Maniacs be here ... at the main Byrds page ... you can get there by clicking here ... now ... Byrdfreax Overall Album Score: 6.2 out of 10 Well, there is good news. The album's tenth song, "Kathleen's Song" is one of the most gorgeous things The Byrds ever recorded. I know saying that sounds inconsequential, because I said the same thing about the title track in The Ballad of Easy Rider. But please believe me! Both songs are absolutely BREATHTAKINGLY gorgeous! The bad news is the rest of the album is absolute puke. ... I mean, most of it was well intentioned enough, but Roger McGuinn lacks any sort of SPIRIT in the album whatsoever. Some of the songs sounded like they might have been nice, but when yer sleepwalking through yer album, you can't expect the songs to just be awesome by themselves. YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PUSSSSH MAN! BECAUSE YOUR ALBUM FULL OF POTENTIALLY GOOD SONGS WAS TURNED INTO AN ABSOLUTE SNOOZEFEST!!!!!!! ... Argh! ... This is the sloppiest, most dreadful product ever released by this band! ... This is SO disappointing!!!! This is too depressing to think about it any further. Feature "Kathleen's Song" on a mix CD or something and leave the rest to collect dust. Overall Album Score: 6.2 out of 10 (One of the most lackluster albums from one of the most respected bands of rock-and-roll history. Very disappointing.) Average Song Score: 6.7 (Apart from "Kathleen's Song" this is a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry disappointing set of songs. And, what was with that STUPID hillbilly jam? ...) Album Tilt: 6.0 (The album is nothin' but a big yawn until the tenth track. It's still a yawn then, but at least it's pretty.) Artist Rating: 6.0 (The Byrds are still trying to be artistically minded, but their work severely lacks the fundamental spirit required.) Track Reviews Glory, Glory 8/10 Ohhhh ... I'm sorry. I must have accidentally wandered into a church service or something. I'll leave. I won't bother you guys. ... Oh wait, I forgot. I'm listening to a Byrds album. This is no church service. ... This only proves my theory. The Byrds = Church. This song has a lot of nice sounds all layered on top of each other and stuff ... but other than that this is a pretty boring old song. ... The first song on the album is supposed to be exciting, isn't it??!??! It's not here. It's zzzzzzzzz... Pale Blue 6.5/10 Well ... if nothing else, this is a rather nicely put ballad. It's peaceful and alluring. However, it's not actually a *good* song, because this is absolutely boring me to TEARS. ... The Byrds could have at least inserted some sex noises. That would have made it interesting, indeedy. I Trust 8/10 A more active rhythm section is always nice. Although, this gospelly country-rock thing still leaves a bit to be desired. It really ought to have been more BOLD. It's still a pleasant song, though, and it's not *that* boring. Tunnel of Love 6/10 Phew! ... Is this song ever MILD or what? ... RRrrrrgh! With just a little more confidence from the band members, this song could have ROCKED (and, really, the horn section and the electric organ was a really nice touch), but the whole thing is just sloppy. SLOPPY. The tunnel of SLOP. Citizen Kane 7/10 Oh, sure. Orson Welles made a great movie in 1941, so why not make a song about it? ... Uhhhhhhhhhhh ... Yeah. So that's what The Byrds decided to do. Mmmm Hmmm. ... This is a very 20s sounding song ... that's BOOOOORINGGGGGGGGGGGGG. But it's sure as heck more interesting than "Tunnel of CRAP." I Wanna Grow Up to Be a Politician 8/10 A lightweight country music song ... It has a nice enough presence around it. I could only wish that it was a little more catchy (without being so generic) and the instrumentation would stop me dead in my tracks or something. But I do enjoy the horn section, so ... that's all I really need, I guess. Absolute Happiness 6/10 More like ABSOLUTE BORINGNESS! ... Holy Holly, The Byrds used to be so devastatingly gorgeous! What's with all these lackluster tunes????? Grrr! Green Apple Quick Step 1/10 I have an idea. MOVE OUT OF THE FREAKING BACKWOODS AND START WRITING REAL SONGS AGAIN, YOU FREAKING HILLBILLYYYYYY! ... This hillbilly song is total and utter OITRHNEPIRNOPEIRNGOIPEROPI@(*(*#@($! I'm sorry to use such a strong word, but it was necessary. This song isn't more than two minutes long, but it sure seems to take forever. My Destiny 6.5/10 Your destiny isn't very optimistic if you continue to sleepwalk like this! ... The song really doesn't seem that terrible, but it leaves me with the yearning desire for MORRRRRRE!!!! GIVE ME MOREEEE!!!! ... This is country music, too, which doesn't help. Kathleen's Song 10/10 HOLY *$&#&*$ CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! It still sounds like McGuinn is SLEEPWALKING, but he finally FINALLY came out with a meaningful dream to lure us into. This song is GORGEOUSSSSSSS!!!! ... I mean this is gorgeousness at the same the level of "Ballad of Easy Rider" ... it's THAT good. ... Oh, and the classical-derived instrumentation was just exquisitely put together that ... UGGGGHHHH! PARFAIT!!!! .... I think this only proves what a total ass Roger McGuinn was. How many people are going to stick around after murking in the previous 9 songs on this album before making it to this stunner? Not very many! ... Anyway, extract this song, and leave everything else to the dogs. Byrdman Maniaxe leave your idiotic thoughts about this album here.

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He might be mental, but he's not nearly as mental as his boss.