★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The third album by one of the very best hippie folk-rock bands of the early 1960s. Despite its absurdly brief length, it's startling how many absolute classics it boasts. Now, apparently with this disc the lads were attempting to try their hand in as many styles and genres as possible, rather than simply making the best Lovin' Spoonful record they could. The result is an album that is, a little bit uneven, but even the experiments which don't work, like "Bes' Friends" aren't bad, per se, just somewhat disappointing in comparison. Even jokey toss-offs like "4 Eyes" and "Henry Thomas" (about a dog the singer's "cat dragged in") are toe-tappers. Favorite tracks: "Summer in the City," "Darlin' Companion," "Rain On the Roof," "Nashville Cats," "Coconut Grove."
