Reviews (page 7 of 13)
5th November 2021 Listened in the morning while getting ready to go to Lincon for the weekend with the pates crew. I adore half of this album and think the other half is slightly dated but they are such a great band. The songwriting is exquisite.
😎 I'm in with the "in" crowd 😎
Great to listen to. A real sound of the 60s.
Nothing against The Mamas & The Papas, but I just don't want to listen to them often.
An album where I've heard loads of the songs but never knew who sang them
This is very solid, but I'm trying not to let my nostalgia factor (Dad LOVED '60s and '70s music) affect the score. I enjoyed every track - some more than others - and think this deserves its place on the list.
The harmonies are on point, and the hits are hits for a reason. The deeper cuts on this album sound great, but they're kinda basic, which is the only reason this isn't a 5. Best track: California Dreamin'
When I got this I rolled my eyes and groaned. It's actually really solid, California Dreamin' is a banger
Love this sound and it's very well done here. Easy repeat listen. California Dreamin is clearly the best track but really all of the other originals hold up in quality. All of the songs are a great length and stay engaging throughout. Several covers but still well done and enjoyable. Do You Wanna Dance is easily the class of that group. Easy 4 for me. Awesome for a debut album.
3.5 for sure. 4? yes 4. I like this era of 50s sound merging into the 60s sound.
A very nice album. Not sure about the rendition of Spanish Harlem which seems out of place and some of the other covers as well but lots of very good songs and the harmonies are slays spot on. 4 🌟
Love their voices. Especially Mama Cass's. Their best album by far. Sweet spot in pop music progression.
I really enjoyed this, the vocal arrangements are lush and overall it is slightly spicier in tone than expected. Free love and all that. Could’ve done without the uninspired Dobie Gray cover, but something tells me this isn’t going to be the last uninspired and unnecessary soul cover I encounter on this project.
California Dreamin'
A very fine album see my other review for details
7/10
Great
Excellent album. Vintage power
California dreaming, what a track
Not music I actively listen to but a classic album with hits I have to respect
Nice to hear the album linked to the song you have heard a billion times.
funky
Pretty good example of 60s hippie love culture. Some banger singles. The album has great harmonies.
Groovy choral music interspersed with backing strings. What's not to like?
A great pop album with great vocals. Best track: California Dreamin'
Hmm
Me gustó que suena a varias épocas (o sea 70 para atrás), esperaba pura cosa hippie, pero no. Me quedó con “I Call Your Name”
Too folky for me but I can see why people like it
All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
Absolutely wonderful
california dreamin will forever slap
That was a fun surprise. This band did so much for harmonic bands to come. This is something I don’t see in bands today. They were so in tune and aligned with their band mates in harmony that I was surprised to read all the discontent going on off stage. Love Monday Monday and California Dreamer. Loved hearing the tambourine in all the songs! Their style reminds me of the early music of The Monkeys and all the other 60’s hipster bands. “Each night before I Go to bed my baby & whisper a 🙏🏻 For you my baby!” Is my favorite of their creations.
Tiene algun bajon que destaca más en comparación a su enorme hit, pero es un gran disco y de los mejores de su genero
I love this album, it's just so full of good vibes!
Solid album, very fun and I didn't know some of these songs were even the mamas and the papas (maybe they're covers?)
a classic. v good
Excelentes melodías, acompañamientos y grandes clásicos que perdurarán durante largo tiempo
Stereo baby! Classic stuff, sounds from a bygone era.
Álbum bonito, aunque el género no es mi predilecto, lo tolero en moods muy particulares. Es música que sí me suena ya avejentada, pero no tiene que ser algo negativo eso. La voz de Michelle Phillips sí muy bonita, y pues el hitazo "California Dreamin'" <3. Otras fav fueron "I Call Your Name" y "Hey Girl". No es un álbum al que regresaría en su totalidad. 7.5/10
I truly enjoyed it. Classic 60s pop with great harmonies and catchy songs. Perfect length as well. I would check out more of their work for sure.
Pretty good. Beetles like
Quelque classique california dreamin, monday monday. L’album s’ecoute bine et fait partie de son temps4*
Beach boys, but more "meet me at the doo-op" vibes. Only like 35 min long so quick sweet lil album
I’m a sucker for some good 60’s California psych.
Definitely a band I've always heard but never came into my consciousness.
A few of my favorites on this
Some classics here
Lovely sunny harmonies, classic pop. Fave track - "California Dreaming" - one of my absolute fave karaoke tracks because it's really easy to encourage everyone to sing along, whether it's singing the main lyrics, or the harmonies... 😍
ALL THE LEAVES ARE BROWN
Sin comentarios...
one of the most influential groups of the 60s. although some of their music doesn’t feel as good now 60 years later, this album is honestly great and each song is unique but has consistency and style. something about the harmonies they make together, ooohhh :)))
pretty cool but a little too folky for my liking
so lilting it would almost be hilarious for someone to walk in while you’re listening to it. fav track: i call your name
Happy vibes. I'd have been a great hippie.
Nice hippy vibing album.
Less than timeless, but extra credit for the excellent production - sounds great for early '66.
Great vocal harmonies and songs that were stuck in my head all day.
just what you'd expect
Good feel good album with great harmonies and fun songs
I love California Dreaming. Some good old Hippie Music.
Några av dessa låtar ligger redan i min mer aktiva playlist. Så snarare 4,5!
Vocal harmonies abound in this very 60s sound. California Dreamin’ is a classic
holds up nicely
Jävligt nära en 5a "for the record".
Harmonias vocais excelentes. Muito diferente do que esperava. Destaque para as clássicas California Dreamin' e Spanish Harlem
I love it
Harmonies are on point but you can tell it’s a bit dated. I’ll give it a 4 just because California dreaming is such a classic
Sort of like the Beatles. Covered a few of their songs. A lot of famous ones too that I didn’t know where by them
California Dreaming, Spanish Harlem schon killer
Some great songs on this
The one song is really good I'll give it. The rest are dece Will I listen to again: 10%
Outside of the mega-hit it's sort of average but still somewhat imaginative, but California Dreamin' mostly steals the show and keeps it
not bad, decently enjoyable listen. a few good tunes. california dreamin holds up well. i also quite enjoyed 'you baby'. 3.1/5
The vocal harmonies make this. I get this ethereal, rose-tinted glasses nostalgic vibe from this, for some reason. I wouldn't be born for over 30 years after this came out. Most of the album has a strong 'soundtrack in a 60s film' vibe so maybe it's that California Dreamin' kind of annoys me though, but I can't really put my finger on it 3.5 Highlights: Spanish Harlem, Go Where You Wanna Go, Monday Monday
The songs I liked were 5 stars, but I didn't enjoy like half of them.
That guy was a total creep. The two gigantic hits plus a couple of other tracks make this record worthwhile
Cozy and competent, but not very exciting.
Just when you think you've heard everything The Mamas and the Papas have to offer, the next song comes on and you confirm that yes, you definitely have. It's still good though.
it was ok, california dreamin made it better but not my favorite
Oh, great, a 60s pop album for the 4th of July. Not exactly what I'd call quintessentially American music, but at least the band hails from the US. A problem with pop as a genre is that it tends to age really poorly, which is usually because it's a product of the era it was made. This album is no exception; it sounds incredibly 60s-and not always in a good way. Though the vocals are pleasant enough, they sound incredibly old in a bad way that proves detrimental to my enjoyment of this album. Lyrics are frequently basic but not terrible, and the underlying songs are decent enough. However, this album fails to convince me that it's essential listening in a sea of other 60s pop. While the Beatles and other bands were revolutionizing music as we know it, this group was putting out this album that could have been made 5 years earlier. There are some good songs, but most of it is disposable pop. This album is ranked #6 of 18 albums for 1966. Other 1966 albums rated by me: Revolver(1/18)-5 Wild Is the Wind(3/18)-4 Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme(4/18)-4 Aftermath(7/18)-4 Face to Face(8/18)-4 Midnight Ride(13/18)-2 Fred Neil(16/18)-3
648/1001 2026.07.01 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
So I knew a few of the songs, and I guess the rest was alright, but this 60s pop rock or whatever doesn't really do much for me.
California Dreamin’ is the only remarkable thing about this album. Three stars for that song and that song only.
Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: I Call Your Name Date listened: 02/07/26 (during thesis!!) Listen when: Baking Went into a crazy deep dive at the library while procrastinating my thesis about the group drama.. affair within the 4 person group with a married couple is crazy.
I didn’t really love this. California Dreaming deserves its place here but the rest was sort of grating.
The good, the self written songs are classics, the harmonies are amazing and everyone has amazing voices. The not so good, the really weird production some songs sound relatively modern while others are super dated sounding. The covers aren’t done as well as the self written songs. Ok album and glad I listened to all of it
Engraçado, mas California Dreamin não carrega o album todo, há várias músicas que soam todas iguas
It was fine
I’m inclined to give it a bit of a bump because California Dreamin’ is an all-timer song and Monday Monday’s a bit of a classic too, but the album does just sort of wash over you for the most part as a collection of similar smooth sunshine pop sounds with no friction or variance. And for as much as the harmonies are beautiful, you’re competing with the likes of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys and middle-era Beatles so you kind of need something that goes beyond just that, which the Mamas and Papas really don’t have generally here
cute but safe. typical 60s music
Its nice to hear on headphones a mid 60’s attempt at stereo mixing.
This was ok. California Dreamin is a great song. The rest of them are alright. They were doing weird stereo things, had some good harmonies. None of the other songs stood out but were listenable.
Mid except for California Dreamin'
Thought it was a bit boring until a banger song came on. Turns out i had accidentally queued Black Sabbath.
6/18/26. Good 60s pop album with tight harmonies. California Dreamin’ is a classic that I’ve heard countless times before, but there are a couple other gems packed in here.
It's fine. Nice pleasant enough listen. Don't know if I'll regularly be returning to it but I didn't dislike it.
cuteness, not rlly my thing tho, beach boyzy but less cool?
Not one I was expecting to enjoy too much, but damn this is a catchy album. It probably helps with all the covers being somewhat familiar from other versions. Plus California Dreaming is an all timer for a reason. A bit before my time but you can definitely feel the nostalgia. 3.5* rounded to 3*
Two things. 1) I find this album to be fairly middling except for the two biggest singles off of this album. 2) Listening to "Spanish Harlem" keeps making me think its going to segue into the Little Drummer Boy. Bah-rum-pa-pum-pum.
Ehhhh
California Dreamin is one of the best songs ever. But I find the Mamas and The Papas music to be very daunting despite that not being the intention? It has like, horror movie vibes to me, maybe it's just the folk pop mix of the 60s
Cass has a great voice. Some lovely harmonies but the lyrics are cack. If it wasn't for California Dreamin' this would be 2 stars.
Classic folk group sound. Never really been blown away by the Mas and Pas.
California Dreamin' ! Strong 3 !
Mid
por desgracia las canciones q no son super clasicos en este album, que son pocas, son bastante mediocres
Quite good. California Dreamin' is a tune!
Here we got some classic pop music. The mamas and the papas both mesh well together. In so as the male and female vocals lay perfectly over one another. Thats the whole thing these people do. Thats my biggest takeaway. They can harmonize so damn well. The rest of it is fine enough but I really am stunned by the vocals. Everything else just works well enough. Its classic pop music. Nothing too special. The best songs here are obviously California dreamin' and monday monday. Both are great in thier own right but there is a reason you still hear California dreamin' to this day more than 50 years out. Its one of those songs that will always be i guess. And even if i didnt get too much more from this record, thats an accomplishment for sure
Suena a The Beatles. No es mi estilo. Rock sesentero.
Unfortunately I only care about California Dreamin’
Quite relaxed, though I found some of the accapela-esque sections a little odd with backing vocals. Certainly worth a listen further than 'California dreaming'.
3 stars on mono, 2 stars with the trolling panning
3.5 estrellas pero lo bajo a 3
"Spela, spela bandy [bandy bandy], Spela, spela bandy [bandy bandy]"
A fun album, so good songs and a solid 3.
A decent album overall, but California Dreamin' dwarves the rest of the songs.
Good sound
just ur average 60's pop rock album, not to bad, nothing special tho. good length.
You know, it's exactly what I thought an album from The Mamas & The Papas would sound like. Just decent 60s songs with great melodies. I'm sure it would have sounded better at the time, but this sound dates it very easily. California Dreamin’ is a classic for a reason and is leaps better than the rest of the album. Not half bad.
it was ight, nothing too good but good easy listening
Some classics but not really my thing
This was good. A very listenable pop/rock album. I'd give it 3.5 if I could
Quite boring but i guess it's a classic
Yet another disappointment from the 60s. There are three great tracks here, the rest of the songs are completely forgettable and interchangeable with any other similar style song. Very middle of the road album.
-CALIFORNIA DREAMINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN -MAKE UR OWN KINDA MUSIC GIRL -uhh meh album ig other than some bangers, relisten quality not too high id rather just listen to carti. -id crack the one girl tho - yes thanks 4 reading
The hits on this album are undeniable - or I’ve heard them so much that they have become undeniable. Sure is it kinda souless and campy 100% - but are those hits also timless oddly so? Also, yes.
Some nice music, elevated by Cass Elliot's voice. Harder to listen to these days, though.
Pretty, but outside of a handful of great tracks, just a little lacking.
I was kind of expecting a little more. They have a couple of really good songs on here for sure.
Pretty good and I was surprised to know that they wrote/performed California Dreamin
Conocía solo un par de temas del álbum, California dreamin y Monday Monday. No son el estilo de música que más me gusta. Me parece que no tienen emoción en sus letras, voces e instrumentalmente me parecen bastante apaticos, pero me encontré con unos temas que si me gustaron mucho. The in crown, Somebody Groovy y Do You wanna dance
It's 3.5
Música agradable, acompañante. Se siente californiano. También se siente antiguo, pero con clase.
It was not as memorable as I expected, with a few exceptions it was relatively interchangeable with a lot from that era
Aside from the two really big songs off the album I didn't enjoy this. I think Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys did the California/hippie/harmonies thing better. I wanted to go and find a cardigan with leather patches on the elbows while listening to this album.
Give it up for star vocalist Cass Elliot, obvi!! Inarguably a classic. Arguably? A little boring. At times, the harmonies could get a little sickeningly sweet and fatiguing to me, but they’re dreamlike and gorgeous. Standout songs for me upon first listen are of course California Dreamin, Straight Shooter, and Got a Feelin. I’d like to listen again, but I don’t see this becoming a staple in my collection anytime soon. The Beach Boys just do it better imo.
a few tolerable classics.
Amazing yet predictable pop harmonies, lush reverb, beautiful songwriting, instruments decent but not notable.
A mostly forgettable album that gets an extra star for that flute solo, which is one of the loveliest moments in 60s pop music.
Nice songs. A pleasant time capsule into 60s pop
in retrospect, how does this album hold knowing the story behind it?
Great songs, great harmonies.
Nice vibes, un po’ film tarantino
Chill listen for a walk. Couple of really good songs I’ve heard before and others I hadn’t but sounded decent
I love the song California Dreamin. The rest was ok. I wish this album could have been recorded with modern recording techniques.
Certainly highs and lows on this, however I can't shake the feeling that I'm listening to a fun time capsule with this one.
Fine
Solid. Songs just the right length to not overstay their welcome. Cool harmonies. California Dreamin' is one of the best songs ever made.
1966 was when my mother was born. 1966 was when my grandparents lived through. I wonder if they listened to this album during those times. I like
delightful
A couple of all-time classics interspersed with nice but forgettable 1960s pop.
The vocals on this are really lovely, it has the feeling of a girl group album with its vocal harmonies and the trading off of lead vocals. The lush arrangements and nice and give the songs some depth. "Monday, Monday" is the strongest song for me, and "Spanish Harlem" is really interesting with the very up-front vocals. Despite its strengths, it's held back a bit by the hooks and songwriting, which are only OK and a bit predictable, respectively. Under the vocals and strings is some pretty standard 60s pop rock - pop rock that can be a bit slow and sleepy at that. Those elements certainly do elevate it, but not enough to make this with hearing outside of a few songs.
Monday, Monday: 8/10. this whole album already sounds awesome and it's only the opener! which is why I'm also not giving it a huge grade. Straight Shooter: 7/10. underwhelming compared to the previous one tbh... great potential but not so awesome execution, could've been more explosive Got a Feeling: 7/10. not very relevant I call your name: 8/10. quite a vibe Do you wanna dance: 7/10. not bad, slow but not bad Go where you wanna go: 8/10. catchy again ayeee California dreaming: 9/10. FOR THE MEME VALUE. I HAD NO IDEA IT HAD THIS SONG Spanish Harlem: 7/10. a vibe but it reminds me of church choirs Somebody groovy: Hey girl: 9/10. very nice I also liked the lyrics You baby: 8/10. not bad but not extraordinary to me The in crowd: 7/10. I don't know what I'm listening to anymore all these songs sound a little too similar. It's not bad completely tho
Classic maar naast de hitjes ook gedateerd
It's fine, a lot of it is pretty typical 60's pop tunes. "California Dreamin'" is the standout tune obviously, but there's really nothing here that gets me out of my seat. The album feels more like a smattering of tunes and not really like a thought out production. Speaking of that, damn is thing in need of a remaster. It's extremely dated sounding and the way some of the vocals are mixed in the different channels is really bad. Just yeah, it's not something I would rush to listen to again. Not bad, just not my thing.
Ok, some good tunes but of its time
3.5 rounded down to 3. The hits were hits for a reason. Great singing and arrangements.
Groovy hippie music
Nice album. Enjoyable music. Catchy tunes.
Solid catchy songs and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Like a lite blend of abba and the beatles, just not quite making a mark
6/10
Solid. I’ve always enjoyed The Mamas and The Papas, but some of this album just didn’t do it for me. Obviously California Dreamin is a classic. Monday Monday is okay. Most of the covers are fine but not great, except In Crowd
Beach Boys on even more estrogen These lot were better than the Beach Boys in all fairness
I liked this. The singles are obvious standouts and have aged really well. The remainder are either good originals/ cover versions, or at worst still passable.
Most of the tracks are just average, but there are 2 or 3 (maybe 4) that are pretty good, especially "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin".
Pretty easy listen but not really my jam. As a funny anecdote I never new that the Beach Boys covered one of these songs until I listened to it here.
It's a good one
Harmonies a bound!
it was okay. love the harmonies, liked a few of the songs (of course california dreaming), hated one of them, overall cohesive album though. was not expecting i call your name
California Dreaming is maybe the best song about California ever written. The rest generally sounds pleasant enough for my very not rock n roll parents to have enjoyed when they felt like wilding out.
Why do I accept this, yet find Simon & Garfunkel rage-inducing? I'm not sure. Both of groups have songs that liberally use the word "groovy," which is cringey. And there's plenty of cringe here beyond "Somebody Groovy," like "Spanish Harlem." But "California Dreamin'" is an undisputed classic, and "Monday Monday" is lovely. The rest doesn't do much for me, which is to be expected. That said, justice for Mama Cass.
I like the harmonies in this, it's nice and easy on the ear. Listening with headphones the voices are interchangeable out of the left and right ear which is v v pleasant. California Dreamin is such a good tune as well
This album is the auditory equivalent of the soft, fuzzy feeling of being just a little high (complimentary), which describes a lot of people in '66 (especially with that shitty shwag weed). (3.5) Everyone knows Monday Monday and California Dreaming, which are still great, but Somebody Groove is a jam too.
Some classic songs for sure! Appreciated the listen.
Standouts Monday Monday California Dreaming
Record starts of with some great songs, but then it gets quite repetitive, which is a problem I have with many 60s Records. But then the mighty "California Dreamin`" comes somewhere in the middle of the record. Banger of a song.
1960s scooby doo music
This was good.
Slatki album, kul su mi oni oduvijek i originalni na svoj način. 3/5, 6/10
7/10
Meh
This album has great harmonies and a laid back 60s charm. There are a couple of undeniable classics, and the voices blend beautifully, but as a full album it was a bit uneven. I enjoyed it overall though.
An album that is distinctly a sound of the 60’s. The vocal arrangement works well with a strong lead singer and multiple backup singers in harmony on every track. The music is simple but good. Lots of tambourine and clearly defined instruments carry each tune. Monday, Monday and California Dreamin are timeless and make this album a winner.
I really like The Mamas & The Papas; I love this kind of music. I know most of their songs sound similar, but I really enjoy listening to them. I liked this album.
Rv
Love
pleasant
Fine. Most of the non-singles here are nowhere as good as the singles.
Easy listening, california dreaming went platinum as a kid
Hokey but enjoyable -
They don't make them like that any more, do they? It's very antiquated music. It sounds like Oldies. There's nothing wrong with that. You just very rarely get harmonies like that anymore in music. Monday, Monday & all the other hits are great. The slower cover of Do You Wanna Dance is interesting take. The In Crowd was good with the antiquated lyrics: If you're Square, don't go there is hilarious. 3 Ham Sandwich.
Hippie music from the '60s. That was before my time. Still, that era had an influence on my youth. There are a few tracks on the album that I really like. But the album as a whole is more than enough of that sound. I’ll listen to individual tracks again, but probably not the whole album. 3/5
California Dreamin’ may rank in my all time favorite songs. Love the vibe. The rest of the album is fine too. Enjoyed the harmonies and such.
I imagine on release this summed up a lot more going on in the world at the time
I’ve heard this one before. I’m a sucker for a good vocal harmony, and I love the production on these early/mid sixties albums. The radio hits are all good and there are some nice deep cuts as well, although there’s some filler and the last song doesn’t really stick the landing. Altogether a solid album.
Sonido típico de los 60's, claras influencias de los Beatles (no copias, influencias). Bastantes temas similares entre sí. California Dreamin es un temazo y siempre va a ser un temazo. No se salieron mucho del molde, pero los amo aunque sean abusadores.
Meh
Yes, yes, California Dreamin' is legendary. And I'd happily listen to that over and over. But the rest of the album is the generic pop of the 60s.
Well this was alright. Some country vibes, early pop blues and modest harmonizing here and there. Doesn't set the world on fire but quite nice for driving.
Not a bad album, easy listening. I new a few songs already, I will listen to it again a few times. If I will remember it and search for it to listen to, probably not. Some songs I added to my playlist, to remember.
“monday, Monday” and “california dreaming” pretty good… otherwise, sappy wilp/narc music
Escuchando esto un lunes, que coincidencia. No es mucho mi estilo. Cada canción se derrite junto la otra. Buenas melodías. A excepción de 3 canciones, el álbum no me resulta muy memorable.
Si, es el álbum que tiene California Dreamin', mas que ese hitazo no hay demasiado, dos o tres temas más que son lindos y pegadizos, pero es otra banda tratando de replicar la fórmula Beatle, igual está bueno para ponerlo de fondo.
Amazing vocals and harmonies. About 3 classics and the rest are forgettable.
čavoglave dreamin > california dreamin sasvim neloše, al malo svaka pjesma predugo traje, pa postane repetitivna
Enjoyed it. Definitely could see the influence that it had on music throughout the years. Realistically, probably won't listen again though.
It's Monday Monday listening to this album So far so good. Since starting this journey of listening to the whole albums there some good deep cuts.
Eww
Gorgeous vocals. A lovely album.
California Dreamin'
Very middle of the road album but I will admit the lyrics were fire. I dig their blend too. Highlights: California Dreamin (ofc), Spanish Harlem
Swooping pop sounds from some tracks, Beatles sound from others. Straight Shooter sounds a lot like Baby You Can Drive My Car. Go Where You Wanna Go is a great track. The rest of the songs are less remarkable, but I enjoyed the album.
What if we took the Beatles, put them in sunny California, and let them rip. Thats what happened here I am sure of it.
Oh yeah, the Mamas and the Papas. So many songs on here that we've all heard over the years, with their lovely harmonies and memorable tunes. One thing I have to complain about is these apostrophes in the band's name on the album cover. I can't believe (my eyes and ears) that they would let that go through. 3 stars. I know this is objectively good, but this genre isn't for me.
It is of course an album based around the two big hits “Monday, Monday” and pop masterpiece “California Dreamin’” but it is nevertheless a reasonably decent listen all the way through. The blend of the voices is the focus and the flower-power sunshine sound paints an idyllic version of the mid 60s. Probably more culturally significant than musically though.
Hyviä hittejä löytyy. Lopulta ehkä hieman tylsä, mutta hitit pelastaa.
Classic. Very clean sound that manages to blend a lot of genres that hadn't necessarily been done together before. You can hear the folky roots pressing up against the nascent psychedelia of the era, as well as hints of classic post war vocal groups. All together it's a nice listen. Nothing mind blowing, but the vocals especially are really dialed in. I'm going 3.5/5 on this one.
Great harmonies. The album does sound dated though.
California Dreaming is really a pretty fantastic song. The lyrics and haunting backing vocals capture the vibe of a dreary grey day that really resonates this time of year. That said, just about the rest of the entire album I found sleepy and honestly kind of boring. It felt like there was really a lack of creativity. I get that this is a pop album of the time and not something avant garde but I did expect there to be a little more edge to this.
It's quite good. Very enjoyable. 3 & 1/2
Great album, some classics
liked the voice but not really my style
Monday, Monday - 3.5/5 Straight Shooter - 3.5/5 Got a Feelin' - 3/5 I Call Your Name - 3/5 Do You Wanna Dance - 3/5 Go Where You Wanna Go - 3/5 California Dreamin' - 5/5 Spanish Harlem - 3/5 Somebody Groovy - 3/5 Hey Girl - 3/5 You Baby - 3/5 In Crowd - 3/5 California Dreamin' alone makes this album worth it. However, the rest of the album is just mush so that's 2 stars for one song along and 1 for the rest of it. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: California Dreamin'
Don't listen to with only one earphone in lol
3.5 - oddly enjoyed this
Nice classic 60s album with three all time classics. The production feels very dated which does hold it back a little, but a very nice listen. 7/10
It was not my thing but that might've been soured by what happened to the band afterwards so it just feels hollow to me. Favourite: California Dreaming Score: 5/10
came for chungking express and a jens lekman sample-source, stayed for the wonderful vocals! the second half of the record is a bit more cookie-cutter, but it's all so well-sung and pleasant, and the good stuff is genuinely emotionally diverse and interesting. lovely!
Clásico entretenido California Dreamin es un temon, y además tienen otras canciones que no se quedan tan atrás
Nice
Incredible harmonies wowee. Just a a lovely listen overall but would I bother listening to the entire album again? Nah Favourite song in this one is California Dreamin (again sorry if that’s basic) the harmonies really shine in that one.
This is a decent album some big hits. I liked Monday, Monday and California Dreamin’. I’m not sure if I liked much else. The harmonies are good. I just think it’s soft pop music.
Very summery, very wholesome, and ridiculously sugar-y 60's pop album. The big hit "California Dreamin'" is of course the best thing here, but the rest is nothing to scoff at. A jolly good time all the way through. Key tracks: Monday, Monday California Dreamin'
This felt a lot longer than it was. I think I've heard the popular ones way too many times and the rest of it was already been digested by pop culture long ago. It sounds really dated and boring. Pretty songs though!
Tiesin avausraidan. Vaikka laulut on taidokkaita, ei oikein iske.
"California Dreaming" me dejo las expectativas muy altas, no es que me haya parecido mal el álbum, he descubierto canciones que suenan muy bien, pero en general me ha decepcionado un poco.
3.5
It's nice folk and groovy. Really nice vibes. If this was my favorite genre it would be a 5.
Monday Monday - I feel like this song kicks of so many movies. Maybe not, but it should. Overall enjoyed this album.
243/1089 starting off with monday monday and they certainly have a distinct and era-specific sound, i don’t hate it California Dreamin’ is SO good, the rest of the album is just nice though i think 53/100
This was pretty good. Very folky but their choices really go together nicely.
This is a 60s, acoustic guitar and harmonies album. Its has a few blues-y moments here and there. Like at the start of "I Call Your Name". But the overall feeling is mostly folk-y or swinging 60s mop-top style rock. The big hit from this album is "California Dreamin'". And there are a handful of other familiar songs too. This is a fun album, full of enjoyable riffs and uplifting vocals. All four voices in the band compliment each other so completely that you cant imagine any of the songs sounding any other way that as they do on this album. I enjoyed this album, but I dont think that it is my preferred style. Im not 100% sure I would listen again. But not because I dislike any of the songs. I just dont love them. (2.500)
Was good for what it is, but wears thin after a while
Monday, Monday, California Dreaming, and Go Where You Wanna Go are all iconic songs from the 1960s. California Dreaming is also on that list of 5 or 6 songs they play in film or TV to make sure you know for sure a scene is taking place in the 1960s. This is not music I generally listen to and it's hard to appreciate the cultural impact of albums like this and 60's folk music in general. Definitely worth listening to just for some of the harmonies alone.
Couple of classics
Cerramos la semana con una banda clásica, que como a tantas de este reto sólo ubicaba por sus temas conocidos. Disco ideal para una mañana fresca de pre-otoño, como todo lo folk/hippie. Me encantó su versión de "Do You Wanna Dance", la cual conocí en su momento por los Ramones. Y demás está hablar de California Dreamin', un clásico eterno. Gracias y hasta el lunes.
While the groovy sentiments are a little hard to stomach, and "The In Crowd" is almost offensive, there's a lot of good music on this record and a few standout tracks. Ultimately, the weak material weighs equally on the scale with the high points.
Firstly, California Dreamin is one of the all time great songs. It’s so great. The rest are mostly middling but do have a nice sound. Secondly, I went down such a Wikipedia rabbit hole and this band was insane actually. John Phillips sounds like he was pure evil. I really feel for Cass Elliot though, particularly as I am about the same weight as she was (that she constantly ostracised etc. for being) and also I am currently the same age she died at (32). So I actually was super moved reading a bit about Cass and I feel like she still hasn’t gotten the justice she seems to deserve. (3.5 stars)
Boring.
The music is pretty fine. It's not the best thing in the world, but I'd listen to it again. California Dreamin' is great, but none of the other songs stood out to me.
Straight shooter "every other day" is perfect. For some reason the in crowd had a very different feel to me than the rest of the album.
Some good songs I know and one or two that are new to me that I liked. Generally samey, and the cover of Spanish Harlem going "lala lala" throughout annoyed me. Generally good tho
Great album spotty but overall great listen!
not being super impressed by this but still nice to listen to, i’d listen to it when i’m struggling about what i want to listen to
California Dreamin’ is a five star banger. The rest of this record bored me.
Reminded me of something that would be played on Euphoria in an ironic way.
Beyond the two hits, there’s not a lot to love on this record, but nothing to hate either.
Mostly enjoyable. Liked CA Dreamin and Somebody Groovy best.
3/3/26 - Listening while doing some work. I was a bit disappointed in this album given what I know about the Mama's and the Papa's. It was fine but not anything I need to listen to again. Top Song - Monday, Monday
hippie classic i guess, not really my mood again
Un par de canciones que conocía, el álbum bien en general
Was a fun listen. No takeaways from me. I was surprised to see this labeled as "pop" music. Apparently I would've enjoyed pop music back then!
Very good
It's a nice album, interesting, several great songs, specially Monday Monday and the classic California dreaming. However, some of the songs are just a bit boring. 3,4.
another King's Classics album, for sure. wonderful stuff, but why did every white friend group in the 60s decide they would start making music that sounds really ominous and strange sometimes?
I like California Dreaming, and I don't remember the rest of the album (nothing too bad or too great, just good listening).
pleasant as hell
Aurally inoffensive.
Beatles but a lot worse and the stereo-effect/split is haunting on some tracks. But 2 bangers at least.
This was fine, not really my kind of thing. I could enjoy the songs and they were inoffensive but they weren’t anything exciting to my ears.
Dober album
Shana loved this one.
I don’t know. Two classics. Some decent songs. Some fluff. 3 stars for reminding me of the Brady bunch.
Enjoyable if a bit forgettable.
81. all the leaves are brooown
This was the very essence of "easy listening". It was pleasant.
Great
3/5 It's really hard to believe this and my last album (Nina Simone's Wild is the Wind) were BOTH released in 1966. In comparison it feels far from revolutionary or extraordinary. A lot of the reviews on this site seem to say it's "fine" and I would agree. It's very agreeable music that doesn't say a whole lot or engage me as an album past just being some songs. Maybe there's more past that but it's not really engaging enough for me to care to look for more than that. "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin" carry the album above a lower score.
Yeah, I didn't hate this but it's not something I'll go back to. You can't deny the greatness of "California Dreamin'" but the rest is just alright.
not bad at all
Kind of one of those albums with lots of songs you know that you don't know you know. So I thought that these were all cover versions in a fine kind of 60s folk pop way but maybe not as good as the more well-known versions like Spanish Harlem. But it turns out these are some of the originals like Monday, Monday... and California Dreaming. So definitely some pretty serious song writing chops going on. But didn't warm to it massively. 3 out of 5 stars because of California Dreaming.
Enjoyable and easy. Some big hits, some covers, and great singing throughout.
Classic jangly folk-pop. I have to admit that those apostrophes really bother me, though.
Musique très sixties. Un peu (beaucoup) dans le style des Beatles, américains, groupe. Ambiance Ivy League. « California Dreamin’» est très connu et représente au mieux l’album. « I call your name » est très sympa. Note : 7/10
#41/1001🇺🇸 60s California - what a time to be alive. Monday, Monday was the perfect start to my Monday morning. California Dreamin' is one of the most perfect songs ever written: the lyrics, the harmonies and the flute solo!! I'll never tire of hearing it. I enjoyed the cover of Spanish Harlem too and the rest of the album just breezed by nicely. A perfect document of its time, there is a lot to enjoy here and i feel a bit mean just giving it a 3 but the review is for the album. Not just one track. Best Tracks: California Dreamin' on repeat.
This album is what you’d expect from a group with this name from the 60s. It’s got a little bit of rock and pop elements and a bit of a groove. It sounds good, but i personally wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this album.
It's nice. Fun. Would I pay for it? No. Would I turn it off? No. Is it a 3? Yes, about as 3 as an album can get.
2 admittedly great songs do not make an album essential listening. Besides, you've heard these songs a million times already. Unless you're completely immersed in the 60s folk vibe this album gets pretty boringly repetitive. I would go 2.75 but that is not an option here.
Album No. 0153 on my list. Like everyone else, I had of course known "California Dreamin'", and "Monday, Monday". But that was it. I had not ever listened to any other song from "If You Can Believe Your Eyes & Ears". I know that this is a hallmark record of the hippie era, so I was curious what I was getting into here. To be honest, none of the other tracks quite reach the level of the two aforementioned hits, i.e. the album's two biggest hits. I like the singing on pretty much all tracks - the band really had quite some talent. But I'm not the biggest fan of the lyrics as well as the overall vibe. Yes, it's a pretty good glimpse into the whole hippie thing, but I think it's just not my cup of tea. Beside the two mentioned uber-hits, I'll add "Go Where You Wanna Go" to my playlist, because it's such a peak hippie song. Regarding the final verdict, I'm kinda unsure and torn between 3 and 4 stars. I guess that once again I let fate decide and toss a (virtual) coin, sooooo... ... 3/5 stars.
No. 105 easy listening with a few great songs.
First of all, what's with the apostrophes in their name on the cover. Who approved this? Otherwise, a classic sound and a couple of immortal tunes, the enjoyment of which is significantly dampened by the accusations against bandleader John Phillips.
Some great songs (Monday, Monday; California Dreamin', Go Where You Wanna Go) with a LOT of filler (I Call Your Name, Do You Wanna Dance, Spanish Harlem, the rest of the album pretty much).
A solid three, some nice tracks, some that I couldn't tell you about. A nice pace, was building some flatpack furniture whilst listening to this and had to switch to something a bit faster in order to complete it as I'd fallen behind.
The mixing always feels like they are running around you while playing. Probably the cutest sounding band with almost as many scandals as Fleetwood Mac. The music itself feels very dated, but the production and multilayered vocals are still iconic to this day. The highlights for me are “Monday, Monday,” “California Dreamin’,” and “Straight Shooter.” There are no bad songs on If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears and not counting "California Dreamin'" does not feel like a legendary work in today's music world. 7.5/10.
meh, was misschien goed voor zn tijd ma die tijd is wel voorbij niet echt mijn ding tbh
Harmonious, retro positivity
Dreamy melodies evoking sun, sea and surf boards. But like The Beach Boys, it becomes a bit repetitive
Exactly how I imagine the sixties were
Like a cross between the Beatles and the Beach boys. Two (three with Go Where you Wanna go) beautiful songs carry the album. But we have to judge it as an album, warts and dodgy Spector covers included. 3*
I thought this would be worse than it was. It was fine, but just probably not something I will come back to.