The Birds, The Bees & Herbert Hoover

Overall Album Score: 8.5 out of 10

I don't want to say that Michael Nesmith is a John Lennon or anything, but this guy is freaking great! He doesn't do anything fundamentally different from many other songwriters of this era --- 1968 was a pretty strange year for music and the peak of psychedelia. But Nesmith takes these ideas and doesn't reduce them to the common denominator. He sounds fresh and vibrant! He takes on The Byrds' country-rock, jangly ideas for all they were worth on "Auntie's Municipal Court" and a wild hodge podge of ideas in "Tapioca Tundra." He also writes a wholly enjoyable old-timey jazz pop tune "Magnolia Simms" as well as *ahem* Pink Floyd in "Writing Wrongs." These are some of the best songs on the album --- pretty good for a manufactured band, I'd say! It's a shame Christina Aguilera can't reach this level of creativity with a 20-foot pole.

Not to say that The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees is a great work of art, but --- it's an interesting pop album. Naturally, the melodies are the principal reason to give this a listen. Of course, Nesmith's melodies are lovely. Probably the most famous melody is "Daydream Believer" from an outside songwriter --- what a great chorus! Also, Boyce and Hart contribute their answer to The Magical Mystery Tour "P. O. Box 9847." That track is a blast!

I like Davey Jones' contributions as well. "Dream World" is an enjoyable pop number that also has something slightly off about it. His "The Poster" isn't as highly recommendable, but it's pretty good considering it's one of the album's weaker tracks. Oddly, his sunshine-pop song "I'm Gonna Try" in the bonus tracks is a real gem if you like that genre. Certainly they could have replaced the too-simplistic and generic "We Were Made For Each Other" (from outside songwriters) with that one in the regular album. Oh well... We still get to hear it at any rate.

This is just a good album. It's notably weaker than the predecessor Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, LTD, but possibly stranger. Well, that's definitely worth something! Thumbs up.

Overall Album Score: 8.5 out of 10 (Shut up, you! The Monkees were a great band!)

Average Song Score: 8.6 (For the most part, this album contains excellent songwriting.)

Album Tilt: 8.5 (There are plenty of wonderful moments on here to make listening to this a pleasure.)

Artist Rating: 8.5 (They're not trying to make waves in the industry, but they're thinking out of the box, and that's always refreshing to hear.)

Track Reviews

Dream World 8/10

Davey Jones co-wrote this song along with somebody named Steve Pitts. It's not bad, actually. I like the melody --- and the harmonies might be somewhat sunshiney, but it's far from the generic tripe that many bands were doing from this era. There's a sense of urgency about it that keeps it interesting and fun. The instrumentation is great --- perfectly mixed sounds including a trumpet, violins and the usual guitars and drums and stuff... It's quite good!!

Auntie's Munipal Court 8.5/10

Oh, this is nice. Michael Nesmith tries on some of The Byrds' country-rock on for size, and they do quite a good job with it. This is an enjoyable song that's fully equipped with a fine melody and jangly 12-string guitars. Quite charming. I like those sound effects at the end (most of which are just Nesmith's voice acting goofy --- ha!!!). You've got to love these guys.

We Were Made for Each Other 6/10

OK. They've gone down the sunshine-pop alley, which is their reputation (though somewhat unfounded --- but hardly worth arguing). This is a rather pretty song albeit the melody is too simple --- it's pretty run of the mill. It's funny that I check the songwriting credits and discover that this was from outside songwriters who never took an Earth science class in high school --- what are they telling me? "The stars are made for the sky."

Tapioca Tundra 9.5/10

Michael Nesmith co-wrote this crazy track although he did seem to borrow the riff from The Searchers' "Needles and Pins." But hey, there's no huge problem, because the song itself is pretty strange and creative. You hear a little bit of bossa nova in here and this whole effort has such a wonderful energy that does that old riff a few favors. Nesmith takes off with some crazy vocal effects --- meant to be psychedelic but you get the feeling that he's joking. My guess is he was.

Daydream Believer 9/10

John Stewart wrote this enjoyable sunshine-pop tune. (Talk show hosts writing Monkees songs --- Oh no, that guy doesn't spell his name with an 'h'). The chorus is legendary --- I probably only think that because I've heard it in CD compilation commercials. Well, it's a great chorus. I probably would have thought this was a Neil Diamond song if I didn't already look at the credit --- this is just as good as "Holly Holy" and all that stuff he comes up with.

Writing Wrongs 9.5/10

Weird....... I guess this is where the Monkees meet Pink Floyd if those two entities were ever meant to cross paths. It's like the Flintstones Meet the Jetsons. Talk about "Writing Wrongs!" (OK, maybe not.) I love it that Michael Nesmith is exhibiting weird creativity all throughout this album and this is probably the most flamboyant example. Not only that, but everything he's doing is freaking enjoyable. The melody closely resembles Pink Floyd's style --- but it's a good one. They go through an instrumental interlude toward the end. It's about 1/8th as drugged up as a Pink Floyd tune, but I don't think the Michael Nesmith wasn't on the verge of total mental collapse like Syd Barrett! Well, this is fantastic anyway.

I'll Be Back on My Feet 8/10

Outside songwriters and not as good. But still quite fun. This is a horn-led track with an enjoyable (but rather simple) melody. The instrumentation is the best part about it --- upbeat with well-done rhythm horn section, nicely strummed guitar and a rather busy drum. Not bad.

The Poster 8/10

Davey Jones co-wrote this one --- and it's pretty good. Not great. The nicest thing about it is undoubtedly the melody although it does get slightly boring after awhile. The instrumentation is fun, but it takes a bit of a cheesy route with those corny flutes --- I feel like I'm nitpicking, though. This is very well-done.

P. O. Box 9847 9.5/10

Geez, just when I think they laid the smelly goose egg, they prove me wrong. This song seems like their contribution to Magical Mystery Tour Beatles --- it's weird and crazy. The instrumentation is very convincing for the era, and none of it seems stupid. I don't even think it sounds dated, but I define that term based on how well it holds up as entertainment today. This is great!!! (Outside songwriters, too --- Boyce and Hart! Lovely fellows...)

Magnolia Simms 9.5/10

Help! I'm listening to this in headphones and I'm only getting sound out of one side! OK, I turned it to the computer speakers now. That's better. Nesmith's fourth contribution here is an old-timey song done in a shuffley 20's jazz style and crackly vinyl sound effects (and it even gets stuck somewhere). This won't get old ... it's even better than Queen's attempts with this music (as enjoyable as they are).

Valleri 9/10

A powerful pop song from Boyce and Hart. This is quite fun! Rather inconsequential when you consider what comes before it, but --- who cares? It's hella fun.

Zori and Zamm 8.5/10

Outside songwriters contributed this strange song. Military drums begin this off to a crazy start --- the lyrics sound like Rush lyrics except the Monkees had better singers. The instrumentation is awesome --- epic sounding trumpet hits. It's a shame that this is only two minutes long --- I would have liked to hear more.

BONUS TRACKS:

"Alvin" is a silly a cappella tune about some alligator. It's very brief. Um. Thanks.

OK, now this is what bonus tracks were born for. A pretty sunshine pop "I'm Gonna Try" is another Davey Jones song. It could have easily replaced "We Were Made For Each Other." It has the same sort of feel, and it's much better written. The instrumentation is gorgeous, too. Violins are just where they ought to be, and there's even some xylophones. Beautiful!

Here's another version of "P.O. Box 9847," and I certainly don't mind hearing it once again! This one's even weirder though and the instrumentation sounds a little less polished. This version makes the song seem even more "experimental." (Not to suggest that this song is really experimental.)

"The Girl I Left Behind Me" is another well-written song. It's weird how they can leave these out of albums. Perhaps it was a B-side or something. Anyway, this is generic but still nice in that sunshine poppy way... It reminds me of Barry Mannilow's '70s work.

Poor Peter Tork. He wrote a song, but it got buried at the end of the bonus tracks. OK, I can certainly see why "Lady's Baby" wouldn't be given a whole lotta love. It has a relatively hookless and generic melody, and I don't really care for his singing. The redeeming factor of this is it still comes off as weird despite it all. Thanks to a rhythm change in his sort of anti-chorus. ...This strikes me as the product of a songwriter who wasn't completely "with it." Well, whatever.

The Monkees would love to hear what you think about this here!