I recently added Pet Sounds to my collection, off the single note of it being influenced by Rubber Soul (My Favourite Album)
I can recognise it is a great album, and has all the trappings of a 'classic', but after the ear-catching 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' with amazing Harmonies and pleasant purity such a song holds, along with 'You Still Believe In Me' .. with some really distinctive 'Elizabethan' Organ (or Whatever) ... I feel, there is no real change in the heavenly epic feel (and sound) that the Album creates. This in itself, cannot be judged as criticism, but when comparing it to Rubber Soul (which it often gets) .. we see a change in style of voice, and mood, from Sexual-Interest, through to Philosophical orientation and into Anger and misunderstanding.
'God Only Knows' is quoted by Ian Macdonald as quite literally the Perfect Pop Song* .. Maybe true in many aspects, you simply cant take away from its brilliance, although I think it often over-shadows many of the others.
Again, it boils down to taste, as I find The Beach Boys over sickly at times, with the raging positives and angelic harmonies. Even when Wilson sings about saddening subjects, I cannot help but feel warm from his voice. Again, this cannot be used to take away from the Album, but I feel there is more 'range' with Rubber Soul.