Midnight Ride

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Tue Jun 01 2021

3

"Paul, Revere, Jack and John Raider, thanks for coming to see me. Sit down and I'll cut to the chase. We got your demo, liked it and want you to cut a record. Something in the modern day vernacular that sounds like you made it burning the midnight oil. Something that sounds both a part of and apart from the current generation. You dig? That's what our research says gets the kids off these days. They want to rebel but they also want to be their parents. Don't ask me, I don't understand. My daughter's doing all sorts of... but never mind that. Keep the yowls, we like them, but add more bottom. You know, drama, atmosphere, both ends burning. And don't take it easy on the girls either. Name them, call them out - 'Little girl' this, 'What'cha doin' girl?' that. But don't actually name them. Keep it general. Don't take this the wrong way, but you guys aren't the strongest when it comes to specifics. Leave that to [redacted]. Speaking of which, we picked out a few records for you to listen to, just for a bit of inspiration. One each by [names redacted]. You got it? Good. Now bring me a hit!"

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Thu Jul 21 2022

3

FUN record with some great tracks in 'Kicks', 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone' and 'Take a Look at Yourself'. A good portion of non-memorable tracks and 'Little Girl in the 4th Row' is a bit tedious. For a band who, according to their name, should oppose the British Invasion, they sure do sound a lot like their contemporaries - just almost breaking out into 'Day Tripper' on 'Louie, Go Home'.

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Fri Apr 16 2021

2

I find the inclusion of this album on the list interesting. I always thought of Paul Revere and the Raiders as a disposable bubble gum band. Perhaps their critical rehabilitation has something to do with Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which featured their "Hungry" in the soundtrack, and even a discussion of how underrated they were. Well, listening to Midnight Ride, PR&TR seem to be a workmanlike pop band with a decidedly garage-y orientation, and that's true enough. Boyce & Hart's I'm Not Your Stepping Stone fits the group like a pair of stone-washed jeans whereas the Monkees were just playing at (however convincingly) being a garage band. Paul Revere & The Raiders can also whip up a pure pop chorus if the mood strikes them. But they are much more than a poppy garage band. There She Goes and Take A Look At Yourself are convincing takes on the country pop/rock of the Gosdin Brothers. SS 396 and Corvair Baby are expert nods to the Beach Boys. The group even picks up on the then current trend of raga rock here and there. Less compellingly, there is the wan balladry of Little Girl in the 4th Row and the dad schmaltz of Melody for an Unknown Girl, which could almost be a Perry Como cover. Nonetheless, the overall effect is workmanlike rather than inspired, as compared to the Monkees. That's an unfair comparison in that the Monkees had the cream of professional songwriters pumping out tunes for them and were backed by the best studio musicians money could buy, whereas PR&TR mostly relied on the native talent of the group, but the band invites it the comparison with their genre hopping and occasional poppy choruses. I wish PR&TR had shown a little more discipline and toned down their garage band tendencies a little, emphasized the poppy choruses, and jettisoned the ballads and schmaltz. I think they probably had a solid album in them, but this isn't it.

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Fri Mar 05 2021

3

I thought this was a cool album for sure! I liked the vibes and felt that it was quite silly but in a fun way. I really appreciate how it wasn't as serious as a lot of the other albums from this decade that we've gotten (looking at you Bee Gees)

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Fri May 14 2021

5

Stellar classic rock and roll. 12-bar blues. Great melodies, lyrics. Recognized a few songs, even though I’d not heard the name Paul Revere and the Raiders before. Right in my wheelhouse

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Sun Oct 17 2021

5

PRETTY COOL 60´S SOUND

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Mon Jun 14 2021

3

Ild always generally avoided Paul Revere and the Raiders due to their ridiculous revolutionary war garb. “Really? That’s pretty stupid” thought little Johnny when he was 10 or 12 years old. The band is better than the outfits, but nothing spectacular. I like “kicks” and also “I’m not your stepping stone”, but the rest average. 3.5 stars and rounding down for sartorial silliness.

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Sat Apr 17 2021

3

Girl in the 4th row was hella creepy... Maybe I'm missing some context there.

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Mon Jun 14 2021

3

His has all the right vibes from the period: blues, rock, and whatever we want to consider the beach boys. I feel like if I were a teen during their heyday I could really be a fan girl.

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Mon Jun 07 2021

3

A perfectly fine album, very garage rock for the time. Can see some modern albums that fit within this framework in some stylistic and sound choices. Best: Kicks Worst: Melody for an Unknown Girl 2.5 Stars

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Fri Mar 31 2023

2

One if by land, Two if by…Fuck it, I can’t come up with any clever garage rock puns for that Paul Revere joke.

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Fri Aug 20 2021

5

Leuke verrassing. Ik vond de nummers heel afwisselend, en erg opgewekt

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Wed Dec 08 2021

5

The style is not very unique, but the execution is great. Nice basic rhythms to dance to, but each song is distinct enough that it doesn't get boring. This goes for the lyrics too, they aren't very deep, but each song tells a different story. Listening to the album just made me happy, so five stars.

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Wed Jan 12 2022

5

Crazy that I had never even heard of this band before today. Super-into the classic 60s rock'n'roll vibe; miss this kind of music that just doesn't get made anymore. Maybe not a truly "5" album, but it's so refreshing to listen to.

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Mon Oct 24 2022

5

Mostly great fun. Exemplifies the 60s in my mind. I can even excuse the myriad issues with Little Girl in the 4th Row as relics of a bygone age. Ballad of a Useless Man is oddly catchy for a song about an alcoholic living on the streets. And Melody for an Unknown [Woman] could have used even fewer words if you ask me. But overall, this is a good time capsule and just a good time.

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Mon Oct 24 2022

5

This definitely sounded like a 60s jam and I had a lot of fun listening.

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Fri Nov 18 2022

5

Super classic. I put this on when my father in law visits.

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Thu Dec 29 2022

5

Fun 60s rock

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Thu Jan 05 2023

5

That's very good. Most of the tracks are amazing, some are just a bit less, so I was not 100% sure about the 5th star.. but then the little girl in the 4th row (Italian version) happened. I'm Italian. I've never laughed so much. Made my night, I would listen to this album again anytime knowing what's waiting for me at the 13th track

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Mon May 22 2023

5

A peaceful and cozy little listen

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Sat Apr 24 2021

4

mmm catchy. ‘melody for an unknown girl’ best track. this was cool cos there was range and it felt really well composed. OG stepping stone whaaaaaat?!

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Sun Mar 14 2021

4

false

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Thu Mar 11 2021

4

Kicks is great

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Tue May 25 2021

4

Rock and roll, 1966. Un poco country rock&roll.

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Thu May 20 2021

4

Pues sí, sí apruebo. Muy entretenido de escuchar, vibras doorsianas en muchas canciones, intervenciones de country, rock psicodelico, 70s' shit en los 90, chidito, aunque no mucha variedad de moods, salvo la ocasional balada. Mis favoritas fueron: there she goes, que tiene una vibra Grease, I'm not you Steppin Stone, que es una de las más Doors-sound-alike y Take a look at Yourself. Mood: Fake-Hippies

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Fri Mar 05 2021

4

This one was fun! I especially liked the last song, thought it was a very silly but fun premise. Would like to listen to the full album, as I only found it on youtube and some songs were unavailable :(

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Sun May 02 2021

4

Mix of styles from kinks beatles doors and some songs you know. 4 is generous but hey

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Sat Apr 17 2021

4

Really enjoyed this. Nice variety and every song has a great hook

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Wed May 26 2021

4

This is mostly banging. Enjoyed much more than I expected.

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Mon Jun 21 2021

4

Decent actually. The melody song was cool

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Wed May 12 2021

4

Few good tracks. Has different styles that I associate with various bands from this era. Seems like they have good range.

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Fri Jul 02 2021

4

- Nice breadth of genre - feels influential, almost white stripes-esque? - strong musicianship

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Fri Jul 09 2021

4

Very cool early-Beatles sort of thing. Catchy and fun. I could happily listen to this any day

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Wed Sep 01 2021

4

This is a really sweet album. Kind of reminds me of the Yardbirds. I especially love the closing track!

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Thu Sep 09 2021

4

Love this album! A great slice of mid-60s psych.

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Wed Oct 06 2021

4

That was cool, though first half was better

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Wed Oct 13 2021

4

Pretty good - never heard this before…

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Thu Oct 14 2021

4

pretty good, I loved how much they messed with time signatures, regularly jumping between a 4/4 and 3/4 I’ll give it a 7/10

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Thu Nov 11 2021

4

Enjoyable 60s rock that sounds very Beatles esque

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Thu Jan 13 2022

4

Good time.

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Tue Jan 18 2022

4

Great groovy album love the 60's pop rock organ sounds. A very rock n' roll feeling.

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Mon Mar 07 2022

4

1,001 albums... There was a time when I had little or no interest in post-British invasion garage rock but I really dig this stuff when I'm in the mood these days. I don't know a great deal about Paul Revere and the Raiders beyond the fact that they had plenty of hits in the USA in the mid- sixties and that they used to dress up in American revolution gear - something which no doubt gave them a bit of attention but affected their credibility long-term. Anyway, I enjoyed this album for the large part. The garage rock stuff is energetic and fun and there are more than hints of the Beach Boys in the mushier numbers. A keeper.

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Sun Mar 20 2022

4

Fun 60s rock. A few real bangers on here, especially Shake It Up, Kicks, and I'm Not Your Stepping Stone

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Thu Apr 07 2022

4

Bold, unpretentious 60s pop rock. Not a lot not to like. enjoyed it as an album in 2022 so its prob worth an extra point for being written in 1966. 4/5

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Wed Apr 13 2022

4

Una época que mereix revisions periòdiques, perquè està plena de petites troballes que valen molt la pena. El garage rock és un génere especialment procliu a això i aquest disc és una de les seves joies. Meravellós

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Wed May 11 2022

4

A band I wasn't familiar with, but I like this album. A bit pop, a bit garage, a bit psychedelic, with a bit of soul thrown in.

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Fri Jun 03 2022

4

Tuntematon platta mutta aika tiukkaa jopa aika Kinks henkistä garageajeluu! Siis täähän oli ihan munan kova! Miten en oo kuullu tätä aikaisemmin??? I’m not your steppin’ stone on todella väkevä 4/5

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Fri Jun 03 2022

4

Great! There were enough songs I wanted to return to to make this album a 4/5 for me

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Mon Jun 20 2022

4

Did not know this album / band - not sure if it belongs to the list but I quite liked it: good-sounding 60s garage rock except for the last song (Melody..), which I would give 5 stars.

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Thu Jun 23 2022

4

A very enjoyable 60’s rock album. Best song was Kicks.

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Wed Jul 27 2022

4

This was good

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Wed Aug 03 2022

4

Curiosidad musical de esas que le gustan a Tarantino (lo digo porque son parte del soundtrack de Once Upon A Time In Hollywood) con todos los componentes de una banda de los 60 incluyendo detalles al estilo de los Kinks, de los Monkees y obviamente de los Beatles. La verdad es que el disco me gustó y aunque quizá no sea la nueva piedra angular de mi colección, le alcanza para la 4ª estrella, por la calidad de su sonido en 1966.

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Fri Aug 05 2022

4

Really enjoyed this listen, and had no clue that they sang 'Stepping Stone'

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Sun Sep 11 2022

4

I likeee

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Sun Sep 18 2022

4

Great, sounds a bit like they're riffing off the Beatles and the Stones at the same time! Very 60s, very British Invasion sounding (but from the US), very very good.

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Thu Sep 22 2022

4

Cool!

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Mon Oct 03 2022

4

7/10. Liked a few songs quite a bit, and the rest were generally pleasant

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Mon Oct 24 2022

4

I really enjoyed this late '60s fun (if sometimes quite dated). Hey, they're from Boise!

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Tue Nov 08 2022

4

Classic

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Mon Dec 12 2022

4

One of those “clearly representative of an iconic sound of an era” pieces but where I only actually recognized one song. Altogether it’s a fairly weird album, some psychedelic leaning parts, a couple pretty out there experimental numbers, but then some super lazy “I got a dope car” numbers as well. Extra point for the bizarre swings in vibe.

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Sun Jan 15 2023

4

enjoyable rock and roll! some songs I really enjoyed. a fun record through and through.

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Fri Jan 20 2023

4

This was pretty cool. I had never heard of this band but they have that classic 60s rock/psychedelic sound like The Stones, The Who, The Doors, etc.

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Fri Jan 20 2023

4

4/5

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Thu Jan 26 2023

4

Really fun listen. The ways in which it's aged poorly are more endearing than distracting.

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Wed Feb 22 2023

4

This garage rock album is pretty catchy. The first side is very good, riff filled and energetic. The second one is less good but still enjoyable. Pretty good album overall but not essential. 7,4/10

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Sun Feb 26 2023

4

Classic early rock and roll, very much of its time and pretty darn good. 4 stars.

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Thu Mar 02 2023

4

Okay admittedly this kinda washed over me

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Wed Mar 08 2023

4

Always liked Minor Threat's Stepping Stone cover. The original isn't bad either, but this album is all over the place. Too many cooks in the kitchen here, but it does give a view into how trippy crazy the 60's were. These guys were kinda nuts, doing their best to break the molds they were forced into and I can respect that.

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Wed Mar 15 2023

4

I really enjoyed this - it was a bit bland and not memorable, but that was the charm. I fell asleep twice listening to it.

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Tue Apr 18 2023

4

Not a bad album, but it just did not do it for me. Should deserve a 5 star, I just don't want the algorithm to think I enjoyed this album a lot therefore I'm giving it 4 stars.

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Wed May 10 2023

4

Really cool, stylish sound with attitude for the time and great harmonies

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Thu May 11 2023

4

Early rock from the 60s, yet I think has a more advanced sound to it.

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Mon May 22 2023

4

A fun little album that clocks in at just under 30 minutes.

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Wed May 31 2023

4

This was peak American 60s pop rock and it rocks

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Thu Jun 22 2023

4

Reminds of 60s Stones

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Sun Jul 02 2023

4

I tend to forget that even though it was the 60s bands like this made songs that laid the groundwork for modern (and post-modern) rock of every stripe. There are some absolute bangers on here.

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Mon Jul 03 2023

4

4.0

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Wed Jul 12 2023

4

Tight little 60s rock and roll album, honestly no complaints, just missed an extra shine or two to pump it all the way up.

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Fri Jul 28 2023

4

BEST SONGS: -All I Really Need Is You -Little Girl in the 4th Row

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Sun Aug 13 2023

4

Apparently, Paul Revere & The Raiders were making the music that I hoped more well-known bands like Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Doors were doing instead. They all fall into the same sound, but this is better executed. The instrumentation is more interesting, the songs are varied, and the overall sound is cleaner. Standouts are Ballad of a Useless Man and I'm Not Your Stepping Stone.

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Wed Aug 16 2023

4

4-

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Fri Aug 18 2023

4

Man, pop in the 60s hit different huh? Stand out songs: - Melody for an Unknown Girl - Corvair Baby

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Mon Sep 11 2023

4

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Kicks, Ballad of a useless man, I’m not your stepping stone, There she goes, All I really need is you

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Tue Sep 12 2023

4

Rock

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Wed Sep 13 2023

4

threw a bunch of sixties garage pop riffs into a blender, which was probably the best place for them, frankly

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Wed Sep 13 2023

4

3.75

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Mon Sep 25 2023

4

Rock and roll, 1966. Un poco country rock&roll.

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Wed Sep 27 2023

4

There were a few bops on this album

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Thu Feb 25 2021

3

It was interesting (apparently their gimmick was revolutionary war uniforms during the "british invasion"!) and pretty decent. Sometimes I forget there's 60s music that isn't the Beatles, but it's never quite as good.

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Wed Jul 14 2021

3

What a unique intersection of rock and roll

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Fri Apr 16 2021

3

It starts off really strong, but it falls off pretty hard the last few songs, especially the last two. 3/5

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Mon Apr 12 2021

3

Has a few of this group's great songs, but in total album was only ok

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Mon Apr 26 2021

3

Nice 60s Rock

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Wed Mar 03 2021

3

It's fine

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Fri Jul 16 2021

3

Lovely stuff

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Sun Jul 04 2021

3

Meh

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Thu May 20 2021

3

Muy beatlesco para mi gusto. Hay canciones entretenidas como "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" que me parecieron entretenidas. Asimismo, hay buenos guitarrazos de repente y momentos muy buena onda, frescos. No obstante, no es un disco al que regresaría. 7/10

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Thu Feb 25 2021

3

The only 2 songs I was familiar with on this album are Kicks and I'm Not Your Stepping Stone. The later more because of the Monkey's cover. I like the album, but it feels like pretty generic 60s pop rock and I'd rather listen to The Beatles

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Tue Mar 23 2021

3

3.5/5 strong beatles vibes, relisten

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Thu May 20 2021

3

Surprisingly decent - or maybe I’m desperate for this for awful run of albums to end and this was simply better than the rest recently

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