|
|
 - fine retrospective CDThe Monkees had an incredibly good sound and their musical legacy is a fine one. This CD gives us twenty tracks by The Monkees that proves their capability as musicians. They were one awesome group! The CD starts with the theme from "The Monkees." This catchy tune has them harmonizing and the guitars, drums and percussion work very well. The beat shifts from time to time to make the song bouncy and energetic; it's a great song to start off the album. "Last Train To Clarksville" follows and again The Monkees never cease to amaze me. They harmonize so well on this song as they sing of a woman taking a train to Clarksville to be with her sweetheart. The electric guitars on "Last Train To Clarksville" really help this number rock! "I'm A Believer" is good rock even though the first few bars have that "bubblegum" flavor. They sing this with style and the guitars, percussion and drums carry the bulk of the musical arrangement. "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" is a great song about a relationship between a man and a woman when the man wants to try patch up their love affair. The background harmonizing is flawless and the guitars and even the handclapping make "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" a very strong number. Great! The single version of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" continues the big hits and The Monkees make great use of the modulations between major and minor keys; and listen also for "Daydream Believer" with an awesome spoken intro. "Daydream Believer" is my very favorite tune by The Monkees; this sweet love ballad also rocks well and the musical effects are very nicely done. The single version of "The Porpoise Song" is a somewhat lesser known tune by this group; but it has a stunning beginning and the melody is beautifully arranged and performed. Listen for some great guitars on "The Porpoise Song;" and The Monkees also sing this flawlessly. "Listen To The Band" starts with great percussion and the singing is stupendous. "Listen To The Band" rocks a bit harder than some of the other tunes by The Monkees; but it all works very well and I predict that you will enjoy "Listen To The Band" very much. The CD ends with "Heart And Soul;" this tune rocks really well and I really like this number. "Heart And Soul" makes a strong ending for this album and the band performs this number without a superfluous note! The artwork is very nicely done; and Ken Barnes contributes a fine, informative essay about the group and their recordings. We also get the song credits. The Monkees were a remarkably talented group but they don't get their due recognition these days; hopefully in our times more people will soon pick up this album and realize just how special The Monkees really were. Rating: - Blast from the past my five-year-old loves!Put this in my kid's stocking for Christmas, she loves it! Something about their sound and bless her, she said they sound like the Beatles! Which was their intention, of course. A manufactured band, to be sure, but compared to a lot of the stuff we hear nowadays, it holds up to time surprisingly well. Highly recommend. Rating: - Most Deserving Group Not In the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!This is easily the best single disc greatest hits compilation of the pre-fab four. Includes the #1 hits (I'm A Believer, Last Train to Clarkesville & Daydream Believer), top 10 smashes (A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You, Valerie & Pleasant Valley Sunday), a couple of latter day songs (That Was Then, This Is Now & Heart & Soul) & a good sampling of fan favorites (Goin' Down, Mary, Mary, Listen to the Band, Steppin' Stone & Words). In addition to the Monkees completeist this collection is definitely for those looking for what is, more or less, their top 20 songs. Rating: - What I was looking forBeen ripped of to many times in chain stores selling what looks like music from the original artist. It hasn't happened at Amazon. Rating:  - Monkees for BeginnersYounger listeners unfamiliar with the Prefab Four should check out this Rhino compilation. "Greatest Hits" leaves no stone unturned in regard to Top 10 singles. The most-famous Monkee tracks - "Last Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," "Randy Scouse Git," "Pleasant Valley Sunday," "Listen to the Band" and the remarkable "Goin' Down" - represent 1960s popular music at its finest. In all seriousness, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should give Micky, Davy, Mike and Peter their due. Docked one star for a pair of sappy, nonhit ballads: "I Wanna Be Free" and "It's Nice to Be With You."
|
