Which Monkees Album Is Their Masterpiece?

I'm totally with you in ranking those other albums above 'Good Times', so to you on that one.

Not quite sure if I'd rate 'Changes' above 'Good Times', I guess it'd depend on the day, but I will say they're probably on equal footing regardless.

Like you, I *do* prefer 'Good Times' to 'Pool It!'.

 

Pisces definitely. But I gotta say I love Instant Replay and Good Times is right up there for me

 

That's a good comparison. To me it also kind of sounds like their "Please Please Me" (UK album), maybe not really in terms of comparable songs, but in the sense that it's mostly straightforward rock songs played with simple but competent arrangements. Except for maybe "Shades Of Gray," I guess that would push it later as far as the scoring.

 

Those three and also you just may be the one.

 

The run from Headquarters to Head. 60s pop at it's best and most adventurous. The first couple have plenty of sublime moments, but a fair bit of complete crap too.

 

The harmonies are a big part of what makes Pisces great. Even if they were overdubbed later. Micky and Davy's parts on "Love Is Only Sleeping" push a very good song over into greatness.

"Headquarters" is more pure, but these two albums are their peak.

 

In the reunion album category, I feel that Good Times beats the other 2 or 3 albums by miles. GT is not quite a masterpiece, but awfully close for the reunion era. I think part of it is trying to get back to the original jangly, guitar sound.

 

Yep the production on Good Times suited the Monkees perfectly. Was sorta what I was looking forward to on Pool It and Justus. The Hollies sure could've used it on ...what goes around also

 

I know there are too many in the list that are, in my opinion masterpieces, but I have to go with "The Monkees" (1st album). That was the one that started the ball rolling but changed me in 1966.

 

I don't think they have a "masterpiece" along the lines of a "Pet Sounds" or a "Sgt. Pepper" or whatever. "Headquarters" and "Pisces" come the closest to a definitive Monkees album, also the "Head" soundtrack with the caveat that's what it is, a soundtrack as opposed to a proper album. The "Missing Links" are compilations (albeit consisting of primarily unreleased material) so I don't think they really qualify for the question.

On the later albums there are individual tracks that are great, but they don't really "gel" as albums as they are really the work of three solo artists with very different styles. Especially "Present."

 

You have a point but now I’m trying to figure out the erectile dysfunction song..lol. It’s been my favorite Monkees album since it came out.

 

Must defend my Davy songs…my tween heart melted at those songs, lol.

 

It depends on your age then…I knew Beatle songs from their tv appearances, their movies and their cartoon, not their albums till I got them later.

 

the first two are the best...masterpiece? NO...

 

I think they meant the song "Love is Only Sleeping"...

 

Lol….I’ve been dense the whole time.

 

For what it's worth, I never thought of the song being about that-It wasn't until I started reading these forums that I ever seen anyone give that meaning to the song.

 

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. has (for me) the strongest set of songs and is (to me) one of the best albums of 1967. I don't think anything else they recorded was as cohesive or wonderful.

 

'Love is Only Sleeping.'

 

hey. I admit as a pre teen I thought Davy was almost as good as Mickey. But over the years, I think my Davy songs can be listed on one hand, while my fave Mike songs is almost every one

 

Finally! Not much mention for this album. Daydream Believer, Valleri, Tapioca Tundra, Auntie’s Municipal Court, PO Box 9847 puts this up there with the group of Monkees albums already mentioned.

 

Birds & Bees is a close runner up. I really only got into this album after the Super Deluxe CD version was released about a decade ago. I still find some of it uneven, and yet I enjoy it now more than decades ago.

 

Definitely a singles group.
But ..going with their best album /best cover ...
PAC&J Ltd

 

While their singles definitely were good for the most part, most of their albums are very solid.

 

Pisces is my favorite. Mike really shines, but the Davey songs still get skipped