The Monkees: The True Choice

I listen to music according to my mood, not because it is considered "hit radio"; I can't live according to trends and phases. That's why on one warm October day last week, I found myself popping in a random MONKEES CD that I'd compiled around 2006 or so ... It was made up mostly of tracks from the last two studio albums from the American Fab Four, Justus and Pool It.

I won't bore you with the well documented history of the dynamic group that so many callous, narrow-minded chumps categorize as the "Prefab(ricated) Four". I won't go into how they topped The BEATLES on the charts or the cult status of their popular tv show -- The Monkees -- and movie -- Head . And I won't talk about how when they performed on The View this past summer, middle aged women looked as if they still wanted to throw their skivvies up on the stage. No, I won't do that, because its all been done before. The results being that the group is still misunderstood, disrespected and kept out of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. So I won't even waste my breath.

What I will speak of is how the songs live on. How hearing Daydream Believer and It's Not Too Late puts me in a melancholy mood -- kind of like when I'm depressed and cheer myself up by buying a chocolate fudge sundae from McDonald's . All of a sudden, there's a stimulation factor that softly and tenderly lifts you out of that dark funk and takes you on a high that is mostly indescribable to those who haven't experienced it first hand.

MICHAEL NESMITH describes MICKEY DOLENZ's voice as something special and unappreciated in the liner notes of Justus . I'm paraphrasing of course, but to co-sign, I must say that his pipes should be honored right up there with the very best soulful singers of that era and beyond. As well, when you listen to modern Monkee jams like, Secret Heart and Don't Bring Me Down , a soothing comfort washes over you. In fact, putting in your favorite Monkee disc is akin to reuniting with an old friend that you didn't realize how much you missed until you were once again face to face. And isn't that what good music should do for us?

Good music versus hit music means: when you hear a certain song, waves of memories flood over you. Waves of emotion overtake you; reminding you of a time where you felt safe, protected and loved. In my case, taking me to a time when a show about 4 guys living in a beach house came on everyday after I got out of Nursery School -- 'round about 4 or 4:30. And I didn't know what syndication was or that this show had been off of first run television for at least 7 years. All I knew was that I liked what I saw and heard ... And I still do.