Rate and Review the songs of The Monkees Thread

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Turk Thrust, Mar 31, 2019.

  1. D-rock

    D-rock Senior Member

    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    I Believe You 1/5

    Don't like it at all. The reviews thus far are very generous. I don't even think I ever been able to make it through a complete listening.
     
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  2. bvb1123

    bvb1123 Rock and Roll Martian

    Location:
    Cincinnati Ohio
    "I Believe You" I think this is a pretty good Peter song. It's almost hypnotizing. In it's cacophony it comes across as a folk-pop-jazz fusion. It's definitely different and it's good to hear them taking risks and not just playing it safe. It's far from a great Monkees' song but it's a really good song on Justus. 4/5
     
  3. JJR

    JJR Forum Resident

    Location:
    delaware
    Away and missed the last tune, neither Peter written track was outstanding for me. What I did like was the Davy vocal on a Peter tune, so I would have bumped it a full point up. As for "I Believe You" I remember when the critics were trashing the LP and this tune especially, Nez went off back on them. He mainly was saying that critics give them crap for being pop and manufactured , etc. but when they tried to stretch and do something different, like the LP, or perhaps real different - like this track, it is also trashed. I think that was in Rolling Stone but I could be wrong. Anyhow, I agree with the sentiment and thought it was an interesting song, not my favorite by any means as I actually love pop music along with my Nez country rock, etc. But I again give a bump for the effort. A 3. The next two tunes will boast my overall average for the LP.
     
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  4. RedRoseSpeedway

    RedRoseSpeedway Music Lover

    Location:
    Michigan
    Peter sounds good here, better lyrics than the last track, and his performances on bass and keyboards are pretty great. Micky also turns in a great performance on drums, very subtle but solid, and an interesting style which he doesn’t use much. 3.5/5
     
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  5. Drifter

    Drifter AAD survivor

    Location:
    Vancouver, BC, CA
    "I Believe You", waltz tempo Peter song. I like the vocal, production and instrumentation. Unfortunately the song itself isn't much. An extremely low 3/5 for the effort.
     
  6. JuanTCB

    JuanTCB Senior Member

    Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
    I like "I Believe You" because it's so uniquely Tork. I'd give it a 2.5 but will round up since it's definitely the weirdest and probably most interesting thing on the album.

    3/5
     
  7. Deano6

    Deano6 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Plymouth, NC, USA
    I believe it was Entertainment Weekly and yes, Papa Nez really ripped 'em a new one. I think you can probably find the letter somewhere with a Google search.
     
  8. I didn't mean to suggest that the Monkees had never done harder rock songs before—they definitely did. But I do think Justus has more examples of that than any other Monkees album (the harder version of Circle Sky, plus Admiral Mike, Dyin' of a Broken Heart, Regional Girl, and Run Away From Life).
     
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  9. Turk Thrust

    Turk Thrust Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    U.K.
    The ratings for I Believe You:

    1-3
    2-0
    3-18
    4-4
    5-3
     
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  10. Turk Thrust

    Turk Thrust Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    U.K.
    Today’s song is It’s My Life:



    I think the album ends in fine style with these last two songs.

    It’s My Life was seemingly again about Micky’s divorce, but it makes for a welcome change that he attempts to put a more positive spin on things here. To some extent, at any rate.

    The lyrics are simple yet effective and the style of music suits the musicians more than some of the other tracks. It feels like they are within their comfort zone here.

    3.5/5.
     
  11. RobRoyF

    RobRoyF Forum Resident

    Location:
    Southland
    It's My Life
    This track has never held my interest. It's another song I usually skip on this album. I may need to revisit it again with a different approach. For now this is how I rate it.
    2/5
     
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  12. Drifter

    Drifter AAD survivor

    Location:
    Vancouver, BC, CA
    It's My Life...this is my first time hearing it. I really like it! 4/5
     
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  13. FredV

    FredV Senior Member

    It’s My Life - The last in Micky’s mini cycle of ‘divorce’ songs on the album. Here Micky takes a more positive view by accepting his situation and moving on with his life.

    It’s interesting to note that Micky stuck on a mini concept within the major concept of ‘Justus’ with his grouping of songs.

    These are the most personal songs Micky has ever written and you have to admire him for sharing his heart break, anger and resolution so publicly. He definitely took lessons from John Lennon by expressing his pain without compromise. All the guys play well on it and Micky turns in a vulnerable performance.

    Yeah, he could have written and performed songs wearing the wacky “Monkee Micky” persona, but instead, right or wrong, he presented to the fans the real Micky Dolenz. He deserves respect for his uncompromising honesty. It’s good that he ended on a positive note. 4/5.
     
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  14. ARL

    ARL Forum Resident

    Location:
    England
    "It's My Life"

    Also my first time hearing it - I think it's my favourite of the Micky songs on this album, a pleasant ballad, but again it sounds a little anonymous overall. 3/5.
     
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  15. Grand_Ennui

    Grand_Ennui Forum Resident

    Location:
    WI
    "It's My Life"- A solid 3.5
     
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  16. Two Sheds

    Two Sheds Sha La La La Lee

    'It's My Life' - nice effort from Micky. 3/5
     
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  17. BobT

    BobT Resident Monkeeman

    It’s My Life- The best of Micky's songs on this album. I don't care for the filter put on his voice. I respect that Micky was in a bad place emotionally during the recording of this album-we all have been through this kind of pain. However, the "angry Micky" just wasn't a good thing for Justus. This song was more reflective ,and it is better for it. 3/5
     
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  18. Laineycrusoe

    Laineycrusoe Forum Resident

    Location:
    Tyne and Wear, UK
    It's My Life - 3/5
    While I don't think this is the best song on the album, this is certainly Micky's best Justus song in my opinion. It is quite pleasant sounding and it makes a nice change from the past few divorce songs of his on the album - while it appears to be about the same subject, this song sounds like it has more genuine emotion and heart behind it.
     
  19. Deano6

    Deano6 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Plymouth, NC, USA
    Not my favorite Micky track on the record but good enough to warrant a 3/5. Funny how I like this album so much although I haven't really given many of the last few songs very high ratings.
     
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  20. D-rock

    D-rock Senior Member

    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    It's My Life 4/5

    One of the few highlights of the album. I didn't notice any "filter" on Micky's voice.
     
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  21. 905

    905 Senior Member

    Location:
    Midwest USA
    5/5
    Another gem from Dolenz.
     
  22. intv7

    intv7 Senior Member

    Location:
    Boston, MA, USA
    “It’s My Life” — 2/5

    Meh. Not a highlight of this album IMO.
     
  23. spsimmons

    spsimmons Forum Resident

    Location:
    Peoria Illinois
    It's My Life. A solid 2/5.
     
  24. super sally

    super sally Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mint Hill, NC USA
    It's my life-- 4/5. There's a lot I like about this one-- the self-reflection and Plato's famous allegory about shadows on the wall.

    I remember reading at the time that Micky brought this one in late in the process of making the album, and the four guys quickly arranged it and put it together. This is a real "Headquarters 2" type track, in my opinion.

    I also remember reading an interview with Davy from some years back where he said he was trying to get Micky to do this one in the Monkees concerts. To me this would have been a better choice for all than "Since I Fell for you."
     
  25. Bobby with a dollar

    Bobby with a dollar Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mississippi USA
    I like "It's My Life", Micky does a fine job on this one. 3/5
     
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