The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees, the Monkees, 1968, :37
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The album, apparently, that proclaimed that the Monkees are real musicians and play their own instruments! It's fun, innocuous well-crafted pop. I mean, they're not exactly the Beatles, but who is? Besides the Fab Four themselves, I mean. These Monkees are pretty skilled at what they do; their aspirations to be taken seriously are more or less matched by their talent. For stars for being consistently pleasant listening and for taking chances. "P.O. Box 9847" is a fun bit of fluff. "Poster" sounds like they're trying to sound like the Beatles. "Magnolia Simms" is an attempt at, or a parody of, ragtime. Favorite tracks: "Dream World," "Daydream Believer," "Tapioca Tundra."
