According to author Johnny Morgan, a "process of reevaluation" of "Pet Sounds" was underway from the late 1960s onward, with a 1976 "NME" feature proving especially influential. Ben Edmonds of "Circus" wrote in 1971 that the "beauty" of "Pet Sounds" had aged well against "the turbulence of the past few years", adding that "many consider it not only the Beach Boys' finest achievement, but a milestone in the progression of contemporary rock as well." In a 1972 review for "Rolling Stone", Stephen Davis called "Pet Sounds" "by far" Brian Wilson's best album and said that its "trenchant cycle of love songs has the emotional impact of a shatteringly evocative novel". He argued that the album had changed "the course of popular music" and "a few lives in the bargain". "Melody Maker"s Josh Ingham said in 1973 that the album was "ignored by the public" but inspired many critics to label Wilson a genius, "not least for being a year ahead of "Sgt Pepper" in thinking." Ingham concluded that, "With hindsight, of course, "Pet Sounds" has become "the" classic album."