New Monkees: Thoughts on Good Times

Soon the new Monkees album will be officially released. Already there are four tracks circulating from She Makes Me Laugh, You Bring Summer, Me and Magdelena, and recently Whatever's Right. This is exciting for fans, a BRAND NEW Monkees album coming out. 

Do you know have exciting this is?

Okay, yes I am a Monkees fan, and yes, I am looking forward to the new album. How did you guess?

Good Times! is the name of the new album releases May 27th. You can pre-order it on amazon and the mp3's are available on Amazon and iTunes.

Why, Dear Readers, should you consider this album then? Well, because if you are a Monkees fan it will feel like a Monkees album, but it will also be a unique collaboration of old and new. Truthfully, am not as familiar with the newer albums like Justus (You and I) and Pool It! (Every Step of the Way and Heart and Soul). I was introduced to just the hits from the 80's and 90's era, and of course the classics like Last Train to Clarkville and Daydream Believer. Good Times! is something reminiscent of their sound from the 60's. It is refreshing to hear Monkees song channeling the era whence they were spawned, and not trying to sound like there are modern or too from the 80's or 90's.
 
The Monkees who have been around for 50 years have recently resurfaced when the three surviving members joined up in 2012 for A Evening with the Monkees an intimate tour with wild Jimmy Choo. shoes on Mike and played all of the songs from Head (having a recording of Davy being accompianed by the band. I got to see them on that tour with four my closest friends. Twas a good time and I saw Peter dancing in leather pants to Your Auntie Grezelda. ~giggle~

(clip has Papa Gene's Blues and Your Auntie Grizelda and was where I saw them in concert)

Something exciting about Good Times! is that a few of the the songs were written by modern artists, Rivers Cuomo of Weezer fame wrote the first track to be released, She Makes Me Laugh. Other featured writers Ben Giddard (Death Cab for Cutie) on Me and Magdalena, Noel Gallaghar and Paul Weller (Oasis) on Birth of a Accidental Hipster, sung Mike and some Mickey, Andy Partridge (XTC) on You Bring The Summer, along with tracks from Boyce and Hart on Whatever's Right, and Goffen and King on Wasn't Born to Follow, sung by Peter Tork, the staple of Monkee songwriting in the 60's. It's a real throw back with these songs.

 "The most genuinely Monkee-sounding music they've made since they broke up, really. They're not trying to be an eighties band like with Pool It, or a grunge band like with Justus. The guys are working with a team of people who care about that vintage sound (writers from Weezer, Oasis, and Fountains of Wayne), and it shows."
~David A. Scott, creator of the Monkee Mash and the Literal Video Version of Daydream Believer

Of the tracks released on Amazon and iTunes my favourite is Me and Magdalena. A Mike Nesmith track, it feel like a Nez track, smooth and mellow. It's very Zen like. I have always love the way Mike's sings and gets lost in and I loved it after the first listen. I have become fond of Nez's soft and lilting vocals and I think it will continue to be a favourite. I cannot forget She Makes Me Laugh, its a Mickey track and Mickey is my favourite Monkee and I can almost picture it playing during an episode, or at the end. Better than Star Collector any day. Sorry, Star Collector isn't my favourite Monkee song, in fact it was over played during the show's run. I know its a regular on the show, but it was jarring and sync heavy. Anyway, that is NOT why we are here. The four tracks all have a charm, a resonance of the pure Monkees that hasn't been heard since Head (so folks say). I think its a fun album and cannot wait for next week's release.

 For a more detail review check out this REVIEW.

Happy Birthday Peter Tork!

I was at work today. It was rather busy, as my boss was out sick, and the phone rang almost constantly. I didn't have too much extra time to think until towards the end of the day. Things that went to my head today: I might get closer to 40 hours this week; oh gosh, why did they play that sound right now, oh, I didn't take a lunch; is the day over; or it's Peter Tork's 71st birthday (from the radio)!

Yep, Peter Tork of the Monkees! The Tork-man is 71 today. He is still touring and making music, even  toured with the remaining Monkees last year. That made me smile. Peter was always know on the show as the dummy. There was a charm to the simpleness her portrayed, but when he sang "Shades of Grey" with Davy, I always melted. I guess I always wanted him to sing more. My friend, Amanda always joked about how Peter couldn't sing. I never thought that. Even with "Your Auntie Grizelda" (album version) which has to be one of the weirder songs out there, "Auntie's Municipal Court" (album version) takes first place (in my book). But, aside, there was something cute and catchy  about Grizelda. One can almost see an old bitty  while the song is being sung. It's definitely a guilty pleasure when it comes to the Monkees.

I have a number of favourite songs, ones that I play over and over. I am a Mickey girl all the way, but Peter holds a special place in my heart. When I got to see the Monkees in concert (Buffalo, NY), the little girl in me squeed so bad (that sounds like a bladder malfunction), "It's the Monkees and they are awesome!" Nothing could compare to seeing them play and sing live, from row C too!!! There was Mike singing "Papa Gene's Blues", "Sweet Young Thing", and "The Girl I Knew Somewhere", talk about epic.  There was Mickey wearing a tablecloth, a timpani,singing "Randy Souse Git". Oh, be still my beating heart or "I'm a Believer"! But, when Mr. Tork took the stage singing "Your Auntie Grizelda" I melted into a puddle of goo, warm and happy goo! He even dance and hammed it up during the number. It was great! He other big number(s) was "For Pete's Sake" and goes into "Early Morning Blues and Greens" (a Davy song).

Mr. Tork you are a marvel and thank you for your music...you made my day during that concert and made my day today (2/13/2013). Have a great birthday. Happy Birthday Peter! "I grow impatient...." ~pause~ "I grow daffodils..."