I think it depends on your definition of "edge". If you know the Brian Wilson story, they are every bit as "rock" as the latter day Beatles. Entire orchestras in the studio; pianos on a bed of sand in the studio; late night sessions in bathrobes whacked out on hallucinogens...
I don't know; think that the late '64 to '67 period of the Boys is essential listening. Kokomo is a good song in and of itself, but it's hard to listen to for me, because it's "Mike Love's Beach Boys" and I consider Mike Love a scumbag of epic proportions. I'm not sure there is a single better example of an original member of a legendary band shitting on a legacy than what Mike Love has done to the Beach Boys. I think we wouldn't even have to ASK the question of this thread if not for Mike Love.