Reviews (page 7 of 8)
A couple of highlights from their career and some rather pedestrian numbers as the band tried to find their sound and hone their craft.
You can really tell this is a debut album as they definitely don't sound as sharp as I'd like. Throw in the fact that they are just changing the sound of Dylan's work, I feel like they don't deserve the credit for even the title track. I like The Byrds and it wasn't terrible but just sounded like a much inferior Beatles album
I'm glad I didn't live in an era where this was good or groundbreaking music. Pretty boring album that I have no desire to listen to again.
This album is pleasant enough. Nothing about it really blows me out of the water but it doesn’t change that it’s a pleasant sound.
Some nice short little songs on here. I like the 60s sound but I really an album that doesn’t outstay it’s welcome
Attempt to copy British music of 60s. Hey, Mr.Tambourine Man, do I need to simplify you, classify you, deny, defy or crucify? Better scorify you with 3,5 becausy this music melodify and relaxify me.
Great album, most tracks are good
Hang on, the Byrds used to be good? What the hell happened?
Holds up
And so begins my descent into Byrds hell. Do you know how many albums are either theirs or feature someone from them? 12. At least, because I didn’t even check, but I know there’s 5 albums from them, 2 Gene Clark solo albums, 2 CSN/CSNY albums, 1 David Crosby solo album, 1 Gram Parsons solo album, and one Flying Burrito Brothers album. Why? They do not matter THAT much. Anyway Mr. Tambourine Man is pretty good. It’s good, jangly folk rock, and the title track is a classic. Good album, but it’s kind of hard to look past the looming shadow of the other Byrds albums.
I don’t find many songs distinct, all pretty similar in sound but not bad. Frequently jangly with harmonized vocals.
The title track is good but the rest is fairly uninteresting
Glorious Californian sunshine folk rock debut! Beautiful crafted songs with loads of great vocal harmonies. Half original, half covers with some of them being real knockouts. 8,5 out of 10
The found their sound and it certainly is unique to them. I wish the album had more range and originality to it. The covers are justified takes on the originals. There’s nothing really wrong here. Kinda bland, but not really. I can tell why they didn’t stick around long. 3/5
A definitive 60's music moment was the arrival of these jingly-jangly 12-string-guitar-sportin' mofos. SUCH a gorgeous sound. And those harmonies. Sublime.
Nothing super memorable for me... I Knew I'd Want You was a happy lil diddy though
A delicious smoothie made of a choice blend of The Beatles and Bobby D
Some really pleasant folk, nothing too flashy or shiny though.
Much better than the 1968 Country Album that was very hard to listen to. This sounds more like other bands that came out of the 60s like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and The Cyrkle. I suppose if I received this album first I wouldn't have hated on them so much LOL -- and I can see how they began to experiment with their music by '68. Seems like the whole seen was experimenting by 68. Enjoyed this.
Classic Byrds. Enjoyable but not a go-to album I don’t think.
This is my second Byrds album reviewed on this generator. This is their debut album, and should be more folk rock than psychadelica (which they had started experimenting with on the other album I reviewed by them (The Notorious Byrd Brothers)). The first thing that catches your attention when listening to this record is Roger McGuinn's 12 string Rickenbacker guitar. It has such a jangly, rich sound to it. That coupled with the beautiful harmonies attained by the band makes for some beautiful, soft, easy listening music. Bob Dylan wrote 4 of the 12 songs on the album. The rest were originals, mainly written by Gene Clark. The bands sound was like that of the Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, or Buffalo Springfield (that early 60's hippie rock vibe). The term "folk rock" was first used to describe the Byrds, and the handle kind of stuck. Overall, a great record today, and one that I will absolutely visit again. Favourite songs: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Spanish Harlem Incident, You Won't Have to Cry, Mr. Tambourine Man, "Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe", Chimes of Freedom Least favourite songs: The Bells of Rhymney 4/5
pajaros
A band which was let down by its production. In a sense highly important. In another sense less than the sum of its parts. More an artefact than a great listen.
Ok, and lets try some spacey folk rock. How different the 60s were. the slower pace, the tinny instruments, cheery tone - I know its not beach boys but it does remind me of their carefree stuff. Apparently an important album for US to have somethign so Byrds could Beeetle and Stones. Its innoffensive eneough but to my modern ear today a bit slow...
Good scheduling by the Dimery Tracey Island Command Post with this coming on the slightly cooled heels of our consideration of A Hard Day's Night. The jingle jangle sound of Jim McGuinn's Rickenbacker 12 string being influenced by his viewing of the film and young Georgie Harrison's guitar work, from the famous opening chord onwards. A lot of myths and shibboleths about The Byrds and the Wrecking Crew, most of the band did play on the early records, bar a few exceptions. The Dylan covers are well known and understood for the sound, if you've missed them somehow in the last millennium then they are a key feature of why this is a good album. David Crosby. Never liked him as a musician or a hippy. Massively overrated and a bad influence on the evolution of this band, as he got in the way of Gene Clark becoming the fully fledged artist his talent deserved. Gene should have been singing lead on all the tunes, and his songwriting is the real strength of this record, with I Feel a Whole Lot/Here Without You and I Knew I'd Want you being the standout tracks. A lot of this is a bit naff, but what is good is really good and worth a listen.
Sounds just like the Byrds! I think if I'd had this album when I was a kid / early teen, i.e. when I was listening to the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, I might have gotten into it...but even then I'm not sure. As it is - sounds nice, nothing to come back for.
I didn’t hear this album till the very late 60’s. For me, The Byrds were a singles outfit in that decade. And I hadn’t heard Dylan’s original version of Mr Tambourine Man when The Byrds released their version. The sound of McGuinn’s 12-string was totally new to my ears. They do well with the other 3 Dylan covers, but the highlight of the album is Gene Clark’s I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better, one of five songs on the album that he either wrote or co-wrote with McGuinn. Clark was a great songwriter. The band’s harmonies really shine on the Pete Seeger classic, The Bells Of Rhymney. But why they bothered to record a version of Vera Lynn’s WWII anthem, We’ll Meet Again is still a mystery.
So there are five (five!) Byrds albums on the 1001 albums list. Which seems, to me, too many. I would accept the argument for the inclusion of Sweethearts of the Rodeo and this album, though. The concepts make perfect sense: contemporary folk songs played in the style of the Beatles. And they invent the whole template of jangle-pop. Massively influential over the years, this is still a really enjoyable album. Great playing (McGuinn really took to that electric 12-string), great singing, including wonderful harmony singing, and some top notch songwriting (four Dylan numbers, and some terrific Gene Clark originals, notably I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better). And it packs a punch, at only 32 minutes. The closing cover of We'll Meet Again is a mis-step, but otherwise a classic album.
Ett argument emot att "Dylans låtar skulle vara bra bara nån annan sjöng dem". Några av deras egna är lite catchy dock
Everything sounds like ticket to ride by the beatles
Huoh.. Ei viihdyttänyt.. Puolen tunnin afrikkalais tampuriini heilutus toisaalta heh.. Alkumalaalais-asuja nimittäin.. Heh.. Heh...
This was an interesting album, I really liked the tracks Mr Tambourine Man and I Knew I’d Want You. But otherwise I felt it was quite same-y
It's not the Byrds' fault that I wore myself out on this sound by listening to Rubber Soul so many dozens of times in my life (yes I know RS came out later, but it entered my life first). That being said, Rubber Soul is full of variety that keeps me engaged and I just couldn't get past how one-note this album sounded to me. It's bookended by what I believe are the two most moving tunes though the former obviously suffers somewhat from being overplayed. On the one hand the writing and arrangements are possibly worthy of as many as four stars, but it all hit my ears with two-star excitement. Three it is.
Not available on spotify
Fun, jangly, mid-60s rock with strong vocal harmonies.
Stark trea
I am old.
yasss DJ let’s hit repeat over and over 💯🗣️
Ok
ait
Just some basic jangly 60's pop rock. Really not too much to remember from it. Semi catchy songs with very simple concepts. 4/10
Bad covers
A pleasant surprise indeed! This was excellent chilled out rock n roll! Will defo come back to this one, a massive improvement from their previous album on this list! It’s not quite excellent, but very good. Wish there was a half star you could add as this would be three and a half. I’ll give it three though, not quite good enough for a big fat four!
Ne me semblent pas savoir grand-chose à envier aux jeunes Beatles. Belles harmonies, mélodies réussies, inventivité
Pleasant enough, but I've come to the conclusion that 90% of this type of 60s stuff is no more than pleasant really.
I felt like each song has the same feeling or opening sound as "Mr. Tambourine Man", the guitar sound sounds the same, the vocals are similar. There was not a lot of variation from one song to the next. But the title track was indeed the superior song of the bunch. Listening to a whole album of it? Not so much.
I don't know why I need to listen so hard to every album by The Byrds to decide what rating to give it. I guess it's because it's always at least a 3 - they're good - but I can never tell if they're THAT good that they should get a higher score. Mr. Tambourine Man is a great song and one of their classics (even if it was Dylan's). So the album starts off great. And to be honest, on multiple listens, I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better and It's No Use are great too (both Gene Clark originals). I still think their strongest songs are Dylan songs (All I Really Want to Do, Chimes of Freedom) but they do a lot to make them and the rest their own. Their harmonies are great and that's the one big appeal on every album. I think Jim McGuinn's guitar plays really well on most of the songs, which really gives it a distinctive sound, and a rich sound when you add in David Crosby's and Clark's guitars. So, take the fact that this is a solid album from start to finish (side one better than side two) and the fact that this was more or less the beginning of folk rock, and that's how I get to a higher rating than other albums of theirs.
Jangly, beatlesque, sweet harmonies. Pleasant and short (half an hour), but can't help thinking that music had changed with Rubber Soul and Revolver. Thankfully not as "country" as later albums.
A nice mix between Dylan and the Beatles without going too far in either direction. love the guitar work on here. best tracks: mr tambourine man, we’ll meet again, the bells of rhymeney
Good artists borrow, great artists steal — influential artists mutate? Returning a volley in the Great Transatlantic Rock Exchange, McGuinn and company marry the oversaturated Village folk sound with the Kink-y Beatlemania invading the nation. It’s sublime at times and sounds a little thin in hindsight, but without this would we have had alternative? REM? Indie rock? You gotta start somewhere.
Nice and bright, uplifting rock
After listening to 3rd album by The Byrds, for me they are basically The Beatles but not.
60s muzak
Better than Dylan versions...
This album starts with one of the most iconic riffs ever and introduced me to the Rickenbacker 12 string guitar. Roger McGuinn was my first ‘favorite guitarist’. With this album The Byrds helped me understand and appreciate Bob Dylan Their harmonies are great, and the guitar work throughout is so good.
The 60s are alive and well in this album
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is the debut album by American rock band The Byrds. This album was influential in popularizing the folk rock subgenre and characterized by the jingly sound of Jim McGuinn's (later Roger)12-string Rickenbacker guitar and complex harmony vocals. The album contains mostly covers of folk songs ( Four by Bob Dylan alone) and originals written by McGuinn and rhythm guitarist and vocalist Gene Clark. Other band members included David Crosby (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), Chris Hillman (bass) and Michael Clarke (drums). It was recognized as the first effective Ameican challenge to The Beatles and British 60's Invasion and was an international success reaching #6 on the US Billboard LP chart and #7 in the UK. The classic guitar, bass and harmonizing open the Bob Dylan cover "Mr Tambourine Man." It was the first song recorded for the album and producer Terry Melcher did not think the band as a whole was ready to record so he had the famous LA session band The Wrecking Crew back McGuinn on his 12-string. It was the only song on the album where that happened. It reached #1 in both the US and UK. Gene Clark wrote and sung "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better." Layers of guitars. A pounding tambourine. Criss-cross singing. Tom Petty covered. A tremendous deeper song is the Gene Clark written "Here Without You." A little darker. A mid-tempo ballad. More great harmonizing and the Rickenbacken guitar. A Bittersweet trip through the city reminding him of a former lover. "I Knew I'd Want You" contains a little less of the jingly guitar. It's slightly dark again. The first flush of romance. Another Clark song...sense a trend? Both McGuinn and Clark wrote "It's No Use." A more straight-forward rock beat. Pyschedelic guitar foreshadowing where The Byrds would go next. Jefferson Airplane were in the room. The album ends with a cover of 1939's WWII era "We'll Meet Again." Slower. Jingly guitars are back. It is an interesting start of trend for The Byrds where they would end their albums with an unusual song. The sound on this album is distinctive with the jingly guitar and harmonizing. Obviously influential in many future artists. I will say that the jingly guitar can get repetitive. The original songs written by Clark are outstanding and the highlight of the album for me. Gene Clark would leave the band before the next album was released. Fortunately, he went on to record some outstanding music and I will be seeing some of his solo albums and more Byrds upcoming.
Meh...
Another good Byrds album. Not much new to say; it's another example of folk-rock done right, in my ears at least.
Better than expected. I like that the songs are short and sweet. Actually enjoyed this pretty well. 3.75/5
I’ve always been told that The Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” is a landmark performance, but honestly? I never totally got it, it sounds like The Monkees. And I mean, I like the Monkees, but what makes this a bigger deal than Dylan’s original besides actually charting? The rest of the album ranges from decent to pretty solid, I’m not immune to 60’s pop folk, but it’s also seldom my first choice either. C
Yes, their voices match perfectly and that makes music beautiful. But the music itself it not my style and songs do look alike don't they... Prefer e.g. CSNY's Deja Vu in this type of music,.
los Beatles muy top, pero que coraje que solo se escuche como en un auricular de verdad me partía el cráneo que estrés de albúm
me lo esperaba mucho peor, pero ha sido una grata sorpresa. rock estilo 60´s esta guapo, me recuerda a los Beatles un poco.
Oooh some good 60s oldies. I can dig it! There's something very special with these older pioneers of rock. This album was incredible!! Absolutely loved it.. I love music that can transport me back in time, and this record definitely did that for me. This had the unmistakable sound of the 60s, every track on this record was excellent!
Thought it was good. They did a good job on the Dylan covers. Like the jangly guitars.
Eh
I can’t. Even though I love folk rock, something about this is just hard to listen to. It’s like the mumble rap version of folk rock hahaha. Whiny voice, no melody. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none
Good album, primarily a lot of Bob Dylan covers. I can see myself returning to a few of these tracks.
Fine but doesn’t move me.
Just my vibe
Every cover sounds the same. The Monkees did it better and even they sucked. Jesus bloody hell this sucks.
Not got the most amount of bangers. But if you like all the songs then it's got to be a 5 right? Mr tamboomrine man 🤦♂️
A wanna be Beatles album that leveraged a Dylan song. Definitely didn't deserve the fame and sales they got 2.5/5
Got nothing on the Mamas and the Papas. And what is that song all about 'opening your gob'
The band John Lennon don’t want you to know about The Beatles hate them! 2.5/5
Okay
Folk agradável, começa bem com o cover e segue mantendo o clima de guitarras campestres.
Repetitive? Probably. Sounds good? Definitely.
3.3 - Baby Boomers make a big deal of this record because it supposedly pioneered the use of the Rickenbocker 12-string guitar that sort of inspired jangle rock bands like R.E.M. They were also exceptionally proficient at rearranging Bob Dylan songs and making them into smash hits. Personally I found it boring.
Boring and samey. Mostly well sung, just not interesting. The version of "We'll Meet Again" is perhaps the oddest single song on a pop album
Definitely see where the harmonies came from for CSN. A nice mixture of Bob Dylan folk and Beach Boys-esque harmonisation, with a couple of sleepers and a very odd cover of “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn. A nice little album, but not much more for a return visit. Standout Songs: “Mr. Tambourine Man” “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better” “The Bells of Rhymney”
Alright album, nothing in this album is extraordinary
Jingle jangle
Good not great. Some good guitar sounds. Perfect 3/5 for me personally
C'est bon, mais ça sonne comme un peu tous les albums rock/folk de ces années là. Pas vraiment de défaut, mais rien qui se démarque.
Decent album overall although the sound was a bit muted and the music was very similar throughout to the point that it was indistinguishable. I would be interested in checking out their other work.
it's so weird how easy the byrds are to listen to when they're folk rock. i don't care for folk rock much! but the byrds have a bubblegum pop twist to their folk rock, and it's so palatable. i thought maybe initially this wasn't much of a groundbreaking album, but that thought was because after this album's release in 1965, the byrds' style became so popular and reused. i know this style, because i've heard it so many times before! regardless of its influence, mr. tambourine man is good. it can come across as simple sometimes, because of how easy it is to listen along. but upon further analysis, the byrds have plenty happening in each song. "mr. tambourine man" is a catchy song to grab you as you begin the album. gene clark, for his first songwriting forays, created charming, pleasant songs, even if one of them happens to be breakup song "i'll feel a whole lot better." this, combined with covering bob dylan's impactful songs to make them a heck of a lot better, makes for a great album, especially a debut. a small easter egg: george harrison used a guitar riff from "the bells of rhymney" into his song "if i needed someone." i cannot imagine the feeling of being a brand new band, and someone like george uses your guitar riff.
This album definitely stands as a "response" to the British Invasion sound of The Beatles and others, as that was the first thing that came to mind upon hearing this album. That said, the jangle-pop aspects, the heavier guitar, and the intricate harmonies all combine to make this album a birthplace of folk rock, and a great listening experience as well. The influence of this album is undeniable. And as someone who is not a fan of Bob Dylan's singing, I feel like the stylizations and vocalizations of his work are better done by The Byrds, personally.
not for me.
Not for me but I can see why some people would like it. Too boring for me.
Nice album!
2/5 impressively bland
Just very bland and unremarkable. Even Bob Dylan songs I like and didn't know these covers existed of become pretty sterile and boring to listen to. The whole album pretty much sounds the same and the cover of We'll Meet Again was tragic
Copied their style from the beatles, copied their lyrics from Bob Dylan (and others). Not as good as either, not even close
Jangle on, baby!
Very good, very like. Great harmonies. Alot of stuff I liked.
Outside of the drum and bass tracks switching channels from song to song, I can hardly tell one track from the next. I got so bored with the album that by 'The Bells of Rhymney' I was yawning, and my eyelids were getting heavy. The only think that prevented me from fading off into sleep, was how annoyingly imbalanced the levels were on the guitar tracks. It was like I was stuck between two street performers that were competing for my donation by trying to drown each other out. Then 'I Knew I'd Want You' started, and I heard the keys and thought things could get interesting. But, my hopes were dashed by about 20s in. From there I started scanning the remaining tracks and I didn't find anything to merit digging in much further. I really don't want to hear this album again.
It's got a lot of covers, but my God, they're good covers. The absolute balls to open with Mr Tambourine Man and then end with We'll Meet Again with jangly, British invasion styles is incredible. The sheer influence of the album can't be denied, especially in my favourite genres, and it's a great time to boot. Definitely a summer album, maybe smoking a joint in a back garden. 04/03/23
A decent debut album by the byrds. A stark contrast to their other country rock album I had earlier. This album is very 60s esque with love songs and some psychedelic sounds. Overall it sounds like a folky version of Beatles songs. He harmonies are very Beatles Esque. I don’t love really any song in this album but it’s okay to listen to. 6.1/10
Really love the vocal harmonies throughout the album very pretty.
Yeah it’s alright.Perfectly fine 60s rock pop.
This album was fine. I liked it okay, but not a standout to me. Pretty average.
Ok album
Fuck the Byrds! Transmitting live from Mars!
My first impression was a great one, but that didn't last unfortunately. The first couple of tracks sound almost exactly the same (just not as good as the title track) whereas the second half peters out quite weakly.
I loved Dylan's Mr Tambourine Man as a kid. Then I heard The Byrds' version and immediately felt they'd taken all the soul out of it. I think that sums up my two main issues with this album: one, an over-reliance on other people's songwriting (especially Bob Dylan) and two, their trademark sound of jangly guitars and vocal harmonies, while ostensibly 'pretty', actually leaves me pretty cold. It's not how I like my folk rock. Enough of the bad points. Gene Clark's songs (especially I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better and It's No Use) are decent 60s pop bops, and this record pioneered a sound that, while not always my cup of tea, was massively influential to other bands, even decades later. Fifth Dimension definitely has more going for it - there's an edge to some of those tracks - so I have to mark this album slightly lower than that one: 2.5 / 3 stars
Solid album. A lot of the changes were easy to see coming, but mainly because they defined the formula along with the Beatles of how a pop rock song progresses
Early rock. Good vocal harmonies, lightly distorted guitar
tee paskempi versio dylanin kirjoittamasta biisistä ja laita se albumin nimeksi + julkaise singlenä....''first american band to challenge charts of british invasion bands'' ja suurin osa covereita european here. younger than yesterday byrdseiltä oli hyväkin nojoo debyytti albumi tämä niin kuulostaa samalta kun kaikki 60-luku alun hönö nenät... valkomussukat...saatanan tylsää kunneltavaa ill feel alot better
So apparently, they popularized folk rock by covering Dylan songs. Nice feat, I guess.
This is soooooo 60s
Couple solid classics, but also drags on at times. Lots of same-y sounds, which is a lot over 13 songs
Pretty good
Leuk plaatje maar wat mij betreft weinig bijzonders aan
Beetje een eenheidsworst van nummers
I enjoyed this, a lot of the tracks are derivative though.
As they influenced so many of the bands I love, Fanclub and Smiths to name but 2, it's great to hear where the whole jangly power-pop Rickenbacker sound started. Ok they leant heavily on Dylan, but this is pretty flawless and the original songs are very strong as well. Heretical view: I prefer this Byrds to the now much-more fashionable country-rock period.
I didn’t really enjoy this album. Not sure why this generator has had me listen to the title track on different albums almost within a week of each other. I think I just don’t like folk very much.
No one does Mr. Tambourine Man like Bob Dylan, but I gotta say the Byrds do real good on making it their own. I had forgotten about I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, I really like this track. Now Spanish Harlem Incident is where they're pushing their Dylan luck. Too straight, taking on Dylan's affectations. The Byrds can piss off. Followed by a bunch of songs sounding like the Byrds were dumpster diving outside John Lennon's apartment. Then back to Bob Dylan... Now here's where they really kicked me in the nuts. This is the worst version of this song I could imagine. I'm ready to stop the record. A couple more rando 60s pop songs that I don't care for. Then come Don't Doubt Yourself, Babe... completely new sound, I love it. I don't really like the song, but the sound. As if this were the worst track on an album I love. Then back to Dylan... Please stop. Chimes of Freedom isn't too bad, though. I really don't love the Dylan version and the Byrds give it a little more life here. The rest is more 60's garbage. Or maybe I have it all wrong. Perhaps The Byrds weren't parroting every popular sound of the time that they could. Maybe The Byrds were the inspiration for all that amazing 60s rock and roll? I'm not going to defend myself, do your own research.
A brilliant debut album by the pioneers of the folk-rock genre with their jangly guitar sound that has been often imitated, but never quite as good as the Byrd's signature sound. Though this album is best known for the covers of Dylan songs, it's their original songs that take this record to the next level. Influential still to this day, this album is one of their best.
Not bad, but finished and I didn’t realise which is always a sign that something hasn’t really grabbed you. A couple of decent tunes though
Classics of 60s music, nothing really revelatory here
This is a perfect classic 60's album. This guitar sound is so influential it can still be heard in lots of indie rock records to this day. Perfectly crafted songs carried by lush jangly 12 strings guitar and gorgeous harmonies. 9,5/10
For sheer prettiness, it doesn't get much better than this album. Some of the loveliest harmonies and most gorgeous guitar ever put to record. The best tracks disproportionately outshine the lesser tracks, which makes this a bit less than a 5. But still a delight. Fave Songs: I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, Mr. Tambourine Man, The Bells of Rhymney, All I Really Want to Do, Here Without You, Spanish Harlem Incident
Good 60’s folk rock album, worthy inclusion on the list, but too many covers to really be considered an all time great album but enjoyable takes on the Dylan songs, similar scores to the Beatles early albums.
This one's a beaut from start to finish. Clean, precise, instrumentation with impeccable vocals and harmonization. Maybe a bit tame for any younger audience but for an old goat like me, it's mana from the gods.
Jingle jangle RIP David Crosby
Duude dom va så mycke mer swag när dom gjorde country på guuud 4 btw
Very solid covers and originals. Better than the last times I’ve heard it
Kova
When I was a kid, Turn! Turn! Turn! got quite a bit of play on the local oldies radio station (both in Dallas and later on when I moved to Houston). I loved the melody, and there was something in the guitars that I loved too. Over the course of my life, I've seen Turn! Turn! Turn! used in countless shows and movies, and it always brings back memories of being the backseat of our 1987 Honda Accord. This was the first Byrds record that I've ever listened to, and it was about what I expected: lots of jangly percusion, psychedelic guitar chords, and lyrics that reflected the turbulence of the '60's. I enjoyed listening to this album, but I didn't find it particularly remarkable. I folk rock bands like this in the 60's are fascinating, because as much as they wanted to be like The Beatles, no one else could come close to duplicating that success. Even though I wasn't blown away by this album, I hope there's more 60's folk rock on this list.
Again, nice easy listening
Didn't really do anything for me, sorry Byrd boys
Perfectly pleasant to listen to, but not really for me.
I love the sound of this early rock album: the simple guitar melodies and the lyrical vocals are refreshing. But the songs don't have a lot of progression; the theme repeats in pretty much the same way for each verse, which is a bit boring.
Turns out I super like this band! Many recognizable songs. Love the vibe.
Solid sound of folk rock
Listening to this album i heard how they influenced future bands in the 70 and 80s. From music to vocal styles.i had s few favs already and even picked up a couple more that appealed to me melodically and lyrically.
T3B 1. Mr. Tambourine Man 2. It’s No Use 3. Here Without You
I don't mind the first 3 songs, and the last (instrumental). Was surprised to hear their version of We'll Meet Again.
Hmmm, think I was in a bit of a mood the first time I listened to this - liked it a lot more the second time around. Folk rock with a splash of psychedelia? Yeah, ok. Fave track - "The Bells of Rhymney"
The Byrds are a solid, unchallenging rock band in the mold of the early- to mid-'60s, and this album's a perfect encapsulation of that. Lots of songs that are fine and often make you tap your foot, but unlikely to really stick with you. The one exception to this is "I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better," which is my favorite Byrds song. It's not going to change anyone's life, but it's good enough to feel like it could be a cover of an early Beatles track.
This felt like one long Byrds song. It was good but not core shaking.
reminded me of the monkees just without that monkees spark
A-ok!
Un album très sympathique dans lequel les Byrds vont chacun s'attribuer le rôle d'un des Beatles et livrer une prestation similaire à ces derniers.
Il faut reconnaître aux Byrds qu'après un parcours catastrophique au sein du générateur, ils ont su relever la tête sur cet album, et proposer une assez bonne performance. Cela ne suffira pas à se qualifier pour le tour suivant, mais les Byrds en sortent grandits.
Nice jangly guitars with great vocal harmonies and tunes. Sounds expansive
Smooth album. Definitely adding this onto my "My listen to again list"
That Rickenbacker jangle is a one-way ticket to the 1960s. Cool to know that this was considered the first folk-rock album. Classic rock is classic. Not my favourite genre, but history outweighs my stupid opinion.
Some mellow folk rock, lots of Dylan songs in there. Not my goto but not bad either.
The title track I'd heard before, obviously, and it's a good one, everything else was ok, but nothing stood out. The lead guitar sounded somewhat distinct and somehow reminded me to the intro of GnR's Paradise City, possibly an influence there?
Fine but prefer Michelle Pfeiffer's version
that one jingle-jangle thing they do is so fucking good it almost makes up for the ho-hum stuff but not quite
Sixties classic. This album is strong, concise, and consistent. Teenaged, classic-rock-loving me would have gone apeshit for this album. Definitely deserves to be on the list.
Some decent some average
Thinking about it, I’m not sure I’ve heard anything by The Byrds. I’ve certainly heard of them, but I’m not sure if I’ve actually heard them. Excited to hear them for possibly the first time today! Songs I already knew: We’ll Meet Again (although not this version) Favourites: All I Really Want To Do, Mr Tamborine Man As soon as this album started playing, I knew I was wrong about not hearing The Byrds before. Their whole sound, and mainly the way they sing and harmonise, was very familiar, and it turns out I do know at least one song (Turn, Turn, Turn) which isn’t on this album. I found that in itself very impressive - I instantly recognised them based solely on their sound. In regards to this specific album, it is mostly covers although the only song I recognised was We’ll Meet Again so they were mostly new to my ears, at least. A very nicely composed and sang album, which was fun to listen to throughout.
Sounds like the beaatles prtty good
I really like this sound overall, generally a sucker for super-trebly 60s psychedelic power pop. And it seems like this CD predates guys like Love (who I think are better), not to mention the follow-ons like Big Star that I really like. So some credit is due there as the innovators. This CD though is a little slapped-out - the singer just seems like he must be on mood stabilizers or something, he just has no excitement in his voice. That plus the overall slow tempo is kind of a dealbreaker for me - it's perfectly nice music to listen to, I just cannot get excited about it. Then there's the question of how much credit The Byrds deserve for an album that is 1/2 or more covers, including all the hits. On "Mr. Tambourine Man" itself, The Byrds have picked the ideal song to cover - one where the composition is nice but the initial performance and production are god-awful - and really do a very nice job cleaning the song up and bringing it to life. But overall I can't give them as much credit as I would a composer.
Its better than their later ones but its still not that great
Some lovely songs performed extremely well. A little dull though and tbh I think you could mix this up with the soundtrack to Mighty Wind and most people wouldn't notice.
Old but gold! Shorts songs but an easy to listen to album. At the end of the album I got a bit distracted because it was all quitte the same. Still enjoyed it and will look up some of their other work. Favourite songs: - Mr. Tambourine man - I’ll feel a whole lot better
Play a song for me
There are too many Byrds albums on this list in my not-so-humble opinion. I like them fine but I'm not a mega fan and - it's a lot. I can absolutely appreciate the influence they had on British pop and folk. The harmonies are really pretty and the musicianship is good. It's just not really my thing. To my mind it has not aged as well as some other music from the same era, although I know many would disagree. 3/5
Old doo-woppy classic rock. Nothing peaked my interest.
Very folky, reminds me of 60s movies. I’ve never listened to Bob Dylan, the music reminded me of my dad and what the Vietnam war era might’ve been like. Favorite song might be we’ll meet again.
It’s a really good nice sounding set of songs would give a 4 if it had more originals but 3 due to the immense amount of covers.
Folk rock. Un 4.
Kinda feels like standard 60s pop. Nice but not amazing. Plus it's mostly covers.
It's fine but like, why would I bother when The Beatles made 5 albums exactly like this and not even they aren't that good
I barely remember the last byrds album I got but I vaguely remember enjoying it. This one just felt like second rate Beatles music. While second rate Beatles still isn’t bad I was not a fan of this album until the second half where it got slightly better. Also surprised at how many albums end with well meet again
My favorite so far. Catchy, soothing, very easy to listen to over and over.
Classic 60's folk/bubblegum pop. I enjoy the tight harmonies. My parents are huge folk fans, so this type of music takes me back to my childhood.
What a influential album not only at the time but for years afterwards. Jim (Roger) McGuinn's 12 string jangly Rickenbacker sound is iconic and is still being echo today. Though what really stands out for me are 2 of the Gene Clark songs, Here with out you is just so dark and complex. The gem of the album for me I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better, it's pop perfection, I just love this song and unlike most of the album which has that 60's era sound (they did invent it) this song sounds almost timeless. Tom Petty also does a great version too, not surprising given how this band influenced him.
I can never get enough of McGuin’s 12-string Rickenbacker. Not every song is great, but overall this is a strong record.
It was fine. Generic 60s
This has been my favorite of the Byrds albums so far that we've gotten going through the list. Good stuff, very similar to early Beatles. I liked it,
Fun old classic rock.
This is very high pitched. Your tweeters will not like the tinniness of this. It's... OK. There's a couple of decent tracks here, but it isn't great. Won't be listening again any time soon.
I suggest you to listen Me siento Mucho Mejor by Charly Garcia, a really nice cover of I Feel a Whole Lot Better translated to spanish.
Some decent 60's folk rock. Didn't hate it.
This album exists. I listened to it. That's all. 2/5
Meh.
This is the quintessential Byrds album thad generates terrible BMs. Such sickly sweet cumbaya bullshit. Thank goodness all Byrds albums don't sound like this. In spite of this album, the Byrds have been one of the most surprising and interesting artists on the list. But I never would've known it because of this Tambourine Man garbage. Do yourself a favor and listen to Notorious Byrd Brothers before making a decision on this band. This album is just plain awful.
It’s hard to go wrong with an album full of songs driven by the bright sound of a 12-string Rickenbacker. It’s their signature sound and even when I hear it in songs of other bands, I still think of the Byrds when I hear it. I love the reminiscent, almost romantic feeling their songs evoke - the hopefulness and agency of the hippie movement. Despite the growing pains of the times, the Byrds were apparently like every other 20-something of every generation—waiting for love, being burned and betrayed by love. They’re less angry about it than Alanis or Olivia Rodrigo, but still heartbroken just the same. And while SNL said the only prescription for a fever is more cowbell, I submit that the cowbell’s more agile, spritely, and chipper cousin, the tambourine, is the real cure to what ails us.
Lovely, jangly, poppy folk rock. Bob Dylan’s songs sound better sung by someone else, and the harmonies don’t hurt either.
McGuinn’s, Clark’s, and Crosby’s voices blend together most excellently. That’s all I can say positively. This album lacks both soul and authenticity. I’m not sure if it’s due to the way the music machine wanted the sound, singing other people’s songs, or something else, but a group couldn’t sing with less passion. There’s maybe 10 seconds of lead guitar on the whole album that has a modicum of grit. I could be making a similar comment about today’s influencer culture or airbrushed hunks/starlets on magazine covers. The product is vapid. I listened to all three Bob Dylan covers to compare. You may hate Bob’s voice, but you cannot deny that you feel passion emanating from the speakers. This album is like the happy meal toy that you get an excited for when you open the box and then you throw it away with your empty chocolate milk bottle on your way out.
Nowhere near as interesting as their work would later get but enough promise to show their potential.
Pretty boring outside the single. Some of the songwriting was painful.
I loved this album (finally got a good one) and I have wonder how much that dates me.
Enjoyed listening to this one. Favorite track: It's No Use
Chill vibes.
l didn't dislike anything in perticular but by the 8th song I felt done with the album as a whole. 61/112
Var viss um að þetta yrði þriggja stjörnu dómur fyrirfram. Titillagið þekkt og restin filler. En, æi, þetta er sjarmerandi sjöundi tugur. Fann að mig langaði að renna henni aftur og það er góðs viti.
4/2 hippie byrds
Very 60s. It was good, but I lost interest quick.
Jingly AND jangly.
Boring
Interesting to hear again, but my, how it sounds dated. Classics retain their relevance. This doesn’t seem to be one of them.
vähän tylsä mutta ei huono. Dylan-biisit toimii hyvinä poppikappaleina
Vaikka aluksi voisi niin luulla, nämä biisit eivät kaikki kuulosta samalta. Ongelma on 12-kielinen kitara ja pehmeät laulustemmat, jotka uhkaavat sulattaa hyvinkin erilaiset melodiat yhdeksi mössöksi. Toisaalta juuri näistä elementeistä koostuva soundi voi saada kuulijan soittamaan levyn uudelleen, minkä seurauksena vivahteet alkavat erottua kokonaisuudesta. Toki Dylanin sävellykset erottuvat muutenkin: ne ovat helvetin hyviä. Mutta Byrdsin oma I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better ottelee ainakin samassa sarjassa - ja yhtäkkiä kuuntelija voikin huomata, että on soittanyt levyn jo kolmannen kerran.
Forgettable.
favourite song: i'll feel a whole lot better least favourite song: we'll meet again really easy listening without being boring/easy to lose focus on. probably wont come back to it very often though.
1 is a little harsh as I enjoyed the first song, but found the rest of the album so boring. Was trying to give it the benefit of the doubt, however then read they were all covers, so it's not fun, not original, not engaging. what's the point. Everything about this screams band pushed as they resembled the Beatles in some way. 1.4
good harmonies , beatles inspired
A nice album, but it's not a crush for me.
È un album che migliora verso la fine. Infatti per me "It's no use" è l'unico brano degno di nota. Farei partire l'album da questa traccia (14) perché il resto prima è noioso. "All I really want to do" mi piace.
Adoro i Byrds. Jingle jangle, jingle jangle.
cool vibe, might revisit someday
The mid-60s belonged to The Byrds. Pleasant listening with a couple of great tracks.
Folk rock. Un 4.
Folk rock
An album full of folk song covers (mainly by Bob Dylan) played and recorded in an early The Beatles style by American The Byrds. Pop/rock with some folk influences, making it sound like a aforementioned Beatles, but with late Lennon's lyrics. The question that this record being on the list brings - is it good enough, or innovative enough to be here? The music sounds very outdated right now, and to make it worse, it wasn't original at the time as well. It's just the americanised version of british folk pop/rock bands. And the slightly unusual part of the album is that the lyrics are taken from Dylan's discography, which makes for a unique combination. But by saying that, it's not enough to make it special or good. It shouldn't be on the list at all, in my opinion of course.
Wonderful album!
60-tals pop man blir glad av. Okej, de kanske inte skrev så många låtar själva men vad gör väl det.
Clearly influential
Great Band and era in music.
Ok. Kind of Beatles esque
A classic
4.25
I'll give it a 4 because of the iconic sound, I thought much of it sounded the same but still pretty good.
I'm sure it was groundbreaking at the time but it just sounds like every 60s pop rock band. Maybe I'm not listening intently enough but it's also not grabbing me
Listened to on 9/8/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: you won’t have to cry anymore, mr. Tambourine man Good album but it faded into background music - love the tambourine though 😂
Favorites were Mr. Tambourine Man and I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better. Very pleasant album to listen to that felt very 50’s/60’s
I am listening to this right after Fifth Dimension because I'm slacking behind and I get to be choosy about what I pick to listen to haha. With that context, all the dislikes about that album which came out the year after this are allll magnified on this album. It's even more unoriginal, covers, copied sounds, and the songs on this album are standing out even less. The album as a whole seems much less exciting and is actually making me want to listen to Dylan instead of these covers of his music.
Well this was rather pleasant wasn't it. I enjoyed it and it seems nostalgic for something I don't know. I wish I could give a 3.5
Yeah, it's a great sound no matter what. The Byrds always transport me to the bit in Forrest Gump when he comes back from Vietnam and goes to Washington and there's all the protests.
Couple of cool riffs but pretty washy over all
Nothing special here
Very beatles like. Meh
Thought I would like it more than I did. Overall meh.
Very 60's, what else can I say?
i mean, it’s a rock album from 1965. it definitely sounds like one. that’s not a bad thing! just nothing special about it.
Taattua tavaraa! 3/5
Tämäkin Byrds toimii. Rubber Soul fibat. 3,5/5.
Cover-levyksi varsin hyvä. Vielä odotellaan aikaa, kun Dylan tosissaan aktivoituu biisintekijänä. 4/5 nautin
This was kind of fun, but nothing that stuck with me later other than the breakup /funeral song that was “we’ll meet again.”
Forgettable. I must not have been in the mood for music when I listened to this because I basically tuned the whole album out. I could say I'd got back and give it another listen but I'd be lying. Sounded like knockoff beetles.
Added to my roadtrip playlist.
This was tough slugging. It's one of those albums that I'm sure was cool on release but it now sounds old and way past its best before date.
So many things happening in the background around this time. Bob Dylan going electric and this album, best known for its Dylan covers might appease his fans and start an American folk movement to counter the British Invasion. It’s easy to see why there would be such a backlash by more serious music lovers to the pop and screaming girls that the Beatles and The Stones brought with them. It’s also interesting that The Wrecking Crew arranged and played the instruments on Tambourine Man, so we can add The Byrds to the list of bands along with the Monkees, the Beach Boys and the Mamas and the Papas who didn’t actually play instruments on some of their most famous tunes. Anyway, enough rambling. I think Gene Clark is a good songwriter as he would prove later with 8 Miles High and on his solo albums. On this LP, in addition to the covers, I like Here Without You.
The jingly jangly guitar is the signature of this band. The title track is the highlight of this album, but the rest was less inspiring. I wouldn’t normally seek this out but I gotta acknowledge their influence on the folk rock genre
Really up my alley! Love it! Either 4/5 or even 5/5! Absolute fave track: We'll meet again Honorable mentions: You and me (instrumental) and You Wont Have to Cry
This really isn't a sound for me
Pleasant enough. I can understand why people would really like this. I thought it was just okay. Nothing really negative to say it just didn't really grab me.
Jangly 60s Folk Rock. Hard to judge great albums when half of it is covers of already great songs. Can appreciate the influence on rock music.
Definitely sounds like 60 pop. Very Beatles-y. So I like it. Every song sounds kinda similar though.
It's all controlled imperfection. The 12 string guitar jangles like it does because its not perfectly in tune with itself. The harmonies aren't exactly perfect. The rhythm is laid back, the bass doesn't always hit the snare right on the money. It's not detrimental to the experience though. Your old shoes are a bit scuffed up and maybe there's a hole that you're trying to ignore because they're just so damn comfortable to put on. They feel right for you and often it's a relief to return to them.
Didn't do much for me, very folksy and the 12 string is nice, but it's lacking something extra like clever lyrics or some good instrumental solos. Honestly listening back to a few songs again and most of them sound the same. That might change after a lot more listens, but that ain't happening.
приятное ретро, которое как будто уже где-то слышал
Prettifying everything in sight, these sensitive souls never met a song they couldn't wrap their harmonies round but plenty they couldn't wrap their brains round.
Tambourine Man is awesome.
Pleasant music, nice harmonies, but there was nothing that really stood out.
Besides the titular track, I didn’t find much on this album that engaged me at all (and only that one track because it’s engrained in my consciousness.)
Today's one is good, as it should be, covers of some top Dylan songs and some damn good songwriting in their own right. I've always been a fan of the 12-string guitar sound too.
This is fine, perfectly pleasant to listen to but not a whole lot more than that. Jingly jangly and a bit dull, takes a lot of the energy out of their covers and don't add much else. 2/5 for me.
It’s pretty good. The songs are a bit samey but the overall vibe is fun
this gets knocked down a point because it’s all covers, but the harmonies were really good
The best Dylan songs are the ones that someone else sang. This album is a great example of that. There's a whole lot of Dylan on this album for an album that Dylan didn't appear on but I'm not mad about it. "Mr. Tambourine Man" is a great time capsule of music in '65. It's light-hearted, and poppy, but with that jingle-jangle of early rock. The main reason this doesn't get full marks is that it feels like cheating to load up your album with a bunch of covers and then claim it as your own.
It's fine, another 60s album that doesn't sound as good as The Beatles
same as the last but not as good 2.5
Better than I expected and certainly better than most pop/rock available back when this was released. (Liked some of the alternate versions much better than originals - but not taking that into rating)
if not for his distinct voice missing from these tracks, you could've convinced me this was Tom Petty. Apparently the byrds influenced the Beatles, and the 'Laurel Canyon sound' which is sick. Gives me more respect for the music as a whole knowing what came from it.
Very average kinda countryish ig
pretty chill album, will listen to more of the Byrds to get a hang of them. but overall a good listen. I will say nothing stood out to me but i also was listening to it in the background.
very beatles-esque
More Byrds. This gets an extra star just for being the source of "Feel a Whole Lot Better." Good 60s tunes.
Not my jam.
Not for me
Best Song: Mr. Tambourine Man. It has the one trait that really helps these old classic rock songs succeed: familiarity. Worst Song: All I Really Want To Do. The lyrics just seem like that kind of predatory whining of a "Nice Guy". Overall: Very many very short songs which do little do differentiate themselves. I'm sure it was influential, but today it's just a bit boring.
this is the 3rd Byrds album i've had to endure on this list. one is enough, all their songs sound the same so i don't understand how two identical albums are essential listening. its the same issue with neil fucking young.
I recently had an issue with one of my teeth. I was coming back from a weekend break with my awful family at Center Parcs, and I was eating a cereal bar when it took part of a back tooth with it. I was struck by two things – first, I would have to go to the dreaded dentist as soon as possible, and second, breaking your tooth on a cereal bar on the way home from Center Parcs sounds like the lead single from an album called I’m So Middle Class You Wouldn’t Believe It. None of this is related to this sexy little record by The Byrds, as it's not particularly middle class or dull, but I thought I'd share a snippet from my miserable existence instead of giving a proper review to show you what I'm up against whilst I knock out these daily reviews. The tooth still hurts, because I'm yet to go to the dentist, because I'm a complete pussy.
It's like the dead handshake of a used car salesman. He's at your BBQ because he's your wife's friend's husband. The small talk is forced and he doesn't even like football, but it's pleasant enough.
Jingle jangle, jingle jangle.
Too many favourite things here
Not my thing
Anyone that ol Tommy P covered so many times is alright by me 3
Exactly what it sounds like.
Brings back memories of parents record collection.
3.5
Was doing laundry while listen and it wasn’t hitting. No highlights
I love the Byrds harmonies and guitar sound.....just not for more than 2 songs at a time. After 2 songs they just all sound exactly the same.
Gutes Album.
Einige sehr gute Songs aber ein etwas zu gleichförmigen Klangteppich
Definitely brings the 60s sound. Weird hybrid of early Beatles and Dylan? I thought I would like it more but I found it overall just ok. Feels like peak flower child.
Really good album, but not all the tracks are classics unfortunately.
A okej je al nista specijalno. Nijedna pjesma mi se ne ističe
Evo još jedan album pun covera nakon Otisovog. Općenito, sve to men okej, dobroj, sam et, nije mi dalje od trojke.
Ovo nisu Marty i obitelj 😡
I was really disappointed with this one. I knew the big hits and liked them but the other tracks seem to show they were a one-trick-pony. It's a very impressive trick but a bit dull listening to a whole album of it.
Jangly, summer vibes, few too many covers for my liking, but done well, and that was the way at the time.
Love this album and happy that i had further recommendations of 60’s music that had that feel good factor 👍🏻
The blueprint for this band's sound is the early Beatles' albums, with some sprinkles of the usual American west coast flower power sound. The songs are alright; the obvious standout is Mr. Tambourine Man, but generally this is the Beatles' playbook 101, and I can't find anything here that the Beatles haven't done better before. 2.5/5
De beaux moment mais le son est de piètre qualité
les beatles du début en pas ouf ça bouge pas
some early Beatles vibes. I like the vocal harmonies. not bad but not much sticks out.
It's OK. They are very good at playing Bob Dylan songs. But where would they be without them??
Nope
I understand that this album is important but Bob Dylan wrote the best songs on it and sung them better. Although the development of this sound is really important to music history it didn't really grab me as an album and I prefer the artists that were influenced by them. However there are some moments of greatness on the album and it is really interesting to here sounds emerging that would become REM, The Smiths etc. Some of the guitar parts sound almost like they were written by a prototype Jonny Marr. Really glad I have listened to it but I won't be listening again.