Headquarters

The Beatle (singular)

I really liked this. Like a dumb amount. For what is functionally a Beatles parody group at its inception, this was really jammin', and I get why they became popular in their own right. Fucking Zilch.

If someone made a Spinal Tap/Mighty Wind 60s band album this is exactly what it would sound like.

"Headquarters" is a mismatched mishmash of mediocrity that is merely a meagre mimicry (one might even say maliciously so) of "modern" music. It leaves the listener feeling mocked, miserable, and more than a mite mad with the meretricious marketing machine that is the Monkees.

Released 1 week before Sgt. Pepper's - it sounds decades behind. Mid 60's pop. It's not bad; it's just not good either. Best tracks: You Told Me, You Just May Be The One, For Pete's Sake (Closing Theme)

i grew up in the nineties when nick @ nite aired old reruns of the monkees show. my mom adored them growing up, and headquarters was in fact her favorite monkees' album. i've never stopped loving the monkees. some bias may show here, but i'll show good reason for it! headquarters is different from the monkees' previous albums. not only are peter and michael's vocals featured more, but the overall quality is better and feels more authentically monkees. this album isn't as breezy and light as their first two albums but instead contains more substance. the monkees were given more creative control for this album, which is unmistakable when comparing their albums. more than half of the album is written by at least one monkee, along with the usual tommy boyce and bobby hart additions. i will plug the delightful opening lyrics from "my sunny girlfriend" written by nesmith: "she owns and operates/her own sunshine factory". not to mention, for a band that was created simply for a tv show and not because they could play instruments, the four of them creating the "band 6" instrumental is monumental as an inclusion. as mentioned before, headquarters has more depth. there are some sweet, slow songs ("shades of gray", "early morning blues and greens"), but you have the typical monkees humor ("zilch", "randy scouse git" - and i swear you can hear micky's laughter in the back of "no time") and your love songs for davy and his girlfriend of the week ("i can't get her off my mind"). sure, it's a similar formula, but more meaning is contained within than before. headquarters is the first monkees' album to balance all members without relying only on micky and davy's vocals. if anyone is slighted, it is peter; later albums show how soft and beautiful his voice on songs could be. there's a reason why "shades of gray" stands out on this album. but for mike to have three (!) songs he wrote and sang included, that shows the monkees' personal influence. don't get me wrong: headquarters is brilliant and enjoyable, but i love all monkees' music. regardless of the album or the song, a smile always finds its way to my face when listening to them. one of the easiest 5s i've ever given.

It's okay, but really just sounds like a group trying (and struggling) to impersonate the more poppy elements of the Beatles, which I suppose is essentially what they were doing. It's well recorded and produced, but the songs just fall a little flat for me. There were a few interesting asides though - I now know where Del the Funky Homosapien got the main sample for Mistadobalina! Probably wouldn't listen to again, but it wouldn't annoy me if someone else wanted to put it on. (2.6)

A really good album, I love the style of music. My favourites were The Girl I Knew Somewhere, No Time, Forget That Girl and Randy Scouse Git.

This absolutely ruled. I knew The Monkees were underrated, but this still took me by surprise. I loved every second of this album, even the sillier moments.

believer

https://www.toppermost.co.uk/monkees/ The monkeys were an incredible band. This is an incredible album. Zilch! Tape looping in 1967. Randy scouse git. This is an all time great example of sixties pop. Possibly only surpassed by the astounding Pisces … Think of this. Imagine BTS doing something like Zilch. Not to knock BTS - they do what they do and it appeals to millions. But to bring in cutting edge musical compositional ideas. (To be fair their albums are generally very philosophical even if the music is predictable). More of my feelings on this incredible band - the band that shouldn’t be - can be found in the link above. 16 stars.

Fantastic pop album no complaints

Knew of The Monkees but very few of their songs. Blown away by this album. Great late '60s pop.

❤️

Favorite monkee's album

loved every song

Always loved The Monkees. they're a band with no pretence or delusions of grandeur, just a bunch of musicians thrown together by a record label....that worked.

I underestimated the Monkees

*monkey noises*

This is very good album

Great

Reminds me of early Beatles, but less over played.

Five stars just for "If I Learned To Play The Violin". Funniest song I've ever heard.

I've loved the The Monkees since I was a ten yr old kid. Thanks to my aunt & Nickelodeon, watching The Monkees TV show was part of my afternoon schedule. It was then when I developed one of my first crushes on Michael Nesmith. It was as an adult that I learned that he was from TX & spent quite a bit of time in my hometown. Childhood aside, this group is incredibly talented. My favorite songs are those led by Mike, but Mickey is also a fantastic lead vocalist. Also cool to note that at least one of these songs is written by Neil Diamond (he's a phenomenal song writer IMO) and that wins points too. I hope we see more from The Monkees. They're definitely a favorite.

I loved this album as well as the story of how it came to be. TV executives create a fake band who actually wanted to be a real band, and this is what they got to do when allowed. It is so fun and so good and so very very representative of its time.

Oh yay!!

The Monkees were always more than a manufactured band of pretty boys and this album proved it; all the self-penned songs stand up against those written for them or recorded as covers (well, maybe excepting "Band 6" and "Zilch", but even they have their merits) and in some cases are the best songs on the album.

I love the Monkees. They're fun, they don't take themselves too seriously, and their songs are catchy. Yeah, they were a "fake" band for a TV show and the whole schtick was being a blatant Beatles-esque ripoff so you can easily slap a derivative label on them. But they're obviously creative, talented guys who worked well together as a group and the fact that they fought for more creative control over the music and wanted to grow as artists in their own right speaks volumes about them. They may have started out conceptually as puppets for the network but they became so much more. The endurance of their songs well beyond the shelf life of the TV show proves that what they did resonated with a lot people in a truly impactful way. I dig everything they represent and I love their tunes. It's worth noting that I write this as a person born in the 80's who loved watching their show when I was a kid even though the episodes were already 25+ year old reruns.

“The Monkees weren't about music, Marge. They were about rebellion, about political and social upheaval!”

Highlights: Randy Scouse Git, The Girl I Knew Somewhere, A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You Having grown up with The Monkees on TV, this album contains quite a few rarer and deeper cuts than I'm used to. They really did gel as a band and by 1967, were producing much more polished music than their introductory efforts, for better or for worse. It's nice to see they didn't take themselves too seriously, even later in their heyday, where they continued to craft short and punchy tracks that never overstayed their welcome, but also were numerous. As such, I won't go over them all, but they're all pretty good.

This is a super fun album and it maintained a consistent good energy throughout. I wish some of the songs had been longer or more complex but I still enjoyed them. Some definite bops in there and all around a fun album.

Innocent music.

The Monkees occupy an odd place in my pop music lexicon. The active band era predated my existence by a few years, with the barest intersection (various reunions I didn't register at the time notwithstanding). I watched tons of them in reruns, though, and the obvious hits are cataloged in the depths of my semiconscious inner pop library. Since childhood, I thought of this band not at all though, except briefly when Jones and Tork died. Reading up on this album, I'm impressed by their dedication to being allowed to operate as an actual band. Still, it's hard not to make the obvious comparisons: the whole thing is heavily derivative of the Beatles, and not truly up to that standard. But I'm persuaded it earns its place in this list.

Pretty derivative, with the first half especially just being “I can’t believe it’s not Beatles!™”, but still very listenable, and the back half especially had som fun creative ideas.

Ew, you like the Monkees.

Ew you like The Monkees? You know they don’t write their own songs. They don’t play their own instruments. That’s not even Michael Nesmith’s real hat

When the Beatles started going weird, someone at NBC television had the bright idea of creating a family friendly boy band from scratch for a tv show, and maybe put out some records as well. The Monkees were duly assembled and released two albums, before rising up and seizing the means of production to record their own songs. This album is mostly harmless, but not particularly memorable. Highlight is a snarky song about the Beatles called “Randy Scouse Git”.

“Headquarters” by The Monkees (1967) Formulaic pop which is not representative of the ‘Summer of Love’ in the American cultural scene. We regarded this music as immature even then. We can now add to our disdain the recognition that it was, from the beginning, a corporate project. I feel sorry for the artists, but the music is too formulaic to be called art. Still, it’s pleasing enough to listen to. Once. For old time’s sake. On the way out the door. Lyrically sappy, G-rated pulp. Musically, it would be fun to play a party game with 70-year-olds identifying which Beatles songs the Monkees are ripping off in each track. Mickey Dolenz’ drumming is poor (that’s why it’s wisely subdued in the mix) and bass is played by B-grade session musicians, demonstrating that the producers didn’t take the rhythm section seriously—a fatal flaw for rock music. Guitar arrangements performance are amateurish. All vocals are weak. Mr. Jones, please put down the tambourine. Okay, now that that unpleasant task is done, we can, at a minimum, celebrate the fact these guys were at least pretending to have fun. But they were being paid to. 2/5

I grew up in the 80s, but fell in love with the Monkees watching reruns of the television show. I bought copies of all their albums and knew all their songs. This album happens to be my favorite of theirs. A little something for everyone.

This is really solid 60's Pop music. Probably the first time I've listened to a Monkees album. There aren't any overplayed hits to skip, which makes it that much better. The vocal harmonizing is standout for me. Really enjoyable listen. Just exactly perfect for a summer morning on the patio with coffee.

I used to watch the Monkees as a kid (kid of the 80's/90's, but obsessed with 60's tv). this album was a nice surprise. I wish they were taken more seriously as musicians in their prime, this album is fun and experimental pop.

Have on vinyl. Love them Monkees.

Despite fillers, Band 6 and Zilch, it is a solid album from the band. They were finally able to play their own instruments and they were able to be a real band.

I personally give this 5 stars and note that there is some bias in play. This was the first album they played their own instruments on, which was a big deal for them. It's an even bigger deal that when it came out, it topped both The Beatles and Beach Boys. Probably a largely underappreciated album, but one of my favorites for sure.

Well this is delightful. Nice and easy 60s pop. A good time.

Loved the TV show back in the day! A number of great songs!!!

"The Cars" by The Cars is a quintessential album of the late 1970s, marked by its innovative blend of new wave, rock, and pop sensibilities. From the infectious hooks of "Just What I Needed" to the moody yet catchy "My Best Friend's Girl," this self-titled debut showcases the band's knack for crafting memorable melodies and marrying them with sleek, synth-driven arrangements. One of the album's strengths lies in its diversity. Tracks like "Good Times Roll" exude a playful energy, while "You're All I've Got Tonight" delves into darker, more introspective territory. Ric Ocasek's distinctive vocals and quirky lyrics add depth and character to each song, while the tight musicianship of the band members ensures a polished, cohesive sound throughout. "The Cars" is a timeless classic that remains as relevant and enjoyable today as it was upon its release. It's a testament to the band's enduring influence on the music landscape, and a must-listen for fans of alternative rock and pop alike.

momnkeksknknes

I was skeptical. Buti ended up liking the album.

Most underrated artist of all time? not sure about that, but i know this album is fantastic.

Amidst their struggle for creative control, there's a raw energy that permeates Headquarters, giving it a distinct edge. The Monkees finally have the opportunity to assert themselves as musicians, pushing boundaries and experimenting with their sound. Tracks like Randy Scouse Git showcase the group's willingness to take risks and break free from conventions. Despite the chaos, there's a sense of liberation in their music, as if they're finally unleashing their true selves. Headquarters marks a significant departure from their earlier, more polished sound, revealing a band unafraid to embrace their quirks and imperfections. In the midst of the madness, The Monkees find their voice, creating an album that is both wildly entertaining and undeniably authentic. It's a testament to their resilience and creativity, proving that sometimes a little madness can lead to greatness. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 11 STAND OUT TRACK - You Just May Be the One

Such a classic!¡

I just can't...

Ok so I fucking love The Monkees. Their greatest hits album is a certified banger for road trips. That being said I haven't tried to listen to any of their main albums. These guys are the OG Big Time Rush but they're actually good LOL They are a specific vibe of upbeat, hopeful, and cheery music they just aims to put a smile on your face. They remind us that its okay to just be happy without having a reason; sometimes you can just *be* in a good mood. If you want a song that exemplifies this the best (even tho it isn't on this album) listen to Pleasant Valley Sunday. This album is just more of that... Being pleasant and bright :) You Told Me I'll Spend My Life with You. You Just May be the One !!!!!!!!! (this is a monkees song?!?! how did I not know) For Pete's Sake (Closing Theme) BOP Mr. Webster Sunny Girlfriend No Time! Randy Scouse Git!!!!!!!!! The Girl I knew Somewhere A Little Bit me, a Little Bit You I thoroughly enjoy the Monkees fuck yes

Needed this one today, great fun bit of silly 60s pop that's better than it pretends to be. Sure the beatles thing is writ large, but there is something special here.

Very cool album! It's got great harmonies, the opener is fantastic A sweet concise album, that doesn't waste time, except for the quirky interludes maybe. The songs have fantastic hooks and melodies. They're having a ball and being goofy at times, but I think it's a bit of their trademark? Standouts: You Told Me, Shades Of Gray, For Pete's Sake, Sunny Girlfriend, Early Morning Blues And Greens 8,5 out of 10

Rock sesentero. Venga, vinilo, aunque alguna canción no me ha entusiasmado.

the beatles from the USA?

Starts off sounding like the Beatles. Some genuinely good tracks. A good variety of sounds and styles. Not everything is great, but overall pretty good.

Nostalgic

There are worse examples of 60s pop on this list and this album is by some guys that were often criticized for being phonies. When this popped up I thought it was the soundtrack to Head. Once I realized it wasn't I was a little disappointed but this is good.

Probably more like a 3.5 for me but rounding up for nostalgia, my mom was always playing the monkees growing up

man ļoti patika, bet es padevos kaut kur pusē :D deluxe edition ir kkādas 50 dziesmas no thank you

This one surprised me

"Pillow Time" was like sound cut straight out of some artsy horror movie, something I'd never guess was in an album by The Monkees. Overall nice. Not exactly something I'd listen to on daily basis.

Very evocative of the era. But also a very different sound from earlier Monkees albums.

I thoroughly enjoy The Monkees and don't hold their origins as a manufactured group against them. I think it's rather remarkable that they were able to gain creative control in the process of making this record. And on top of that, the fact that they were talented enough to make that transition sound fairly seamless to their previous output is kind of amazing really. I appreciate their sense of humor and playful nature. It's not complete fluff as some would have you believe. Their music easily stacks up to other psychedelic pop albums on this list (Electric Prunes come to mind for example) and they're often much more enjoyable because they don't take themselves too seriously. Yeah, they are indebted to The Beatles, but who wasn't? They're not simply Beatles clones by any means.

A shockingly good album 5 or 6 absolute classic Monkees songs 4 stars

Pop sixties de qualitat. Molt variat i amb uns quants temes a què agafar-se. Era el treball que marcava la independència de la banda respecte la indústria, i no els va poder sortir millor la jugada. La quarta estrella és pel plus d’haver-los escoltat passejant per Byron Bay ❤️

brilliant

Was not expecting this to be this good.

3.5/5. Above-average 60s pop. It's nothing amazing, but it's not bad.

Legit 1960s pop, pleasurable and more substantial than one expected of course. There are a handful of very good, borderline excellent tunes ("You May Be the One," "For Pete's Sake" [which is slightly over-earnest, it must be said,] "Early Morning Blues and Greens," "Randy Scouse Git"). Still, they missed their window to be taken seriously and few, if any, self-respecting hipsters are going to take their side in arguments about underrated '60s bands.

Enjoyable poppy stuff for the most part. Some of lyrics are a bit creepy and pedophilic when listening in 2023.

Beatles like is always good

Fun album, very 1960s with the short songs, but the sound is solid. You can feel the British Invasion throughout the entire 30 minutes. Songs that stand out: “Mr. Webster”, “Sunny Girlfriend”, “Randy Scouse Git”. 4/5

Was a nice listen overall

The original Big Time Rush. Enjoyable easy listen. Rating: 4.1

Anyone who thought the Beatles were not influential at all just needs to listen to the Monkees. I mean, yes, at first it was a ploy to capitalize on the Beatlemania, but soon the members protested the songs they were given. THEY could write, too. And wouldn't you know it, the songs pretty much sounded like the Beatles ANYWAY. It's not like the songs are BAD, mind you. But it's very obvious where the influence comes from. Even so, the band experimented with tempo and such in songs, a bit more than the Beatles did. And the songs worked, but one has to wonder if they had been modeled after the Stones, what would they sound like? High points for me: "You Just Might Be The One," "Shades of Gray," "No Time." The album is probably their best effort. They claim to have sold more than the Beatles at one point, but which do people really remember?

leger et furtif ca ne fait de mal a personne

Dehä va så hype dude. Basen e så kracked o låtarna går hårt

Very solid 60s pop! Would definitely return to it

They are better than a "made for TV" band from the 60s should be. 4 stars.

Beatles inflytande

very 60s quirky

I've only heard the Monkees radio hits before (and maybe some songs from the TV show I watched as a kid) and love them all. I don't recall ever hearing any of the songs off this album before. I liked it for the most part, nothing amazing though. The first song, You Told Me sounds like very much like a Beatles song cut from Rubber Soul. Still, I wonder why this was the Monkees album chosen for the list.

Manufactured pop that actually does surprisingly well for itself.

Probably a 5 if it had I'm A Believer or Daydream Believer

Solidly enjoyable

I really like this - it's very of its time, but still has some interesting tracks.

Not a bad album at all, spans a couple of genres for me. No Time is the fave.

Dette var faktisk veldig bra, men aldri noe bedre enn det

Great energy and album

Fácil de escuchar, con un ritmo contagioso y divertido. Lo disfruté y se me fue muy rápido.

Cute

I do enjoy a spot of the Monkees, and this had lots of lovely moments, especially Randy Scouse Git. I am a little torn on whether this is a 3 or a 4 but I'm having a sad day so giving this a 4 will uplift me a tiny bit.

also already heard 7.5/10

High energy, fun to listen to

I really appreciated the deep cuts and one in Italian.

Listened to a lot of music by The Monkees growing up. Still brings a smile to my face. This was a good album even though it had very few songs I knew.