Customer Reviews

Justus

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I became interested in their work when I rediscovered the show back in the 70's. Much to my surprise, the show had an edge and was more than the kids show I remembered as a child. More surprising- I found when I read the credits at the end- I really was starting to like not just top 40's that I remembered- I really liked 'their songs'. The work, the growth and the talent blew me away. 2 decades have passed and a great comeback. A lot of other people have gone to the concerts, rewatched the tv show and bought the catalogue (that thankfully is now available).

This 30th Anniversary CD, which I bought in 1997 and still listen to, caught me the same way it caught some others. I was expecting- if all 4 joined in (and with Mike being in the fold ), a very country rock flavoured lp.

Instead, they did something very left field, creative and aggressive. Judging from some of the professional and the fan reviews- that surprised many in a good way and not in a good way.

Their problem has always remained the same- there is 'The Monkees'- the tv group- and then there's Dolenz/ Nesmith/Tork & Jones. The Monkees telemusic is well crafted music by craftsmen/women and performed 'by them' and session players combined.

Mike, Mickey, David and Peter's stuff was (and obviously still is from the sounds on this album), heavier, gifted and reaching for the more mature in their fanbase. Headquarters- their third and only self contained album was/remains a testament to that truth.

The Monkees in the end always face the same problem that haunted the Beatles (although they were allowed to break out of it): there are always factions of fandom that want you to play certain periods. There are a lot of pleasant memories (it seems for some) in the mop top period and the guys in both these bands grew up. There in lies the problems (especially for the Monkees because the tv show syndication revisits and constantly recreates it- both for the good and the bad.

On Justus, Circle Sky as an opener was probably a healing move and I'm glad they did it. When the live version didn't appear on the Head soundtrack and a studio version with Mike and session players did, it created a rift between Mike and Peter. The live version played by them in the film kicks and they never sounded tighter or better. This new version is more with a tip of the cap to today's alternative grundge garage pump. It's followed by Never Enough, Regional Girl and Admiral Mike- also rockers and for these guys, having not played as 'the band' in 30 years- 'wow'! As one reviewer put it- they seem to be daring anyone to throw the bubblegum tag at them. They were never bubblegum.

They really are the wonderful story of 4 people who came together in a cattle call but who ultimately came together to become something extremely creative, viable and real. Some people in their industry have never accepted or given them their proper due for that but the truth is in the grooves. They became 'the band'. And it's pretty impressive what they brought to the game- regardless of whether they were recording other people's songs or their own.

For those who lament that there is a cynical quality in some of the tone and pieces on this cd... They happen to be older men singing about what their present concerns are. Good for them. There are a few others from that era who have become quite lax about that. It must have been refreshing to sing something new and it shows. Mickey has the lionshare of writing on this lp and some of these tracks should have had some solid airplay. As one review in a magazine put it- he shows why he was one of the best r'n'r singers. Not bad for a Vulcan, Micky! (I wish he'd stop saying that... he sings and plays instruments. He 'is' a musician for 'Randy Scouse Sake'!)

Peter's two efforts are what I think Peter has always done best. Mood pieces. Mike had the melodies and Peter the mood. They both had the lyrical ability (Mike in more volume) because they're both thinkers.

But Davy closes with the big surprise here and that's great to see. In reading his biography, this guy had a lot more going on inside him than anyone would have ever thought. He's turned into one hell of a performer at these concerts as well, and like most of the guys at the time, I regret thinking he was the liability, musically. He's become incredibly solid and remained real- and that's to his credit. It's Not Too Late has become a favorite track of mine over the years and this version is fitting. It has a gospel/nice middle harmony feel, and a positive thought to close both the project and their reunion.

I hope this isn't the last thing they do together and, on behalf of the people who have listened to these records/ cd's over the years: if you can honestly listen to the first two (studio driven ) cds, and then listen to Headquartes, P.A.C. & Jones and Head, and not hear the progression... get the ears checked. These guys deserved better.

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When I first heard this years ago, I thought it was awful and got rid of it.

I picked it up again a few months ago (it's CHEAP used) and gave it another shot. I wasn't blown away this time either, but I was willing to give it a few more listens.

Now, after having listened to it many times, I have come to see it as one of the best Monkees albums. It's my second favorite after Headquarters.

It's far from being a perfect album. Someone once described it as "weird, flawed, and eccentric" and I agree. Certainly, the album could have been better with the omission of a weak track such as "Run Away From Life" in favor of a good Mike number. It is this albums greatest flaw that Mike is so absent on lead vocals.

But Mike did have a heavy hand in this one. He played guitar on all the songs, sang back up, and he produced it (though production is credited to "the Monkees"). "Wool hat" is all over this record, but for one reason or another, he opted to let the other Monkees shine. As a fan, I don't agree with that decision, but who am I to argue?

My favorites are Regional Girl, Dyin of a Broken Heart, Oh What a Night, You and I, It's my life, Admiral Mike, Circly Sky, and I Believe You. The other songs aren't as good, but I've grown to appreciate them.

Perhaps the reason this album has suffered such poor critical reviews is that it doesn't sound anything like the Monkees we remember. It's a bit heavy, almost grungy at times. I think that was a brilliant approach. The Monkees in 1996 were trying to make an album that was modern, not something retro to appeal to their older fans. It had a ballsy and fresh 90's sound that was different from anything they had done before. But there was one problem....there was no audience for it. While 60's fans were looking for Carole King type ditties produced by Chip Douglas, 90's music fans were looking for martyrs. To make matters more difficult, this album got very little in the way of promotion. There was an ABC special, but almost nothing after that. They made excellent videos for several of the songs (the black and white Regional Girl video is one of my favorites) that never got any airplay on MTV. While there had been a tremendous buzz around the Monkees in the 1980's, there was none in the 1990's. Justus was the wrong album released by the wrong band at the wrong time.

Had the same identical album been released in 1987 instead of Pool It, I think it would now be regarded as a classic.

There is something to be said about the Monkees playing together as a band. They seem to enjoy playing together and there is a chemistry that I can't explain. It isn't found on albums like "Pisces..", "Head", or "More of...", but it is on Headquarters and on Justus. I only wish they had made more albums as a quartet.

I prefer this sequence...

1. You and I
2. Never Enough
3. Dyin of a Broken Heart
4. Circle Sky
5. Unlucky Stars
6. Admiral Mike
7. I Believe You
8. Run Away From Life
9. Regional Girl
10. Oh, What a Night
11. It's my LIfe
12. It's Not Too Late

There's a lot to like about JUSTUS, although it is not a perfect package. What it lacks is a central theme-- a core, if you will-- to help the music find a focus. "Look, we can still do it all by ourselves", is not theme enough. Their original HEADQUARTERS album had the same theme, and at least it was leavened by the Monkees unique sense of humor.

That being said, I continue to enjoy JUSTUS. The variety of songs created by the four Monkees is impressive. Mike Nesmith's "Circle Sky" is the only retread, and it is well done (although none are as good as the live version of the song in the film HEAD). Nesmith's "Admiral Mike"-- an angry diatribe about media persecution sung by Micky Dolenz-- is hard to take at first, but becomes impressive (and more powerful) with each hearing. "Never Enough" and "You and I" are delightful songs (the latter a semi-retread, but better done here). Peter Tork's two songs-- "Run Away From Life" and "I Believe You" are intriguing changes of pace.

My absolute favorite is the almost hymn-like "It's Not Too Late", with its memorable refrain and terrific harmonies. Quite a fine accomplishment for Davy Jones. They should do this in concert.

The remaining songs have both plusses and minuses, but each offers a special something which makes at least part of it ring with effective sound. The impact of "Dyin' Of A Broken Heart"'s clever syncopation, for example, is difficult to describe. Just listen to it a few times. It might just grow on you.

The instrumental work (all by the Monkees themselves) is very good. Indeed, as an attempt to create an album absolutely entirely written, composed, performed, and sung by Messrs. Jones, Dolenz, Tork, and Nesmith, it is a success (albeit qualified). I do wish it had more elaborate liner notes, however.

If you are a Monkees fan, this, their most recent creative output (and their first almost thirty years featuring all four of them) is a must to own and enjoy. Even if you're not a fan, however, as long as a certain style/era of music appeals to you, given the reservations noted above, you might be impressed to discover that they're still talented after all these years, with perhaps a stronger and more mature presence and poise that can only come with age.

When all four Monkees came back in the studio in 1996, this album is the result of it. While it isn't bad, it shows no nostalgia from the old music. First off, I was disappointed to find that Nez only wrote two songs here. The first is a lifeless remake of "Circle Sky," a song that was much better done in the '60s (the studio and live version) His other number was "Admiral Mike," a pounding song with ticked-off vocals by Micky. Peter Tork didn't offer much either, He sung on the repetitive "I Believe You," which is saved by the harmony at the end of the verses. His other effort "Run Away From Life," has some of the worst-sounding Davy Jones vocals I've ever heard. He sounded shaky and edgy.

Speaking of Jones, he gets points for not doing any mushy ballads on this album. He sings on pleasant "You And I." However, the other two songs with his vocals sounded a little edgy and unpleasant. Micky's gruff voice almost overpowered the album. "Never Enough," "Dyin' of a Broken Heart" and "Regional Girl" are bearable, but not the cheap '50s-style "Unlucky Stars or ballad "It's My Life."

The Monkees had changed in their years of absence. Some for the better, some for the worse. This album isn't that great, but isn't very bad, either.

A project (surprisingly) initiated by Mike Nesmith, the Monkees marked their 30th anniversary with an album all their own. I was pleasantly surprised by this; their sound meshes well with the mid-90's. Though I can handle just one Peter Tork vocal, Mike Nesmith lends his voice only to the re-working of "Circle Sky". Micky sings of his divorce troubles in "Never Enough" and has great vocals on "Admiral Mike" and "Regional Girl". Davy also scores with "Oh, What A Night", and "You and I". Let's hope they do it again. Rhino released a "Justus" video showcasing several of the songs that those interested might want to check out.

In the summer of 1996, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork hit the concert tour circuit to try and recreate the enormous success awarded to them ten years earlier, when the United States fell in love with the Monkees for the second time, as they celebrated their 20th anniversary with one of the biggest arena tours of that year. Though their '96 concerts proved popular, they were unable to reach the level they had ten years before. MTV was no longer pushing the band onto its viewers as it had done in 1986. The music industry and radio had changed dramatically, and it seemed almost impossible that they would be able to obtain another Top 20 hit, as they had done in 1986 with "That Was Then, This Is Now."

With the odds stacked against them, the Monkees pushed forward, and recorded their first full album as a foursome since 1968. Michael Nesmith, who sat out the 1980s reunion, decided to rejoin his bandmates this time around, and acted as the overall producer of the JUSTUS album. While the trio toured the United States pushing the upcoming album, Nesmith chose to stay at home and mix and edit the songs.

JUSTUS is not "MORE OF THE MONKEES." If you are looking for the sweet pop of "I'm A Believer" or "The Girl I Knew Somewhere," you will not find it in this album. The Monkees are thirty years older, and they sound it. The lyrics take on a much more mature tone, as Dolenz sings about divorce and lost love in "Never Enough" and "Dyin' of a Broken Heart." Nesmith contributes the angry "Admiral Mike" (with a growling Dolenz on lead vocals), the Monkees' follow up to Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry" for its attack on the behavior of the mainstream media. The Monkees' pop sensibilities are heard, however, on Jones' pleasant "You and I" and "It's Not Too Late." Tork's spacey "I Believe You" will put you in trance with its oft-repeated lyrics and dreamy arrangment, while the remake of Nesmith's "Circle Sky" (from the Monkees' film soundtrack HEAD) rocks just as hard as Stone Temple Pilots did in 1996.

Oddly enough, this album has some grunge overtones in its production and playing, most likely a result of the time in which it was produced. Dolenz, in fact, played the same drum kit the drummer from Stone Temple Pilots used on their offering the same year, "Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop." Nesmith's trusty Gretsch guitar is fired up and played quite wonderfully, and Tork's bass line on "You and I" is amazing. Dolenz proves himself an accomplished drummer while Jones hangs in (as always) on percussion.

The highlight of the album is Dolenz' reflective "It's My Life," a beautiful piano ballad that shows Micky Dolenz is one of the few 1960s pop vocalists who still "has it."

Though JUSTUS requires repeated listens to get aquainted with, it's well worth investigation, as it will most likely be the last recorded studio effort by America's (unsuccessful) attempt to answer the Beatles.

Gee.........it's so nice being almost 52 and not having to be "hip" or "cool" anymore. I remember purchasing this cd in 1996, and my (THEN!) ten-years-younger-than-me wife whining to me, "Oh, the Monkees........they're so sixties!" "Yes indeedy, they ARE," I snidely told her, "You jus' run along an' look for that 'My Baby's Daddy' or whatever you lissen to an' whut I ignore." For a band that had been apart since late sixties, their material was excellent, and not to be redundant, it was a genuine pleasure to see and hear the guys reunited for the first time since...well, Altamont, or something. The material? Michael Nesmith's material (unfortunately, just 2 songs this time out) is/are quite easily the strongest, even though the one he sings, "Circle Sky" is lifted almost note-for-note from the version on "Head"; Micky Dolenz is quite easily the finest singer of the four, and, MAN!, he developed into one leviticously deuteronomous drummer over the years! Davy Jones is...well, "Davy Jones," and you can't blame a band for wanting a "pretty boy" up front - and, yup, he had one heck of a set of pipes, too! And Peter Tork's material is simply...horrible, but he MORE than makes up for his lack of compositional skills by his incredible ability as a musician: he's credited with "Bass, Keyboards" (and let be generous and overlook "vocals"), but on the sleeve, he sure looks like he's playing a Strat. Ah, quibbling, quibbling...the Monkees, in their original incarnation, were a brilliant marketing ploy, and they made a lot of people a lot of money (Neil Diamond, Boyce & Hart). So what IF they wanted to manifest their unrecognized talent and play on their own albums, sans "studio musicians," and Heaven help anyone who'd turn to Neil Diamond for a song (yes, I'm looking at "The Last Waltz" right now...get over it...). The Monkess' pre-MTV video of a song off "Piceses, Aquarius, blah-blah blah," a song called "She Hangs Out," is EASILY the superior to most anything you'll watch on "Television Music" - and Mike Nesmith all but invented MTV! So put the bong down, leave the Miller Lite in the 'fridge for a bit - in short, STOP BEING "COOL" for awhile, and give "Justus" an unbiased listen. I can guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Justus is a very good album with quite a bit of good songs on it. Plus, you'd think by 1996 that a band like The Monkees wouldn't be able to make something as enduring as their classics, but the song on this album called "It's My Life".... That song is INCREDIBLE!!!!! That song can definately fit up there with Last Train To Clarksville, Daydream Believer, (I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone, etc.! If you can find a copy of this, please check it out!

I bought this excepting to be very turn off by it, and thinking well I know it's not going to be their best. Boy, was I ever wrong, it was well, well worth buying! Every song is a masterpiece in itself. The remake of Circle Sky, is a welcomed start to a fantasic album. Everything shines forth from these very talented beings. Never Enough is a absolute highlight for Micky, not to mention his other hits, Unlucky Stars, Dyin' of a Broken Heart, Regional Girl and my favorite in this collection of wonderful creations, It's My Life (which is very autobiographical for everyone if you really think about it). Davy really has awesome writting skills as proved by You and I (written with Dolenz), Oh, What a Night, and It's Not too Late. All great songs of his and can now join the ranks of the Poster, Hard to Beileve, Dream World, You and I ("Instant Replay" song), If I Knew, War Games and I'll Love You Forever. Admiral Mike is simply another awesome Nez song and has a message this time. Peter finally has some tunes on a Monkees album again,( he hadn't had any of his songs on "The Birds, Bees",.... or "Pisces, Aquarius"...., or the last three ("Instant Replay", "The Monkees Present", or "Changes")). Great songs they are too, Run Away From Life and I Believe You. Every song is skillfully crafted and whats more they're all written by a Monkee(s). The Monkees played every single cotton pickin' note on this album and produced the entire record themselves. What can I say, except not bad for a group that's not only 30 years older then me but also is still popular. Great work Nez, Mick, Pete, and Davy. Only one thing, Mike could have written and sang more. Sorry, everyone says that guys and I felt obligated to, so don't get mad. Lets hope they do another one real soon. I hope it will come out by there 40th anniversary (2006)! This album is a must for any die hard Monkee fan or for just anybody who likes to listen to great sounding and greatly produced music. "Justus" is a hit!

On a whole, I realy liked this album aside from such insipid tracks as "Admiral Mike" "Broken Heart" "Oh What a Night" and "Lucky Stars". Circle Sky and Never Enough were a great way to start the album. Even Davy has 2 good tracks in "Its Not too Late" and "You and I". Peter does good as well with his 2 songs. But this album needed a little more of Nesmith tracks (perhaps a remake of Mary Mary or an unreleased gem). Regional Girl, a departure from them, is good as well. Lets get some more magic from all 4 real soon!!! Are ya listening Mike????