I agree with Stewart M.  Beach Boys Today is my favourite BB's album - 
creative without being overly precious.  The 2-fer-1 CD combining that 
and Summer Days (And Summer Nights) is just tremendous.  Pet Sounds does 
have some great music on it, but it always struck me as an album to be 
admired rather than enjoyed.  Ditto Smile to an extent, although I think 
I prefer the warmth and weirdness of Smile to the porcelain-like beauty 
of Pet Sounds.

In a similar way, I think Revolver and Sergeant Pepper have an aloofness 
about them: to me the Beatles were never as joyous as on A Hard Day's Night.

Fountains of Wayne's new album doesn't connect with my gut instincts 
either - I mean the tunes are fine and well-played, but there's a smug 
feeling about that band that I sometimes think stifles them - I usually 
dig them more on tracks where they are not afraid to let rip and rock 
out (eg. Bright Future in Sales).