One of the most celebrated albums of all time, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds was at the center of a pop music arms race in the mid-60s. Brian Wilson, inspired by the consistent sound and vision of The Beatles’ Rubber Soul, crafted this masterpiece, only to have The Beatles respond with Sgt. Pepper.

And while The Beach Boys pale in comparison to the Fab Four overall, this album certainly belongs in the same conversation as the albums that surrounded it.

Pet Sounds was the first Beach Boys album to move away from the “surfin’ U.S.A.” mindset and tackle more resonant themes. Composed and performed mostly by Brian Wilson, with the aid of session musicians, the rest of the band was sidetracked — with the notable exception of their sublime harmony vocals. This was the album that established Wilson as a musical genius.

The songs on Pet Sounds are uniformly excellent but it’s the sound of the record that was truly groundbreaking. Wilson utilized exotic instruments and transformed ordinary ones into something other-worldly. His use of sound effects and studio tricks ushered in a new era of creative production. And his command of complex multi-part harmonies has never been equaled.

Interestingly, though Pet Sounds marked a creative turning point for the band, it was their last real success. Not until 1989 and ‘Kokomo’ did The Beach Boys release another platinum-selling album.