After only Chuck Berry, Brian Wilson is my second choice for "Most Influential Artist (Rock n Roll Division)". At the end of the day, "Smile" seems (to me) to offer the greatest insight into Brian Wilson's creative process. On that basis, it's my favorite Beach Boys/Brian Wilson record, including Pet Sounds. The music on Smile may be a bit uneven, but that's part of the charm, IMO. It's also the BB/BW record that I revisit most frequently.
