Artist: The Monkees
Album: Headquarters
Year: 1967
The Monkees' Headquarters is, as expected, a cheesy pop album. But it is not without its affecting moments, and it even has some surprises up its sleeve.
Everyone knows the story of The Monkees. They're the band manufactured for the TV show of the same name, kind of an alternate, wussier Beatles. They became extremely popular in a big hurry, with their first single "Last Train to Clarksville" riding all the way to #1 on the charts. Headquarters is evidently the band's attempt to improve their craft and make a more serious, less pre-fabricated album.
This album has its fair share of total schmaltz, like the piano ballad "Shades of Gray" and the country-inflected "I'll Spend My Life with You." Though cheesy, they are at least still strong songs from a melodic standpoint. There are gems to be had here also. "Forget That Girl" is a gentle song with swaying harmonies and chiming guitar. "Randy Scouse Git" is an oddball piece of Beatlesque music hall before exploding into a thunderous, vaguely psychedelic chorus and a scat-sung bridge.
The real find here was "Zilch." It's really a tossaway, spoken word track, but I had absolutely no idea that The Monkees were the band that Del the Funkee Homosapien sampled on the minor 90's hit "Mistadobalina." Funny stuff.
I kind of liked The Monkees. I do not think this album was anything close to essential listening, especially when compared with all the classic, important, and innovative albums I've been listening to. But it's a good time, and that's gotta count for something I suppose...
Rating: Worth a listen
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