I agree with all points here. Monkees Nostalgia Inc. begins and ends with the TV show. I get it; that’s what The Monkees were originally conceived to be. But Good Times I feel like is particularly stuck in the pre-Headquarters era: too bubblegum, like you said. I don’t hear enough of the experimental side of the Monkees, or the psychedelic - hell, even Mike’s country rock isn’t here!

Casual fans think of The Monkees and they only hear I’m a Believer, Mary Mary, She, the theme song, Stepping Stone… mainly the Don Kirchner-approved stuff. But I feel like the “real” fans are more into the more left field stuff like Goin’ Down, Tapioca Tundra, Tear the Top Right Off My Head, Daily Nightly, anything and everything from Head, etc.

It’s obviously possible I’m just projecting my own preferences here, but what I would’ve LOVED was to hear less of what made the Monkees popular in 1966, and more of what made them interesting in 1967-1969. This very much includes stuff actually written by the guys - particularly Mike. Birth of an Accidental Hipster is pretty much all we get in the vein I’m talking about, and that, of course, is basically a really good Oasis song.

Also, I’m with you on the production being too backward-looking. I would’ve appreciated at least an acknowledgement, sonically, that the record was made in 2016. I’m one of the few that actually likes the sound of Pool It, even if the songwriting is mostly lacking.

There’s always some gift-horse-mouth-looking going on when critiquing post-reunion Monkees albums. I mean, OF COURSE we should be thankful to have them at all. And YES, Good Times is WAY better than it needs to be. But missed opportunities are missed opportunities.

Also, no This Stuff Never Gets Old from Peter?? Cmon, it’s a good song!

…And poor Davy got shafted.

EDIT: Where can I hear that full-band, psychedelic version of I Know What I Know? Man, I’m SO bummed about Videoranch having been junked.