Tiring of making frothy pop, the late Brian Wilson threw away his Beach Boys’ template, assembled a battalion of top session players, and began recording an all-time classic

If you enjoy most any kind of pop music, you’re a cork in Brian Wilson’s ocean. The principal songwriter and sonic architect of the Beach Boys, he bottled the vibes of Southern California — and really,

The death of Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson reminds us all that the great artists don't live forever, and we should cherish their masterworks while they're here.