Album Mini-review: The Monkees — Good Times!
Call them a guilty pleasure if you must: at their core The Monkees were as “real” a group as many others of their era. And there’s no denying that they made a lot of music that has worn well this last half-century. Various reunions have yielded enjoyable tours, but little in the way of memorable music. That’s changed with Good Times! The secret is the embracing of their original approach: songs from outside writers who understand the pop aesthetic. Unlike their previous reunion projects, here the group eschews clumsy attempts to “update” for present-day, instead aiming for a timeless feel. The Monkees (Micky, Mike, Peter a vintage vocal from departed Davy) make the tunes (from Andy Partridge, producer Adam Schlesinger, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller and more) their own. For those who don’t mind a whiff on nostalgia now and then, Good Times! delivers on its title.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, will be published in 2021 by HoZac Books.