Headquarters

3.5/5 Some cheesy songs, but I enjoyed it. For me the album is a bit too long. Overall not bad. Favourite songs: - You told me - Sunny girlfriend - Shades of grey

Nothing special with this album… ziltch was a bit funny since it’s been sampled

Definitely Beatles-lite. I didn't recognize any of these songs by name so I thought perhaps I had heard one before without knowing it. I did not. It's The Monkees. It doesn't have Daydream Believer. It's watered down Beatles. It's certainly not God awful but it isn't memorable or essential in anyway unless you're really into this genre. I'll take the Fab 4 everytime.

Plus de peur que de mal pour Robert qui vient de sortir de l'hôpital avec une simple fracture du tibias. Vous êtes tous au fait de ma nouvelle mission du vendredi consistant à surveiller les élèves de ma classe de sixième à la piscine municipale. Vous savez également que, n'ayant rien à faire de plus que de les regarder nager, je trouve en général le temps extrêmement long. C'est la raison pour laquelle je demandai au professeur que j'accompagne si j'avais la possibilité d'emmener mon enceinte JBL FLIP 5. Ma requête fut déclinée. Oui mais voilà, en arpentant les bords du bassin, je fis une découverte on ne peut plus intéressante : dans un coin était accrochée une énorme enceinte de la marque concurrente BOSE. Ni une ni deux, je profitai d'un moment où le professeur de sport était inattentif pour connecter mon portable à celle-ci. Une poignée de secondes plus tard, l'enceinte détonait l'album des Monkees, provoquant la panique générale. Les quelques regards qui avaient le malheur de se tourner vers moi étaient accueillis par un haussement d'épaule. Petit à petit, le mouvement de panique laissa place à des réflexions telles que « Mais c'est comme les Beatles ?! » parmi les élèves en train de patauger. Vers la fin de l'album, mon attention était si focalisée sur les différences que j'essayais de pointer entre les singes et lesdits Beatles que je ne vis pas une élève de douze ans se noyer et couler vers le fond du bassin. Quelle galère...

Un très bon album de la part de ces joyeux singes. Cet album était d'ailleurs une très belle représentation de l'essence même du générateur, de la l'ADN Robert. En effet, cet album des années 60 était une copie conforme des Beatles, comme de nombreux autres albums avant cela. Même si les Monkees ont tenté de se démarquer en recrutant Zac Effron, visible sur la droite de la pochette avec son pentalon doré ridicule, on peine malgré tout à les considérer comme autre chose qu'un simple sous Beatles.

If people really gave a listen to the Monkees they would realize they don't sound like the Beatles at all. They start out with banjo blended in with 60's folk/rock on You Told Me. I'll Spend My Life With You has what sounds like a bath tub Bass, banjo, and slide guitar. The guys harmonize wonderfully together. This being said, they are no Beatles and get a little mundane on this album. I love them growing up but not really influencing music much.

Skipped quite a few songs, nit really doing it for me 2.8

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.

She hangs out has got some serioooouuss 60s creep vibes about it, no good.

GreatValu Beatles. Nurse Robert. Sweetheart of My Bunghole.

“What if the Beatles never did acid?”

Aged

Way past its expiration date

Reminds me of Rubber Soul

Peachy.

Been giving a lot of albums a 4 lately, so why not. A pretty enjoyable album, had heard some songs by The Monkees but none from this album. I’m a sucker for more simple uppity songs, and though the Monkees may have never reached the artistic level of the Beatles or the Beach Boys, a solid album. Favorite songs: Forget That Girl, I Can’t Get Her Off My Mind, Randy Scouse Git, Zilch

Great throughout! Never a dull moment.

Good album! The deluxe edition comes up on Spotify, so these may be added but there are Def some fluffier songs of the guys goofing around in the recording studio that I wasn't a huge fan of But overall, really creative songwriting and I enjoyed the album

The Beatles maar dan anders

Reading the story of how this album came to be was the most interesting part and really informed my listen. The album was all over the place with Beatles-esque tunes and then absolute bad nonsense.

Initial impressions was it sounded Beatlesque but didn't quite hit that spark. Fun at first but quickly became very samey and generic. After reading that this band was created for a tv show, this makes a lot of sense. It's mass appeal with with little to no soul, mimicking the popularity of others. There's not even enough for me to hate it, just very uninteresting and it just keeps going on.

Rock suave.

The Monkees finally were finally allowed to write and perform on their own records. And it is not a a disaster. Pleasant folk/country inspired pop rock, with some hints of psychedelia. But I can't really remember a single song on it, except Zilch (and experimental thing that I quite like)

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.

Ok 60s pop, but lacking any catchy songs or big hits. They should have stuck with the external song writers and session musicians. 2/5.

I like the Monkees. Turns out I really like their greatest hits. The rest of this is by no means bad, but just didn't hit right with me. (To be fair, I didn't listen to every single song on this LONG album)

Tussen beach boys en Beatles, soms ook experimentele uitschieters

3/5

Just a lesser Beatles or Beach Boys album. Good background music, but nothing stands out.

lovey dovey. ok sounds but all about some girl idk

This hasn't done much to give me an appreciation of the Monkees. From what I gather, they were a pretend band for a TV show, but this was the first album where they actually had creative input. It's listenable and inoffensively pleasant. But just seems like middling "1960s psych-pop lite for mass appeal". 2*

Some really good harmonies, but overall, just doesn't carry long enough.

Disappointing pop. There wasn't anything that was memorable or remarkably enjoyable. Does not hold up very well.

Solid. Reminds me of the Beatles

Buen disco. Cultura general

Reminds me of the Beatles.

Listen to this album just to understand why "I'm A Believer" became their runaway hit. This is not a bad album, it just isn't really good either without the contextual relevance of the TV show.

Its pleasant, but if I wanted more of this sound and better I would listen to the Beatles

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

Lots of very short songs. Bring back the 2 minute single...

This entire album sounded like a spinal tap song: Don't get me wrong Try getting me right Your face is okay But your purse is too tight I'm looking for pound notes, loose change, bank checks, anything Gimme some money, gimme some money 2/5

Like that Monkees sound!

It's obvious how scripted and intentional this band is. I love the Monkees and enjoyed this listen to their early work.

Bisschen eintönig, aber hörbar!

Irgendwie gehört es in seine Zeit aber nach hier und heute eher nicht

"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.

Pretty bad. If this is the only Monkees album on this list then they messed up. Was cool to hear "Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina" on "Zilch" but that and "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" were really the only highlights of this (long) album.

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

Udmærket men megrt præget af den måde mn lavede musik på den gang. Korte Numre, meget diskant og korte indslag. 3,5

The big problem here is certainly not that anything is "too long". For the most part, these are fragments of songs (in some cases, pretty experimental ones). It smacked of inclusion-by-context, especially at the beginning, but covered enough ground that I understand some of the appeal.

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.

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)

First Listen 2/5. Better than expected. Surprised how much I liked it. I had heard none of these songs before.

Very long album - would have to be a super fan to listen to it all!

I underestimated the Monkees

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

If Disney tried to make a discount Beatles knock-off this is what it would sound like.

Much better than anticipated! Fun 60s pop stuff you may hear in a diner. Also similar to early Beatles! Pleasant!

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

Were they the first "boy band"? Very Bee Gees sounding, maybe with a couple of Beatles bars thrown in (but nowhere near them!). It's OK easy listening, but IMO more than 2 tracks in a row it's a sugar OD.

Let's start here: None of the Monkees' songs you're familiar with are on this album. There's no Daydream Believer. No I'm A Believer. No Last Train To Clarksville. Not even the gloriously weird song that was used at the end of a late season episode of Mad Men (it's called "Porpoise Song" and it's on Head, an album a sort of wish was on this list. "Porpoise Song" is a 5). I'm glad to see The Monkees getting recognition on the list, although I wonder if this is the album that should represent them. It was released towards the end of their Imperial Phase. This is the album where the Monkees actually got to play their own instruments, as if to show the world they weren't just actors hired for a silly TV show. Has one absolute banger in "Randy Scouse Git", two if we're allowed to include "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", which is on the Spotify version I listened to. That one, like several Monkees songs, was written by a gentleman named Neil Diamond. Ol' Neil isn't anywhere on this list. Probably because Neil was more of a singles artist than anything else. Just like the Monkees.

funky, lite wack låtar

bootleg beatles

the beatles from the USA?

Basically a good album. I noticed the influence of the 60's on many songs, like Chuck Berry or Little Richard. (7/10) Favourite songs: Randy Scouse Git, Zilch, Shades of Gray

good

before listening, I predicted how they would sound. I was right haha. The more folky songs are so good. Forget that Girl is so nice!

boring, discount beatles

*monkey noises*

Monke

This was pretty good, not what I usually listen to but I enjoyed most of it.

I don’t really like the Monkees, but it was fun to hear the del sample from Zilch

Strange skits in this one. Songs are good though and really good 60s throw back.

Meh.

not my type of music, but there was a couple okay songs

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

Absolutely not my style

It sounds like a Beatles album, only more repetitive which makes it worse. But I can't say that it is bad. My favourite song is I Can't Get Her Off My Mind

This is the Monkees at their most Beatle inspired. It's fine enough but nothing remarkable.

Quirky album with a few good tunes, decent.

Boring Beatles. The Monkees have better music than what was on this album.

meh

Listened to the first two songs. Is this going to be all 60’s music from here on out?

Pretty decent. Idk if I would listen to it often but the first couple of songs I really liked.

Great story. TV show band. This was the first album that they were given freedom to write on their own. Good story, but not great.

Lightweight pop dross

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.

It's the Monkees. Singles are great.

Cute album

I didn't go into this with that high of hopes, always kinda thought these guys were just budget Beatles. It wasn't bad, just not something I think I would return to Saved: Shades of Gray, All of Your Toys

Saved Prior: None Saved Off Rip: You Just May Be The One, I Can't Get Her Off My Mind, Randy Scouse Git, All Of Your Toys*, The Girl I Knew Somewhere*, A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You* (last three songs were added on for the deluxe rerelease) Cutting Edge: Shades of Gray Overall Notes: Another less-good version of the Beatles. Felt more by the numbers than the Byrds did, but it just goes to show the crazy influence those English guys had on popular music.

The Monkees are ok. Always weird to take a band seriously that was created for a TV show.

Opgewekt en aangenaam

Duidelijk jaren '60 muziek, Niet echt uitspringers op het album, maar het nummer 'Zilch' vond ik precies wel nog grappig

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)

some good songs interspersed with annoying songs. low 3

I've liked other Monkees songs but didn't love this album - some songs were cool, some were kinda boring. They just sounded like worse Beetles. 3 stars from me

Had some enjoyable songs, but not fabulous overall. Higher end of 3

4

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.

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.

“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

It's The Monkees. It's fun but kinda boring 60s music.

Toothless but pleasant enough. 5/10

i thought this music sounded good with a beatles-esque, early rock sound. then i learned that the group was manufactured for a tv show. it lowered my interest in the group.

eh its ok, not really my thing

Couldn’t get through it. Really bad.

The album is certainly fun, and the interstitial moments of the band joking around remind us of their youth. The songs are strongly thematic of the era, but not memorable.

3

I like the Monkees. Don’t love them.

People are always surprised when there is a breakout artist from a boy band or a girl group, not realizing that they are real artists in themselves. This album is when The Monkees were finally able to write their own shit and it shows

Poorly recorded but actually had some songs I enjoyed. A mono version would be better. The stereo was too far panned.

doodoo

Nje, inget jättekul. En del lite bra men det mesta har inte åldrats tillräckligt väl för att fortfarande vara intressant. Enkla ackord, enkla basgångar, enkla melodier. Var ändå taggad på Monkees! Zilch ganska rolig, och kan nog ha varit briljant på sin tid, idag känns det som nåt varje youtuber skulle göra 😅

Apart from one or two cringey-lyric songs, overall a great jam. Pretty creative and well-produced.

Old school, short, fun and upbeat

Very whatever. Some of "talking" tracks were weird and I'm not sure why they would be remastered, but whatever.

I listened to so much of this... Its not bad, its just too much :D

false

Was a long monkeys album. Had a few of their greats on here. Are there better monkey's albums to put on this list?

Standard stuff

It's okay, I don't want to listen to it more than once. The only version I could find was the deluxe edition and it was too long. Probably liked shades of Gray the most. 4/8.

Meh

Notable because they played their own instruments for the first time like the big boys that they are. It also sold well. It's insane that this album, which sounds like it came out in 1962, was the #2 best-selling album during the Summer of Love. Best track: Shades of Gray

Fun album. Definitely harmless

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.

pretty good. 60's feel. monkees are okay

loved every song