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Time was, the Monkees were a \u201cguilty pleasure\u201d for many. Time has rightly been kind to the group, and they\u2019ve undergone a near-complete re-assessment. Did they all play on their early records? Well, no. Did The Byrds play on theirs? Did the Wrecking Crew play on everybody’s (except The Turtles\u2019)? Good \u2013 and sometimes great \u2013 music is just that.<\/p>\n
The Monkees<\/b><\/i> (1966) \u2013 Solid pop debut showcasing impressive range of styles, and making the point early that Michael Nesmith in particular was a creative force to be reckoned with.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n More of The Monkees <\/b><\/i>(1967) \u2013 A cash-in, to be sure; the band learned of its existence when they saw it in stores. But it\u2019s hard to find fault with an album that boasts at least four classic songs.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Headquarters<\/b><\/i> (1967) \u2013 With the passage of time, this is widely seen as the breakthrough, the one in which the group asserted itself. And it is in fact a very good record, one on which the members either played the instruments or oversaw the sessions. But the real Monkees triumph was to follow.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.<\/b><\/i> (1967) \u2013 If you can only own one \u2013 and you really should have more \u2013 this is the one. It’s a remarkably mature album (\u201cPeter Percival Patterson\u2019s Pet Pig Porky\u201d notwithstanding), balancing the autonomy of Headquarters<\/i> with the wise use of outside writers and players. Plenty of great songs, a few classics, plus the debut of the Moog synthesizer (\u201cDaily Nightly\u201d) and two phenomenal deep-cut tracks in \u201cLove is Only Sleeping\u201d and \u201cThe Door Into Summer.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The Birds, The Bees & the Monkees<\/b><\/i> (1968) \u2013 Commercially, the group was over the hump by this point, and it didn\u2019t sell as well. Today it\u2019s a somewhat overlooked gem, with the stellar \u201cTapioca Tundra\u201d and \u201cValleri\u201d as highlights. My dear, recently departed friend Keith Allison co-wrote \u201cAuntie\u2019s Municipal Court\u201d with Papa Nez.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Head<\/b><\/i> (1968) \u2013 The Monkees get really weird. For a soundtrack LP, Head<\/i> is typically hit-or-miss. But its best parts are near transcendent. Carole King\u2019s \u201cPorpoise Song\u201d may be the greatest thing they ever did (and if not, it\u2019s close). Peter Tork turns in two of the record\u2019s best cuts with \u201c\u201dCan You Dig It?\u201d and \u201cLong Title.\u201d And a second Carole King tune, \u201cAs We Go Along\u201d is a thing of beauty.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Instant Replay<\/b><\/i> (1969) \u2013 The bottom fell out quickly, and not just because Tork left. Instant Replay<\/i> dates from after the TV show\u2019s cancellation, and while there are some fine songs, the album is best exemplified by \u201cTear Drop City\u201d a thin rewrite that attempted to recapture past glories. Better than you might expect, though.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The Monkees Present<\/b><\/i> (1969) \u2013 It\u2019s hyperbole to call this one the Monkees\u2019 answer to the White Album, but it\u2019s the product of a similarly disconnected group. If you know more than one song on this LP, you\u2019re pretty hardcore. Nobody involved brings their best, unfortunately.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Changes<\/b><\/i> (1970) \u2013 Now down to a duo (Micky and Davy), this record bears the fingerprints \u2013 for better or worse \u2013 of Jeff Barry. If you know even one song from Changes<\/i>, you\u2019re a fanatic. It\u2019s not terrible, but neither is it memorable. The group capitulated shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Pool It!<\/b><\/i> (1987) \u2013 Riding on a resurgence of popularity (thanks, MTV!) Davy, Micky and Peter got back together for a tour. We\u2019re glad they did; it was loads of fun. They also made an album. They needn\u2019t have; it\u2019s dreadful and \u201880s\u2019dated. An embarrassment to all involved.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Justus<\/b><\/i> (1996) \u2013 A true reunion (with Nesmith). You\u2019d think that would make it better than Pool It!<\/i> And it does, though not by much.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Good Times!<\/b><\/i> (2016) \u2013 Late in the game, the group (including a posthumous appearance by Jones) made a wonderful record that burnished the group\u2019s legacy. Many musicians who owe a debt to the Monkees helped make it, and Good Times!<\/i> is just that. Definitely worth owning.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Christmas Party<\/b><\/i> (2018) \u2013 Many of the same people who helped make Good Times!<\/i> were involved in what was even then announced as the final Monkees LP. It\u2019s not terrible, but as with most holiday records, even when it does work, it only does so for about two weeks in December.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Time was, the Monkees were a \u201cguilty pleasure\u201d for many. Time has rightly been kind to the group, and they\u2019ve undergone a near-complete re-assessment. 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