Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Alright in places. Not special or particularly well aged, production wise.
3 stars I don't remember most of this album except liking it sonically
This was fine. Their later albums make a noticeable improvement compared their beginning albums but still, this was decent. There's a couple of songs that seem like filler (more towards the second half) but honestly this is about as average as it gets with psychedelic rock. Not bad! 2.75-3.00/5
The first half of this album s really good in my opinion but the second half is just fine I guess. The Byrds have wonderful vocal harmonies that many other bands weren't doing in that time, but the few that were are The Beatles or Beach Boys, which did it much better, but The Byrds should not be out of that conversation and this album proves that.
It was pretty good. I really liked their cover of Hey Joe.
3,9
You can sort of hear some early psych influences among the songs on this album, and some of the songs are quite good, but this is another band that really shines on their best of albums instead of the originals because some songs are just so fucking terrible. I Come and Stand at Every Door, for example. WTF?
Most Byrds albums I’ve listened too are uneven. This one is too, but more solid than most.
Tsja, dit is zo lastig om te reviewen. Ik vind het nogal saai, maar dit komt uit 1966, oftewel ongeveer 60 jaar geleden. In hoeverre kan ik dan beoordelen of het saai is? Het klinkt prima, ik irriteer me niet ontzettend, Mr Spaceman klinkt heel nice. En ik merk dat de zang best wel goed klinkt. Het is meerstemmig volgens mij? Hm, tsja het is gewoon echt een prima rock n roll album. Je hoort misschien wel wat psychedelische invloeden, maar ik kan niet zeggen dat ik een echte expert op dat gebied ben. Wel weet ik dat The Byrds goed klinken, doen me soms inderdaad wat denken aan The Beatles en andere bands uit die tijd. (wetende dat dit vast en zeker een zeer controversiele mening is) Dus alles bij elkaar is dit zeker geen slecht album! fAVO: Mr Spaceman, I know my rider
Not bad, but kinda just typical old rock.
Another album by The Byrds… how are there 5 damn albums of theirs on this list. It’s so average. Yawn. 2.5 / 5
It's probably the best 60's psych folk album there is. That being said, it's just okay.
3.2 1x
About what I expected. Enjoyable enough.
It's a decent folk rock album with some neat touches of psychedelic influences here and there. Side one is really strong but side two is a letdown (despite opening with 8 Miles High) with 2 instrumentals and a typical cover of Hey Joe. Overall, half a great album.
Sounded a bit 3rd!
You know that birds aren't real, right? That they're CIA drones to monitor the population? Anyhow, I digress. Eight miles high isn't bad, the rest is rather bland and forgettable.
Odds and evens, I liked all the odd numbered tracks, I found all the evens a bit too folky for my tastes.
Funny how something that is very like another thing can have a totally different reaction. Mama's and Papa's album left me cold but the Byrds are okay. On my patented -100 to 100 scale where being tickled by someone you don't like is -60 but being tickled my someone who gives you sticky pants is +40 this is a 30
So, across this album. The instrumentals are quite nice. But the slow singing kills me. Which makes the songs, hey joe. Captain soul and 2-4-2 fox-trot stand out to me. The best of the three byrds albums this list has put me through
One of my favourite Byrds albums, maybe in large part because of how large the title track looms (alongside Eight Miles High). Definitely my first Byrds album where I started taking them seriously as something other than a glorified cover band.
Pretty standard 60s
Typical of the 60s and not outstanding in any way. 6/10
I like the Byrds generally, but this wasn't the peak of their music for me. This album was _very_ Byrdsy to me, and it was just a little too psychedelic in a sort of annoying way IMO. Their version of Hey Joe sounded rushed and weak kinda(?) and I didn't really love any of the other songs either. Overall I loved their harmonies, as always, and they are clearly very gifted musicians, but this wasn't the right album for me. Three stars.
There are so many Byrds albums on this project. But dang it they're all good. A relaxing 60s vibe
Fun enough for a 60s rock slog.
These guys are just B tier through and through
Pretty good, esp for 1966.
This is another album that was fine, even enjoyable to listen to, but it's inclusion on this list is suspect. It sounds like pretty generic 60s psychedelic folk to me, and as far as I can tell it didn't do anything original or groundbreaking for the style.
Looked back at the last album review we had for the Byrds and didn't find anything memorable. I could say the same for this album though it was decent background music. Right down the middle 3.
This album was about the epitome of "just fine" music. Nothing specifically excited or engaged me, but I didn't mind it being there. Only songs I look back with memory of are Mr. Spaceman (has a nice little hop to it and some quality harmonies), Eight Miles High (heard it a bunch of times before -- classic summer of love sounding track), and What's Happening? (probably my favorite individual song on here). Otherwise, I'll most likely forget this by noon. I'd say this straddles a 2/3 line. Going 3 because it was inoffensive.
Beatles-esque. Good stuff. Easy listener.
The Byrds be sounding like the Byrds on this one. Really disappointing I was hoping for some crazy psychadelic music on this album with the name being Fifth Dimension. Pretty standard 60s rock.
Honestly, this was okay, just too dippy for me.
I got through nearly the whole album without writing any notes. I guess it's that kind of album - just a nice, 60's, floaty kind of time. I didn't recognise a lot of the covers. The Hey Joe one I appreciate on the basis that it's a genuine different take on a classic, rather than just doing the same thing.
I can never seem to see the brilliance in much of what The Byrds did. It’s always just fine and dandy. 5/10
Good album lots of songs feel like the same. Although they did establish a unique sound that you can listen to any song and know its theirs whichbis tough. Great band
203/1089 - Eight Miles High was really good. The rest was competent but pretty dry.
Guitar noodling and harmonization. Loosely goosey but in a mostly talented way 3.3
Imo en del bedre end deres debut, de har tilføjet den rigtige mængde psykedelia!
One good hit, several average songs.
Pretty boring songwriting but still a pretty enjoyable listen
I liked this one more than I expected. It gave me some good groovy psychedelic rock, which I definitely love. Nothing crazy that stood out, but I definitely want to listen again.
33/1001 :: The Byrds - Fifth Dimension Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ❌ Rating: 5 Fav Tracks: Mr. Spaceman Never been a Bryds guy but I don’t hate it at all. Just sounds really 60’s. Jangly. Psychedelic What ever… That said loved the song Mr. Spaceman and also thought the Hey Joe interpretation was pretty cool. Onto the next…
pretty solid but i didn’t find anything special in it
Classics
I have an appreciation for the simplicity of this era of rock & roll. I listened to a good amount of Buffalo Springfield (Stephen Stills, Neil Young) when I was younger, so it's kinda fun to hear from David Crosby. Maybe I'll check out The Hollies soon to have background on Graham Nash before a CSNY album shows up on this list. Not totally sure how to feel about this album, it's a pretty light and fun listen but I didn't get a ton of impact. The biggest stand out for me was "Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go)", but only because it was truly painful to sit through compared to the Hendrix version. Otherwise, I'll take the critics' word for how influential this album was on the beginnings of psychedelic rock and the rest of the 60s.
3.0
I listened this album four times. The first two times it felt very dull and stale, but with the latter ones I started to appreciate a little bit more, as I found this record to sound very pleasent. Apart from that, I do still think that this LP is very flat in terms of ideas and experimentation. There's some, but it could be more and better. Nothing more to add, this is just a decent album.
Was okay. Eight Miles High is one of those songs that instantly place you in the '60s, and is the stand-out on this album. Nothing to really bring me back though...
All over the place! Mostly fun. Some wild guitar.
Pretty good
It was a nice album, nothing special I don't think though. But Eight Miles High was definitely the best song. Wasn't a huge fan of the voice. 7/10
All songs sort of blended together but in a nice way
Hey Joe. There's a song that sounds like A minor jam. Une autre qui sonne comme les Beatles genre Rain ??????
I listened to about one song. The sound was a Beatles- esque folk music like sound. Non super catchy but good lyrics.
Great sounds, songs could be better
I liked the Byrds way back when I was young, but the whole psychedelic folk thing just doesn’t do it for me much now. I still appreciate their harmonies though. And Eight Miles High is great.
Actually really decent
A good album and it still hangs together fairly well after all these years. It was fun hearing the Byrds version of Hey Joe. I think I had learned at some point that it was a cover, but I didn't realize that other famous bands had covered it prior to Jimi's excellent, slower and more mind-bending release. I love the harmonies and hearing David Crosby at what may be his sweetest and most melodic phase on this album. However, this has almost zero replay draw for me. I can't see myself ever circling back to it, it holds no place in my memories but just stands in my mind for a precursor for amazing things to come.
Great album that I have never heard before. I have very little knowledge of The Byrds work, this is my first time hearing this album and it is not bad. Very chilled out rock vibes with nice lyrics and vocals. Some interesting music with nice variety. I'm going to put this on again when I want to chill out and vibe to some nice tunes.
Didn't really know this as an album, obviously know some of the stand out tracks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, but the adaption of traditional folk songs is quite interesting. Favourite track for me though is Psychodrama City.
Das dritte Studioalbum der US-amerikanischen Band The Byrds wurde überwiegend in den Columbia Studios in Hollywood aufgenommen. Die Aufnahmen zogen sich von März bis Juni 1966 hin, in einer Phase, in der sich die musikalische Ausrichtung der Gruppe veränderte. Die Band hatte kurz vor Beginn der Studioarbeiten einen personellen Einschnitt erlebt: Gene Clark, Haupt-Songwriter der frühen Phase, war ausgeschieden. Dies beeinflusste das Songwriting sowie die stilistische Ausrichtung spürbar. Musikalisch bewegt sich Fifth Dimension im Übergangsbereich zwischen Folk Rock und den sich entwickelnden psychedelischen Klängen der Mittsechziger. Der Song „Eight Miles High“ gilt als prägend für die Entwicklung psychedelischer Rockmusik, wobei er musikalisch wie textlich neue Wege beschritt. Weitere bekannte Titel des Albums sind „Mr. Spaceman“ und „I See You“, die mit rhythmischer Offenheit und erweiterten Klangideen experimentieren. Die Einflüsse aus Jazz und indischer Musik, die sich besonders in der Gitarrenarbeit von Roger McGuinn zeigen, markieren einen Bruch mit den stärker von traditionellem Folk geprägten früheren Werken der Band. Auch textlich zeigen sich Spuren des damaligen gesellschaftlichen und kulturellen Wandels. Insgesamt ist Fifth Dimension ein Album, das den Übergang von strukturierter Folk-Rock-Musik zu experimentelleren Formen dokumentiert. Trotz einiger Unebenheiten in der Produktion bleibt es ein markantes Zeugnis seiner Zeit.
6/10 - pretty decent Mr spaceman was just like Mr tambourine man
Does anyone sound more like the 60s than the Byrds do? Good album, but I’m not convinced it’s their best.
I expected to like this more than I did. My favorite genres, my favorite time period, etc. But I found this album sort of unremarkable. Not necessarily bad, but not good either. ha.
An enjoyable enough listen, though I wouldn't say I typically listen to this type of rock. It's definitely "of it's time," bringing a similar vibe as The Beatles. Maybe a 3 out of 5 from me. I could listen to it again, but I'm not sure I'd reach for it that often.
Why do we need five Byrds albums on this list again? Their first two albums, sure, but everything after doesn't really bring anything new to the sound except the country album which straight sucks. What's Happening? seems to capture my thoughts about this one being on the list. At least this is my final one. It is fine. Sounds like The Byrds always do, with a bit of psychedelic song writing. There is a terrible version of Hey Joe on this album.
3.0 I've had a lot of 60s recently, and this just blends into the middle of them. Not bad, not good.
Good
I think the Byrds sound a bit like a cliché for early 60s pop folk mainly because they influenced the genre so much.
It's pretty OK. I can see how they were influential and all that, but none of it really grabs me. This feels more like a prototype than a finished product.
It's fine, nothing super interesting here over all. Not the best version of Will Ye Go Lassie, Go?, definitely not the best version of Hey Joe, just okay.
Uneven as hell. A few tracks shine; Eight Miles High, Mr. Spaceman, and Captain Soul; but the writing often falls flat, and it fizzles out by the end. Cool ideas, shaky delivery.
I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to an entire album by The Byrds. Lovely in a lot of ways, but not anything I’m dying to listen to again soon. Glad they made the impact that they did though.
5.5/10
I enjoyed this album but wasn’t blown away by it. There were a few catchy songs but nothing was too groundbreaking for me with this one. But I would give it another chance and recommend it to others!
I thought I was going to stay on a roll and have another 60s album ranked at 4 or higher, but this one just didn't do it for me. Nothing really stood out like I thought it would. It was still an easy listen though. 3/5.
Когда-нибудь я куплю себе пикап и буду ездить по полям под такую вот музыку... Но пока - ухи у меня болят от безжалостного панорамирования 60х. Барабаны вправо, гитара влево... Но музыка приятная, эдакий балладный кантри-рок
A couple great tracks. Decent listen. Overall not very inspiring.
Heavily influential to the 70s shift towards fantasy imagery and the eventual rise of hard rock and metal. Well worth a listen.
It was an alright album. There's nothing that makes it special. I've forgotten most of it already. "Fifth Dimension" was like its contemporaries in the mid 60s. I'd like to know how The Byrds managed to get 5 albums on this list. 3 stars for "Fifth Dimension".
Sounds like an early Monkees album. Well produced, quality musicianship, but too clean for my preference.
decent
By the time this album finished I didn't remember having listened to it. I'm sure it was jangly.
Eight Miles High is a banger, but the album is all over the place, lurching from covers of contemporary songs to resurrecting old folk songs, with the band also writing some of their own material. I'm going with 3 stars, because it's largely inoffensive stuff.
Solid 3.
3.25
Its twee and old fashioned and slightly too fluffy for my liking. But id the mark of a good album is that you sre humming the tunes an hour later then this is ok by me.
#572. Another solid pseudo-Beatles album from the Byrds. Pretty solid all round. 3/5: acceptable
Tuned in songwriting with divine vocals at times, bland and meandering old man rock at others. More to like than dislike.
This is an interesting one. Of course I know the Byrds and their hits and I think I probably heard their first two albums in full. This is an interesting album, it follows their breakthrough albums and without knowing a ton about the band you can feel they’re in a flux, exploring their sound. The beautiful vocal harmonies and folk rock are still there, and even though they don’t cover Dylan here his spirit is still around. You also get explorations into psychedelic rock which are very cool and blend into the band’s core sound well. Not earth shattering but definitely a good entry on the list. Three stars.
Another 60’s
Early 60’s rock
Interesting, I guess, but not very interesting.
Folksy, hippie rock. Beach Boys meets Simon and Garfunkel. Not a huge fan.. Also country style (Mr Spaceman) Trying to be the Beatles in places? Or does it precede? Interesting dissonant end to I See You Best Track - 8 Miles High, a moody, atnospheric track Picks up from 8 Miles High John Riley is nice
Love the byrds and their sturdiness.
Very very uneven. "I See You" and "Eight Miles High" are really good though.
Did all bands sound like this in the 60s?
Des bonnes passes de guitare tout croche, le riff épique de Eight Miles High entre autres, pour moi c'est comme l'hymne national du psyché. Le drum dans What's Happening? 👌 La version de marde de Hey Joe fait perdre une étoile. Bonne prod overall mais les voix souvent trop en avant pour rien. Les harmonies à tout prix même si ça blend pas avec la musique? Meh. Vraiment un contraste bizarre entre des voix super contrôlées et un band pas tout le temps tight. Plusieurs tounes assez ordinaires. Je vascille entre 3 et 4 étoiles.
It's alright. Inoffensive psych rock.
Psychedelic rock that sounds like psychedelic rock. 5/10
good early era byrds album with the trademark harmonies typical of any band david crosby is involved in.
It was nothing special
Итс окэй [3] Лучшая песня - Eight Miles High.
Álbum pionero del rock psicodélico de los 60. Incluso se dice que "Eight Miles High" podría ser el primer tema de rock psicodélico. Uno de los aspectos que más me ha llamado la atención es la inclusión de sonidos folk de la India a lo Ravi Shankar. En cualquier caso, a pesar de que muchos de los temas son versiones, es un álbum súper influyente a la vez que entretenido. Merece buena nota, aunque a día de hoy no suene tan especial.
What's happening is a great song, eight miles high is an REM song 15 years ahead of its time. Great guitar tone! Rest of the album pretty scattershot, including some of the singles - the fourth measure of "why" just neuters all momentum, feels like self-sabotage 3 but good to hear the influences
This album started off incredibly strong but ended up droning on. I know that the Byrds are iconic, but this album was middle of the road. 5D was great but the rest of them kind of blended together. Also, the 16-minute long instrumental version of John Riley was a choice. It was cool hearing this casual conversation but maybe it just didn't resonate with me because the album wasn't my favorite and I don't have any emotional ties to the band
Decent.
ok.
This is pretty good. Flitting the fader back and forth from old world folk to west coast psychedelia
Byrds doing Byrds things without Gene Clark. A few moments stood out during my listen, but nothing stuck.
There's a lot of Byrds on this list.. not sure it needs 5 albums + Gene Clark solo work as well. But anyway the slightly more psychadelic lyrics and guitar playing is cool and something different from the other ones I've heard. They also retain some more folky elements on certain tracks.. I'm a sucker for nice vocal harmonies I can see why it got criticised for being all over the place, as the styles as slightly mish-mash. I was leaning towards a 4 in the first half, but the second half is quite forgettable so 3 seems fair for a decent album
This album shows both the strengths and weaknesses of The Byrds. Tremendously innovative, and when it works (Eight Miles High), it's absolutely iconic. When it doesn't work, it's largely forgettable.
Ok But I Prefer the actually Dyllan/Beatles
The Byrds have an instantly recognizable, unmistakable, and unique sound. Unfortunately, on this album, they aren’t putting it to any good use. The songs are fine, mostly. None of them are insulting, but it’s all fairly forgettable. I enjoyed each song, independently, but as a whole album, it’s sorta, like, what’s the point? Fine work. 3/5
If I could go back in time, I would make it illegal for these producers to turn the pan dial more than like 30%. Please for the love of god save my right ear from engine noises for 2 minutes while the actual music plays in my left. Anyways, this was still a fun album.
Als je de hoes ziet, met het lettertype, de kleuren en de mannen zittend op een tapijt, dan weet je gelijk in welke tijd dit album gemaakt is. Qua muziek laat het een beetje van alles wat horen. Er zit hippie in, de gebruikelijke Dylanesque muziek (dit keer geen cover blijkbaar), maar ook wat meer progrock. Met Eight Miles High, wat we in Nederland kennen van de cover door de Golden Earring, hebben we het hoogtepunt te pakken, maar ook een aantal andere nummers hebben absoluut potentie. Ik lees op de wiki dat de reviews destijds ook een beetje in de war waren, doordat het een beetje een ratjetoe aan stijlen was. Ik vind dat wel extra vermakelijk moet ik zeggen, al zijn dus niet alle nummers even sterk. Gek genoeg vind ik door het contrast de oudere meer folky nummers wat gezapig klinken en juist de experimentelere meer rocky nummers wat toffer, terwijl ik bij het album wat hierna kwam in mijn review schreef dat ik dat andersom vond. Wellicht sloegen ze daar iets door in hun experimentele kant, en hadden ze het moeten laten bij wat ze hier doen. Al met al een vermakelijk plaatje. Net niet genoeg om er 4 sterren aan te geven, daarvoor is het net iets te rommelig. Maar wel leuk rommelig, prima 3 sterren.
I don't think I have listened to a Byrds album all the way through before. Of course, I have heard various tracks but never a whole album. Interesting. This was a proper curate's egg. Hints of brilliance, then at times humdrum. I enjoyed it, so 3/5
Easy listening - not their best or most noteworthy
The first 7 tracks were classic Byrds sounding tracks and then it seems like they took eight miles high literally during the break and came back as a psychedelia band. Luckily, I am down for both sounds.
So the Byrds go from a Bob Dylan cover band that apes the Beatles sound to a real band. Or that's how the wikipedia entry seems to describe them. I don't know much about them other than that David Crosby started here before Crosby, Stills and Nash. Definitely psychedelic elements here that sound like they probably inspired Jefferson Airplane, which is cool. Just not quite as polished or epic in the songwriting. More like fourth dimension, where Hendrix, the Doors and Jefferson Airplane are the fifth dimension... May listen to this again though, parts definitely give me that "worth coming back to" vibe.
Mostly not my thing but I still found a lot to like
Feels a bit same same but I can see why they would've been huge when they first dropped (people were morons back then)
Enjoyable but not life changing - probably wouldn't seek out again. Not dissimilar from the Beatles
Very boring. Too Beatles-like.
Not sure
If I wanted to listen to Duran Duran, I would have…
Nice and mellow. I would happily have the Byrds playing at most times. Certainly a good listen.
There are a few very good Psychedelic-Folk songs here. There are also a bunch of mediocre tunes as well. Gene Clark's songwriting is sorely missed and it's no surprise that the album's best song (and biggest hit), "Eight Miles High", includes Clark with a writing credit. This record gets stars primarily for its strong influence on later artists. Roger McGuinn's jangly Rickenbacker guitar tone and David Crosby's vocal harmonies birthed the sounds used by R.E.M., Tom Petty, and many others. "Eight Miles High" was adapted in the mid-80's by Husker Du as a feedback-drenched screamfest that keeps the original psychedelic flavor. Drop an extra half-star on this one for its brevity (less than a half-hour!)
3.5. More and more I listen to the Bryce the more and more I really like them
A very forgettable album that I probably couldn't hum a single melody from. It sounds good, there's nothing that puts me off, but there's just nothing special here. Maybe the guitar and bass playing was a bit progressive for the year? There were some nice licks and bass lines throughout, but also a lot of uninspiring nothingness.
Listenable but not my thing
I didn't find myself that interested in it, but for 60s psych/folk rock it's really probably pretty good and well-written. I feel kinda bad that they (presumably) never got to meet aliens. Reading about this album did lead me to find out that there's a 1994 Kermit the Frog album called Kermit Unpigged (Mr. the Frog covered "Mr. Spaceman"), so that's worth something.
This band jams so well. Enjoyable!
more upbeat and enjoyable than most albums i've had on here from the 60s
Nice album, Eight Miles High is a banger but it sounds samey 3/5
Pretty enjoyable. Not sure if I’d revisit.
The crossways between the Byrds earlier jangle pop of Mr Tambourine Man and Turn Turn Turn and the more adventorous stuff on Younger than Yesterday and The Notorius Byrd Brothers. I would give it 4 stars, if the album included the great bonus track "Why", as the first side is stellar psychedelic folk. However the 2nd side loses its luster quick after the best song "Eight Miles High".
8 miles high is a really great song. The rest is just okay enough to give it a 3. 3/5
I surprised myself and liked this one.
mostly fine, sometimes the scrangly guitar started getting on my nerves. 2.5
This can have a third star STRICTLY because of the song about aliens and the narration I accidentally listened to that said they hope aliens hear it since they're probably listening to TV and radio waves.
Mr Spaceman is pretty catchy.
Very strong opening that absolutely nose dives with "I Come And Stand At Every Door", and then never recovers.
I once loved The Byrds. There's a lot of beautiful stuff here, but it's kinda boring too.
Good musicianship but never loved the Byrds
I tended to like it. It's folk rock, and I get how itfits in the evolution of rock, but I don't know how much it holds up on its own. A lot of this list is the "Citizen Kane" problem. Citizen Kane, today, by itself, is a pretty good film. It's not the best film of all time, because every good filmmaker has seen Citizen Kane, and learned from it, and iterated on it, so what makes Citizen Kane important is no longer unique. It's just how movies are. Anyway, I'm rating this how I am, but for a lot of albums from the40's to 70's, sometimes they matter more for how they affect the language of the medium.
...
Nettes Album Ich will aber eig mal wieder n tollen Brecher hören :/
Not a huge Byrds guy - but ok.
It's not bad by any means, but a bit scattered and unfocused. The few solid tracks (8 Miles High especially) struggle to stand out compared with the amount of other meh material here. Probably not totally deserving to be on the list. 09/01/24
3/5
few familiar tunes. Same psychedelic sound.
Liked it and another one that reminded me of the Beatles.
Yeah it’s ok. Pretty okay if you ask me
Generally fine - some cool songs but sounds like everything else that came out in the folk rock genre in that decade.
ok
Much like the radio stations, I also thought the song 5D was a reference to psychedelics. After reading the Wikipedia article, I think I need to make another pass through that song and listen for the theory of relativity..? 2-4-2 Foxtrot is so very annoying. The high pitched engine noises behind the chanting of the same 7 words is almost equivalent to torture Overall, this wasn't bad. It was neat, experimental, transitional, and influential on a lot of other stuff I like. 3 stars
Best Byrds album I've heard so far. But there's still far too many Byrds albums on this list.
Maybe not in 60s but ordinary today
For me, this is the 4th Byrd's album on this list. Some nice songs, but the rest is not noteworthy.
A bit whacky 60s
jahas viidettä albumia viedään näiltä, ehkä pikkasen ylenpalttista edustamista nyt tällä listalla, kuitenkin puhutaan aika monotonisesta trendejä-seuraavista pottatukka paskiaisista kuitenkin.. kaikennäköistä on kuitenkin ykkösestä neloseen vaihteluvälin pituus ihan kiinnostava bändi ollut vaikka vituttaa tämmönen (pistää pikkasen muuten vihaksi). tämä rentoilua semmosta ja tällästä ehkä sitä kolmosta kiuaaseen mietoa, mieto lämppä päälle ja juttelua juttukaveria saunaan kun ei kerran edes keuhkoihin polta kun mietomaito lämppä päällä selkä suorana kun ei edes elämän tarkoitusta mietitä kun niin mukava lämppä yllä huohhouoijjakkahaas... eight miles high
Paisley folk rock. Jangly guitars. Multi-instrumental including some harmonica. Psychadeliac at times. Bit repetitive with songs sounding very similar. 6/10.
A couple of good tracks, nice cover of Wild Mountain Thyme, awful cover of Hey Joe. Adequate album.
Listenable
Fifth Dimension is the best album we've had from The Byrds but even then it's still only a 3/5 effort, it's happy-go-lucky middling soft rock, easy to listen to with a coupla songs like Mr Spaceman that stand the test of the time, but the rest is forgettable. Between Neil Young and David Crosby we've had FIFTEEN albums and I could've done with maybe two of them at most.
Another album from The Byrds - I like this one more than some of the others, for sure, but it's still not particularly inspiring. This one claims to be critical in originating psychedelic rock; maybe it was, but I'd prefer to listen to the ones that came after that took this to another level, rather than this thing that's stuck in the middle of folk, psychedelia, and rock, and doesn't take the best of any of it. But, there's something to it, it was influential, and it's not a bad listen, just not a particularly good one. Straight down the middle, 3/5.
Didn’t love this.
Bland and boring. But then there is Eight Miles High. Worth the cost of the album.
A classic but listening to the other tracks they're a bit 'One dimensional' (geddit?) Not much variation in style or content but it's ok I guess. Includes a version of 'Hey Joe' which is a bit odd.....
Honestly, I kind of struggled to figure out what I wanted to say about this album. And not for lack of a hook or perspective; by everything I've written, this is commonly considered the original psychedelic rock album. Heck, "Eight Mile High" is apparently, according to a lot of folk, **the** first psych rock song ever written. Which, y'know, I take claims like that with a bit of "If it hadn't been that, it would've been something else" — but still, it can be hard sometimes not to marvel at the thing that started it all. And yet, here? I'unno. I didn't dislike this album as I heard it, but after taking a few minutes before starting this review... I can't recall a lot of it; nothing specific I can bring up for this review. Like, sure, after one listen I'm not gonna have the whole thing completely memorized, but still, I should be able to come up with **something**. As I sit here, though, my mind keeps flashing through a bunch of other songs I heard today — "Savoy Truffle", Peter Griffin singing "Memories" — but not really anything from **this** album. At most, I suppose, there's "2-4-2 Fox Trot", which is kind of an odd closer. I mean, I understand the concept and I don't really fault its execution, but I imagine it's a song that would've improved with better stereo mixing. I mean, take out an earphone: y'wanna hear the band, or jet whining and someone talking over a radio? All the while the band stands in the cockpit chanting "I WANNA RIDE A LEARJET." Second time I've heard about these things in a song, and this ain't no "Money". I'unno. I can appreciate this thing's place in history, and in the moment it's good, but... Mm, I'unno. During the album I was feeling a 4, but just for the fact that I forgot so much and that it's not exactly compelling me to give it a second listen... 3. It's an "it's fine" 3. Jus', I'unno. That's just how it is. Maybe if there **had** been another Bob Dylan cover, who knows?
I completely lost track of this while I was listening to it. Generally unremarkable but enjoyable.
Aight
Pretty tight. They had a sound. Crazy the winds of change - in terms of cultural and monetary cachet these guys weren't too far off from the beatles contemporaneously but in hindsight have been erased to a whole different tier. Anyway the psychedelic shit is fun, and they are competent musicians (not sure if wrecking crew was still helping out) reaching out to eastern and hippy and other influences, and doing so while preserving that cool ass jangly sound.
nice mellow album of late 60's folk rock. Really decent, but not feeling it.
I'm not a fan of The Byrds, but at least they gained a bit of my respect with "Hey Joe". I liked guitar solos on this album, which were pretty revolutionary of 60s, I think. But otherwise, it's just another older album that is interesting only because it was different at the time. Not something one would listen to nowadays.
Hippy, but it is the 60's. What can you expect? About what I expected. I particularly liked "I See You", and the rest were fine. Some were a bit kooky. Alright album, not entirely my style but bits I liked
there were good songs, I really liked Mr Spaceman and I see why it was influential. Reminds me of beach boys but with a tad more edge which is nice. But some songs were also tiring
It’s fine.
This is only my fourth album by The Byrds to review, but it honestly feels like my tenth. Just yesterday, I reviewed my fifth and final Nick Cave album, so I guess the theme of this weekend is ‘artists with a ton of representation on this list.’ My most recent Byrds album to review was Younger Than Yesterday, which has been my favorite of theirs so far. I’m excited to take a step back from that and listen to the album that started the band on their journey into psychedelic music. This album started off really strong. “5D” and “Wild Mountain Thyme” were both really great songs. For psychedelic albums from the sixties, I usually expect some heavy organ or Mellotron usage, but this album relied heavily on the guitar playing to create the psychedelic sound, and “5D” did a great job of that. “Wild Mountain Thyme” was easily my favorite song on the whole album. I loved the string arrangements that were used. Their sweeping sound complimented the guitar playing really well, and felt very tethered to The Byrds’ past as a band who focused more on folk music. “John Riley” was really good too, and I enjoyed the string arrangements that were used. I usually think of harmonies when I think of The Byrds, and while this album featured some harmonies that were really well done, they were pretty sparsely used, which I thought was an interesting shift. After those first two songs (with the exception of “John Riley), the album was just fine. I really expected to be impressed by “Eight Miles High,” and while it might be an influential song, it didn’t really land with me. I really didn’t like The Byrds’ interpretation of “Hey Joe;” the frantic pace didn’t feel like it fit the tone of the song, but maybe that’s because I’m used to the Jimi Hendrix version. Overall though, this album was fine, but I did appreciate listening to this album for its impact and historical significance.
3/5. I really enjoy the songwriting on this one. The covers are what the Byrds are known for but the original songs on this here are interesting and stand out. I don't think it's innovative but it was an enjoyable listen. The production is a little aged of course, with a wall of sound that feels like a wave like it should be but more like a brick wall. It definitely still feels like a lot of songs with ideas but none of them completed. Was short with short songs to make up for anytime I wasn't enjoying a song. Best Song: Eight Miles High, Mr. Spaceman, Wild Mountain Thyme
Lush and pretty early synth pop music. B
Album 584 of 1001 The Byrds - Fifth Dimension 1966) Rating : 3 / 5 I really like The Byrds but can't say that this album would be on my list of favorites from them. That could change after more listens. I have several of their tracks on my liked songs playlist but think that Eight Miles High is the only one from this album that would be there. I don't think it is a bad album. Just think they have better.
am i over folk music? perhaps :( this was nice but i found it pretty boring, which i was kinda bummed about honestly. the mild tone that lends the album its prettiness just isn’t super dynamic. maybe i should have listened to it on a higher volume?
Not really my thing, but I can see some people liking it. Sounded a little sloppy.
3.5 rounded down quite groovy and all but also a little. bleh highlights: 5d (fifth dimension), wild mountain thyme, eight miles high (dec 3 2024)
A band who I’m aware of because of my Dad really, I think it sounds a little dated to be honest but by no means bad, enjoyed it but not sure I’ll go back for repeat listens
- Mochte die Byrds immer sehr gern (Turn, Turn Turn und Mr. Tambourine Man sind Teil des unfassbar guten Forrest Gump Soundtracks, den ich viel gehört habe, weil wir den auf CD hatten) hab mich aber neben den Hits nie wirklich mit denen befasst. - Chilliges Album, aber auch nicht besonders spannend Rating: 3/5
Historically significant but there's not much to enjoy about it these days.
This album sounds how an old woman's wardrobe smells. Music's not bad or anything (nothing special either), but I can feel the dust and mummified moth corpses filling my lungs as I listen to this. Probably the best of the way too fucking many Byrds albums on this list. Flowed very well, unlike the other ones which felt like they lasted half the lifespan of a Galapagos tortoise. "Eight Miles High" is a good song.
Neutral. Bit boring
Favorite Track: Wild Mountain Thyme
The Byrds are some comfort food for sure. I don't reach for this on my accord, but it's a good listen.
Can't escape the bald fact that, in terms of folk rock, I prefer almost everything that came in the wake of this release. For example - 'I Come and Stand at Every Door' is fine here, but imagine if it was performed by a Sandy Denny fronted Fairport Convention? Big track 'Eight Miles High' is the best thing on here. This is about the third version of 'Wild Mountain Thyme' I've heard through this app. Decent stab at 'Hey Joe'. Not bad, but horribly dated. Also, "hey mister astronaut" from the band who also served up "hey mister tambourine man"? They are playing us for fools.
2.5
"Eight Miles High" is a fantastic song, and the rest of the album is also good, but not up to the same standard. 3.5 stars
John Riley has some interesting parts. I like the byrds from other songs, but none of these strike that same chord.
Mostly filler, some killer. This was music dipping just one toe into psychedelia. Still too much harmony and organization for me. Adding Graham Parsons, breaking off to be Buffalo Springfield developed the sound more interestingly and fully. This album is embryonic. Saved songs: - Eight Miles High
Interesting mainly for the reasons of inclusion. Relaxing, ok, but middle of the road for me. Faves: Mr Spacemen, Captain Soul, 2-4-2 Fox Trot
Pretty good.
jangly guitars, great singing, what's not to like? good album.
-well it’s nothing completely groundbreaking for folk rock but I kinda like it. it definitely feels sort of repetitive and one-note but has some good vocals. sort of undecided between 3 and 3.5 -Favorites are Mr. Spaceman and Hey Joe (Where You Gonna Go)
Très standard niveau album psychédélique, j'ai l'impression d'avoir écouté cette musique une vingtaine de fois depuis que j'ai commencé ce challenge
Cream meets the Beatles. Really enjoyed the first half, but everything after the song with the rocket taking off was not for me. That “song” ruined the rest of it. The album did do some cool things sonically, otherwise. Standouts: 5D (Fifth Dimension), Mr. Spaceman, I See You, and Eight Miles High.
Som alla andra the byrds album på den här listan så är det här också ett trevligt, non offensive, bluesy/folksy rock album.
It’s interesting to listen to deep cuts from these bands that you only hear one or two songs from. It’s a perfectly fine record. The more interesting aspect of it is the undeniable influence it must have had on Tom Petty.
This album doesn’t seem to translate to this era. There are some great songs and outstanding performances but just never quite nailing it.
Not bad, more folksy than I thought it would be
Do all byrds albums end with a 10+ minute interview? I’ve gotta say I found it endearing, they sound so dreamy eyed. and it did kind of illuminate the thinking behind quite a few songs, not bad.
The literal doorway from folk to psych. These guitar riffs are truly revolutionary. Not their best album but an important one.
6/10. It's an important record, but it isn't really my favourite one. Although, it does have some great tunes!!! :)
Nice music from the 60s.
Better than I expected, and more varied. The genre is somewhere between psych rock and folk, and it felt like track-to-track veered pretty wildly across that whole range. It’s got some charm and character. Nothing here completely grabbed me, though, and I’m not likely to revisit it at depth. Favorite tracks: Wild Mountain Thyme, I Come and Stand at Every Door, John Riley
A nice ‘60s pop record, but besides some great songs here and there, there’s not a lot that’s special on here. The harmonies are good and the ideas are there, but The Byrds would find greater inspiration later on.
It was good
Did not enjoy as much as the previous Byrds album I heard on this project, but still a perfectly solid listen. 3.5
Favourite song - Mr Spaceman
Some hippy,dippy vibing music. Loved Psychodrama City !
You can see some cool psychedelia and that classic 12-string Roger McGuinn guitar. But the performances? Not great?
This was nice. shrug
“8 miles high” is the obvious standout, but outside of that one touching down not much else landed for me. Good musicianship, some good sounds and grooves. Some props for influence but more or less average IMO.
My most vivid memory of hearing “8 Miles High” took place while inside an MRI tube, and so the frenetic guitar didn’t exactly groove well with the machine pounding. Definitely made for an interesting experience. Still, there are some good songs here; just not as good as earlier efforts where McGuinn’s signature Rickenbacker seems much more prevalent. A nice surprise was hearing the Celt-folk trad number “Wild Mountain Thyme”, but overall just an ok listen.
There’s a couple of good tracks here, but a lot of forgettable ones too. Am guessing this one isn’t really their best work, because this was just fine.
For a moment I thought this could be a sneaky 4* album. But then they hit me with Hey Joe and that Lear Jet song and knocked it down a notch. 3.25/5
Mmm not sure of this nothing great average at best.
seems like a variation/diversification on the central Byrds Sound that might make a bit more sense to me were i more familiar with that sound. good fundamentals tho...harmonies, jangly guitar parts, arrangement details. apparently they were super into coltrane around this time??? i wish i could hear it more lmao but it is an indication as to the fun array of Outside Influences being grafted onto here. the songs are also fine lol
3.5 stars. Bit too much of a Beatles redux at times, but "Eight Miles High" is great and overall it's a decent folk/classic rock album to have in the background.
Started off strong with 5D, but I didn’t enjoy the rest as much
"what's happening?" is a good song, I could live without the rest. Kind of run-of-the-mill early psychadelic folk type shit. I blame David Crosby for me not liking this album, seems like everything he touches makes me not like it. Best Byrds albums are ones without him, best CSN&Y are the solo albums by the members without Crosby. This list has helped me realize my disdain for him and Jim Morrison, hard to explain but I think it has as much to do with personality as it does with musical ability.
Some good music.
Same problem as always with the Byrds - they just don't strike me as authentic or original. It's probably harsh, but they seem a bit false to me. Nice enough, but they don't move me.
This is clearly a transition from folk to psychedelic in terms of what is going on musically and lyrically. It's cool, but dated.
This was fine, nothing bad about it. But I found it average overall.
There are better Byrds albums but mostly this is fine, and Eight Miles High Rocks.
Nothing noticeable to me. Good, easy listening 60s rock. not many tracks stick out
The author of this list is partial to the byrds hey..... Considerably better than that country album of theirs we had recently. However not as good as younger than yesterday.... Maybe they should've stuck to the Dylan covers. It isnt bad, but I just think there were other similar acts doing a similar thing better than they are doing it here. Bit of an imitation. 2.5 is fair I think
The standard mediocre boy band album 3/5
Average 60's vibe.
July 10, 2024 HL: “Eight Miles High”, “John Riley”, “Wild Mountain Thyme”, “What’s Happening”, “Why” (non-album single) My opinion of the Byrds has become increasingly complicated since starting this list. True, I thought they were a great band before & I still think they are today, but pretty much every album has sounded like a mix of legitimately strong folk rock… & studio outtakes, cobbled together. It doesn’t help we’re dealing with 60’s stereo mixing, which is bad at the best of times (see: Revolver, one of my favourite albums ever) but especially distracting here. Tbf, the psychedelic stylings of “5D”, “Eight Miles High” & “I See You” had me thinking this might be the best Byrds yet, but the one-two punch of “Hey Joe” & “Captain Soul”, an anemic blues number, sent me spiralling back to Earth. A Byrds greatest hits would be straight fire in comparison to their studio albums 🔥
Creo que tiene algunos temas interesantes, pero creo que es inconsistente.
Old timey, 60s music. Nice change from my normal repertoire.
Another "oh hey I've heard this before", some of the sound seems pretty cutting edge for the time.
Pretty decent album. Great song writing and some cool ideas thrown in to each song. I had no clue who this band was. At first confused them for the Yardbirds... And then I thought I heard Tom Petty... So I was thinking Travelling Wilburys. I was way off. But kind of in the same wheel house. I don't know what I'm saying anymore.
The Byrds fluttered so CSNY could soar
Not my sauce, but I can tell my parents would dig this album. I’d need to be driving a VW bus, on the pacific highway to really get in the groove of this. 2.7
Lots more variety than I thought there would be. Folksy, bluesy, light rock. I wouldn’t seek it out to listen to though.
Never listened to this but it was a good listen.
recht sochli folk time iwie? mehrstimmige gsang kinda cute, d instrument mached iwie eifach chli irgendöppis? 5D und wild mountain hetmi jz nöd megaa überzügt mr. spaceman sehe cool, sehr 60er I see you chli meh tempo stereo git wiedermal alles hahaha SCHNORREGIIGE john riley eig sehr cool, aber d striicher und de gsang passt für mich nöd so ganz zude giti und drums puuh 424 fox trot ahstrengend paar sache woni sehr cool gfunde han, anderi sache sindmer sochli egal gsi - fucking drü
The Byrds are cool. This isn't my favorite album of theirs, but it's still pretty awesome.
Not their best, but still pretty good
60’er rock, med lidt psykedelisk over sig, lidt folket
Mr. Spaceman is good. It is a pretty trippy album overall
Never listened to a Byrds album until today. It was an enjoyable experience overall. Favorite track: Captain Soul
It's fine. Jangly guitar which is The Byrds calling card, but also some real shitty 12-string work too... TF was going on during Eight Miles High? Probably good for the time, but not much in the way of sticking power. I wouldn't put this on intentionally. 3.1
A little spotty, but there are some gems on here.
Groovy
This is in the top 1001??? Eight Miles High is a great song, but you can't lean on one song to make a classic album. A positive is that I do love David Crosby's backing vocals throughout. Hey Joe, more like Hey No! Leave the heavy lifting to Jimi. I Know My Rider (I Know You Rider) is better left for Dead. In one word, mediocre.
Captain Soul is sublime. As is Eight Miles High ✌️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I could listen to those two on a loop all day. Cooool. But some missed by at least 8 miles: yes, I'm talking to you, Mr. Spaceman.
Enjoyable album. Early psychedelic rock. Sonically perhaps could’ve been more varied. Eight Miles High and Hey Joe are standout tracks, the latter of which reminded me of Led Zeppelin.
This was average 60s music but honestly it’s been a while since I’ve gotten slop like this so I’m not at hostile toward it as I would be otherwise. Plus after sweetheart at the rodeo I’ve come to enjoy the byrds more over time. Wild mountain thyme was my fav.
Mediocre and tedious faux folk hippie nonsense
classic Byrds, good but non excellent
Crazy vibes for a 60s album. Unique but did not speak to me
Someone needs to teach these guys how to spell. 3.5
Melodic record that would somtimes benefit from a bit less acid.
Couldn't find the complete album. Cobbled the tracklist together as best as I could. It was okay. Nothing really outstanding though.
Oye easy to see how this was influential both as early psychedelic rock and with the beginnings of the more Country Rock they would soon be producing. It is a wildly uneven album though.
Pretty good
Groundbreaking work of 60s/70s psychedelia
Eight miles high. Gummon. The rest, quite pants. Crozz
pretty hippie shit. not as interesting as the other birds album
3.5
Excellent harmonies and lots of impressive guitar throughout, but nothing really jumped out at me. I found the whole album really fading into the background even on successive, more focused listens. Enjoyable but not particularly memorable (except for Mr. Spaceman)
Good Byrds album.
Dude! What a great soundtrack for a smoke sesh! I'm convinced that it was sequenced so that if you start hitting the bong when the album begins, you'll get through the initial giggles and such by the time you're through with "Mr. Spaceman." I See You and What's Happening build you up, and then the horrific subject matter of I Come and Stand at Every Door gives you a quick tether to reality before Eight Miles High kicks in and you get into some good floaty tunes on the back half of the album. Probably would have been better had I lit up first, but it's a decent listen regardless. Unexpected banger: Captain Soul
This gets a few points for being a bit ahead of its time on psychedelic rock, but uneven is a great description of this album. I See You was the only track of note for me and Captain Soul and Hey Joe were both fun listens. Mr. Spaceman also got a laugh out of me. Altogether nothing to write home about, but not offensive.
Heard it
Went in and out of dylanness.
A bit odd, in that sixties sort of way that things are. I didn't object to anything on it - although there are many better versions of Mountain Thyme - and there are some OK tracks. But I don't think I'll listen again anytime soon.
Sounds like something the brady bunch would listen to. Fave: Mr. Spaceman, Hey Joe, 242 Fox Trot, Psychodrama City Least: I Come and Stand at Every Door (dramatic), John Riley I don’t really like the story songs. Some songs sounded more modern classic rock and some sounded like colonial rock.
OK, but someone needed to invent reverb.
"Eight Miles High" is really an amazing song, still. The rest was probably earth shaking at release, but as with any influential album, the original amazement fades as so many take up the sound.
Good
Getting this right after a solo Gene Clark felt weird (literally the day after). This The Byrds without Gene Clark and without Bob Dylan's songs. It's... experimental. Okay.
It was OK. Would not spin again or tell others to listen.
I enjoyed it.
Listened Before? N Pretty good Byrds album. More polished than their early work, but lacking some of the spirit. I enjoyed it but it's not their best work. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Eight Miles High
sounds fine but nothing really stands out. easy to listen to but overall average
I like the overall sound and I liked a couple of the tracks: Hey Joe and John Riley. But it doesn’t quite rise above a three for me.
Solid start, but lost me around the same time they started sampling Leer jet engines.
It was a nice listen but didn’t blow me away. I wouldn’t mind if someone else put it on but wouldn’t chose to myself
Love these amazing harmonies
I'm not a huge fan of the airy, hippie-dippie stuff. Not a bad album, but nothing I'd pick to listen to again. Fav tracks: What's Happening?, Captain Soul
Classic. Can see how their sound developed more after this album.
3.5 Good album throughout nothing too amazing
Yeah it’s an album
This album feels sort of like if Simon & Garfunkel decided to hire a bunch of musicians to do whatever they liked overtop their harmonies, and I mean that in a good way, but also that it could be better. There's weird, psychedelia infused guitars mixed with space-y effects that feel like Psychedelic rock is finally coming into its own, but while that makes the overall calmer lyrics more of a novelty than anything, it does feel weird to have tracks stating the usual "gonna kill my wife for cheating on me" lyrics while someone goes ham on the strings. It works sometimes, while other times it doesn't. I think Beatles were mastering the craft already at this point, and the Byrds just didn't want to let go so they could really launch into the stratosphere here, instead they still seem to orbit Earth. Still, for 1966, its out of this world.
Solid Harmonies, if not a little droning. The music is repetitive and a little bit weird – backward echoes, reverb, and the like. Eight Miles High is a great composition. Their interpretation of Hey Joe is simply bonkers. As a whole, I can see this being really appealing if I were tripping. But I'm not tripping.