Headquarters

Shhh, don’t tell, but I kinda like The Monkees. However, there’s very little on this loooong album that I like. Self indulgent and dated.

no thanks

Their third album, but the first where they were allowed to actually be a band, play their own instruments and write several of the songs. I hadn't listened to this one all the way through before. Happy to hear some of my favorites on it. Over all a good album, not stunning, but a good listen. Faves: "Randy Scouse Git", "For Pete's Sake", "You Just Might Be The One" Least fave: "Shades of Gray" - sounds like they're trying to sing notes that aren't natural for their voices.

I dont know man ... maybe the Monkees should just stick with letting other people write their songs.

Another exceeding of expectations! These guys are not just a novelty! Interesting melodies and instrumentation were ahead of their time. And ‘Zilch’ (really?!) as the sample for Del the Funky Homosapiens “Mistadobalina”. Crazy. 3.5

I have a mental block with the monkees where I equate them with bubble gum pop- like the proto boy band. Admittedly this album exceeded my expectations but they were very low to begin with.

hey hey hey we're the monkeez! david galea played some...this was fun!

Mamma, kan vi få den nye Beatles skiva? Vi har Beatles hjemme. Beatles hjemme:

The Monkees er et veldig interessant. De to første platene har gode låter skrevet av gode låtskrivere og musikerne er helt supre. Særlig More of the Monkees har jeg hørt mye på. Jeg bestemte meg tidlig å ikke boikotte Monkees fordi de basically var et boyband satt sammen for TV-serien, men det er et valg jeg bare kunne gjøre fordi låtene har vært såpass sterke. Så er jo det interessante at på dette albumet så spiller gutta selv og til og med skriver selv. Bandet vokste ut av TV-skjermen og ble et ekte band, litt som Pinocchio. Problemet er jo at de ikke er så gode på det som musikerne og låtskriverne de har hatt med seg tidligere. De stiller derfor på høyde med et hvilket som helst band som prøvde å make it big på 60-tallet. Med litt obligatoriske summer of love-elementer og Beatles-vokal (som de er flinke på). Det jeg liker best er countrypreget platen har, som høres ut som sologreiene til Michael Nesmith. Så ja, du vil få følelsen av 60-tallet med høydepunktene "Shades of Gray", "You Just May Be the One" og "For Pete's Sake". Men det vil du få av mye annet også. Lurte på hvor jeg hadde hørt "Zilch" bli samplet før, og det er "Mistadobalina" av Del the Funky Homosapien. Rå låt

Det erhelt greit 60-tallsmusikk- Men de kommer aldri helt unna at dette egentlig er FirstPrice Beatles

Not to be confused with The Beetles. Actually really enjoyed this one. Every song was unique and I think the constant switching of lead vocals brought an interesting twist to their dynamic. 7/10

I know the Monkees but truly have not listened to much of their stuff. Cool stuff.

Sloppy effort by a low talent Beatles cover band.

Garbage

Besides perhaps a couple of songs, this album didnt do shit for me...

Surprisingly fire!! Minus 1 star for a song about sister...

Mister Dobalina? Mister Bob Dobalina?! This was fun, naturally, its The Monkees!

1. Zich was fun. The album goes on in pretty similar songs, and it was a nice change of pace

goof

60 luvun pop rokkia joten tää ei taas sillein hirveästi eroa muusta saman aikakauden tuotoksista. Erikoisena ehkä että levyllä on väli skittejä. Ihan jees. Parhaat: Early Morning Blues And Green, No Time

great opener and flatlined after that

Disappointing album from such a big name. Still passable though. 2.5 stars.

Never listened to the Monkees besides I'm a Believer and sadly so far I do not see much value in this, just your average 60s pop rock band trying to be the next Beatles and severely lacking it seems. I'll give another go after work. Rated 2.5 on RYM, just plain average. Looks like strong 2 stars here.

Enjoyable.

?? Earlyearly Pop wo bleibt der Beat...? c

Yeah, this is pretty much what I'd expect from band that was manufactured for TV in the 60s to capitalize on the success of the Beatles. This album's fine. It's not complex at all, but it's not the most shallow thing I've listened to. I will say that the fact that the Monkees fought for creative control over their own music is immensely respectable. Good on them for actually trying instead of just cashing in their checks without caring about art. Of course, this is still basic 60s pop rock. There's nothing mind-blowing in this album. There are some pseudo-experimental tracks on here, but they don't really work for me. Like, why is "Zilch" here? What does this do for the album? I don't know. Some songs are good here. "Randy Scouse Git" is pretty alright. However, that doesn't change the fact that this album doesn't do much for me personally. Maybe you just had to be there. Light 3/5.

It’s no Beatles

NO!

They think they’re the Beatles but they’re not. A good selection of songs but a bit bland

This is like a more sterile, 4-years-behind Beatles and I won't listen to it again. Not as bad as I was expecting tho. 2.5 rounded up so I'm not a complete hater

I typically think of the Monkees as bargain bin Beatles. Listening notes: -Can't put my finger on exactly what is different, but this is in between Beatles and a band I can't quite place (folksier). That is, it's a bit more unique than I expected, by my expectations were low -Randy Scouse Git: this is actually pretty cool and structurally more interesting than the rest of album -The second half of the album is much weirder and imo better. Review: I liked Randy Scouse Git a lot. But the rest feels like a collection of forgettable Beatles outtakes. So I think I'll say 2.5, rounding down?

I made it to the second song, heard the overuse of hand-held percussion instruments, and decided that The Monkees are just The Jingle Jangle Beatles. Nothing will shake me from this belief. Not even if you shook me as much as they shook a tambourine on this album.

You Told Me - 7/10 I'll Spend My Life With You - 5/10 Forget That Girl - 4/10 Band 6 - N/A You Just May Be The One - 6/10 Shades Of Gray - 6/10 I Can't Get Her Off My Mind - 6/10 For Pete's Sake - 5/10 Mr. Webster - 5/10 Sunny Girlfriend - 6/10 Zilch - N/A No Time - 5/10 Early Morning Blues And Greens - 4/10 Randy Scouse Git - 7/10

Decent

Well, crap. Now Spotify thinks I like the Monkees.

I’ll give it a 3, but it’s incessant and brutal to go through.

Just don't really have anything to say about it - didn't care for it, but it wasn't painful I suppose

It's okey but way to long (Might have been the deluxe version). mostly Cheesy 60s music parodying the Beatles. This album does not contain the hit's they're known for so I don't really know why it's on here but one album should be enough for a short lived fun cultural phenomenon

An inoffensive late 60s album. I'm a fan of more of this than I expected. More variety than I expected. A 3, though maybe a 4 if All of Your Toys ends up on my playlist.

What an experience to listen to this directly after I finished "A Hard Day's Night"... The best tracks here were the fleeting moments they WEREN'T pretending to be the Beatles. Also I realize now that there was a show and far more lore to this whole ordeal than I initially was aware of, still doesn't make me enjoy it any more.

Imitation Beatles. "Band 6" is stupid. "Mr Webster" I guess is their "Eleanor Rigby". "Shades of Grey" is worse Simon and Garfunkel. "Zilch" we're back into stupid territory. Had an awful time forcing myself to listen to this.

Chill, happy, & fun.

🤷🏻

Solid

Gang de macaques. Voilà, c'est ma critique, kessé vous voulez de plus? C'est des singes qui imitent les goat, c'est pas mal ça que font les singes, messemble. J'ai une de ses envies de goguer, moi

The story behind this album is pretty cool—being the first time The Monkees played their own instruments and wrote most of the material in response to the “manufactured band” criticism. That definitely makes the album more respectable. As for the music itself, it’s solid 60s pop rock, but it doesn’t really stand out from the rest of what was going on during that era. It’s decent, just nothing too remarkable.

Was interesting to listen to the first Monkees album where they had any input into the song writing, but save for a few moments it’s kind of obvious that they weren’t great song writers to begin with. The bizarre soundscape of Zilch pushes this up a star, but otherwise it was quite derivative.

Forget That Girl // Randy Scouse Git 2.5/5

3/5

Monke

The show was better.

this didn't really do anything for me. like beatles without the magic. off brand

Enjoyed it and had a some of the ones I knew

Generic mid 60's, post-early Beatles pop. Not bad. I'd listen to it again but, I'd probably just put on Rubber Soul, instead.

Если честно, Beach Boys и Beatles на тот момент делали то же самое, но куда более интересно

Fun and jovial but not their best work IMO

7/10 - fun listen but got repetitive

They talk about frisbee

Super good. All songs were new to me which was nice.

Just fine... a little background 60's noise but it's pleasant

For today's 1001 albums to hear before I die I rolled The Monkees' Headquarters, and I have no idea what to even expect here as I never thought I'd listen to one of their albums in full. If you have never heard any 60s music before and don't want some crazy Psychedelic obscurity to ruin your perspective of this decade, this is a pretty safe choice to listen to. I don't see why this is an essential must hear before I die as it is a pretty standard and by the books Pop Rock album from that time with absolutely nothing interesting to offer. This is one of the most nothing-burger releases from this decade I have heard. I only really liked Forget That Girl and everything else here was just fine to decent with no other real standouts in my mind.

Nja, även om det är "min" genre väcker vanligen inte The Monkeys några stora känslor.

★★½

I only know a couple of Monkees songs, but I do have a personal anecdote about one of the fellows in the band. Over twenty years ago, I briefly chatted with Mickey Dolenz, when I called into a local AM talk radio show. He was a guest on the show that day, and I called in as part of a weekly trivia contest, and was able to score two tickets to see Boston. So shoutout to Mickey Dolenz for not knowing who Han Solo won the Millennium Falcon from. But back to the album at hand: I remember The Monkees TV show airing on Nick at Nite when I was a kid, and I thought they were kind of a parody of The Beatles. I know now that there’s sort of a partial-truth in that, but a lot of folks have a fondness for their music. I have a pretty decent idea of what to expect from this album, but whether or not it lands with me remains to be seen! Sorry Mickey, Michael, Peter, and Davy, but this is a Headquarters I could have done without touring. This album wasn’t bad, per se, but I certainly didn’t think it was good or memorable either. I’m sure Headquarters’ legacy suffers some, as a result of being compared to its peers, which might seem unfair at first, but that’s just how art works. There were some cool musical choices sprinkled throughout this album, and the vocals were nice, but the sound and moods were really scattershot, with nothing tying this album together. To me, Headquarters felt like an uneven and jumbled mess. I think these guys are talented, and some of the songs were good, but this album was mostly full of forgettable clunkers to me. As for the few things that I did enjoy, I liked the usage of the pedal steel guitar on “Shades of Gray” and “Mr. Webster.” “No Time” was pretty fun, and I enjoyed it’s old-school rock sound with the piano. “Sunny Girlfriend” had an overall sound that I enjoyed, and the guitar playing stood out to me as well. But even with those few things that I did enjoy, it wasn’t enough to really elevate this album much.

Enjoyable listen and nice vocals but so Beatle and Kinkesque that it just sounds like a parody to me.

wasn’t able to finish it unfortunately but from what I heard, great stuff!

little bit of Beatles-lite

This was pretty generic. I’d rather have watched an episode of the TV show.

I dunno man. I loosely knew the deal with the Monkees as a bit of pop culture history. Sitting down and listening to a full album of the Monkees did not really add or subtract anything. Can’t give it a 1 though because it’s definitely not the worst Shitty Beatles version I’ve heard off this list. Can’t even imagine the dozens of Shitty Beatles that didn’t make the cut. Grim.

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background A bit derivative at times, but You Just May Be the One followed by Shades of Gray elevate this album a lot. I enjoy the silliness of Zilch a bit more than I probably should. Lot better than I was expecting (I've only been a listener of their greatest hits prior to this).

This was just awful. Instead of playing their own instruments they should have just retired.

60-luvun rockia juu, toki tällä kertaa rapakon tuolta puolen. 3/5

None of the major hits and still fairly enjoyable overall. More depth on several tracks than I was anticipating. 3.5

I thought I was gonna hate this. I asked my partner to throw it on during a nice country drive at the end of Summer, specifically saying, “I haven’t been looking forward to this, let’s get it over with” I was wrong. Yes, there is a touch of bubblegum here but the psychedelic ooze to this balances things out nicely. I didn’t recognize the depth The Monkees actually had and I’m not gonna raise them up into the pinnacle of psych-pop representation but I will say this is miles better than some of The Beach Boys releases. Looking at you “Beach Boys Today” 4 stars

So many songs!

Silly Monkees.

I don't know how this is true, but this sounds like it was even dated when it came out. 2.5/5

meh

This is the cutest thing I've ever had the pleasure of hearing :3 I love The Monkees.

I’m ready to listen to something that doesn’t fade into the background

This kind of felt like off-brand Beatles, but I didn't hate it by any means

Can't work out why this is on the list. It's fine.

This album has been miscategorized, it isn't rock. This is pop music that happens to involve some guitar.

Fully pleasant, but unchallenging. Sounds very 60s pop. Each track reminds me of the previous.

This is a fun album - it's pretty dumb but at least John Lennon had no involvement

It has some good Pop moments but it’s not as good as other records from that year.

Well this sucks.

Como escuchar los beatles,

Not my favorite Monkees LP, but not bad. More psych with an obvious Sgt. Peppers influence. Still better than TV band music has the right to be.

This apparently wasn’t one of the many Monkees albums my brother listened to every night. For the most part, these lacked the whimsical poppiness that I associate with them. I was only familiar with two songs. The irony is that because it sounded so unlike the Monkees to me, the Monkees that I have been sick of for decades due to hearing them every night, I had a lot of difficulty getting into this. Was it really the Monkees? Or were they just on the cover and someone else making the music? Anyway, didn’t much care for it, and if a Monkees album is going to be on a must listen list, it should probably be one with their hits, not the one where they were finally allowed to stretch their wings and make their own songs. Highpoint: finding out Mistadobalina was based off a sample from these guys.

This was ok, nice simple pop songs. Nothing too deep or interesting and all short. Nowhere near the Beatles in terms of quality. Listened to it twice and just not really sticking with me or something I plan to revisit

I don't get the hate this album is getting. As an album its perfectly fine. I wish some of the songs had more energy but its not this offensive Beatles copy as some of the reviews make it out to be.

Empty saccharine pop

Below average 60's pop, like i get the hype of the band it's just 60's fun and i'm not into that 60's stuff so i find it to be pretty, like, alright.

A nice light hearted 60s album with the standard kind of feel. First few songs were great but it faded away over time. That Zilch song was strange though.

2.6 This list has had its fair share of Beatles copycat bands but this one takes the biscuit. 4 yanks, yet slight Scouse twangs dotted here and there, bizarre. Issue is they appear to be a few years behind, with a poor imitation of Help/Rubber Soul era Beatles released the same time as Sgt Peppers. Looking forward to my life involving less 60s music once I'm done with this list.

Too long

A little too old timey for me, but still pretty good

2.3

Solid

Good, but like a weird Beatles knockoff sometimes

2 reminds me of the tv show so a bit of nostalgia there but way too much filler that can only be appreciated by true monkees fans. even the “pro” songwriter material is weak.

Day 41 First listen- I love 60s pop, sounds so pleasant and the melodies- scrumptious, people can keep yapping and criticising about how they are copying the beatles but idc it sounds gorg! I also hear influences from the Byrd's first album! (4/5)

I think this is plenty forgettable considering the musicians themselves didn’t even flesh the songs out much, although I do like some ideas and will probably steal some of them for my own music. A xerox of a xerox.

We're just like The Beatles, honest! See how we make the same kind of music and sound and look a bit like them and can do the silly charming chatter on the album as well? No. You're not and you can't. Twee and boring.

Clásico, tienen en algunos momentos notas Psicodélicas.

Nope

Great start with You Told Me, but the album loses steam fast. Most of it feels flat, with little passion or originality behind the performances. You can tell the band had real talent, but the record sounds like it was shaped more by label expectations than genuine inspiration. It’s competent, but rarely exciting, the kind of album that plays it safe instead of taking risks. 6/10.

I grew up in the suburbs of Colorado and spent a lot of time in my mom’s car listening to the oldies on KOOL 105 and they played Daydream Believer a lot, which left me thinking I was a huge Monkees fan. I learned later in life that they kind of suck but was still rooting for them when I went into this one and somehow they still managed to even more than kind of suck.

the biggest creative control given thus far to the prefab four, to quietly miraculous results. the songs are adorable, humble, sometimes disarming, and so shockingly varied that it nearly manages a white album sprawl in 30 minutes without any overt genre pastiches. really, it hardly "breaks" the boundaries of this kind of 60s bubblegum at all, it just reveals so much unexplored space within those boundaries. as authentic music as a "fake" band ever mustered

My Dad loved the "fake band" and I grew up watching them on Nick at Night and even saw Davey Jones at the flower power series at EPCOT in the early 2000s

Im a beliver-shrek

This is a well done ripoff of not only the Beatles, but also Simon and Garfunkel, Little Richard and Peter, Paul and Mary. It sounds ok and this album provided the sample for Del The Funky Homosapiens "biggest" hit, but that is all it has going for it. Does not deserve to be on the list.

Саншайн поп, какого было прилично, ну рука не поднимается на эту музыку. Лучшая песня - Forget That Girl.

Good but all the songs kinda sound the same after a while

Enjoyable Pop with a touch of that fun late 60s weirdness. I'm glad The Monkees were allowed some creative control over their music even if it's not all that essential.

There was nothing memorable about this. 2/5

This is the first album I've gotten that I didn't really care for. The Monkees were a pretty overrated commercialized American Beatles knockoff and this album wasn't anything special.

Surprisingly good. 3.5/5

Just sounded like every other pop style generic music out of the 60's. Not bad, just whatever

Not bad but kinda just budget Beatles

Dad- 2 Mom- 3.5 Mike- 3 Lori- 4 Michael- 3 Miles- 3 Cole- NA Avg- 3.08

SO good, good jams and one weird recording

Thanks. I hate it.

This was ok. I think I had fonder memories of this from the MTV reruns of the show. Also, 3 dozen monkeys is a lot of Monkeys. 2.5/5

In high school me and my friends jumped the fence and snuck in to see The Monkees as part of their 20-year anniversary tour. We got caught by security who ended up letting us stay. We left after three songs because the band sucked. It was a far cry from “I’m a Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville.” This album was fine. The songs are ok, with the NeSmith-penned ones holding up better.

Super bland. This felt like the lowest common denominator of this kind of 60s pop, and I think if you’re in the mood for this it would be pretty easy to find something better.

Man, I was not in the mood for this 60s poppy boy band shit. Needed a shower afterwards. The tambourine and rattles also bothered me. Learn how to spell assholes!

This is fine. Pretty good for the first ever boy band! Not much else to say… 2.75/5

A mostly uptempo album that is a very easy listen. The interludes (Band 6 & Zilch) are unique ways of breaking the album up. Highlights: - No Time - I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind - For Pete’s Sake

It’s actually not that bad. I’m just done with 1967 and cute psych pop…

Just what I love when I listen to music… satire.

What can I say, I love the Monkees

Yeah sure why not

Quite up and down, feels like The Monkees got some creative freedom and were working out what to do with it. Hate to say it but I prefer their older pre-produced stuff, but that could just be familiarity. I would listen to this again. Randy Scouse Git is the only one I recognised from before.

"Randy Scouse Git" is a banger

Sounds like the early Beatles

Even though this band is essentially a second rate Beatles impersonation, I did enjoy bits of this, particularly the weird goofy parts like Zilch. Probably won't bother listening to it again though.

It's cute, inoffensive soft rock music. Nothing bad, nothing too outstanding.

En 1967, le monde de la musique fut à jamais bouleversé par la sortie de "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" des Beatles. Cet album, unanimement salué comme un chef-d'oeuvre absolu, une révolution sonore et un monument de la production en studio, a redéfini les limites de ce que pouvait être un album de rock. Il est devenu le point de comparaison inévitable pour toute oeuvre de l'époque. Pourtant, quelques jours à peine avant la sortie de ce mastodonte, un autre groupe, bien moins respecté et largement considéré comme une fabrication commerciale, sortait son propre disque. Cet album, c'était "Headquarters", et le groupe, The Monkees. Le placer face à Sgt. Pepper semble, à première vue, une hérésie. Et pourtant, je maintiens une opinion qui peut paraître provocatrice : dans son intention, dans son âme et dans ce qu'il représente, "Headquarters" est un album bien plus important et, sur certains aspects cruciaux, supérieur à l'œuvre immaculée des Fab Four. Pour comprendre "Headquarters", il faut comprendre le contexte de sa naissance. The Monkees n'étaient pas un groupe, mais un concept. Quatre acteurs et musiciens castés pour une série télévisée, dont le succès fulgurant reposait sur des chansons écrites par les meilleurs auteurs de Brill Building et jouées par des musiciens de session de génie (le fameux Wrecking Crew). On les surnommait avec mépris les "Pre-Fab Four". Leurs deux premiers albums, bien que remplis de tubes pop parfaits, n'étaient pas les leurs. C'est là que le leader de facto du groupe, Michael Nesmith, un musicien et compositeur texan talentueux et têtu, mena la fronde. Au cours d'une réunion houleuse avec le superviseur musical Don Kirshner, il enfonça son poing dans un mur en déclarant : "Ça, ça pourrait être votre visage". Le message était clair : les Monkees voulaient leur indépendance. Ils voulaient écrire leurs chansons. Ils voulaient jouer de leurs instruments. "Headquarters" est le fruit de cette rébellion. C'est le son de la liberté. Dès les premières notes de "You Told Me", la guitare country-rock de Nesmith donne le ton. Le son est plus rêche, moins poli que tout ce qu'ils avaient fait auparavant. On entend un groupe qui joue ensemble, dans la même pièce, avec l'énergie brute d'un groupe de garage. Micky Dolenz, dont la voix pop si reconnaissable avait porté leurs plus grands hits, se révèle être un batteur solide et plein d'entrain. Peter Tork, le multi-instrumentiste sous-estimé, brille au banjo, au clavier et à la basse. Même Davy Jones, le "joli coeur" du groupe, prend part à l'effort collectif, bien que ses contributions restent plus conventionnelles. Là où Sgt. Pepper est une oeuvre de studio méticuleuse, "Headquarters" est une esquisse au fusain, pleine de traits vifs, de ratures et d'une spontanéité palpable. On entend les plaisanteries entre les prises, les hésitations, les petites erreurs qui rendent l'ensemble si vivant, si humain. L'étrange interlude a cappella "Zilch" en est le parfait exemple : une blague de studio, absurde et joyeuse, qu'aucun producteur soucieux des ventes n'aurait laissé passer. C'est là que réside sa supériorité sur Sgt. Pepper. L'album des Beatles est une perfection froide, une merveille de technologie et d'arrangement. C'est l'oeuvre de génies de studio au sommet de leur art. "Headquarters", lui, est une oeuvre de coeur. C'est le son de quatre hommes qui se battent pour leur dignité artistique et qui gagnent. Chaque note transpire cette lutte et cette joie. C'est l'authenticité contre l'artifice. La sueur contre le vernis. Des chansons comme "Sunny Girlfriend" ou le rock endiablé de "No Time" possèdent une énergie que l'on ne trouve pas sur le disque psychédélique et cérébral des Beatles. Le chef-d'oeuvre de l'album est sans doute "Randy Scouse Git", composé et chanté par Micky Dolenz. C'est un morceau psychédélique, fragmenté et autobiographique, qui raconte son expérience d'une fête à Londres en compagnie des Beatles. Le titre, une insulte de Liverpool, fut censuré au Royaume-Uni où il sortit sous le nom de "Alternate Title". C'est la preuve que les Monkees étaient capables d'une ambition et d'une originalité qui leur étaient propres. Au final ce sera un 3 sur 5 pour album profondément inégal où pour chaque "Shades of Gray", une ballade baroque et mélancolique magnifiquement arrangée, on trouve un "Forget That Girl" ou un "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind", des chansons pop plus légères signées Davy Jones qui, bien que charmantes, semblent appartenir à une époque antérieure du groupe. La production, assurée par Chip Douglas (ancien bassiste des Turtles), est volontairement brute mais manque parfois de profondeur. C'est un album de transition, où le groupe apprend encore à marcher seul. On sent les coutures, les hésitations. C'est le prix de la liberté : tout n'est pas parfait. En conclusion, "Headquarters" n'est pas à juger sur sa perfection technique, mais sur son intention et son esprit. Il s'agit d'un document historique fascinant, le témoignage d'une victoire improbable de l'intégrité artistique sur le cynisme commercial. Sgt. Pepper est peut-être l'album que l'on admire dans un musée, derrière une vitre, en louant son génie technique. "Headquarters" est l'album que l'on écoute en voiture, fenêtres ouvertes, en célébrant son énergie brute et sa triomphale humanité. Il est la preuve qu'un groupe "fabriqué" pouvait avoir une âme, et qu'ils se sont battus pour nous la faire entendre. Rien que pour ce courage, il mérite d'être réécouté et respecté. Un bon album, oui, mais surtout un album nécessaire.

okay, i’m interested…

Worthless pop culture flotsam. The Beatles are already basically just music for children, so why would a kids' show pastiche act of them be anything other than a childish born-outdated disposable bauble?

syyttä vihaavay immeiset tätä.. on industrialia on acapellaa. Lalalaa! Laulattaa kuunteleminen

so boring oh god

Completely unlistenable

pleasant enough

## The Monkees' *Headquarters*: An In-Depth Review of a Pop Rebellion Released on May 22, 1967, **The Monkees'** ***Headquarters*** stands as a landmark album in pop-rock history. It was the band's declaration of independence from their "Pre-Fab Four" image, following a bitter struggle with music supervisor Don Kirshner. After Kirshner’s dismissal, the band seized creative control, writing most songs, playing instruments, and co-producing with **Chip Douglas**. The result? A #1 Billboard album that outsold even *Sgt. Pepper* for a week and went double platinum . Below, we dissect its lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy. --- ### 🎵 **1. Musical Style and Performance** **Genre Fusion:** The album blends folk-rock ("You Told Me"), baroque pop ("Shades of Gray"), country ("Sunny Girlfriend"), psychedelia ("Randy Scouse Git"), and avant-garde experimentation ("Zilch"). This eclectic mix reflects the members' diverse influences, from Nesmith’s country leanings to Tork’s Greenwich Village folk roots . **Instrumental Prowess:** - **Peter Tork** shines as a multi-instrumentalist, delivering banjo ("You Told Me"), piano ("I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind"), organ ("Early Morning Blues and Greens"), and bass . - **Mike Nesmith’s** 12-string guitar and pedal steel work define the album’s country-rock texture . - **Micky Dolenz’s** drumming is energetic but occasionally erratic ("No Time"), while **Davy Jones** provides rhythmic support (maracas, tambourine) . **Vocals:** Dolenz remains the standout vocalist, shifting from tender ("I’ll Spend My Life With You") to frenetic ("Randy Scouse Git"). Jones’ show-tune flair suits "Forget That Girl," though his limited range is apparent. Nesmith’s warm, folky delivery elevates his compositions . --- ### ✍️ **2. Lyrical Themes and Songwriting** **Authenticity and Rebellion:** - Nesmith’s "You Just May Be the One" celebrates self-discovery, while "Randy Scouse Git" (inspired by Dolenz’s UK trip) critiques generational conflict: *"Why don’t you hate who I hate, kill who I kill, to be free?"* . - Tork’s "For Pete’s Sake" (later the TV show’s closing theme) advocates idealism: *"Love is understanding; don’t you know that this is true?"* . **Love and Melancholy:** Jones’ tracks ("Forget That Girl," "Early Morning Blues and Greens") lean into romantic yearning, though lyrics are often conventional . **Absurdist Humor:** "Zilch" (a spoken-word collage) and "Band 6" (a cartoon-theme parody) inject levity, showcasing the band’s camaraderie . --- ### 🎛️ **3. Production and Sound** **Minimalist Approach:** Producer **Chip Douglas** prioritized live band takes over studio polish. The result is raw, with audible imperfections (e.g., Dolenz’s off-beat drum fills) that underscore authenticity . **Innovations:** - Speed-corrected remixes (2022 Super Deluxe Edition) fixed pitch inconsistencies from analog tape machines . - Stereo separation highlights instrumental layers, like Tork’s banjo interplay with Nesmith’s guitar on "You Told Me" . **Weaknesses:** Jones’ vocal-centric tracks ("I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind") suffer from cloying arrangements, reflecting Kirshner-era leftovers . --- ### 🌟 **4. Influence and Legacy** - **Cultural Impact:** *Headquarters* proved "manufactured" bands could achieve artistic legitimacy, inspiring later acts like Hanson and even K-pop groups . - **Sampling & Homage:** "Zilch" was sampled by Del the Funky Homosapien in "Mistadobalina" (1991) . - **Critical Reassessment:** Included in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die*, it’s now praised for capturing the "Summer of Love" spirit alongside *Sgt. Pepper* . --- ### ⚖️ **5. Pros and Cons** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | **Creative Autonomy**: First album with band-written songs and performances . | **Uneven Vocals**: Jones’ theatrical style clashes with rootsy aesthetic . | | **Eclectic Cohesion**: Balances humor, social commentary, and genre experimentation . | **Filler Tracks**: "Band 6" and "Mr. Webster" feel underdeveloped . | | **Historical Significance**: Documented the band’s rebellion against industry control . | **Production Limitations**: Dolenz’s drumming and Nesmith’s pedal steel divide critics . | --- ### 💎 **Conclusion: A Flawed Triumph** *Headquarters* remains The Monkees’ most human album—a snapshot of four artists learning to fly mid-storm. While not a masterpiece (Nesmith himself called it "marginally okay" ), its charm lies in its earnest imperfections. The album’s legacy isn’t just in hits like "Randy Scouse Git," but in its bold statement: authenticity can’t be manufactured. For 1967, that was revolutionary. > **Key Track**: "Randy Scouse Git" – A psychedelic social rant with frenetic tempo shifts . > **Deep Cut**: "Shades of Gray" – Baroque-pop reflection on disillusionment, featuring Tork’s rare lead vocal .

A bit too poppy for my liking but I'm happy that the Monkees were able to start writing and performing their own songs. Can't say that I'm surprised that this album ended up sitting behind Sgt. Pepper in the charts through its release window.

A good poppy mix; but forgettable.

It's ok. Like the weird stuff and randy scouse git - hilarious that it did well in the UK.

The music is mostly fine but there is an overwhelming whiff of corporate glibness to the music, which is particularly damning with the knowledge that this is supposedly the first album on which the band members got to write their own songs.

Too long. 7/10

Decent 60s rock. I’m sure this was influential but I just feel like I’ve heard this so many times already on this list. You Just May Be the One and Randy Scouse Git were my faves.

Quintessential mid-60s pop. Very vanilla though. Surprised this album made it since none of the big hits are on it.

I prefer the songs Neil Diamond wrote for them. totally ok british pop-rock from this time but I'd obviously prefer the Beatles any day.

It's quite pleasant, but so much of it is just really bland. Listenable, but really quite uninspiring.

eh

Nice

So thought this was quite long and considered not listening to the deluxe album, went to the headquarters sessions and that was 3hrs long; so I submitted myself to the 90min version but I had enough by 60mins. It’s a classic pop sound but it’s stale and I wouldn’t want to listen again because it’s been the same song on repeat for an hour.

All I know about the Monkee’s is the tv show, so going in I was expecting something campy. I was pleasantly surprised with the album I heard. I particularly enjoyed Band 6, Sunny Girlfriend, and No Time.

Really not in the mood for this. Listened to two songs and got nausea thinking of listening to the rest of it.

Uneven, but many (sixties-style) pop gems.

It had its moments for sure. I like “Randy Scouse Git.”

Classic 60s bubblegum pop. I don’t care that they were concocted as America’s answer to the Beatles. I preferred them, they weren't so pretentious as John and co became. Just fun and Randy Scouse Git is tops. 3

This was an odd Monkees album, I was not familiar with any of the songs going in to it, and many I wouldn't have known it was them. Not sure if that is because of their greater influence and participation on this album or not. There are some decent songs here but there are also some really bad ones. I've never really been much of a fan of their music although I used to watch the tv show occasionally, I loved the episode where Frank Zappa played Mike and Mike played Frank. Not one I am likely to ever revisit but I have definitely been served up worse from this list.

Decent little mid 60's record. The Monkees were actually a decent group. This sounds like Rubber Soul outtakes.

zzzzz

i love the monkees but this album doesn't have anything I remember.

Very similar sounding to the beatles

The Monkees were actually pretty cool

Not the album of theirs that should have been chosen for this list. Just ok, not great. Should have been More of The Monkees.

Feels middle of the road. Nothing notable but all perfectly easy listening to my ears. Definitely notable that they took more control over the songwriting and instrumentation vs the first two albums where it was more professional songwriters and session musicians playing in support of the TV show. They went from a fake TV band to an actual real band on this album.

Bit dated but not horrible.

The sound was identical to any other British invasion group, but the songs were above average

It felt bland, didn't grab me in any way. Pleasant enough but lacking in any substance.

Headquarters by The Monkees feels like a very average Beatles album—it’s pleasant and easy to listen to, but nothing truly stands out or leaves a lasting impression. Released in 1967, it came at a time when The Beatles had already moved beyond this style of pop and were entering their more experimental Sgt. Pepper era. As a result, Headquarters sounds somewhat dated, almost like a parody or throwback to an earlier Beatles sound, rather than something fresh or forward-thinking. Favourite Track: You Just May Be the One – a catchy, well-crafted song that rises slightly above the rest of the tracklist. Least Favourite Track: None stood out as particularly bad, but many blended together without much distinction. Album Artwork: Classic '60s—simple, light-hearted, and very much of its time.

Fairly bland album, nothing really stands out. But it was pleasant background music at work.

Long album, Beatles vibe. Guys sound good on real tracks. Some throw away ones hear as well. 6.8/10

Frère 1h30 l’album, il a cru j’étais la que pour lui ? Rien que pour ça il mérite 1 étoile Après la musique c’est un peu osef mais pas nul

Zzzzzzzz Franchement claqué au sol de fou

wasn’t totally my thing, it’s very dated, but it was a good listen and i enjoyed every song!

Strange choice for a Monkees album. Not a hit single in sight, but it is the catchy 60s pop they were known for.

Good music. Terrible cover art.

A little early for a Beatles homage. Love the Monkees, but their first outing with their own songs leaves a little to be desired.

it's a shame they became such a punchline. This album is really enjoyable once you get past the stigma associated with The Monkees. Haters gonna hate. But I'm giving this one 4 stars damnit!

Well, I wanted to love it, I found it to be a bit kitchy.

I've often heard The Monkees described as a lite version of The Beatles, which is kind of rude, but also that description does fit here. This is a charming album of short pop songs, a bunch of which sound like The Beatles, as well as other 60s pop and rock 'n' roll styles. “Shades of Gray” is a touching song. It’s an elegy to a simpler time, when right and wrong were easier to distinguish, and when life seemed easier. Someone could be singing it in 2025, but I can imagine that 1967 felt a similar way. Also, I tend to think that maybe everyone feels this way as they get older: life was simple when we were young, and now it’s miserable and complicated. Is that universal regardless of time period? The psychedelic “Early Morning Blues and Greens” was a highlight too. “Randy Scouse Git” was a surprise. At first it sounds a lot like a Beatles knockoff but then that angry, thundering chorus comes in!

Nice album, but I always hear the Beatles - or an attempt at that sound when I hear The Monkees. It's a harsh comparison, and I find it interesting because the Beatles are probably the best band ever, so why wouldn't other bands try to do exactly their sound? There are far worse bands being copied every day of the week, but when I hear this band it's so hard for me to separate them. Going through this, I think "I like the sound, but I'm just not moved by it", and I wonder if this band would be popular if they didn't come out when they did. Or are they kind of like the Greta Van Fleet to Led Zeppelin?

I was thinking "this feels like it is a formula" and then reading the wikipedia, it is! But it sounds like it is at least an interesting take on a formula, so... I'll give it something.

Pop pap.

I dont really understand the determination to critically rehabilitate The Monkees, especially the supposedly more worthy stuff they played on themselves. Just let them be what they were - a fun corporate cash in on Beatlemania. Mike Nesmith would go on to write A Different Drum but there's nothing on here that get even remotely close.

I liked this music more than I had imagined I would. It's still very lightweight and if the Monkees were trying to prove they could make decent 60's pop music than I think they succeeded. The best songs were: You Told Me Forget that Girl You May Just be the One Shades of Gray For Pete's Sake Early Morning Blues and Greens

Fun

Nå må det komme noe bra snart

The one time The Monkees had enough of their controlling managers and restrictive contracts and wanted to make an album of their own, and the end result wasn't bad at all - it's a nice little pop album albeit with no big hits. The problem is that this was released in 1967 where dozens of brilliant albums were made which shaped the future of pop-rock music and this album is far away from those records. Props to them for making an album of their own, though. Not many hit makers would've done that after two albums that were written for them and made them famous and rich. I actually enjoyed it, so overall I think it deserves 3 stars.

Meh, it was alright, nothing too interesting

Mehh

Bítl.

Starts off mundane but it improves. It's very long also. It's alright

Just seems so unoriginal and contrived.

Pretty standard 60s pop. Was surprisingly super commercially successful without really any legacy or lasting hits… ? 4/10

A discount Beatles knockoff group from the US - Much less personality and attention to detail. Very very meh. 2/5

Listened Before? N Well, it's the Monkees... they're kinda silly but the music is okay. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: You Just May Be The One

Meh. Nostalgic but not classic

I’m gonna preface this by saying: I’ve always hated the monkees. Their music is lame. So I didn’t want to listen to this album. But I did. And even listened to the bonus tracks. I hated every minute of it. The monkees still suck and I still hate them. 1001 album worthy: no - 95/174

Un poco moñas para mi gusto la verdad. Me van a salir caries Espero que la productora se haga cargo de la factura del dentista. Fuera de bromas, no está mal el album

Disaster

A ‘60’s boy band

60’s pop rock vibe

Ok, but not for me

So, look, I was born in 1981 and while most “experts” would classify me as a “millennial”, I disagree. Beyond the obvious question of “Why is it that I am considered a millennial, but my classmates who were born in 1980 are considered Gen X?”, there are other important questions that should be asked, like: How many Millennials remember the Challenger disaster or the fall of the Berlin Wall or Nirvana taking the world by storm? Or, how many millennials knew Adam West as Batman before they knew Michael Keaton’s Batman? How many know a Joker (Cesar Romero) who couldn’t be bothered to shave his damn mustache and instead had it covered up with white grease paint as if the whole fucking world wouldn’t notice his bristly mustache under that coat of paint? Like, if I have an in-depth understanding of a lot of 1960’s references and TV shows dating back to when I was growing up, am I really a millennial? I don’t think a lot of my millennial counterparts born in 1992 have the same understanding of 60’s culture that I do. I could be wrong, though. Point being, I know the Monkees from TV as a kid. It was one of those shows you’d see in the afternoon on the weekends on WPIX 11 in New York and you’d watch it because there wasn’t anything else on. It usually came on in the same afternoon block that had Flipper (the dolphin, not the punk band). It was a corny show, but kind of funny sometimes and it sort of did music videos before that was a thing, so it was kind of unique compared to other tv shows. So, call me a millennial if you must, but I’m more in tune with Gen X and I think if you watched the Monkees on TV as a kid, there’s probably a pretty good case to be made that you’re not a millennial, despite what the experts who create these arbitrary dates have to say. In closing, a fun fact about the Monkees: Stephen Stills auditioned for the Monkees, but was rejected because the producers thought his bad hair and crooked teeth didn’t jive with the Teen Idol image they were looking to portray on the show. He recommend that they hire his friend, Peter Tork, who got the role. (See? I told you I was going to fit in as many Stephen Stills references as possible before I finished this challenge.)

Surprisingly not terrible.

This is an interesting choice for the list because it's not an all-time great album, but it is an interesting point in the Monkee's history. They'd gone from being a fake boy band in a TV series to a real group who could write their own songs. The songs, though, are off mixed quality. The best ones (imho) are Randy Scouse Git and the delightfully weird Zilch - which sounds a live performance of a sample-based track from 20 years in the future. But some of the other tracks just sound like cheap copies of the Beatles - but then, that's kind of what the Monkees TV series was trying to be

This is a nice enough listen but it's not a memorable album. 3* Would I listen again? No. Would I buy this album? No Side One 1. "You Told Me" 2:25 - Love the studio chatter. 3* 2. "I'll Spend My Life with You" 2:26 - Mickey Dolenz has a lovely voice. 3* 3. "Forget That Girl" - 2:25 Davey Jones has a lovely voice. 3* 4. "Band 6" 0:41 - 2* 5. "You Just May Be the One" 2:03 - Mike Nesmith has a good voice. 3* 6. "Shades of Gray" 3:22 - Nice harmonies. 3* 7. "I Can't Get Her Off My Mind" 2:27 - Quirky piano and melody. This is the best song so far, a very good pop song. 4* 21/35 Side two 1. "For Pete's Sake" 2:11 - A pleasant listen. 3* 2. "Mr. Webster" 2:05 - A pleasant listen. 3* 3. "Sunny Girlfriend" 2:33 - A pleasing listen. 3* 4. "Zilch" 1:06 - Oh this was sampled. "Mister Dobalena, Mister Bob Dobalena". 2* 5. "No Time" 2:08 - Old fashioned Rock n Roll. 3* 6. "Early Morning Blues and Greens" 2:35 - An agreeable listen. 3* 7. "Randy Scouse Git" 2:40 - The only song I had previously heard from this album, not including the sample from Zilch! The best song on the album. 4* 21/35 42/70

The Monkees, dollar store Beatles, lol 🤣 but this was a pretty good album, I never have really listened to them before but they weren't terrible, just following the formula of the Beatles!

31 minutes to learn I never need to listen to the Monkees again.

Classic but repetitive. I think most of the songs would be great in a Playlist individually, but it was a bit too much of the same thing on this LONG album.

Good!

Mason kid 60s pop 2.5/5 for me

Surprised at how good this was

Not very good. All music gives this 4.5? Seriously wow. Maybe 4 decent songs on album, a few written by Nesmith, one decent Tork tune and a decent Dolenz tune. Bland unoriginal pop 2.1 stars .

Det är väldigt lättlyssnat, trallvänligt liksom. Det är ändå rätt skönt sound rakt av. Men tycker nog det saknas några hitlåtar. Kul att höra Mr Dobalena. Hade ingen aning om att det var en monkeeslåt.

Trallvänlig och trevlig lyssning men lyfter inte till några astronomiska höjder direkt.

Some decent tunes

A group best remembered by the dying breed of the demographic that grew up with the TV show, I was a bit too young for the first run, but through the magic of reruns I experienced the Monkees, which was entertaining enough for what it was. Not Partridge Family good, but at least the music was pleasant to listen to and the fact they released some legit albums made it at least seem like they were a "real" band. Aside from the fluff, the obvious Beatles ripoff and session musicians performing most of the music, the songs were enjoyable on a simple, non sophisticated level and really isn't that all that matters? If you want deeper meanings and actual musical artistry, look elsewhere, but for trip to nostalgia land, in a goofier, slap-stickier time, Headquarters is actually quite good. I enjoyed most of it with the instrumentation basic and easy to listen to. Is this essential and will I listen to the whole record again soon, probably not, but overall you can do a whole lot worse with the genre.

Top Three Songs: 1) Shades of Gray 2) Zilch 3) For Pete’s Sake Bottom Three Songs: 1) Band 6 2) No Time 3) Sunny Girlfriend

A lot of songs that sound like nothing special. Same thing from start to finish.

mfw the Shrek-Beatles band does not play the Shrek song: ⢀⡴⠑⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣤⣤⣤⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠸⡇⠀⠿⡀⠀⠀⠀⣀⡴⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠑⢄⣠⠾⠁⣀⣄⡈⠙⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡀⠁⠀⠀⠈⠙⠛⠂⠈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⡿⢿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢀⡾⣁⣀⠀⠴⠂⠙⣗⡀⠀⢻⣿⣿⠭⢤⣴⣦⣤⣹⠀⠀⠀⢀⢴⣶⣆ ⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣷⣮⣽⣾⣿⣥⣴⣿⣿⡿⢂⠔⢚⡿⢿⣿⣦⣴⣾⠁⠸⣼⡿ ⠀⢀⡞⠁⠙⠻⠿⠟⠉⠀⠛⢹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣌⢤⣼⣿⣾⣿⡟⠉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⣾⣷⣶⠇⠀⠀⣤⣄⣀⡀⠈⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠉⠈⠉⠀⠀⢦⡈⢻⣿⣿⣿⣶⣶⣶⣶⣤⣽⡹⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠲⣽⡻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣜⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣷⣶⣮⣭⣽⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⣈⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⠻⠿⠿⠿⠿⠛⠉

B-Sides by the The Beatles.

It’s nice

Ah The Monkees. An American product. Overrated cousins of a b(r)and to the Beatles. Kudos to them for trying to make the most of the band thing and doing it as on their own as they could this time. But it was fine. Didn’t hate it as much as I thought I would. Very middle of the road.

I wanted to like this, but it just didn't feel special in any way. It just sounded sort of generic 60's. So bland.

Feels a bit like a mixture of Beach Boys and The Beatles. 'You Just May Be The One' was a good song, but the rest kind of flew over my head a bit. They got that old sound, but it's not really my type of jam honestly. Decent, but nothing that stands out today for me.

The Opening "You Told Me" sounds exactly like The Beatles. From the vocals to the guitars. The closest i found to narrow it down to a track was "If I Needed Someone" by the Beatles. Other than that, not much stayed with me. Some blues rock pastiches. Strong 2. It's not bad, just nothing really stuck with me.

This is album is great if you just want to listen to clips of people talking. Not bad but a little corny when it's actually music. 1.55

Stop recommending albums with 800 dumb studio tracks, it’s confusing. It was fine, I have no idea what the album actually was.

Loved it. Great, happy 60s tunes. 4.25

The Monkees are more culturally important than musically important. There is nothing special about this album. It's just mid sixties detritus that the boomers who put this list together have nostalgia for.

I fully get why they are constantly cited as like the Beatles 2. However, I really loved this album. There wasn’t a moment here where I was bored or wanted it to end. I didn’t delve too much into the lyrics but instrumentally this is incredibly tight. First album in a while that I haven’t known and then proceeded to listen to multiple times that day.

I fucked up and listened to all 36 "tracks" that spotify has on this album. It made this listening experience drag on forevvvveeeerrrrr. I was excited to get the Monkees, but it didn't really live up to my hype. Definitely not bad, but I think you can get better versions in many other areas (Beatles).

why do their legs look like that? This didn't do it for me, it felt like knock off Beatles. Nothing unlistenable (except maybe zilch), but nothing memorable either, actually the closer was pretty good. 2/5

Fun group from the 60’s. Great sound, great music. Received the fame they deserved.

Created as an act for a kids tv show. Aside from their handful of hits their stuff is meh. Why listen to them when you can have the real Beatles?

I don't actively dislike this like other 2s, but I can't give it any higher on first listen. Pleasant and not memorable whatsoever.

This one is very much a product of its time. The Monkees were clearly inspired by the Beatles, but they lack their innovation and genius, so it ends up just a pale imitation. Still not bad though, but the album cover is terrible. I also liked the random 50s style rock song that showed up out of nowhere towards the end. Favorites: No Time, Randy Scouse Git

Good 60s pop album

I think they're underrated. Not as good but more fun than the band they're obviously trying to rip off, the Beatles. Favorite song: forget that girl

10/10 for a novelty band, they sure seem to have an endless amount of genuine talent I also adore their movie Head

Just ok; I get they're respected but it's not my thing. 5/10.

I was into three first few songs... Like the Beatles with banjo or slide guitar. A simple tweak and I liked it! Nothing really imaginative or innovative beyond that though. I'm not a big enough fan of the Beatles to like the More Beatles. Maybe there's enough country-inflected songs on their first few albums to make a decent playlist???

1 star. 3 hr album with rough drafts? Nah. Give me the final version only.

Upbeat 60s pop rock and fun to listen to

People who dislike the Monkees for reasons other than “it just isn’t for me” are so fucking lame. Waaah it’s too poppy or any variation of DID YOU KNOW THEY’RE NOT THE BEATLES?????? Have you ever experienced joy? Do you know what love is? On a summer Thursday do you stop and listen to birds sing, and realize you’ve never learned their names, simply because you were too busy with life to stop and realize all around you, the world moves on, and doesn’t care about you. Or your fucking tired shitty Monkees ta mi e, the Monkees rule. Fuck you.

Turns out I don't enjoy 60's hippie pop as much as thought I would. I mean, I'm not a huge 60's music fan as it is, though I am partial to some Beatles occasionally. In that case, I'd rather just go listen to that. Also, is it just me or are the drums on this album way too loud?

Fun, pleasant, not a classic but better than expected

i love getting albums like this because it means i get to be nitpicky for nitpicky's sake. i love the monkees and am very familiar with their albums. this one is not my favorite of theirs. there's some good, even great stuff on here ('randy scouse git,' 'for pete's sake,' and i really adore the mike nesmith track 'you just may be the one') but it's a really uneven album. there's some psychedelic goofiness here (a product of its time) which is kinda whatever and doesn't add to the album ('zilch,' 'band 6') and there are songs that are, quite frankly, just kinda not great ('forget that girl,' and 'mr. webster'). i love the monkees when they are at their best - fun and bubblegum - but this is not really that.

Made the mistake of starting to listen to Headquarters sessions. Interesting but I don't need to hear individual tracking, or what goes on in the studio. Now the album Headquarters (deluxe edition) was much more of a pleasant experience. Those guys had such a weird history, it's amazing they became such good musicians. Long album (36 songs) but a good way to start the day!

Too much of a Beatles rip to be overly enjoyable. The genre is still very easy listening but there’s no originality or stand out good songs.

In Ordnung. Sehr wie die frühen Beatles.

3/5

Prefer the early stuff

This whole album is pretty much a worthless Beatles rip-off. Maybe you had to be there, I don't know. The only interesting track is 'Zilch', which is used as a sample in a much better hip hop song (Mistadobalina) by Del the Funky Homosapien.

Groovey!

Wow, right off the bat you can see them trying to match early Beatles, and not even the good Paul/John stuff. While most of it felt like a shittier version of Hard Days Night (especially for 1967!), had some good moments. 3* Higlights: zilch

i am a monkees lover until the day i die. this album isn’t their best effort but according to wikipedia this was more creatively theirs than the first two albums and it shows. their albums after Headquarters are definitely better but we likely couldn’t have gotten there without this and the silly songs like Zilch

Lacking any of the hits of its predecessor albums, it's surprising to see Headquarters make an appearance on this list. As other reviewers have pointed out, it's just about the most generic 60s pop one can get, capped off by the ever-so-clever homages to the Beatles' techniques from four years earlier. (Nowhere near the Fab Four's level of quality, though.) We've got double-tracked vocals, wishwashy drum production, ultra-60s song structure and texturing, and basslines that perhaps sound more interesting than they are. Clearly this album hasn't aged, either – for even if we give the Monkees the benefit of the doubt with regard to sound, the Spotify numbers speak for themselves. Modern listeners (including me) are unimpressed and it shows. Actually, from background listening only, it's fine. Passable. The band does have that palpable British Invasion energy, observable in the best of the Kinks, the Who, and the Zombies. The vocals in particular are delivered so earnestly that it's obvious they're unaware of the turning tides in the musical scene. ("This is the start of something great" ahh.) But dive into the instrument sound quality and you'll realise this band is not all that the record labels tout them to be. Chasing the success of early-60s bands in 1967 is a risky move. Revolver had been released, as had Pet Sounds; the world was starting to move on. 2/5 Key tracks: For Pete's Sake (Closing Theme), Randy Scouse Git

Not top 1001 album territory

A few songs were really good, but some were creepy. 3.

Beatles lite? At least the members contributed to this album. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

It always surprises and disappoints me when people write off the Monkees as just some manufactured boyband. For a start, they got together before the TV show. They're far more musical than most similar bands could hope to be. This has a fine selection of tunes - not a fan of putting together mono and stereo versions to pad out the track listing though, plus the odd demo lobbed in as well.

Sounds like an okay Beatles album.

I liked this it was pretty easy listening that gave me Beatles vibes. I don't think there were any tracks that made me go "Woah this is amazing" so it gets a 4.

60s pop-rock from guys that thinks their funny, but aren’t. There are some ok tracks in between, but most are cringe and/or pale and boring. Also, the album is way too long.

Long.

Better than expected probably 3.7

A bit of fun - derivative of other 60s bands - The Kinks, Beatles, Mamas & Papas Randy Scouse Git is fun - proto-punk chorus

It's a great album that incorporates many different styles and approaches that's somewhere between power-pop and little hints of psychedelia.

God, how would it feel to release your album a week before The Beatles dropped Sgt. Pepper? It exists as time capsule both of the pre-Pepper era, and the late 60s pop sound. Overall decent listen, but nothing jaw-dropping.

Beatles esque guitar pop from 1967. Obviously they were a parody but when you strip away most of the talent and creativity you get something a bit bland. Pretty amazing how dated this must have already sounded, given how much the fab four had pushed things forward

Pretty good pop

Maso

it was alright jus not up to my speed

Ok album. Nothing on it really stood out, so I don't know that it's one I'll play again often. 2.75/5

This album was fun. I'd revisit it for sure. I have sorta avoided them since they're a "constructed" band, but they have talent and the songs go from poppy to weird pretty often. I also liked that they captured them just having fun on some of the later tracks. 3.5/5

And that's how I learned Del the Funky Homosapien listened to The Monkees. This is fine. There's a few songs I genuinely liked, but most are just okay. I've always felt like The Monkees were a discount version of The Beatles, though they had their share of decent songs. This album reinforces that feeling. Even if I find it very average, it's at least better than some other albums that made the list.

Wait, so that girl on Marge’s school bus was wrong? The Monkees DID (occasionally) write their own songs! And they’re… not bad! Actually, Randy Scouse Git is pretty great. Taken as a document of 60s TV popsters beginning to spread their wings and take some creative control, this is a reasonable effort. But they were a few years behind the curve; compared to what other groups were producing at this time it’s nothing special. 2.5

Can't say I was too excited when I woke up to this as today's album. 1960's radio friendly pop has its charms, but it's rarely something I seek out. For me The Monkees fall into a category of music where there are just so many more interesting alternatives to listen to, that they end up a bit forgotten. Obviously big in the day, but I feel like we've moved past them. Heading into this with low expectations, though I'm hoping to be surprised. You Told Me Doesn't sound great. The guitar is kinda awful. Don't like where the vocals sit in the mix. Very simple structurally, doesn't evolve or pull any interesting tricks. Sluggish and boring. There are some vocal moments which produce some pretty harmonies. Did not like. 2/5 I'll Spend My Life With You It's pleasant enough. The steel guitar adds some uniqueness. The vocalist has a decent voice. Sounds extremely sanitized, and safe. Isn't a very challenging or stimulating listen, but works fine for what it is. The premise is pretty sweet, though extremely cliche for the time. Fine. 3/5 Forget That Girl Oddly unsettling. I feel like I'm being threathened. The backing vocals are incredibly strange. Uncanny. 2/5 Band 6 That was a bit pointless. Doesn't qualify as a song. NA/5 You Just May Be The One I don't like that voice. Extremely dated. Dorky and cheesy. Average instrumentally, lot's of tambourine. Strongly dislike. 1.5/5 Shades of Gray Pleasant vocal melody. Has some nice harmonies. Refreshing lyrics. Bringing in some strings for the instrumental was a decent choice, adds some life. Decent. 3.5/5 I Can't Get Her Of My Mind Cliche and uninspired. Sounds manifactured and sanitized. The use of "little girl" is quite concerning, feels very uncomfortable listening to it. Nightmare fuel. 1/5 Oh For Pete's Sake Lazy and cliche songwriting. Sounds like someone listing off '60s buzzwords. Overdone and pandering. Get me out. 1/5 Mr. Webster Cute and quirky little story, presented in a fun way. A nice distraction from the sea of boring love songs. Still not incredibly interesting, but I'll take it. Fine. 3/5 Sunny Girlfriend A cute and positive song. Just someone singing about how much he loves his girlfriend. Unspectacular, but charming in a dorky way. Average. 2.5/5 Zilch The band goofing around. Shows some personality. NA/5 No Time A fairly decent rock 'n' roll track that shows a lot of personality from the band. Genuinely sounds like they're having fun here. Has a bit of a spontaneous vibe to it, and shows a bit of attitude severely lacking on this album so far. Decent. 3.5/5 Early Morning Blues And Greens Peaceful and calm until that horrible organ comes in. A bit of a boribg track that really does nothing for me. Did not like. 2/5 Randy Scouse Git Fun and bouncy tempo. The vocal melody is also quite fun. Ther are some great discriptions in the lyrics. Great chorus. Finally a song with some variety, even the scatting is alright. Has a lot if explosivity to it. Ends really well. Good. 4/5 It's hard to discuss this without drawing Beatles comparisons - this sounds like a mediocre pastiche of early Beatles. With that out the way there's not much more to say. Middle of the road manufactured, formulaic love songs that neither excite nor impress. Sure some of them have charming moments, and some are even a bit quirky, but there is very little here of any value. There are just so many tiny variations of the same concept that it gets really tired after a while. It's not all love songs though, but even then these songs only stick out on a first listen as they are about a different topic. Even then they cannot escape the undramatic and flat songwriting style which haunts the album. The performances are fine, though mostly extremely sanitized and safe. There are a couple of tracks where they let themselves loose a little bit, where they're allowed to show some personality and attitude. Those are the songs that work best in my opinion, and offer the most interesting experience. Apart a from a few notable exceptions every song on here sounds virtually the same, leaving you with a very bland and uninspiring album which never really finds its footing. It is what it is. 2/5 Fave track. Randy Scouse Git Least fave track. I Can't Get Her Off My Mind

Can't we get the original albums on here not the 20 hr extended playlist

Ok

Old time vibes, reminds me of the beach with a radio playing these oldies. They're fine, didn't finish album because too long

Fun forgettable mid 60s music

Fun incarnate

I like every song on this album. A bit all over the place as an album is concerned though. Some songs are quintessential Monkees songs. Some songs sound like Rubber Soul era Beatles. Some songs sound like Lovin' Spoonful and others are early psychedelic; and others still are reminiscent of Herman's Hermits. I do have to say though, it appears that everyone who listened to this album on my streaming service listened to the whole album all the way through. Because each song is equally as popular as the others.

A bit old-timey but charming nonetheless!

Not what I expected out of a Monkees album but I really liked it!

– «¿Te gustan los Monkees? Sabrás que ellos no componen sus canciones.» – «¡Eso es mentira!» – «¡Pero si ni siquiera saben tocar!» – «¡No! ¡NOOOOO!» Con este álbum, los Monkees intentaron hacer callar a sus numerosos detractores, como la compañera de colegio de Marge Simpson, componiendo sus propios temas. Y, vale, la mayoría de temas fueron compuestos por ellos mismos, pero ¿y qué? Tampoco vamos a poner el listón tan bajo. Es un álbum predecible de pop sesentero típico, al estilo de los primeros álbumes de los Beatles. Ninguna canción destaca en especial. Un álbum tan alegre como inofensivo, que me ha dejado totalmente indiferente.

Some moments, jumps around the genres a bit as you would expect from several different songwriters and singers. Sits as an important cultural artifact without being one that stands up to much repeat attention. A good album and an interesting album. The story of the Monkees is worth anyone's time if you are interested in music and popular culture of the 60s.

While maybe not as catchy as their first two albums, this really shows the boys musical chops. Zilch is a definite standout.

they were a major influence on the beatles

3/5