in Pet Sounds have had a lasting effect on the man himself. The sixties' beach sound and piano ingenuity found in 'Girls In Their Summer Clothes', 'Your Own Worst Enemy' and 'Jungleland' from 2007's Magic, clearly all draw their inspiration from Pet Sounds. The Boss jamming with the Brian Wilson band on stage will leave you in awe.]()
Bruce Springsteen - Big sounds combined with high-octane energy remains the catalyst for The Boss' well-known three-hour sets. Unsurprisingly, these elements that are mirrored in Pet Sounds have had a lasting effect on the man himself. The sixties' beach sound and piano ingenuity found in 'Girls In Their Summer Clothes', 'Your Own Worst Enemy' and 'Jungleland' from 2007's Magic, clearly all draw their inspiration from Pet Sounds. The Boss jamming with the Brian Wilson band on stage will leave you in awe.
![Weezer - From their surf rock style, high energy and adventurous harmonies, Weezer have always been intrinsically linked to the Beach Boys. For some, 1996's Pinkerton has been recognised as the next generation's Pet Sounds and there's no doubt that Rivers Cuomo drew heavily from Brian Wilson's timeless inspiration. Cuomo's acoustic piano cover of 'God Only Knows' is incredibly heartfelt too.]()
Weezer - From their surf rock style, high energy and adventurous harmonies, Weezer have always been intrinsically linked to the Beach Boys. For some, 1996's Pinkerton has been recognised as the next generation's Pet Sounds and there's no doubt that Rivers Cuomo drew heavily from Brian Wilson's timeless inspiration. Cuomo's acoustic piano cover of 'God Only Knows' is incredibly heartfelt too.
![Nick Drake - The instrumental arrangements of Pet Sounds transformed Nick Drake's acoustic folk style to a fuller band sound in his 1970 album, Bryter Layter. The result is a more avant-garde Nick Drake that maintains his melodic and lyrical genius whilst incorporating enchantingly beautiful textures.]()
Nick Drake - The instrumental arrangements of Pet Sounds transformed Nick Drake's acoustic folk style to a fuller band sound in his 1970 album, Bryter Layter. The result is a more avant-garde Nick Drake that maintains his melodic and lyrical genius whilst incorporating enchantingly beautiful textures.
![Wilco - The evolution of Wilco's discography is fascinating. Starting out as an Americana-country band, Wilco have visited pop rock, embraced country rock elements, dabbled in experimental sounds, laid down some of the best guitar solos to date, touched upon folk poetry and have cemented themselves in rock history. Amidst this journey was 1999's uplifting and psychedelic Summerteeth, which certainly echoes the Beach Boy's courageous attitude towards Pet Sounds.]()
Wilco - The evolution of Wilco's discography is fascinating. Starting out as an Americana-country band, Wilco have visited pop rock, embraced country rock elements, dabbled in experimental sounds, laid down some of the best guitar solos to date, touched upon folk poetry and have cemented themselves in rock history. Amidst this journey was 1999's uplifting and psychedelic Summerteeth, which certainly echoes the Beach Boy's courageous attitude towards Pet Sounds.
![Fleet Foxes - When Fleet Foxes unveiled their debut eponymous album, the elegant but evocative harmonies set the band aside from any other indie or folk band at the time. The energetic attitude, ambitious harmonies and sincere lyrics of Pet Sounds equally set it apart from any other 60's album. Although not as instrumentally orchestral as Pet Sounds and more tuned towards a pop baroque and folky sound, the Beach Boy's influence on Fleet Foxes is undeniable.]()
Fleet Foxes - When Fleet Foxes unveiled their debut eponymous album, the elegant but evocative harmonies set the band aside from any other indie or folk band at the time. The energetic attitude, ambitious harmonies and sincere lyrics of Pet Sounds equally set it apart from any other 60's album. Although not as instrumentally orchestral as Pet Sounds and more tuned towards a pop baroque and folky sound, the Beach Boy's influence on Fleet Foxes is undeniable.
![Radiohead - Just as the Beach Boys introduced unusual but innovative sounds through Pet Sounds, Radiohead's OK Computer introduced a new wave of ambient and almost unnervingly different music. Thom Yorke said that he was trying to create an atmosphere as shocking as the atmosphere on Pet Sounds when creating OK Computer and he certainly succeeded. Even today, OK Computer sounds like a contemporary update of Pet Sounds.]()
Radiohead - Just as the Beach Boys introduced unusual but innovative sounds through Pet Sounds, Radiohead's OK Computer introduced a new wave of ambient and almost unnervingly different music. Thom Yorke said that he was trying to create an atmosphere as shocking as the atmosphere on Pet Sounds when creating OK Computer and he certainly succeeded. Even today, OK Computer sounds like a contemporary update of Pet Sounds.