Me and Magdalena
May 31, 2016 8:02 AM   Subscribe

Me and Magdalena is the latest single by the Monkees. This is the first single from the Monkees' 12th album, 'Good Times!', written by Ben Gibbard from 'Death Cab For Cutie'.

'Good Times' contains songs written by Harry Nilsson, Andy Partridge, Neil Diamond, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith, Noel Gallagher, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Micky Dolenz and many others. It's the 50th anniversary of the pre-fab four and the first time the group has recorded an album together since the death of Davy Jones. It's a cracker.
posted by h00py (35 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
(Gibbard. Carry on.)
posted by mykescipark at 8:08 AM on May 31, 2016


Saw them in Boston on Friday night, and it was a GREAT show. Mickey still sounds just like he did 50 years ago, though Peter's voice definitely has that "old man" tinge to it now.

For some reason, they did not do this song -- we only got to hear a little snippet of it in the "Making Of The Album" video they showed. They did do "She Makes Me Smile", which is also a great song.
posted by briank at 8:10 AM on May 31, 2016


Yikes, yes. Ben Gibbard. Lead vocal is Mike Nesmith.
posted by h00py at 8:10 AM on May 31, 2016


I so rarely have an appropriate opportunity to say Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina.
posted by duffell at 8:11 AM on May 31, 2016 [8 favorites]


Mod note: Fixed spelling; carry on
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:11 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


Man, I can't believe that the Monkees sold out!
/s
posted by I-baLL at 8:12 AM on May 31, 2016 [4 favorites]


Thanks, LM !
posted by h00py at 8:13 AM on May 31, 2016


I'm looking forward to listening to this. In the meantime, never forget the original Fad 3.
posted by duffell at 8:13 AM on May 31, 2016


Previously...
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:39 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


What's interesting about these songs and arrangements is that they do have a very "Monkees" vibe to them. She Makes Me Laugh and You Bring the Summer are pure bubblegum. The song linked here, with the high-and-falling melody, has a sort of folk revival-ish feeling.

The production seems more than a bit phoned-in, though, which is sort of sad. I like Adam Schlesinger's work, but this just isn't working for me.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:43 AM on May 31, 2016 [2 favorites]


My son's guitar teacher writes music, and performs, and does production. He very often brings up the Monkees as a group of media-ready guys who actually could make music even though the studio/label was happy to use them as puppets. Only later did they get to perform the music they had written themselves.

At next week's lesson, I will have to ask whether he's heard this yet. :7)
posted by wenestvedt at 8:50 AM on May 31, 2016 [2 favorites]


I say they monkey around.
posted by kyrademon at 9:03 AM on May 31, 2016 [8 favorites]


How the Monkees got their groove back (Rolling Stone link)
posted by h00py at 9:22 AM on May 31, 2016 [3 favorites]


Nah, kyrademon, they're too busy singing to get anybody down.
posted by maryr at 9:24 AM on May 31, 2016 [7 favorites]


They're just trying to be friendly, you see.
posted by h00py at 9:27 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Monkees were and are awesome. Pure whimsical joy, both in their music and the TV personas. So glad they are still around to make people happy.
posted by davidmsc at 9:47 AM on May 31, 2016


SAVE THE TEXAS PRAIRIE CHICKEN
posted by pxe2000 at 10:11 AM on May 31, 2016 [5 favorites]


If you've ever wanted to hear Mike Nesmith sing an Oasis song, "Birth of an Accidental Hipster" is for you.

I wish Mike were touring with them again, but I got to see him the last time, so I am content.
posted by Lucinda at 10:15 AM on May 31, 2016




Previously
posted by anastasiav at 10:29 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


[From the Rolling Stone piece:] I get up to leave, but Nesmith stops me because he wants the fans to know one last thing: "Reassure the people they can expect to see me out there at some point."

I did not realize how much I cared about the Monkees (I was, I guess, 12 or 13 when MTV revived them, it nailed me right in the demographic) and had absorbed all the weird bad feelings and weird feelings and the effect of the revival and everything that came after until I saw the care Nesmith has for the fans there.

Also, I'd forgotten Davy died. This song's really beautiful and his voice is definitely missing from it.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:46 AM on May 31, 2016 [2 favorites]


I say they monkey around.

Nah, kyrademon, they're too busy singing to get anybody down.

They're just trying to be friendly, you see.


But they're definitely no longer the young generation.
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:47 AM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


OMG "You Bring the Summer" starts out in full XTC pop-mode then mutates into a Dukes of Stratosphear song. I know the ship has sailed, but I really wish Andy, Dave, and Colin would reform. I mean, if the Monkees can do it...
posted by The Tensor at 11:02 AM on May 31, 2016 [7 favorites]


This is wonderful, as is the entire album. Its a huge surprise how good this is.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 11:26 AM on May 31, 2016


Alternate jangly version
yes! gnuhavenpier, I was just about to say it'd sound so much better as a jangly electric pop song. thanks!
posted by Jon_Evil at 2:03 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, the final version is fine, but that jangly take is great.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:14 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


That is such a Ben Gibbard song. Wow. Gonna have to listen to the rest of these.
posted by gucci mane at 2:24 PM on May 31, 2016


Yes, previously (sorry, foop)
posted by h00py at 2:36 PM on May 31, 2016 [1 favorite]


That's a damn nice song!
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:07 PM on May 31, 2016


I'm not a big fan of the old Monkees (Daydream Believer is the only song I'll stand by). But this is their best album ever. A real corker.
posted by Modest House at 5:39 PM on May 31, 2016


Old Monkees are about as underrated as it gets. "Steppin' Stone", for starters. And that's not even touching their better-known stuff.
posted by blucevalo at 6:07 PM on May 31, 2016 [5 favorites]


I'd heard You Bring The Summer a while ago via Andy Partridge's twitter feed, and it's obviously brilliant and blatantly him. But hearing the album now I think 2 things:
1. the songs are great and it's super sunshiny poppy singalong bliss
2. everything feels really pitch-corrected and a little bit phoney and not quite authentic
so maybe it's perfectly Monkees after all.
posted by chococat at 10:13 PM on May 31, 2016 [2 favorites]


CBS Sunday Morning profiled The Monkees.
posted by bryon at 10:49 PM on May 31, 2016




Yikes, yes. Ben Gibbard. Lead vocal is Mike Nesmith.

With an amazing harmony by Micky Dolenz which I'd love to hear isolated :)
posted by h00py at 4:35 AM on June 12, 2016


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