The Monkees

[nec13]

The reason Peter Tork got his spot in The Monkees was because the producers actually wanted someone who looked like Stephen Stills.

[JBillington]

The best Fall era is 1979-83. Dragnet, Grotesque (After The Gramme), Slates, Hex Enduction Hour and Perverted by Language are all great albums.

Yeah, this is my fave period as well. Add Totales Turns, 77-Early Years--79 and Slates to that list. I particularly like that period because I imagine its exactly the kind of thing that would piss MES off.

[JBillington]

Brix era isn't all that bad.  In fact I love This Nation's Saving Grace and The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall! They're fantastic albums in my book! I even like I am Curious Oranj though there are some stinkers on there.  I can really only take about half of Frenz Experiment. 

I agree about those first two, they are excellent. After that it all gets a bit Indie Disco for me. Oranj, Frenz and Bend Sinister I too can only manage about half.

[cas-vik]

The best Fall era is 1979-83. Dragnet, Grotesque (After The Gramme), Slates, Hex Enduction Hour and Perverted by Language are all great albums.

Yeah, this is my fave period as well. Add Totales Turns, 77-Early Years--79 and Slates to that list. I particularly like that period because I imagine its exactly the kind of thing that would piss MES off.

Don't forget Fall in a Hole and Room to Live!  Totales Turn is tops!

[Dan B]

I don't know that much about the Monkees besides a few albums I have and I've never seen the show, but I just watched Head[/]. Oh man, what a movie. So many quality jokes in there. Lots of surreal psychedelic stuff and self-aware self-mocking meta-fiction goodness. And then top it off with some great songs.

Davy Jones is definitely the worst Monkee. Everyone thinks this, right?

[nec13]

Davy Jones is definitely the worst Monkee. Everyone thinks this, right?

Nah. I'd go with Don Kirshner as the worst Monkee.

[Hoboken Brian]

A Massachusetts townie bar I found myself in recently had a karaoke night. The book featured about a dozen Monkees tunes including "Goin' Down". I chickened out realized that I didn't know all the words and didn't trust the lyrics to scroll quickly enough. But I will return and I will KILL it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URb8h4dLKps

[buffcoat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URb8h4dLKps

He doesn't get enough credit for inventing rap.

[nec13]

Sounds like a hybrid of "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and ODB.

[Steve of Bloomington]

I had no problem with them. I'm sure they were lame live, but it's not like that's a big concern. They had some good session musicians play on their records, so what's the problem? Pleasant Valley Sunday is a bit too preachy, but you could say that about 'Repeater' by Fugazi, too, I suppose.

I've been listening to a lot of the Monkees lately. They often get derided for being a studio creation and for their lack of "authenticity." But I think they were a fantastic band that produced many, many great songs. And I don't think they get nearly enough credit. Does anyone here agree with me?