Reviews (page 4 of 8)
It's boringly pleasant I think. Upbeat entry level 60s rock. There's better out there. Sounded a bit samey but not too much that it became tedious.
Dadrock, and not the fun kind. No thrown punches from these pacifists, and a damn shame too. Favorite Tracks: It’s No Use, Chimes of Freedom
Very average 60's stuff. Some nice harmonies at least
You know that part in Spinal Tap where they're showing the different stylistic iterations of the band before they became a well-known cock rock act? Well this is that grating, twee folk version.
It was a nice oldies album.
Mr. Tambourine Man was written by Bob Dylan in 1965. The Byrds released this album also in 1965. This is their debut album. And it's just blowing my mind that they even went so far as to name their album the cover of the current hit song. Different times. I like The Byrds version of Mr. Tambourine man actually a little better than Bob Dylan's. The thing that stands out to me is the guitar playing. It's really thick and they have good melodies. Sometimes the songs stray into overly sentimental teenage angst. Favorites: Feel A Whole Lot Better, The Bells of Rhymney (this one kind of reminds me of early R.E.M.), Don't Doubt Yourself, Baby (great rhythm). Chimes of Freedom kind of cracks me up. I think Freedom usually rings bells but okay I guess Chimes will work. And this one sounds like they are really trying hard to write a Bob Dylan song. They are better when they are doing their own thing but for a debut album, it's pretty good!
Bob Dylan’s influence knows no bounds it seems. I really liked the first two songs and last two songs but everything in between fell a little flatter so this ended up in solid 3 territory for me.
I bet they sounded great live. All their songs sound the same to me though
The Beatles?
Great album :) I loved the really full guitar parts and the lyrics are meaningful and their voices are great.
tambourine man. that‘s it. 2
Schöne Lieder und natürlich die bessere Version von Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man.
Good classic rock
I mean, it's not bad. I can appreciate it from a historical point of view but I will not be spinning this again any time soon. Hypnotically Caucasian.
The accessible face of psychedelia. Very pleasant, if not truly stirring
Wow I was not expecting this album to be excellent! Probably mostly because most of the songs are covers, but they did them well, their Mr. Tambourine man cover was especially amazing. Thank you The Byrds for being pioneers of the folk-rock genre.
Shout out to Gene Clark. The Bonner Springs High School grad wrote the best two original songs on Mr. Tambourine Man: "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" and "I Knew I'd Want You." He also co-wrote "Eight Miles High" which, along with "I Knew I'd Want You" are my most favorite songs by The Byrds. After that, thank goodness for Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "All I Really Want to Do."
This feels dated. No thank you.
Another very generic sound but I like his voice.
I do think it is weird to have to review an album with so many cover songs. I appreciate them adding "their" twist to these songs, but the lead singer is trying to emulate Dylan's weird nasally cadence on quite a few of the tracks and that is off-putting to me. I have always liked the song Mr. Tambourine Man, by Bob Dylan, and I think their harmonies really add something special to the track. I just wish they were panned to one side or the other to really fill the space. The twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar work throughout the album really add a cohesiveness to the album. The harmonies would be more impressive if I could hear them better. They really do shine on "You Won't Have to Cry" in the chorus but get muddied in the verse. I think there is a balance issue with the mix. This album is regarded as America's first true answer to The Beatles, and I just don't see that. This is not a bad album, but its full of covers! How can you compare it to The Beatles who were writing all of their own music and by the time this album came out, really starting to experiment and push the boundaries of music. A more accurate counterpart to the Beatles would be The Beach Boys.
Which Wes Anderson movie is this?
The opening sounds like it’d be used for a show opening in the early 2000s in the realm of Gilmore Girls. These songs are short fun tunes. You can hear that they are a California based band in the light tunes.
This album reminds me of staying up late and seeing infomercials for CDs: *Smooth Voice* The sound of the 60’s. It was an era of change, reflection, and love. And now it’s all in one CD collection. Yes all the sounds of the 60s on one CD and for 4 easy payments of $19.64.
Buena coleccion de canciones, aunque el sonido particular de los byrds puede llegar a ser molesto en los agudos.
This album flowers together much better than the first one. It's still not incredible, but it was good enough, haha.
Mr Tambourine Man / Here Without You
How many Bob Dylan/The Byrds albums are on this thing. Oof. This is boring but not terrible for Bob Dylan?
Just so meh. 60s sounds washing over my ears
Sucer bob dylan abusé en vrai
C'est que des reprises mais ils reprennent bien ça c'est sur
Les Beatles.
Beatles Vibes
Un peu l'impression d'entendre les mêmes albums tous les jours 3/5
Wasn’t able to listen to whole think but liked the songs I heard
Pretty meh.
Quite the debut
I have only heard the title track before and its the best song of the album to me. That song itself is very mid to me and the album as a whole isn't really my style. It didn't get me interested in any way.
Musical tone that lingers near country, but diverts into a more psychedelic sound. I can hear the inspiration
Groovy blend of the Beatles and Dylan. Interesting band in general. Just mid 60s enough to not make it into the classic rock rotation that some of their American contemporaries like the Doors, Hendrix and CCR enjoyed, while also being clearly so influential on so many rock movements and artists to come, namely psychedelic rock, power pop, jangle, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Stone Roses.
***** Simply a Great album
I can't believe it took this long for me to get a second Byrds album. I got Fifth Dimension nearly 2 years ago in October 2023 and, despite them having 5 albums on this list for some reason, I am just now getting a second album from them in October 2025. Crazy. Anyways, this is a solid debut album right here. It's got the things that the Byrds are known for. Jangly guitars, Bob Dylan covers, you get the idea. You could criticize this album for over-relying on Bob Dylan songs seeing as they make up a third of the album, but there's something about Bob Dylan's songs that are just so coverable. I mean, when the one thing that turns people off from a man's music is his weird-ass voice, there's going to be a market for people who want to hear those beautiful words come out of someone else's mouth. Although, I will say that the Byrds do a decent job of making their covers different enough from the original to warrant both having a place in the world of music. Take the title track for example. I do prefer Dylan's original version of "Mr. Tambourine Man," but I do enjoy the version that this album is named after and respect it on its own. The rest of the songs are solid. Most of them are covers, but you do have some originals here, including the classic "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better." The sound here is consistently good. I do feel marginally more positive about this than I did for Fifth Dimension, but I still don't think I'm huge on the Byrds in general. They're good, I think there's something missing (at least on the albums I've heard) that prevent them from being considered "great" in my head. Still, this is a respectable debut from a fairly important band all things considered. High 3/5.
Pretty dull stuff
Good stuff
I like the Byrds later stuff and I like folk rock in general, but this album feels undercooked to me. They needed to make this album to get a foot in the door, but I don't think they were ready for prime time yet. Three years later, different story.
Definitely a product of its time. Some great songs with amazing harmonies their voices suit each other so well. But for me it's still just worth a 3.
Pleasant enough. But the harmonies and jingle jangley business just became repetitive. Mr T was lovely enough but they just got stuck in the same gear. And the gear was beige.
This has the best version of Mr Tambourine Man ever recorded on it. Great guitar playing and vocal harmonies.
Ja. Fint.
Tambourines!
Here without you is a gorgeous song, love the vocals blending with the guitar. I knew I’d want you has sweet lyrics, good for disassociating. Don’t doubt yourself has a fun tambourine, love her. We’ll meet again, a cover, you can feel all the emotions being sung, it’s still bittersweet after the 100th listen. I’ll feel a whole lot better - alternate version is the best version.
i’ve always found the devotion to dylan, right down to the title, odd and a little lame. but the sound is there, no doubt, even if i like bob’s versions better than theirs. gene’s originals were good, boys. should have filled this up with more of those. he’s always been my favorite byrd.
Well isn't this special? https://preview.redd.it/w7q8258x8n331.jpg?auto=webp&s=636521894d0194b5fcef82156421a0bbfba5d8c7
solid tunes. sounds super old, cos it is. A little too predictable for me, but like I said, it old as hell and this was probably innovative for its times
The first three songs were a strong way to open the album. I felt my attention fade as the album went on. While listening to much of the album, you get the sense of a happy and carefree feeling -- this is something you would listen to on a road trip in a convertible, with the beach nearby and the sun in full power. I wouldn't find myself reaching the album again, but I found it decently pleasant. It felt reminiscent of the Beatles at times.
Play A Song For Me 1001 Albums Generator 129 (09/30/2025) I can absolutely appreciate the influence of Mr. Tambourine Man. While The Byrds' debut studio album is named after the Bob Dylan tune that opens the album, the sound of this album is really more like The Beatles than Bob to me. While the sound here is absolutely steeped in folk rock, the vocals and guitar parts sound very Beatle-y to me. With that said, this album was clearly influential in its own right, with the jangly guitars being a huge influence on the jangle pop artists that would emerge a couple decades later. It's really quite interesting that this album of primarily covers would end up having such a distinct and influential sound. The best songs here are really good. Mr. Tambourine Man and I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better are both such great, fun, jangly tunes. The Bells of Rhymney has some of my favorite guitar work on the whole album. However, my problem with this album is the same problem I have with many albums on this list that are in this style: the songs really blend together, especially on first listen. On my second listen, I appreciated the different tunes a bit more, but the problem was still prevalent. A totally fine album that is a 2.5/5, rounded up to a 3. Favs: Mr. Tambourine Man I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better the Bells of Rhymney Least Fav: It's No Use
Very jolly - can really hear the influence this had on Rubber Soul. Not sure about the version of We'll Meet Again, but enjoyable overall and didn't drag.
Jingle jangle, jingle jangle. The opening notes of Mr Tambo are great, very reasurring, very autumnal. Not a bad way to start a recording career. To my shame I thought Feel a Whole Lot Better was a Tom Petty original.
THE folk rock formula of the 60s. Jamgly 12-string, intricate harmony, a backseat, chop the songs down to 3 minutes so you can use radio to sell albums. I'm good with this sound for 3 songs, but they beat it to death for a whole album....then about 10000 albums after continued flogging it.
Tired and twee. Boring and without any bite. Technically amazing but thats about it. American version of the hollies in sound but nowhere near in terms of songs and breadth.
Ya know this was a completely fine 60s folk rock album. Plenty of tambourine, twangy guitars, and harmonization. Feels pretty safe looking back, but who knows how this was interpreted in its day. All I Really Wnat to Do through I Knew I'd Want You is my favorite run on the album. Nothing specifically bad to say about the album. My only gripe is that some of the songs and progressions sort of run together. Like I just randomly dropped into The Bells of Rymney, and while it is a fine song, its not hard to imagine this turning into Turn Turn Turn at any point. And my songs follow the same opening style (punch of guitar followed by a little percussion, then hit em with the harmonized vocals). Can't argue too much as the recipe works well. For me this is in the high 3s.
Right on the nose for a rock album that was released in the late 60's. Nothing to write home about on this one.
That was an album by The Byrds
I will always take more David Crosby. That was just alright.
Perfectly enjoyable and (but?) entirely inoffensive. 4/5 Highlights: Mr. Tambourine Man I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better All I Really Want to Do It’s No Use
Jangles just the right way.
It's fine. Second song was really good. Bit distracted while listening.
Highlight Song/s: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better and It's No Use It is a BIT generic, lots of it seems to blend together if you don't give it at least 90-100% attention. It reminds me of Help!-era Beatles, but a bit more off-brand. I enjoyed this a lot more than Sweetheart of the Rodeo, I just couldn't stand that one because of the country overtones and it having every single one the cliches of country. I'm fine (mostly) with beatles-esque pop, so naturally I'd prefer this one.
I sort of sighed when this came up because folks just ain't my thing. And true to form, much of this blended together and sounded pretty much the same. Fine enough to listen to, but didn't do much for me. That said, I knew the Tom Petty version of "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" and had no idea it was originally a Byrds song. And it really rules! It sounded to me fresher and more alive than the Petty version, probably because it's new to me, but for something recorded in the mid-60s it sounds really fantastic.
Starts off strong and rather suddenly with the title track. Overall, very mellow, all of the songs sound very similar.
From the very start when they sing too tired for sleeping it sounds like they are. Same idea same fairly pathetic heterosexual mysogism in lyrics, twangy guitars and harmony throughout. Hopefully enough to last a few decades. Classic but very limited
So vanilla. Just a bunch of covers. The best ones are covers of Bob Dylan, who's versions are vastly superior
Fun, cohesive album.
Was fine
Liked their country album more. Set me up for failure!
here is a copy of David McGowan's Weird Scenes Inside The Canyon: Laurel Canyon, Covert Ops & The Dark Heart Of The Hippie Dream: https://archive.org/details/weirdscenesinsid0000mcgo where you can learn all about how The Byrds and other similar bands were CIA co-operatives who created the hippie movement to de-ligitamtize the anti war movement in the 1960s...
Listening to The Byrds I hear echoes of Tom Petty and other musicians they've influenced. For me, I'd rather listen to Dylan or Petty or the Beatles, but I can respect what they did in music. I reached my limit with the 12 string electric by the 5th song. Still all of this is a musical education.
Very beatles-esque. Not like other albums of theirs. I enjoyed it enough.
I don’t know if I vibe with the 60’s, but I Knew I’d Want You is a save for me
This was fun to listen to! Tom Petty's cover of I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better was one of my mom's favorites for driving around but I think I like the original even more. I like 60s harmonies, I like the Rickenbacker jangle sound, I like Chimes of Freedom better as a 3 minute song than a 7 minute song, sorry Bob Dylan.
Meh
When the only memorable song on your album is a cover that’s not a good thing.
missing the country elements that i enjoy in this style, but not bad at all. not bad at all, really. title track is pretty good deserves to be one of the 1001? this one does but i don’t think they need 5 on here lol
Jingle jangle goodness.
I feel like there’s a certain feeling with the early Byrds stuff which doesn’t really matter what they’re playing - even if it’s just mostly covers of Bob Dylan, which I think this is, it just has such an amazing atmosphere which feels quite mystical - maybe has something to do with the layered vocals which feel slightly hym-like in some places, which is maybe what the Dylan songs needed, as they can be a bit serious sometimes. I do think they influenced pop music more than most people from this era, as it’s not very bluesy, which people later on went on to drop as well. The guitarist(s)’ style is very unique and they surely created/pioneered ‘jangle pop’ as quite a lot of the main Melodies guitar wise are played on the top strings, and I think he maybe plays a 12 string in some places. I sort of wish that some of these songs were longer or had more development, and they’re all quite simple songs, but still great. Favourite songs: Mr. Tambourine Man, I’ll feel a whole lot better, Spanish Harlem incident, here without you, the bells of Rhymney, all I really want to do, it’s no use, chimes of freedom, we’ll meet again, she has a way. Overall around 7/10
Good
Better than the other Byrds album. Still not what I really want from them given their legacy. I wish it was denser, more robust or different than that generic 60s sound. Mr. Tambourine Man is iconic though. Split the difference and give it 4 stars.
Liiiiight 3. It sounded fine, and I enjoyed about half the songs. I know this is more a case of the pop songs at the time, and not specifically the Byrds, but sometimes the songs feel like they never get into second gear. They have some great lyrics and lovely harmonies and instrumentation, but they’re so SHORT they almost feel unfinished. Give me a bit MORE!
The Byrds' debut is 7 covers and only 5 original songs, but I suppose this was the style of the time. To their credit, The Byrds take these songs and play them in their own jangly, electric folk style, and for the most part, it works. I would keep checking in after songs I enjoyed because I often couldn't tell whether they were covers or not (save "Mr. Tabourine Man", of course). Ultimately, despite being from an era of music I don't really connect with, The Byrds are slowly growing on me. The vocal harmonies and distinctive sound help set them apart from other bands of the same scene. Highlights: "It's No Use"
This sits firmly in the pantheon of “high quality 60s pop”. It’s very of its time, you immediately know what you are dealing with and the short tracks come thick and fast. Listening in 2025 is a difficult one, as it feels so familiar and un revelatory when at its time it was in the thick of a movement. So I can’t say I love it but I can appreciate it as a fine product of its time, and it has enjoyable guitar throughout. Just a bit dated now.
This album presents a curious paradox for me: It is an objectively good piece of work that fails to generate any personal connection. The music, a repetitition of jangly songs, feels like a stuck record, offering a perfectly reasonable soundscape that simply doesn't resonate. It's an odd and disengaging experience, as it provokes no reaction beyond indifference. In fact, the only song that manages to break through the mundane with a jarring lo-fi quality, sounding as if it were recorded on a phone, and yet it's the one I can tolerate. Ultimately, this is an album that leaves me wondering why on a personal level. I was going to give it a 1 but I hold that prize for only the most worthy!
Opens with an undisputed classic. After that, it sort of peters of into pleasant sixties sounds that don't sound particularly groundbreaking or different from many other bands of that time. I guess they are a good band that contributed to the general sixties musical landscape and there is some enduring influence.
At first I thought this was just kind of a generic 60's album, but apparently it was a huge predecessor to the jangly guitar stuff. Definitely an eye opening historical record, but I'm not sure how I personally like it. It's at the very least, ok. Listening a second time, I could tell a little easier it's influence and sound.
Of its time maybe, but a great bridge between folk and rock, with gorgeous and distinctive harmonies.
Uninspiring in the extreme.
Hi!! I don't think cover albums should be on this list!!
Great classic
I enjoyed this in an odd kind of way! It reminded me of every movie ever made involving young adults from the United States being conscripted to fight in the Vietnam War!
Imagine being at the dawn of rock n roll, and just doing covers and trying to sound like Dylan/The Beatles? A missed opportunity! I didn't mind this album, but it didn't get me going.
This is a fine album, nothing special.
Mr. Tambourine Man is een klassieker, maar ik heb het nooit echt helemaal gehad voor The Byrds. I.v.m. met hun tijdgenoten, vind ik niet dat ze er heel hard uitschieten. 3.0
3.2 2x
Boring Boring Boring
Some very good songs, classic '60 vibes!
This is a comfort album for me. I'm pretty sure it's one that I have one vinyl, and one that I got roughly around the same time as my record player, so I've played it quite a bit. The harmonies of The Byrds are incredible. I think that's the real highlight of the group. They're almost like a precursor to The Eagles. If you tell me that you don't like this album, you have to look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't like the harmonies in the chorus of "All I Really Want to Do". This is just a really beautiful album. I think it's a little front heavy (the back half/B side of the album definitely doesn't have as many bangers). But it is really a complete album. Favorite Song(s): Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Bells of Rhymney, All I Really Want to Do
Good
Awesome
Kinda samey but good
Pre-listening thoughts: ok I know I said I was going to go in chronological order but we all knew that wasn’t going to last very long. Listen I needed a good hiking album (or three) so I picked one I knew would be more upbeat. Sorry Rufus wainwright 😭 Post/during listening thoughts: this was pretty good! A little samey all the way through but I enjoyed it all I won’t lie. I never had to think to myself “oh god let me skip this one”, and that’s usually a good sign. I liked their rendition of we’ll meet again as well. Beautiful harmonies. Just wish there were a few more standout songs. 7/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Mr Tambourine Man, Here Without You, All I Really Want To Do Least fav tracks: I didn’t dislike any but as stated above it was samey
Melodic. Harmonious. Pleasant.
Some boring shit from the byrds, the only interesting part was the stereo panning on the intro to Mr Tambourine Man. 2.3/5
There are some good songs here but it's all just too reverse derivative of a lot of jangly harmonizing stuff that I used to love but now kind of hate because it seems like happy person music.
Fine, but unexciting.
Enjoyable but almost a bit too simplistic. You can hear they are on the cusp of a new sound but for my this doesn't quite deliver. Definitely hugely influential and points for early experimentation but missing a little something.
I’m sure tons of bands have done it, but I’ve always found it kind of weird that they named their album after a Bob Dylan cover. Almost feels inauthentic, like they’re trying to ride Dylan’s coattails. It doesn’t help that this album actually does sound a bit like they’re trying to sound like the Beatles and Bob Dylan at the same time. I would honestly prefer listening to either of the others, but overall this was still an enjoyable listen. I think I actually liked this one a bit more than the last Byrds album I got from the list. Not sure if there really needs to be this many Byrds albums on the list, though.
This record is one long 60’s folk rock. It doesn’t really go anywhere. One note from start to finish. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - Mr. Tambourine Man - I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better - All I Really Want To Do
Much better than The Notorious Byrd Brothers. Holds together as a complete album, and I never knew Tom Petty was doing a cover of I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better!
Opening track had me thinking I'd like this more than I did. Similar Beatles vibes to a lot of what else is going on with this list.
Auto-play restarted it after I finished and I wasn’t mad.
An album of Bob Dylan covers that sounds just like the early Beatles but with American accents. Okay.
Good band, good album. Kind of wild that this record and its titular track came out just a few months after the Bob Dylan version. I’m still confused about how that all happened. Best Track: Mr. Tambourine Man
Taustamusiikkina meni aivan hyvin. En valitsisi tätä itse kuunteluun, mutta en välittömästi vaihtaisi kanavaakaan. Kuulosti 60-luvulta.
At this point in time, Bob Dylan was already cool. His four albums had transcended thought, time, space and whatever what was once deemed regular. He didn't have to have yet another platform to inform the public of that status. The Byrds gave him such and cemented their own place in rock. By giving these songs, and their own, a jangly backdrop and an access unfathomable The Byrds gave rock and roll both a glimpse into its future and a mirror of its then-present. They had no way of knowing of the road they'd pave with this folk-rock masterclass but, once they did, they'd mutate in ways many wouldn't expect, just like Bob would. And it all starts here. Favorites: Mr. Tambourine Man, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Spanish Harlem Incident, You Won't Have to Cry, The Bells of Rhymney, All I Really Want to Do, Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe, Chimes of Freedom.
This is my first The Byrds album and, even aware of them, I know I need to do a deep dive on their discography. What a thoroughly amazing album, I had the best breakfast ever. I think the only let down is that most are cover of Dylan songs, but I just love how theyhave their unique sound, and their covers just look like their own songs. I will give it a 4, although I keep my criticism that cover albuns should not belong to this list.
Groovy hippy vibes for a rainy day
one of the more prominent folk acts of the classic rock era. excellent harmonies and a handful of bob dylan covers, this one is pretty good.
yes: 1,2,5,7,8,9,11, no: 3,4,6,10,12,13 The bad songs were maudlin. The good songs were just great pop songs/covers. They really did credit to Dylan songs or maybe the Dylan songs were just great. An uneven album that has no direction....
Excellent 60s blues pop sound, expertly delivered but I can’t say it stands out enough for me to return to it
3/5 Average
I feel the same way about this one as the last Byrds album I listened to. It's fine. It's very jingle-jangly guitar with dudes singing in harmony. It's all very blandly 60's sounding. Whatever.
The title song is iconic and has a truly 60s vibe to it. However, many of the rest of the album has that similar sound with the tambourine-playin' man having plenty of studio time which can get a little repetitive.
Nothing super special, but pretty easy to listen to!
Wow is the mutual influence of the beatles and byrds strongly apparent in this album. For me, the byrds lack some of the soul that I find in beatles music.
It's just... 60s pop (where's the rock? I can't hear it). It's fine. It's pleasant. I suppose it was influential. It doesn't particularly excite me - all the songs blend together and I won't be rushing to listen to any of them again.
Do you know that meme? "Mom, can we have Bob Dylan?" "No, we have Bob Dylan at home." Well, this album is exactly that!
This was nice and all but it's so American and feels a bit sterile somehow? Buffalo Springfield are better.
This didn't do it for me. Tambourine man is a great cover, the guitar riff is brilliant. But all the others just felt ploddy. None of them seemed to have any interesting instrumentation and any that had a riff, they just stopped playing it as soon as the vocals came in. I like folk rock, I like Dylan (who wrote most of the songs), I like British invasion music that according to the wiki the byrds where acclaimed to be alongside at the time. But I couldn't get into this.
Starts strong, gets less so
Part of this list seems to be learning that the Beatles were actually very ahead of their room me by virtue of listening to the dross they were competing with. Don't know how an album of twee Dylan covers represents the first American album to compete with the British invasion but it must have made the British band's sound even better. Sounds dated even for the sixties. It isn't unlistenable but very dull, 1.5.
Verrrry dull. Enjoyed Mr. Tambourine Man, can't go wrong. But it is a Dylan cover. Not really sure of the point of this on the list. A bit of a waste of time.
Oh my favorite band again...... I find it really weird that over half of the songs on this are covers, or not written by them. Naming the album the title of someone else's song is strange to me . The sound is ok, but they are trying to be the Beatles or Dylan. Of the original tracks, "I'll feel a whole lot better" is the best 2
The signature sound for that era in American pop music. I respect it but don’t love it, although “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is a top-notch F-off song!
A must listen for its inception of folk rock and (more importantly?) the Wrecking Crew; however, it’s very flat after the first two songs, and the final track is a dud. I understand why teens glommed onto this sound, but the band could have used more practicing/gelling before releasing this. “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” is the best track.
Pretty meh, overall.
In the jingle-jangle morning, I'll be headed the other way. While the first couple of tracks might be the best expression of The Byrds' thing (chiming guitars, vocal harmonies, and lyrics chock full of 1960s preoccupations), before long it feels less like magic and more like a formula that set in a direction I'm not interested in.
Fifth Dimension (3/5) Younger Than Yesterday (3/5) The Notorious Byrd Brothers (3/5) Sweetheart of the Rodeo (3/5) ************************************** Their first and most Beatles-sounding album, and that's probably why I liked it more than the others. The title track is a classic, and the best one here. Not much else to say about it.
I don't know what it was about harmonizing in the 60s - The Grateful Dead, The Band, and at times The Byrds harmonizing just sounds like screeching cats to my ears. Maybe I'm not the right amount of drugs to get it. Thankfully, The Byrds keep the screech-harmonies to a minimum here. They still pop up once in a while, but for the most part the vocals are good. As for the music, the four(!) Dylan covers are all great, and the Gene Clark penned tunes are mostly great. Never did like anyone's version of "Bells of Rhymney", the lyrics are so repetitive. The album, from what I understand, was a huge step forward for American music, post British invasion. Got to respect that, but listening to it today, while it is quite good, it's not without its faults. I'll give it a 3.
Eh ... didn't love it didn't hate it!
60s folk rock has never been my thing. Don't think it ever will be.
I was looking forward to listening to this, especially with the one-two opening punch of "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better." But I didn't anticipate that the rest of the album would be slight variations on the same sound, and that sameness made things drag after a while. Well, "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better" is still great at least.
So incredibly 60s bore.
Pretty inoffensive - nothing that really stood out or blew me away, but also nothing that I didn't like.
Listen guys. There are some good songs here. But like four Dylan covers might be pushing it. And the original Mr Tambourine Man is way better. Favorites were I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better, All I Really Want To Do, Chimes Of Freedom, and We’ll Meet Again.
7/10
Another band I feel like I know well, even though I really only know the hits. Sitting with the full record puts them in clearer focus — and yep, it’s folk and mostly Dylan covers everywhere. But The Byrds made them shimmer. Roger McGuinn’s jangly 12-string Rickenbacker is legendary — bright, chirpy, and now synonymous with this thing called folk rock that The Byrds helped popularise. There’s a sweetness to the sound, but a quiet confidence underneath. These weren’t just Dylan acolytes in matching jackets — they were the first truly effective American band to challenge the British Invasion on the charts. The Beatles might’ve kicked the door down, but The Byrds walked through with shades on. And the influence? Actually insane. You can trace a straight line from here to everyone like The Turtles, Simon & Garfunkel, the Smiths, The Stone Roses, Big Star, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Wilco… even early Jayhawks. The ripple effect is everywhere. Verdict: Very very excellent (not *quite* essential — I’ve lived most of my life without hearing it) For fans of: Dylan covers, The Beatles, Big Star, harmonies on highways and post-acid clarity
Jangle rock!
:( As much as I would like to, I just can’t give this album 5 stars. It had so much potential, with all the Dylan covers and the 12 string guitar and the harmonies, but… it just doesn’t quite get there for me. The album is dragged down by how badly they butchered the title track. They had probably my favorite song ever, and they: - Removed the best verses (probably due to studio constraints) - Didn’t even play on the track themselves (also due to studio constraints) - And abandoned every musical aspect that made the song good in the first place Ah, well. Still liked it. Can’t go too wrong with Dylan, Gene Clark, and David Crosby contributing to one work of art. Favorite Track: I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better
Great Sound, very Beatles, lots of fun
All songs sound alike. Way too similar. Nice melodies and harmonies but nothing special to make it into a top anything list. Its fun and easy to listen but thats it
everything about this struck me as British 60's rock but its just got that sound, its like the lead singer just had a good cry or something. I couldnt get into it, even Mr Tambourine Man, which is supposed to be their big song is just nonsensical whimsy.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood but I thought this album fucking sucked. “Hey Mr Tamborine Man” is awful and the rest of the album was boring nothing. I spent the entire album waiting for something interesting to happen and absolutely nothing did. Give me William Shatner any day
Very forgettable
Sans plus mais sympa
Grew up with a boomer dad, this was on heavy rotation. 4/5
Country.
Very pleasant, a bit same-ish, not sure how extraordinary it is.
Snelle inhaal review #11: The Beatles, The Kinks, The Who, The Animals, The Zombies etc. klonken inderdaad allemaal identiek op hun debuutalbum, The Byrds waren echter Amerikaanse copycats en waren dus zeker influenced door die bands, niet andersom. Verder niet zo boeiend album.
Het begint al goed met vrolijke deuntjes! Een aantal snoozefest nummers op het album, maar ook zeker een handjevol leuke nummers. Sommige nummers zijn wel echt beatles inspired (of juist andersom), maar is ook uit dezelfde tijdsperiode.
The album was largely forgettable. Pretty much exactly what one would expect from late '60's pop-rock. Not bad really, but not an album that is transformative or really even that distinguishable from others of its time.
2.5⭐️/5 [07.26.2025] 01.12.2026
Great sound, but a bit samey throughout.
Better than the first byrds album but not saying much. Very hippy beat
Chill old-school pop
Its nice
Appreciate the talent but not my style of music.
It’s a decent, dreamy, 60’s album. The unique sound of The Byrds with their dual voices of which one is falsetto was born. 3/5
eeh
It was decent. The only standout track for me was "It's No Use". Favourite Track(s): It's No Use Least Favourite Track(s): All I Really Want To Do
This was a pretty alright album, nothing super exciting, but it was nice having it in the background while I was doing stuff. A bit old sounding, but given that it came out in 1965, before all the more exciting music, this sounds pretty good actually.
3.5 stars, really. Unoffensive, some good harmonies, but not something I go out of my way to listen to.
Love. Nice and chill.
...
El álbum debut de la banda de rock The Byrds está repleto de cartas de amor y desamor sobre unas clásicas bases instrumentales del rock de los 60. Entre esta colección de poemas de amor, encontramos también letras que hablan de escapismo, de crítica social, de paz, de amistad y de optimismo. La colaboración de Bob Dylan en este álbum aporta algunos de los temas más interesantes del álbum, destacando el escapismo y la búsqueda de una nueva realidad en la pista que da título al álbum, una de las más exitosas de la banda, o el grito por la paz y la justicia en el mundo que aparece en “Chimes of Freedom”. Sin duda el mensaje más potente de todo el disco. El resto de canciones abordan el amor y el desamor desde distintos puntos de vista: el amor a primera vista en “I Knew I’d Want You”, el dolor, la tristeza y el sentimiento de soledad tras una ruptura en “Here Without You” e “It’s No Use”. La toxicidad de una relación que no va del todo bien en “I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better” o, por el contrario, una relación sana, casi una amistad en “All I Really Want to Do” —compuesta por Dylan—. Musicalmente, engloba el sonido del rock de la década de los 60, guitarras eléctricas y baterías, acompañadas de las potentes voces de Gene Clark y David Crosby, y la guitarra de 12 cuerdas de Roger McGuinn que se convirtió en la seña de identidad de la banda. “Mr. Tambourine Man” es un álbum perfecto para descubrir los sonidos del rock y el folk rock de los 60.
Very nice
Breezy 60s fun.
Jangle pop, I found it middle of the road.
I don't think of The Byrds as a band I love, but they are uniquely able to put me in another state of consciousness, wch is not nothing.
Essential only as the precursor to much better music
decent, the songs are kinda generic I feel like I've heard them all before. nothing incredible or terribly offensive, just a pretty okay pop/rock album.
A pleasant, chill listen. Always love their sound.
Enjoyed this one.
All of the songs on this album are fine, but overall the album just kind of... runs together into one long semi-same-ish amalgam of a similar tune.
It's nice but I could not really decide whether to give 3 or 4. It is too good for a 3 but not really a 4. But for the song "Mr. Tambourine Man" it will be a 4.
This album starts off strong for me and then just becomes mid. I do enjoy the album and it can join my rotation of pleasant albums to have on in the background.
Very pretty sounding and a great example of the psychedelic 60s sound. That said, a lot of the songs ran together and there was not enough variety in the sound. While that makes for a cohesive sound, it does also make it a bit bland. Mr. Tambourine Man slaps, and I really enjoyed their take on We’ll Meet Again. 3
they key to so much jangle pop
Some pretty run of the mill psychedelic rock.
I know it’s an important album but I found it pretty boring
Kinda fresh for a 1960s album ngl. Easy to listen to and not-the-exact-same-sound of every other 60s rock band in existence.
Highlight: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better. In a nutshell: the American band that challenged the Brits. A checklist for inventing a new genre in the 60’s: ✅ adapt the British Invasion sound (think early Beatles or Gerry and the Pacemakers without the orchestra) ✅ The Wrecking Crew ✅ Dylan covers ✅ harmonies ✅ jangly guitar Result? Folk rock. The genre popularised by The Byrds. A little formulaic at times, but still good. Overall: 6/10
Me ha gustado más por recordarme a los músicos que se inspiran en ellos que por ellos mismos. Me refiero a que me han recordado a Johnny Marr o a Billy Bragg. Me he guardado en favoritos: Mr. Tambourine man, I'll feel a whole lot better y Don't doubt yourself, babe.
Bob Dylan predecessor sort of
A striking debut and very influential on several levels rivaling their European contemporaries. I find this album pleasing. The only thing maybe holding me back from giving an even higher rating would be a few songs that don't hold up as well as others.
I ended up liking this way more than I was expecting. Ended up listening to it twice and listening to another The Byrds album.
Nowhere near their best, but there’s some days where I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better is the greatest song ever written. I feel like REM doesn't exist without this
Had a fun little Sunday jamming out to the Byrd persons.
Supremely listenable. So much tambourine. These guys got a real future I think
This band has way too many records on this list, but this is one of the ones that absolutely deserves the space. Totally influential with great songs and songwriting.
plain
Loved the first two tracks. The Mr Tambourine Man cover is a great cover even though it’s dumbed down and sweetend. The opening guitar part alone feels like it inspired a thousand jangle rock bands. But for me jangle rock is best in small doses, before it gets too bland, which is exactly what happens here. Too many banal early Beatles sounding love songs with incredibly boring lyrics.
Decent little 60s pop record following The Beatles by about a year. Spangly guitar and good harmonies are very much this records signature.
Me gusta el sonido Beatles, Love, Lemon twigs
Currently on holiday so I haven’t listened as detailed as I’d like to. But it’s all jangly 60’s guitar music, nothing too special.
Sånn passe
75/100.
These are just Bob Dylan songs that I can’t shake ass to.
Don’t know why I haven’t got this album as it’s an absolute classic. Listen to it regularly via streaming site but must get round to buying it. Was only young when it was released and apart from the title track which I adored the other tracks on the album did not instantly grab me but with age I have grown to like the album as a whole. As regards Mr Tambourine Man, one of my earliest musical memories and something I will never forget is seeing Roger McGuinn on Top of the Pops singing that song. He had those trade mark square shaped sunglasses on perched at the end of his nose and looking as cool as fuck. What a look that was and was something I tried to emulate but thwarted by the scarcity of similar sunglasses and in any case the money to buy. 5/5 20/6/25
Some alright songs, but gets a bit dull
Dylan did it all better
Ægte 60'er nostalgi, starter med Mr. Tamborine Man. Hyggeligt. Bliver lidt kedelig i længden.
It's exactly what you expect from the Byrds in 1965. It's fine and an easy listen. It's not hard to see their influence on other artists, especially into the following decade. Other than that, there's nothing spectacular or earthshattering here (or ear-shattering, either).
You'll know the title track and All I Really Want To Do the most, but they're well supported here. Nice album.
A fun listen.
Ikke veldig interessant, høres akkurat ut som forventa, på en måte som sikkert va gøy da det va nytt, men nu bare e en i rekka.
Jingle, check. Jangle, check. Excessive jingle jangle, check. Dylan/Byrds/Beatles, who influenced who? Round and round it goes. Where it stops, no one kno..........1973.
Whilst im sure this was on the cutting edge at the time, i think it sounds very twee and thin now.
7/10 me ha gustado mucho. me dan la vibra de los beatles. Para un día de verano con solecito y playa es genial
A great debut album, now 60 years old. A band finding their stride. Great stuff
Really liked "I'll feel a whole lot better" the rest was just ok
Great band!!
an extremely short record of about half covers and also some originals that seem nice but are difficult to make a full impression of when their mental competition is bob dylan...that all simply has to be draped in one of the coolest Sounds any 60s band ever had, jim mcguinn's 12 string guitar and the central angelic vocal harmonies create that perfect alchemy between worldly and otherworldly. aside from the one gene clark solo record and one csn record ive heard, i havently rly clicked entirely w/ the actual songwriting on any byrds or byrds adjacent projects, but not only do the dylan tunes help bridge the gap for me here, its just clearly a record thats hard to imagine not sounding Good...anytime, anywhere, equal parts capable of provoking a strong emotional response as it is just letting u relax and drift
Idk man. Original songs arent that original. Cover songs dont blow me away
Pretty boring.
Tambourine Man- Review: I’ll preface this review by saying I’m not a fan of folk music. I’ll take Ozzy over Roger McGuinn any day. I do love Crosby though. So, this album has some good tracks, but the overall sound is too similar from song to song. The tempo and harmony is pleasing to me, but in a background music sort of way. That seems a bit harsh, but it just felt sleepy. I’m torn between a 2 & 3. The musicianship is worth at least a 3, but my personal taste is saying 2.
Pretty good classic rock album
This one didn't impress me all that much. I get it, the Byrds are supposed to be an American response to the Beatles. And they had a major impact on popular rock music at the time. But listening today, most of the songs are just kinda meh/bland. On top of that, most of the tracks are covers or reworkings of other songs. Which I guess was a big part of the point, to create something different by combining two styles and genres into one. If anything, this album was consistent. Pretty much all the songs sound alike given a lack of diversity in instrumentation and the heavy use of group vocals. I found It's No Use to be a good change, but even that wasn't that much different than the rest. It was honestly a little annoying to hear the same musical aspects on every track. The album was probably weaker as a whole as a result. Honestly, nothing here was actively bad. It just wasn't that good or interesting sounding to me. It's hard for me to appreciate it now, 60 years later, since it's so far removed from its context. Perhaps it was much fresher feeling to listeners then. Instead, it just seemed rather mediocre. Overall: 2.5/5
I've come to appreciate the Byrds and David Crosby over the course of this challenge, but apart from the first 2 songs, this doesn't do much for me. Granted, I was already quite familiar with both of those, but still. I recognized the importance of this one, but still think the Byrds' legacy is over represented in this book.
This is the second Byrds album I've gotten through this project. I liked this one better than the first, but will not revisit it. Standout track: Mr. Tambourine Man
Heard some songs from The Byrds before. Bob Dylan covers album 2/5
great
A band that wants to be The Beatles, but isn't quite there. This is certainly the hippy-era rock music with that stereotypical sound. All that aside to say that this record is a really nice listen. It's easy melodies and harmonies, and the vocals are very soothing. A pleasant experience, but nothing significantly impactful.
I've said it before but it often applies. If it's the 60s and the Beatles and Beach Boys are making music... why bother if this it the best you can do?
Strong start! Each song sounds quite similar to eachother yet at the same time sticks out on its own. Reminds me of the Beatles, but still has their own sound. Nearly all love songs. Being Bob Dylan covers takes away from it compared to if it was all originals. Strong 3/5 Song added to playlist: Mr Tambourine Man
I wasn't initially aware of how many of these songs were covers. Everything sounds fine enough; folksy, jangly renditions of some Bob Dylan songs among a few other folk songs from the time. Everything just sounded the same, however. The same jangly guitar, same underlying beat, etc.
Too much jingle. Not enough jangle
Everything sounded like it was Turn Turn Turn. A decent enough album. Its place in history well noted. I'll never listen to it again
Beatlesque
Great 60s music
Pretty solid stuff.
This meets my criteria for 3 stars exactly. Its an album that is important in the history of music, specifically the development of folk-rock and the popularity in the early/mid 60s, but one that I personally find lacking. Its made up of a lot of covers, and I typically prefer the originals.
It's not the beatles
I enjoyed this album listen from The Byrds! They have a great sound and their voices blend well together. My issue is that most of their songs aren’t unique enough so they sort of blend into eachother. You can definitely hear other musical influences within these songs such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills, and Nash etc. Overall, this is a strong debut album that I would listen to again and recommend to others!
Very 60's
Solid debut that unashamedly covers a lot of Dylan, but Gene Clark’s originals are pretty good. Kind of a Dylan meets the Beatles sound.
3 von 5 Netter Folkrock, der nicht weh tut… Kann man bestimmt mehrmals hören und wird dann vielleicht sogar besser. Beim ersten Mal bleibt außer dem Dylan Cover wenig hängen.
Not bad, just not quite my thing.
Pretty innovative sound for the time, fun listen
Fun album! Some classic songs here, including a few that have been covered by others. Much better than Bob Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man,
Talde hontako gehien gustatzen zaidan diska!
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
Better than Coldplay.
p80. 1965. 4 stars. The template for folk rock in 31 near-perfect minutes. Still sounds fresh today. Point deducted for the suspect cover of "We'll Meet Again".
It's fine. But done better many times before and since.
Great!
It sounds like the Monkeys, or the Beach Boys. It’s awful.
I do love an album with short songs. I knew a couple but the rest just blurred together. I certainly didn't dislike it and would listen to it again, but it is a pretty chill psych folk album
Wonderful
Great songs, embedded ina specific time and movement. Inspirational.
Sonically i am a fan, but this is very Dylan cover band. not a ton of originality here
Expected to dislike this , and my initial reaction was “wtf is this”, but some solid grooves, licks, and sad songs. THREE
It's been interesting listening to these older albums. In general even if I don't really care for it I appreciate the reason to listen to them. Sometimes I actively hate them, but most of the time I'm left with a "wasn't for me but I'm glad I listened to it at least once" feeling. Definitely the case today. classic 2.5 rounded up.
Outside of the title track I wasn’t familiar with any of these songs. It’s fine, 60s pop rock, not something I’d circle back to, but nothing that would cause me to leave the room if someone played it. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars, I guess.
I like the concept of the Byrds way more than the actual execution of this album. Shimmery, jangly guitars, vocal harmonies sure. But these songs aren’t memorable at all. Dylan did Mr Tambourine Man better and Tom Petty’s cover of Feel a Whole Lot Better is far more memorable. Won’t be back to this album, nothing here to get excited about.
I just don’t like this decade and style of music. Just not for me.
I expected to like this more. This overall felt slight and I’m not really taken with their voices. There’s no tension or urgency anywhere. The production and mix aren’t doing them any favors–the harmonies, one of The Byrds selling points, often sound muddy. The opening cover is nice enough.
Decent enough 60’s album
Excellent. The root source of jangled guitar Indy. Less strong when attempting to sound like the Beatles, peerless when sounding like the byrds.
Fav: I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better Least Fav: We’ll Meet Again
The sound all kind of blends together a bit. But it's a good sound
The guitar and drums stood out as impressive and innovative for the 1960s. The album maintained a solid pace throughout and never felt drawn out. While the vocals lacked strength, they didn’t detract from the overall experience.
Although the hystorical value and the referencing importance of the 60's psychedelic and folksy music in many years to come, only a few bands have been able to stand the test of time and able to not sound absolutely dated. This album is a testimony of an era, and it is a very good one in that matter. But at the same time it is outdated and outclassed.
Interesting addition to the beginning of folk rock. Classic 60’s sound. Pretty alright overall, though I don’t see myself revisiting them.
meh
Classic mid-60's jangly rock. Pretty fun but didn't blow me away at all
The Wikipedia blurb here got my hopes up (noting that The Byrds inspired the term "folk rock"), but I didn't end up loving this album. It's definitely a "thank you for your service" album as I appreciate them laying the groundwork for later folk acts, but I didn't love the dated sound here. 2.7
Enjoyed listening to this album.
Absolutey beautiful album.
Eh. Pretty monotonous, but overall fine. I liked the guitar though it basically sounds the same on nearly every song. Album ended strong with “We’ll Meet Again” and “Shes Got a Way”. Generally I don’t really like big harmonies when it comes to the number of people involved. Fine album but won’t seek out to listen to again.
Good laid back rock music. A lot of songs just made me think of turn! Turn! Turn! Though, which isn't on this album. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing that nearly every song made me think of one specific different one
Another classic album.
Bueno
Jangly pop in the vain of early Beatles, but with some distinctly American elements, such as surf rock flourishes. It’s quite good, especially the first half, and at some points sounds about 20 years ahead of its time. This is also further proof that Bob Dylan songs are best performed by people who aren’t Bob Dylan.
Jingly-jangly goodness
Jangle jangle
10
Excellent group. But not that varied from album to album. One of their albums is more than enough to cover their skills and style.
This is an inbeteeen album. It follows Dylan’s art and preceded CSN beauty. This music become annoying after a couple of songs.
4.5
This album sucked.
Kinda fun, retro sound and liked it a surprising amount…maybe because the jangle DNA is infused in REM and various alt country.
Psychedelic Folk Rock copying their style from the beatles, copying their lyrics from Bob Dylan.