Sweetheart Of The Rodeo

I'm finding that I really didn't know much about the Byrds. This was kind of a surprise but a very nice one. A little country, a little folky, and little old-timey...is there rock here? I might have missed it. But it’s all good.

I thought that I would like this one more than I did. The description sounded like it might appeal, but the listening experience did not thrill me. It wasn't bad, and I found the second listen more enjoyable, but not quite enough for me to really get into it.

I understand the musical importance and can see how contemporary artists I really like, like Kacey Musgraves & Jason Isbell trace back to Graham Parsons. But I'm a still a little resentful that what feels like the entire Byrds & all related artists' discographies are on this list.

"Sweetheart of the Rodeo" is the sixth studio album by American rock band The Byrds. It was recorded in Nashville and LA. with the addition of country rock pioneer Gram Parsons and a number of session musicians. The songs are mostly covers of country and folk songs. The album was originally conceived as a history of 20th century American popular music including country, jazz and R&B by vocalist and guitarist Roger McGuinn but was steered by Parsons to purely country. It is widely recognized as the first album of country rock and seminal in the progressive country genre. It did not do well commercially reaching #77 in the US. The album opens with "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," a Bob Dylan cover from what would become his basement tapes. It has the distinctive Roger McGunn's vocals and Byrds' harmonization but the music is definitely country including Lloyd Green on the steel pedal guitar. Lots of steel pedal guitar on this album. We get a fiddle and banjo going on the traditional Christian hymn "I am a Pilgrim." Chris Hillman on the vocals. They cover The Louvin Brothers' "The Christian Life." McGuinn singing in a southern twang. Doing a better job than Mick Jagger tried to to do. JayDee Maness now on the steel pedal guitar killing it. The second side begins with a Gram Parsons' original (co-wrote with Bob Buchanan) "Hickory Wind," my highlight of the album. Parsons on lead vocals. Female backing vocals. Banjo, fiddle, piano and steel pedal guitar. It is a nostalgic song about climbing a tree as a child comparing to the perils and pursuing of fame. Parsons get lead vocals again on the Merle Haggard cover "Life in Prison." Dual simultaneous steel pedal guitar and piano solos. The album is bookended, closing with another Bob Dylan basement cover "Nothing Was Delivered." There's actually hints of rock as the song alternates between a rock beat and straight-forward country. The goods were failed to be delivered. We can only assume drugs. I woke in the mood for a bunch of waltzes and the wish was granted. This is what makes doing this random album challenge worth it to me; there's little chance I go back listen to and research the history of a Byrds' country album. Glad I did. Besides McGunn's vocals and the harmonies, there's little resemblance of The Byrds as you knew them. A complete transformation. Country rock???? This is country. The session musicians were great especially Maness on the steel pedal guitar. All the Parsons lead vocal and written songs were the highlights. Parsons would leave the band before the album was released on to other things. I know those things are upcoming in my future; I'm looking forward to that.

Their most consistent album as they move into a warm country rock fusion that was still very novel at the time. This was the first album that got me to appreciate country, and acted as a gateway for 70s outlaw and 90s alt country. Huge fan of their iconic harmonies. It's fast and displays 50s rockabilly aspects to pull in rock audiences. It's hard not to like parts like the gorgeous instrumental bridge of "Life in Prison." Strong intro (a catchy hit) and strong closer (a dramatic bang). Most songs stick out, and it's a slideshow of their talents (mostly Gram Parsons) with 11 songs in just over a half hour. Favorites: You Ain't Goin Nowhere, You Don't Miss Your Water, You're Still On My Mind, One Hundred Years From Now, Nothing Was Delivered

Twangy, bright and bold country from the Byrds Boys. I've always loved this take on The Christian Life, as it can be taken either literally or as an ironic sort of dig. I can hear it both ways. And The Byrds were, to these ears, THE best at Dylan covers. The sparkle and harmonies they add to a Dylan number make it zing like nobody else ever.

Pretty decent country.I enjoyed it.Maybe not the most memorable thing in the world but it’s relatively short and decent.

A time when Country-Rock was great before The Eagles ruined it forever.

I bought a used copy of this record back in the early-80's and though I had been a fan of the Byrds earlier albums, I only listened to Sweetheart once before decided it wasn't for me. I was never a fan of Country music, so it sounded too country for my tastes, though it still had some elements of "rock" in it. Fast forward a decade later and a lot of the music I was listening to had plenty of Country-rock vibes to it which was updated and "re-branded" in the 80's and 90's, as Alt-Country. This genre produced some great bands, Uncle Tupelo, Long Ryders, Jayhawks etc and opened my ears to the possibilities of meshing rock and country together with an alternative edge. More recently, I have been spinning Sweetheart of the Rodeo often and it's influence and it's pioneering musical style is undeniable. Thank the Byrds for this bold statement in 1968.

4/5. Honestly, the more I listened to it, the better it got. It feels like the quality of a rock/pop band diving into country and making catchy tunes. Some songs don’t fully hit but it is a good album overall. Also, the twangy guitar can get a little old but it’s not bad. The song quality makes up for it. Best song: I Am a Pilgrim, Nothing Was Delivered

This is not a bad album but I think it's too country for my taste. The same melody starts to get tiresome halfway through, the last few songs are more rock and enjoyable. If country is your thing, this one is quite good!

Widely considered the first country rock album (although Michael Nesmith was dipping his toes in the pond beforehand), the Byrds combine this extremely homespun American art form with a burst of colorful psychedelia. It’s refreshing and played beautifully, especially by guitar virtuoso Gram Parsons.

4 good shit

Liked this a surprisingly big amount. Really charming tracks and sometimes some unique lyricism that I appreciated; could see myself blissing out to this like people do The Beatles. Unfortunately, like those loveable lads from Liverpool, this is hamstrung by some truly abhorrent lyrical focus in a number of tracks (and no I'm not just talking about the Christian one). Could never fully sink into this with the amount of misogyny. Three and a half. Fave track: I Am a Pilgrim

Really solid country album, and maybe the best record overall from The Byrds. I think it’s easy to misinterpret (like I first did) some of the more tongue-in-cheek performances as more sincere than they actually are, ie ‘This Christian Life’, but this record has grown on me a lot since my first listen. A lot of fun and great musicianship for an album of mostly covers. 4 and a half stars. Favourite track - You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere

Loved a lot of the songs and it very much reminded me of New Riders of the Purple Sage. Which is a really good thing for me because they’re a favorite, but this album was a huge departure from the Byrds most people know and love. I’ll listen to this album again and again.

i didn’t love a lot of the songs on this album but it was so different from the other 2 byrds albums it makes it so much better

A pretty good country sounding album that didn’t get too much into stereotypical country topics. There was one song about being christian but other than that it was a good sounding album

Great album, the last I've heard from The Byrds and easily their most country one. They still have that magic touch when they cover Dylan songs, although there's only one of them here.

Interesting album by the byrds, nice touch of country and good harmonies.

Not something that I would listen to everyday, but hey... it's The Byrds, so it's great! A very nice country album fulfilled with strong vocal harmonies, insane guitar licks and powerful production. Is it one of the best 1001 albums of all time? Probably not, but I enjoyed its presence here anyway.

good listen

Sounds like the layering and some of the irony belongs to the Byrds; For the rest, they put on the country costume and it fits like second skin. For obvious reasons, this warms my technically-Canadian California "cowboy" heart. There's a thick almost-squareness all over the songs of Sweetheart, as the band leans into the religious roots of the music. But if it's tropey and too-perfect it's also stunningly competent. Pop-country done right and early.

This is my third Byrds album in 66 albums so far, which seems insane (in contrast I haven't seen a single Beatles album yet), so I am feeling like they are really overrepresented on the list, especially since I am definitely not a hard core Byrds fan. That said, this is my absolute favorite of their albums, and that is because it's really more of a Gram Parsons album with a little Byrds on the side, and I can get behind some Gram Parsons. You can hear the influence this had on country and alt-country, and the album is packed with great songs (even if, ironically, I prefer other versions of those songs, but again, I'm not a huge Byrds fan!). While there are arguably too many Byrds albums on the list, this album deserves its place on the list in my opinion. 4/5 for importance and impact.

Good Thanksgiving music

Really solid country album. Love the slide guitar on here. As well as the saloon piano.

You ain’t going nowhere

It's good.

Not a fan of the jesus-y songs, but OK.

I love me some country. This was a shock for me since I know the Byrds as a folk/rock band so I wasn't expecting this. I can't complain this really. I just love that country sound. 4.5/5

first listen now THIS is country

A lovely country album which must have felt like a radical shift at the time (even if they do start proceedings with a Dylan song).

not a huge western/country fan, I mean I like it when Bob Dylan does it but this had a less appealing sound to me still the execution was pretty solid and the production had some diversity - 7/10

I knew of the Byrds but didn't know that they made a country album. 3.5 stars.

This has a twang to it I wasn't expecting - I like it! I think I'll listen to this one again.

Genre: Country Rock 4/5 An absolutely delightful treat from The Byrds once again. Gram Parsons, the country rock god who left us much too soon, joins the group for an album and the result is a gorgeous tribute to 50s-60s country, as well as a tremendous step forward for country rock as a genre. The opener lays it all out on the table. Those beautiful soft/folk rock harmonies that we've known to love from The Byrds, but with heavy doses of pedal steel guitar to let you know this won't be your average Byrds record. The rest of the album plays out like a country fair, with beautiful steel guitar solos, the occasional fiddle sting, and sunny vibes throughout. Highly enjoyable record.

a nice country excursion. i just wish my buddies would stop shunning me for turning to jesus!!

Loved the twang of this album. You can really hear the influence it had on sturgill simpson and others like him.

Did not know what to expect with this one. I inly knew Mr Tambourine Man by The Byrds. This was very good. Slick Americana. 😀

As country as can be - simple, direct, heartfelt music, from the 7 month period where Gram Parsons was a Byrd, before defecting (in London en route to a tour of South Africa when the Rolling Stones explained apartheid to him, leading him to agree that he didn't want to be touring there. )

Entirely pleasant, and a few moments that stood out. But ultimately washed over me in a miasma of pedal steel and cornpone. Quite lovely if it catches you in the right mood, and you can hear its reverberations down through time in almost every subsequent country rock album. Good stuff.

Country sounding, quite good

Great country music for Lego building with my son on a Saturday morning.

I had written off The Byrds as by-the-numbers psyche-pop, but this an incredibly solid country album. I'm dubious that the need a whole five albums on the list, but this album sounds like what Wilco is trying to sound like on any given day.

Good country

🙂 Like a sunny holiday 🙂

Fanade … hårt!!!

OK, I like the Byrds and I like Gram Parsons, so of course I like this album. Is it the Byrds best? No, but its up there.

I like the christian life....

9/14 A very warm and inviting album, makes me feel like I’m surrounded by family and right at home. Probably The Byrds album I’ve liked the most just off these first listens, country rock comes naturally to them. Standout Tracks: You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere, The Christian Life, Pretty Boy Floyd, One Hundred Years From Now

Liked this a lot. More Byrds please

Finally! I knew there were a ton of Byrds albums on here, and this is my first one. In many ways, this is one of the finest country albums I've ever listened to, and the best country album I've heard so far from this list. It starts off with a bang (You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, written by Dylan, is a 5). No David Crosby in this version of the Byrds, but we get the wonders of Gram Parsons instead. Sneaky suspicion there are too many Byrds albums on the list, but this one is definitely a keeper.

Great Americana sound, slight country.

Great album...only con is the Christian themes.

This album strikes a chord with Americana and Country influences. There are classics, but more importantly a flowing experience from this album.

Not much to say, very standard country music with some slight rock touches. I enjoyed listening to it during work, but don't think I'd actively listen to it in other contexts. The rating is generously rounded up from a 3.5

Love love this album. It’s not perfect but it means a lot to me.

not what i expected, but this was an interesting country album!

Pretty good folk/country album. Not sure if it's something I'd listen to on the regular but I like the instrumentation and the mastering.

Strange but catchy Christian rock

Howdy pardner! Didn't see you there on a count of my rattlesnake blindness. Yes, the snake bit both of my eyes. It's incredibly rare and every day is agony. Speaking of hellish torment, it's nearing cosplay cowboy season here in western Canada, and we've got ourselves a coupla ground rules to ensure maximum stampeding. Pull up a culturally appropriated piece of leather furniture, grab a light beer, and yell loudly over me while I walk you through the rules that any good western Canadian follows to enjoy this here faux cowboy circus. 1. Dress like a seven year old at Halloween. That's right fellas. Even though your hands have never been sullied by even a threat of dirt, and the only horses you've seen are on the side of the highway on your weekly trips to glamping resorts in the mountains, you need people to know you're a rugged cow poke. Now who cares that you're originally from Vancouver, BC? You've got a truck and an unimpressive penis, don't ya? Don that hat! tie that bandana! Drink 6-8 15 dollar beers and see my next rule! 2. If you identify yourself as one of them females, don't let the gents have all the fun! Grab a never used cowboy hat of your own, and then don the denim. Make sure you cut it up beyond recognition. Hell, you think a married, middle-aged energy trader is gonna hit on you if those seams aren't at least halfway north of the knee? Well, yes, he probably still will, but that's just because he is hopelessly unfulfilled and is looking for a mother figure. And your responsibility as a 19 year old at a corporate country music tent? Why of course you entertain that fella's advances until he passes out and is sent home on the C-Train with a belly full of brisket and eyes full of tears. If you do end up electing for the night of extramarital disappointment, you might even get some hush money. Heed this ol' blind snake wrangler's warning though; clinics do back up at this time of year! 3. Insist on standing around outside. It's hot. It's crowded. Rest assured you are the only human being that matters, so I need you and your pardners to stand on sidewalks, pathways, roadways, thoroughfares, escalators, elevators AND crosswalks. If you aren't obstructing, well hell, you just aren't trying. 4. Ignore the kids! That's right you big grown cow poke with your awesome cowboy hat! Be as lewd, loud, and aggressive as possible. Throw discarded alcohol containers into the petting zoo, puke in the kids park, make out with your mistress by the agricultural education centre. This isn't about some kid learning about sustainable farming practices in the region they live, or - god forbid - having fun! It's an opportunity for you, a 45-year old big boy grown up in a costume to make a drunken moron of yourself in the sweltering sun of a ruined climate. Fuck on fuckaroo. 5. Make sure you get a good view of the first chuckwagon horse death. Sometimes you can hear the ankles snap! Why now I think you're plum ready for the greatest, or at the very least, most recent, outdoor show on earth. Yee fucking haw. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: What do you mean I can't sleep on the train? Can't you see my little plastic badge???

Very interesting. I kind of liked it, but I also thought it was kind of odd coming from them.

Great

Teetered between 2 and 3 stars for me, but will give it a 3 because The Byrds are a wonderful group, and I appreciated that this album has its own defining sound to it. Comes off a little cheesy sounding, but the vocals elevate it quite a bit.

The best thing about Sweetheart of the Rodeo is its restraint. It does not try to overpower you. It does not bludgeon its way into greatness. It wins through feel, touch, and conviction.

Country-Rock/Pop. Dudelt sehr viel rum. Ist mal nett zu hören und bestimmt für die Zeit ein prägendes Album. Mehr als ein "ok" gibt es von mir aber nicht. 3/5

***agood, easy listening album

No. 219 I like it, solid album, some nice guitar work and fun tunes.

A departure from their previous psychedelic rock into a more hybrid country rock album at the direction of new band member Gram Parsons. It has that twangy steel pedal country guitar sound. They cover some cool classic country artists like the Louvin Brothers and Merle which is cool. I am not a big country music fan but this is one I wouldn't mind owning.

This is about the only kind of country I can listen to... can't handle the newer pop type stuff.

This is my favorite album from the Byrds but I still don’t feel compelled to download any of the songs.

Country is not my favorite genre, and the Byrds did not produce the best country music, but I did enjoy this.

This is a good album. A decent country rock album. I really enjoyed this because it was something that most albums aren’t. It was honest to the music it was trying to introduce. To have a Merle and Louvin Brothers cover on the album meant that Gram Parsons was definitely familiar with country music and wanted to bring it to another audience. I’m glad I heard it. I wouldn’t listen again.

Great musicians but too much of a country influence for me to really get into.

It’s ok. Very heavy country twang

The Byrds set the scene well with a great vibe, and sometimes that’s all you need. This amiable series of (mostly) covers puts me in a good mood but there isn’t anything unique or compelling enough to bring me back to it.

Byrds get a solid to high 3 from me, good songs well written and i like the style even if i never quite love it

Totally different sound from the other Byrds albums, but I enjoyed this.

Actually surprisingly ok

country AND western

The first half of the album is very strong, but it gets a bit repetitive as it goes on. Based on the reviews on this site, I’d say that I enjoy this style of country more than the average person. I wonder if The Byrds’ later country work may have developed more variety as they matured with the genre, as I haven’t listened to much Byrds, especially post-folk Byrds. 3/5

I'd never listened to The Byrds before. It wasn't bad. I definitely love the music inspired by this, like Grateful Dead, Uncle Tupelo and Wilco, so it was nice to hear where it came from.

I found the first half of the album repetitive and boring, until the song Hickory Wind, where the disc takes a second breath towards the last half of the album. In any case, it is not a job that I will listen to again, but the experience of a bit of classic American country was pretty good.

Starts strong.

Country tranquilo. Al parecer fue un transición de una etapa que antes estaba más aventada al rock psicodelico También identifiqué folk rock Estuvo disfrutable, no encontré ninguna canción que especialmente destacara pero no es un mal álbum Para pasar una tarde tranquila, en la naturaleza, recomendado

I like it, solid album, some nice guitar work and fun tunes. Don't expect to revisit often.

It plays like one big country song. Listenable, but nothing to get excited about. (I checked the review on Pitchfork — it's got a 9.7. Looks like I don't understand country at all)

Well I stumbled on a new band while listening to Body Count radio. I may not remember the name of the band without going back to look at it but I hope this album is worth the change. I really thought this was going to be hippy shit and instead it’s sort of folk/country. I can’t say I took anything out of that listening party of mine. It’s ok. The album that is. It’s ok

This kind of album is not what I preferer but this one is okay with good song one it, maybe it will be higher in a couple of month

didn't enjoy it as much as I did other albums/songs of them but it also wasn't tasteless that I'd have to skip any songs

Good album by The Byrds, but I do miss something with more of sticking out. Many parts of the album are too standard country I find.

I really enjoyed this album. The minute I heard that slide guitar I was worried, but it was very nice to listen to.

Pretty good stuff

Pretty good, but was really hoping for more. Not nearly as psychedelic as advertised, with only a few songs bringing the musical heat that I have come to expect from Crosby. Standout Tracks: One Hundred Years From Now, You Got A Reputation, Pretty Polly 3

I was surprised how folky/country this album was. Seeing David Crosby was a key member made me realize why You Don’t Miss Your Water also sounded so stoney. I could see from an English perspective how this album seemed revolutionary, but for me it sounded a lot like what Pete Seeger had been doing for a long time. By no means is that bad, just not ground breaking. I liked the uptempo Pretty Boy Floyd. It made me want to go-down, and Life On Prison felt classic country with a little New Orleans piano work in the back. This definitely felt like one of those highly historical albums that influenced a lot of things, but I can’t attest to its modern relevance.

Random thoughts: * I guess this was the Byrds go country album. * I guess all folk musicians need to make a country record at some point in their career and this was it for the Byrds. * I really dug the first track. I guess maybe because it's a Dylan track as I now just looked up. lol * I'm just realizing these were all covers. lol * I played it full through back to back. It was a good listen because the Byrds are a good band. I probably won't go seeking this one again but it killed a few hours while I did some tedious work. * Did you listen to the extended version on Spotify? There was a hidden clip at the end of the last track which was a radio commercial for this album that was really fun. Definitely worth a listen to see how they advertised it.

Country music doesn't do a whole lot for me, I'm afraid!

Considering I am not at all a country fan, this is not bad. I found myself swaying and tapping my foot to a few songs. The plucky guitar really fit with the cadence of the vocalist and come together in a really fun rock country fusion. Life in Prison is actually an awesome song and definitely my favorite on the record. Very surprisingly solid listen.

fun homely and well produced country, also awesome cover art

Funny, I was just reading a reddit post about bands that seem to have too much representation on this list and the Byrds was one that people mentioned. As "fine" as this album was, I feel like this might be the one that put people over the edge of too many.

Was a surprise. Nice nmx of country twang and rock. Enjoyable. LOVE the cover art! That is special! Only problem was the album from Apple - had a whole side of demo tracks, and rehearsal, became boring...

Country's not my thing but this is pleasant listening nonetheless.

amo el genero

Very surprised by this, not at all what I expected. (I didn't know what to expect really), but I spose I was thinking the Byrds sat more in the rock/blues genre, than had anything to do with country/bluegrass. The album art kind of gave that away - and reading the wiki entry, now see I'm not going mad and this 6th album was a new direction for the band. Fun to read about how it was received :) The country stuff is not really my jam, but I like the more bluegrass influenced tracks, which are kind of timeless, i.e. I wouldn't have put it at 1968. Some blues/rock tracks stand out from the slide guitar - some have echoes of early Rolling Stones. Enjoyed it. Not sure about ranking as often based on whether I would listen to this again, and not decided if I would.

Album was a total commercial failure and is interesting only because it was driven by Graham Parsons and largely created the genre of "Country Rock". Parsons was only a member of the Byrds for this album and then left the band. This isn't a great album, but was influential. Definitely NOT my thing. Pitchfork: 9.7 (2003 review) Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #274 Best Songs Nothing Was Delivered (Dylan cover)

12 hours of the 12 bar blues

Not particularly enjoyable for me

Solid country music.

Light 3

Album ok

Am I in HayDay? + This is in fact my first rodeo, and I'm glad I'm a sweetheart here.

Solid three

Give me generic inoffensive 60s country album for 200. Had I been born 30 years earlier and grown up 5 miles farther west than I did, I might have grown up listening to this. That's a reality I'm not upset didn't happen.

another easy listen from the byrds

Better than expected

Ok The Byrds are country now, I guess, awesome still don’t care.

Interestingly a record that starts ye ha country and then adopts the rock and roll that by then had been around for a while. Expected more from the Byrds. This is just an ok album.

The opening and the closer were quite good.

Probably the weakest Byrds album, does this list really need that many? Very country inspired but did the world really need more country. I would prefer more of their earlier work, but okay. 3/5

easy listening.

Decent, lot of good covers of other songs.

A departure from previous Byrds albums, they leaned heavily on Jesus and twang, sadly neither of which really helped them here. Sonically its not bad, as it was the first Byrds album to be released on Stereo, and you can hear some good guitar and steel pedal riffs but the lyrics fall flat here.

3.5/5

I’m surprised that I liked it so much more. It used to be too twangy.

6/10

Love the Byrds. Not my fave of theirs, but love ‘em.

Didn’t realize the Byrds played country. I can never be mad at a lap steel guitar.

better than the byrds album I had yesterday but still not anything special to me

It's alright I guess

Can’t remember let’s call it a 3

More country than expected

No. 367/1001 You Ain't Goin Nowhere 4/5 I Am A Pilgrim 3/5 The Christian Life 3/5 You Don't Miss Your Water 3/5 You're Still On My Mind 3/5 Pretty Boy Floyd 4/5 Hickory Wind 4/5 One Hundred Years From Now 3/5 Blue Canadian Rockies 3/5 Life in Prison 3/5 Nothing Was Delivered 4/5 You Got A Reputation 3/5 Lazy Days 3/5 Pretty Polly 3/5 Average: 3,29 The country/folk rock style didn't resonate too much with me. Still an alright listen.

es lo que es, y no lo hace mal pero yo que se

It's generally enjoyable - nothing crazy here.

Decent little record. Im kot convinced that they were as influential as the beatles, stones, or beach boys like the snippet on tidal says. Maybe to someone else but not so much here. The mix of rock and bluegrass or folk is a neat thing. I will say that. Ive heard it before but im also 70 years in the damn future with my robot brick that contains all the world's knowledge ect. Maybe this was the first to do it. I had some fun here. Saved a few songs. Christian life is the highlight for me. Im not a religious guy at all but I really respect the commitment to that Jesus guy. The harmonies are really the best. Snd the other track I really liked was like in prison. The story songs are fun on occasion. The rest of the tracks are quality but maybe not that interesting personally. Good record but for me it falls short of great

Solid enough, some very good songs and then maybe a few too many country songs that don't stand out much

Wasn't expecting 60's country. Solid album, could have done without the extra takes of songs tacked onto the end. 3/5 stars.

Exactly what I thought.

It was ok, some good stuff but kind of forgettable.

If the whole album sounded like “One Hundred Years From Now” I’d be all in. Alas, it does not. It’s just…a country album. Although, the final three songs (not on the original release) were more interesting. I don’t normally count bonus tracks as part of my review but in this case it’s a mercy. It allows me to feel okay about a 3/5. So, this is a very generous 3/5.

like sweet south, very country and folk. almost like i’m biting on a piece of grass too, during a real hot day. amazing at what it does, quite incredible. my favorite parts are the real clean violin parts. really great (in the background.)

I'm going to say something that is probably going to piss off most music critics, but I genuinely couldn't care less about what they think so I'll say it anyway. I think the Byrds are very average. Music critics seem to adore these guys, so much so that 5 of their albums ended up on this list for some reason, and I just think that they're okay! And you know what? This might be my the most average album of theirs I've heard so far. Sweetheart of the Rodeo is good, but I don't really see it as much more than that! This album saw the band shifting away from the psychedelia of their prior albums and leaning hard into country. That's probably why I like the other albums more. I like the psychedelic style more, okay? In fact, other than some of the vocal harmonies and the presence of Bob Dylan covers, this feels more like a decent 60s country album than anything. It's probably because David Crosby wasn't in the band anymore and Gram Parsons was in the band by this point. Lineup changes are weird like that. The writing is decent, though the vast majority of the album is covers. The songs kinda blend together a bit too. I'm being weirdly negative today. I think I'm just jaded from the fact that this is my fourth album that I've had to listen to from this band and there's still one more that I have to listen to in the future. I'm tired of the Byrds, okay? I said it. Nothing here is bad, but nothing impresses me either. It's a good 60s country album, but that's about it. I respect it, I respect those who like it, but this doesn't speak to me in the way that it does for others. It's okay. 3/5.

Old people spending country music, not my cup of tea

3.3 2x

Песни для фильмов про человека паука с тоби магваерлм

I liked this better than Gram Parsons personal project. Still it suffers from that generic country sound.

Not at all what I was expecting but had some fun although felt a bit repetitive

fint dette!

All I can say is 🐦➡️🤠 This ain't the Byrds we've heard before! I like this style of country music so I did find it enjoyable, but certainly nothing that special. I think the Byrds were more distinctive and memorable with their rock stuff. I'm pretty sure all of their albums thus far have been 3s for me though, so clearly I'm not much of a fan and honestly I liked this album more than the previous ones. The album cover is cool though and the cowboy aesthetic has been super popular in the last few years, so that aspects feels more relevant than the actual music.

Gram is the best part about this one

This was fine, nothing remarkable, quite pleasant at times. Miles better than Fifth Dimension - I think the production here is a lot better.

Don’t quite get it. Like British country?

Gives me kind of grateful dead vibes. I like the folk vibes.

3.5

jesus eat my ass

Very much of it's time. Good album though, and anything with David Crosby in is going to be pretty good.

not my cup of tea

Sweetheart of the Rodeo is an album I approached with some distance, mainly because country is not a genre I’m particularly drawn to. Still, taken on its own terms, it’s an album I generally enjoyed. The record is quite homogeneous in sound and mood, maintaining a consistent style throughout. This could risk becoming monotonous, but its short length works in its favor. At just a minutes over half an hour, it never overstays its welcome and remains an easy, focused listen. However, there isn’t much here that truly stands out. None of the tracks left a strong impression on me, and while the songwriting and performances are solid, the album feels more cohesive than memorable. From a technical perspective, it’s very well done. I listened to the original 1968 vinyl pressing (CS 9670), and both the recording and mastering are of high quality, with a clear, warm sound that holds up very well. Overall, Sweetheart of the Rodeo is a competent and well-produced album that I respect more than I connect with. A solid listen, even if it didn’t leave a lasting mark. I probably would not come back to it tbh. 6/10

Very good album

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere was a ripper of a tune that I'd forgotten was a Byrds song. Aside from that it was pretty standard 60's hippie folk/rock.

It's like they're making fun of country. I just don't get why I needed to hear this. The Byrds just weren't that great of a band in any incarnation. They had a single moment of innovation then tried to recapture that over and over. Frankly, I think Ringo did country better. There's so much shuffle mid tempo country here. I feel like country shines most on the edges. The sad slow Patsy Cline and Willie and the rebel Johnny Cash and Waylon.

It was about time for another inkling of country on this album. And well, it was just fine. I will say, Gram Parsons' presence is definitely felt here, in a way that was maybe divisive for some Byrds fans, but in a way that I didn't mind. A couple of good songs here or there, and a fun, nostalgic message that ends the album off are enough to make this about middle of the road for me. 2.5, if maybe someday we're able to do half-stars. Highlight: Hickory Wind Lowlight: You Don't Miss Your Water

To make it enjoyable, me imagine que estaba jugando Fallout New Vegas escuchando los radio stations. Could do without the religious songs, pero i enjoyed it (not a big country fan). 2.9/5

I now know The Byrds went Christian country, and I listened to it once. It's a whole lot more evangelism than I prefer to put in my ears.

I like the byrd's and gram parson, and respect the mission of bringing country to rock. Songs aren't that good though.

Solid. Like me some Crosby. A little more country than expected but fun

3/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/the-byrds/sweetheart-of-the-rodeo/ Bit too yee-hah for me, even though some of the more folky songs are quite nice.

It's better than their other albums on here but it's not unique. A lot of albums on this list sound like this but it still sounds alright. I'll cut the Byrds some slack

Not what I expected when I saw The Byrds was the artist. Just seemed to me that they were just chasing genres in their careers- or sometimes leading the chase but this was just an OK listen for me - I would have enjoyed it more if it wasn’t more than just a country album. And where is the Rickenbacker?!?

Definitely too long. I like country and some curation would have gone a long way here. Some good tracks I'd go back to but not a whole album listen through.

Not bad, not good.

This album is soooo incredibly 60s country music - you got your Jesus songs, you got your murder songs....It's too much for me to really enjoy sitting down and listening to but I feel bad giving it a 2.

I was honestly shocked to learn that The Byrds did country?!? The band that did 5D? Mr tambourine man? Turn turn turn? And it isn’t actually that bad.

Not really into country but it was a good album.

Interesting, didn't know the Byrds did sort of country. Maybe a little overdone but pretty good. Sorry to the people who hate country for no reason

Hippy Country. Pioneers of modern day Alt Country. It’s good, but I’ve never been a big fan of The Byrds’ harmonies.

The thing is i really like country i think so the vibe of the album was conceptually tops and pretty polly in particular really scratched an itch but then overall the dissonance felt a bit much so maybe i don’t like country?? Again i fear plane listening is a disadvantage but i felt like i was desperate at times for a properly resolved cord. Still enjoyed it, would listen again defs to key songs in a terrestrial environment but overall good but hard?

David Crosby's exit and Graham Parsons' introduction cause a shift in sound within The Byrds' camp. Rather than the folk tinged rock they had been performing, the group decided to give country a go. To their credit, the country music on Sweetheart Of The Rodeo is more dynamic and varied than most of the country records on this list, but not that much more. It's still a collection of mostly covers (similar to The Byrds' debut), and while the performances all all decent, it's nothing I would come back for.

Ah, their country album. A lot of this is too middle of the road classic country for my tastes. There are a few good songs though.

Cool record -- hadn't heard this side of the Byrds before

Pleasant country music with a nice clean sound. The production is very good. This is nice, easy listening all the way through. Just glanced at the Wikipedia — this was the first album to be called “country rock”? That’s wild.

Some nice tasteful twangy country. I really liked "I Am a Pilgrim", which I can tell influenced Bruce Springsteen's song "Nebraska" a lot. Not usually my favorite type of sound but I didn't dislike it.

good

Everyone seemed to freak out, one way or another, when Dylan went electric. But no one seemed to be too bothered when the Byrds made a country album.

A gospel/country album by British group? I will allow it.

Favorite track(s): You're Still on My Mind, One Hundred Years from Now, Nothing Was Delivered

You know what? Not bad actually. I am not going to joke about him switching to muslim life instead because music is banned in islam and I'm not going to say that this is music for bald retards because I still have about 12% of my hair left and it wouldn't be factual

Extraordinarily important historically. But as a listening experience? It's pretty average. I'm a fan of country and really appreciate what Gram did bringing it into the mainstream. But his shitty voice, and the Byrd's harmonies, and these crack session players trying to make a full-on-Nashville album just doesn't quite work. Gram's recordings become brilliant when he finds Emmylou and embraces (sonic) intimacy. And, of course, there were hundreds of albums coming out of Nashville at this time that took this sound and did it better with amazing vocalists. That said, the cultural wake from this album has produced some of my favorite music. So I appreciate its importance. I just don't love the music.

3.3, didn't listen to the whole thing but i wasnt completely in the mood for it

Classic country, Christian focused. Not bad!

Honestly unsure of this one…

Not what I was expecting, more country twang than 70’s rock

Twangy, country vibe

I have such a soft spot for country music. I get why some people don’t like it, but seeing reviews that say “country sucks” just seems so lazy. This album wasn’t the most groundbreaking thing I’ve ever heard but I still enjoyed it enough. It was objectively a decent listen

Enjoyed parts of it but felt a little too repetitive for me

Hadn't realized the Byrd's has a country western exclusive album, though I'm slowly understanding that just about every brit invasion band does. This one was quality, but not anything to blow your mind.

Enjoyed: Life in Prison Lazy Days - a bit more fun, a bit more rock and roll. Pretty Polly - reminiscent of "Pastures of Plenty". However, the rest of the songs seemed to blend together for me. Overall, still glad I listened.

Today I learned the Byrds did country music. Like super twang county music. I'm used to the hippe turn turn tun and I get something.... else. So I finished the album. It's not bad as far as super twang albums go. I wish my one Grandmas was alive as we LOVED the supertwang stuff. Some of the tuns were decent. I kept getting stuck on it being the Byrds as it's a huge shift from their earlier work. Not for me but if you like the

Nice chilled, some much better than others

An important album for sure. But really the only song that hooked me was "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"

Ironic getting this the day after "Music from Big Pink", one that came out a month earlier and by which this one pales in comparison. Still didn't think this one was bad as an early country rock or "roots rock" example though.

nice sound - fun but... 3/5

Not a fan of most country music and while this wasn't bad it wasn't remarkable.

perfectly listenable folk/country

jada. skriver seg inn i statistikken.

Very country and Christian. Nice harmonies

Why did the Byrds go Country?

It's more country than I expected, but maybe I was conflating the Byrds and the Yardbirds. Either way, it's largely covers of country songs, or covers of folk songs to make them more country. It's a fine listen, but this kind of country music doesn't really speak to me.

I wasn't expecting a country album from these guys. It was well done, but not something I'd like to revisit.

I cringed at first when I heard twangy guitars but they slowly grew on me. Country has never been my favorite genre, though I find a lot of older country tolerable and every now and then I hear a song I actually like. This is a solid record even for a non-country fan like me. I’m not super familiar with The Byrds other than some of their hits. And I’m certainly not well-versed in country. But this album seems ahead of its time in a way. The songwriting is fairly well developed. Though there’s not much variety and the songs start to blend together. Still, I liked listening to most of this. I don’t think it’s a record I’ll come back to often though, just not the style of music I’m usually in the mood for.

Not for me. Too religious

solidan kantri koji na kraju krajeva ostaje tek običan kantri. nekako mi je izrazito američki izdizati ovo u nebesa, ali i žestoko pljuvati po ovom. sve u svemu okej, doduše fora omot

Classic country vibes, not too bad, didn’t hate it but didn’t love it. Not a massive fan of the Christian lyrics but the songs sound nice, could’ve been worse

This is a clear improvement on the twee folk they were pumping out prior. Although the playing is great, it still strikes me as relatively soulless when it's not Gram Parsons doing vocals. Playing at country more than it is playing country.

Track 1 - great track

maybe a little too country for me. 2.75

Kind of a mishmash here, from classic country to almost rock. I liked some of the songs more than others.

I like the Byrds better when they don’t meddle with country. If I want to listen to country, I’d rather have some old Willie Nelson, Marty Robbins or Dolly Parton. There are a couple of good songs here, like The Christian Life and You’re Still on My Mind, but overall it’s slightly too boring. Then suddenly Nothing Was Delivered ends the ball by being the best song by far, and earns the album 3 stars

Got a bit bored of the Rodeo

Hm, klingt für meine Ohren ziemlich ähnlich und ist auch nicht wirklich störend. Halt so Western Mukke für die man sicher mal in Stimmung ist, dauerhaft könnt ichs wohl nicht zu hören, stellenweise schnöselig

3 Sterne 60er Jahre Musik, juckt.

7,5/10

Look, it ain't no 12 Golden Country Greats, but its a fine album.

God-fearing, tame country music, not my jam. Although as a background while doing some work helps with focus. All I Have Are Memories (the instrumental version) comes straight outta Bikini Bottom

Off the cuff remark: hmm that country thing again and I gather it was a bit of a shock to Byrds fans at the time. It speaks volumes to me that by far the best songs on here are Pretty Boy Floyd an You're Still on My Mind - both covers, good covers but still... Revisit?: I think I will but it's just not doing it for me..

A lot more country than I expected The Byrds to be, although I should have guessed from the album title. It didn’t have any of the songs I knew from them. It was an easy listen but nothing caught my attention really, save for some overtly Christian lyrics. Some of the vocals were reminiscent of Bob Dylan too, although no bad thing.

Not a bad album if you like country rock and/or Gram Parsons. He’s definitely the defining sound of the album. I’ve always thought the Byrds were kind of so-so, most of their hits are covers of other people’s songs. Notable tracks include You Ain’t Goin Nowhere, You Don’t Miss Your Water, Hickory Wind, Nothing Was Delivered, You Got A Reputation, and Lazy Days.

I like it!

You aint goin nowhere - 7/10 I am a pilgrim - 6/10 The christian life - 5/10 You dont miss your water - 5/10 youre still on my mind - 5/10 pretty boy floyd - 6/10 hickory wind - 7/10 one hundred years from now - 7/10 blue canadian rockies - 6/10 life in prison - 7/10 nothing was delivered - 8/10 you got a reputation - 6/10 lazy days - 7/10 pretty polly - 7/10 Sort of sounds like if the Beatles were from Tennessee.

I was absolutely not expecting this to be a full on country album, but honestly, I’m not mad at it. I actually really liked it. And it’s refreshing to hear any kind of country music that I don’t immediately hate with the fire of 1000 suns. But this was really good. The storytelling was great, as was the musicianship. Lots of cool slide guitar and country style chickin’ pickin’.

You Ain't Goin' Nowhere 4 I Am a Pilgrim 3.4 The Christian Life 3.2 You Don't Miss Your Water 3.5 You're Still on My Mind 3.1 Pretty Boy Floyd 3.4 Hickory Wind 3.3 One Hundred Years from Now 3.4 Blue Canadian Rockies 3.2 Life in Prison 3.3 Nothing Was Delivered 3.5 Score: 3.390909091

I kind of love the idea of The (bunch of hippies) Byrds coming into country music and threatening the very conservative Nashville establishment. But I also kind of hate that Gram Parsons came in as a live band member and changed the direction of the band. Very early in this challenge, I got a Gram Parsons solo album and I just didn't get it. It's just kind of mediocre country music (in my opinion). Given the legacy around Parsons and the influence he held over his bandmates, I really feeling like I'm missing something. So I'm trying to listen with an open mind but I'm struggling. Maybe I'm biased from a lifetime of hating Nashville country, but I do like Johnny Cash and the other outlaw country artists. This isn't that. It's very hard to sound cool when you're bragging about your Christian lifestyle. The thing is, The Byrds flirted with country music in their other albums but it was different. In small doses and with less twang, it worked. Without David Crosby and with Gram Parsons, The Byrds were a completely different band. But to be fair, they were never the kind of band to sit still and so I have a lot of respect for the boldness of this change in direction. But even so, I'll stick with their earlier work after this.

County is country

J'ai écouté Sinners hier (très bon, btw, allez l'écouter, là!), pis la musique des Byrds me fait penser aux riguedons des vampires racistes. Je sais pas si c'est une bonne chose, mais le country a mieux passé que d'habitude. - Salut Cyril! Je suis content que ta rentrée ce soit bien passée! Lançons-nous direct dans le vif du sujet, j'ai une ptite pause un peu pogné entre deux contrats en ce moment. 100% enthousiaste à l'idée de plusieurs listes d'albums regroupés par continents, ça nous donnerais une meilleure idée de l'ampleur et de la richesse culturelle de chaque pays. Je serais curieux de comparer la musique du Vietnam avec celle de l'Indonésie, par exemple. En plus, ça ferait pratiquer à bien du monde leur géographie! D'ailleurs, je ne m'y connais pas tant à l'extérieur du monde Québecois/Anglo-Saxon, c'est pour ça que j'espérais que la liste soit plus diversifiée. Je me suis quand même poussé à explorer par moi-même depuis quelques temps, pis je suis tombé sur beaucoup de bon stock, principalement dans la sphère jazz/funk/bossa nova japonaise, latino et africaine. Je t'en name drop quelques-uns: Manu Dibango (le boss), Azymüth, Antonio Carlos Jobim (l'autre boss), Himiko Kikuchi (Flying Beagle, my beloved), Casiopea, Masayoshi Takanaka, Goblin... Ah oui, 2000 cd c'est chaud quand même!😅 Je vais essayer de contrôler mes pulsions consuméristes, mais le thrill de la chasse est plus addictif que n'importe quelle machine à sou! Drôlement, c'est aussi King Gizz qui m'a inspiré à brûler des CDs avec Polygondwanaland, "l'album gratuit", tellement gratuit qu'ils ont partagé les masters et les fichiers de designs sur leur site web. Tu peux même graver l'album sur vinyle! Bon, je dois retourner bosser, moi! Je continuerais demain!

Would have liked this way more if I wasn’t already sick and tired of The Byrds Incredible album art

top ten as far as album covers go

nice enough

Not super familiar with The Byrds, way more country than expected.

Pretty Boy Floyd closing verse is amazing social commentary. Those who like country music will enjoy this album, I'm just not a fan of the genre.

I don't know what I was expecting going into this, but The Byrds doing "traditional" country was not on my bingo card.

I like the Byrds, but this is not at all their best work. Still a good listen, but could have put a different more deserving record instead of another Byrds album.

Fine

Well crafted but no. Not an interesting style overall. I'd toss this from the list. The Band and other bands cover this sound much better.

This was way more country than I had expected from The Byrds, to the point that I went back and checked their discography to make sure I wasn’t confusing them with another band. But nope. I liked some of the songs, but I doubt I’ll ever go back to this album.

Liked this a lot more than Byrd Brothers and helps me see how people got so into these guys.

More of a 3.5. Jangly, radio-friendly, country pop. Pleasant to listen to and somehow more "authentic" than later bands of a similar ilk, such as The Eagles - and definitely miles better than modern country pop.

Correcto

I enjoyed this...

The country vibes were there, it had a flow as background quality, but nothing that really sparked my interest.

ihan hyvä

Obviously good in its time. Just not for me.

Enjoyable listen of some pioneering country rock

Ok, but unspectacular country

A pretty good Country album that has some highlights ("Pretty Boy Floyd") but wallows in mediocrity at times.

This was pretty good for a Byrds album. I can see how it's in a weird middle space between psychedelia and country, with neither group really embracing it.

Esta chill

First time I had to go through a whole country album. It's not unpleasant to the ear, but it's incredibly boring and the lyrics are some of the most vanilla I've ever heard. The last three songs are great. Overall, a 'meh' experience. 3/5

It was better than the other albums of theirs I’ve had on this list as it at least had a bit of personality. Not bad, middle of the road stuff.

Pretty chill southern americana. Doesen't stand out that much though.

Nice album. Some really good songs on this one even though I don't really think country is my thing. Life in prison is a very strange song. Perhaps I'm missing something but it's just a guy feeling sad because he killed his wife??

Nice country album. Can’t say much stood out in particular but I liked listening to it. Best song: I Am a Pilgrim Notable(s): Pretty Polly

Didn't know The Byrds went country

Just this side of country from a Wilco album and it's not really my thing, but it's good for what it is. A 2.5 for me, but bumping for significance.

Why did the Byrds make a country album with steel guitar? Gross.

Their best songs are the covers. Lyrics are overall frankly weak and cliche. The compositions are pretty good and I liked the harmonies, more country-tinged than I anticipated. The last song really saved this album for me, I really dig those trad folk murder ballads

3+ Stars (9/15)

Simple but catchy

This wasn't that bad if you're in the mood for middle of the road country "rock." Not going to add it to the 5-start collection by any means, but not a bad listen.

Perfectly fine country music. I don’t hate it, I don’t love it.

Escuchable hasta ahi

++: I Am a Pilgrim, You Don't Miss Your Water, You're Still on My Mind, Hickory Wind, One Hundred Years from Now, Life in Prison +: You Ain't Goin' Nowhere, Pretty Boy Floyd, Blue Canadian Rockies, Nothing Was Delivered +-: The Christian Life 7,3/10

Didn’t blow me away, but there were some me good tunes.

Enjoyed the bonus tracks which were more jangly, less country than the album itself.

La verdad es que me siento muy ignorante por no haber sabido lo influyentes y camaleónicos que fueron The Byrds. Esperaba otro álbum de rock psicodélico sesentero, pero esto es puro country revival, aunque más rockero. De hecho, es de los primeros álbumes de country rock y ha sido tremendamente influyente en el country alternativo que vendría más adelante. Aunque el country no sea mi estilo favorito, este álbum es muy bueno. Sobre todo me han gustado los pocos temas en los que aún se intuye algo del pasado psicodélico de The Byrds, como "One Hundred Years From Now". Pero los temas liderados por Gram Parsons son una clase maestra en country rock, con unas armonías vocales estupendas y una guitarra de acero con pedal y piano honky-tonk muy típicos. Lo dicho: buena nota, aunque tampoco sea un álbum que me vuelva loco.

real vintage country music. very pleasant sounding and positive all the way through, lots of thoughts about life, god, and heartbreak... it's said to be one of the first true examples of country rock music. again, as good as these songs could sound, i'm just not a country guy 90% of the time. it's just not the genre for me, the way it's sung, the way it's played... i can't go more into detail, but... yeah, i'm sure lots of people would enjoy this album a lot more than me.

On Brooke & Jubal In The Morning?

Country Rock - I don't know if I would have initially called it country rock but it sure can be countrryyy. It has all the instrumental makings of country rock with country style themes like Christianity and country life.

Trading in psychedelia for a more countrified sound wouldn't have been my first choice, but The Byrds, with the addition of Gram Parsons, deliver authentic roots-rock that makes you forget this was their first rodeo with the style.

Meh, this one is too twangy for me.

This sounds incredibly bland, no song in particular stands out. Lyrics across the album include the themes of Women, Love, Beer and Jesus; which they don't do anything special with. Even some albums by others that have Jesus or Love or Women as a theme, just do It better; though the lyrics about the beer might've inspired the horrid pop-country. It sounds catchy at times, but It didn't make the album a good one.

I'd need to listen again to understand what this is...

Ummm, this album cover! Cute AF. I’m not a modern country fan AT ALL but can dabble in the oldies…and if we cut down on some of the heavy-handed holy vibes do I kind of find myself vibing with, “I am a Pilgrim”…a little bit?Are the instruments blessing us just a little? I dunno…I mean, I guess what I’m trying to say is, I see another dimension where it’s me, wearing a cowgirl romper, boots with sparkly stars, and a wide-brim hat, spinning slowly around on a red vinyl barstool in a tumbleweed bar drinking a Shirley Temple while “You Ain’t Going Nowhere” and “You Don’t Miss Your Water” plays on the dusty old jute box. And I’m happy for her….

2 1/2 Stars: Listen, it sounds like a classic country album, but the lyrics at times makes it sound like a parody of a country album -- most likely earnest at the time, but plays differently for modern ears. I just don't know why anybody would choose this record when there are so many other elevated artists of the era.

This is weird as all hell. I'm all for experimenting but this sounds nothing like what made The Byrds work. Makes sense considering the amount of personnel changes but this isn't especially noteworthy in any way I can see besides maybe a chapter in a book about the band. Not sure why this is on the list. It's fine but doesn't seem to do much that stands out besides being a divergent step vs where they came from.

What is going on with this album art? This sounds like a band trying to do country as a format and not being country, which is fine. It's done well. I liked some of the tracks that got added later on the extended version more, but I won't count those. Talented musicians, a fine cohesive album. Just not going to be memorable for me.

Apparently this was like the first country-rock album, which is cool. I think that's why I struggle with it. Pioneers rarely age well, once they've been copied a million times. It's also a weird blend of hippie rock and country rock. Totally fine, lacking oomph, 3 stars - Not in the mood for this, we'll see - Background music. Country influences is fun, just not noteworthy

It was alright

Rainy day, old basement flooded, AK was bummed about EJ

Neutraal. Niet wauw.

Not my thing!

Ok

3.5 stars

So

Meh. Was okay.

This did not engage me too much…

Overall, not a bad album, it was quite enjoyable having it in the background but of course it is quite outdated nowadays, and as the more aggressive music became popular a few years after this album came out, so it was probably nice chilling and listening to this.

quoting the song I loved of their last album 'why?' The American Beatles comparison was probably made loads, but then they threw it out by making poop music I guess. Its not all totally throwaway though, I just think its so much worse in every way. I think the reason why I liked the other one so much is because it felt not too blues, and that was refreshing. But we're deep into country land with this one, and the song about Christianity sucks. Not much else to say really, I just don't like this type of music much. Favourite songs: you ain't goin' nowhere, nothing was delivered Overall around 5/10

That was alright.

To my own shock- I didn't necessarily dislike this album. I think some part of this, despite it having a tad of a "twang" I actually enjoyed. I think that there is something different with The Byrds than other albums this genre etc. Just was fun and different than what I expected.

The musicianship is fine here; the songs well-chosen and well-performed. But hard to hear this as a seminal Byrds album.