Home Culture Album Review: The Monkees bring “Good Times!” to a new generation

Album Review: The Monkees bring “Good Times!” to a new generation

June 11, 2016

Album Review: “Good Times!” by The Monkees

Due to some recent heartbreaking losses in my life, I found myself doing a lot of reflecting over younger days and happier times. So much has changed, and nothing seems the way it was before. Then I heard that a favorite older band I liked came out with a new album, and it was just what I needed to help pull myself out of the funk I was in.

For those of you too young to remember, The Monkees were a small band formed around 1965 for a TV show of the same title. They were supposed to be the American answer to The Beatles and originally had limited musical input to their performances on the show, but they fought for and won the freedom to compose, play, and sing their own songs. The TV show ended in 1968, but The Monkees (Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, the late Davy Jones, and Mike Nesmith) continued to record actively until about 1971 and in recent years gained popularity again in revival tours and performances around the country.

“Good Times!” is the 12th studio album the group has recorded. Released on the Rhino label and produced largely by Adam Schlesinger (from the band Fountains of Wayne) and Andrew Sandoval, the album features new songs written by the likes of the late Harry Nilsson, Neil Diamond, and Carole King as well as band members Tork, Dolenz, and Nesmith. Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, who had written many of the earlier Monkees hits, also have a contribution on this album as does Rivers Cuomo from Weezer and Ben Gibbard from Death Cab For Cutie.

album review the monkees good times — Peter Tork, photo: Kenyafever / CC BY 3.0

The title track, “Good Times!” which was written by Harry Nilsson, posthumously uses Nilsson’s vocals from an older demo tape and makes him appear to be doing a duet with Micky Dolenz. Dolenz’s strong vocals carry throughout the song (and most of the album) and you can hear his unmistakable guitar styling. This song has an “old Monkees song” feel to it and is playfully done.

“You Bring the Summer” and “She Makes Me Laugh” are the first and second track releases from the album. Both songs have that easygoing summer song feel to them with guitar riffs that remind you of Beach Boys songs blaring on the radio. Rivers Cuomo penned “She Makes Me Laugh,” and for a younger guy, he sure knows how to tap into a ’60s vibe. This song has a softer sound and less of a “beach party” feel but still retains an unmistakable ’60s beach sound. Again, Dolenz dominates the vocals on both tracks and carries the songs.

Posthumous vocals were again used for the track “Love to Love.” Band member Davy Jones passed away in 2012 but was and still is a beloved member of the group. The Neil Diamond song was a brushed-off demo track from an earlier album and has a kind of go-go club feel to it. The tune is remastered to lighten up the tone and to give it a more upbeat and brighter feel. Jones’ vocals make this a nice tune to listen to.

My two favorites are “Birth of an Accidental Hipster” and “I Was There (And I’m Told I Had A Good Time).” Both of these songs have a psychedelic Beatles influence. I really liked the lighter tone of Dolenz’s voice in “I Was There,” and it was nice to hear Nesmith shine for a while in “Birth of an Accidental Hipster.” Personally, I think Nesmith could have carried both songs, and I’m not sure why he didn’t. I also really like the title, “Birth of an Accidental Hipster.” I think it is that one piece that crosses the bridge into the newer generation of listeners that will check this album out.

Overall, the album is a nice trip down memory lane for me and helped me get out of a dark place that I was in for a little while. “Good Times!” will be with me in the future, and so will happier times to come.