Customer Reviews

Notorious Byrd Brothers

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Amazing. The moog synthesizer is prevelent throughout the album. Instead of being too aggressive they use it to creates a gentle background buzz which allows you to focus on the beautiful songwriting and heavenly harmonies. Songs 2 through 6 especially blend together into one large canvas for the artists to work their magic. I would suggest this album to anyone that likes to listen to an album from start to finish. The bonus tracks at the end add some alternate takes, moog weirdness, and a few other unreleased songs (Crosby's "Triad", for one, that should have been on the album), and the "secret" song at the end of the disc with mostly David Crosby & drummer Clarke agruing in the studio about a riff in a song is hilarious. You can hear the Byrds falling apart, but it turned out to spark McGuinn's creative fire in just the right way. This is thelast ablum Crosby was a part of and it showed it subsequent showings.

This Byrds CD is so harmonic that one can not listen to it without being mesmerized by the lyrical simplicity and beauty. Caught in the midst of the 60's musical revolution and was sumwhat over looked. This is simply spectacular.
One of the best musical pieces ever made period. If you like harmony & poetic lyrics. Superb. Unmatched and unrivaled excellance!

There were hundreds of pale Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band xeroxes after the Beatles brought brought out that album, and the notion that all things in rock were possible, in 1967. But only a band as great as the Byrds could properly ride on the fabs coat tails.

And in a way, Nortorious Byrd Brother's is even more the surprise. The Beatles had been experimenting and expanding their reference frame from day one, and had added octane to the process on Revolver. The Byrds were the best American folk rock bands, and literally invented the concept of open breeze rock, based on a sharp chime guitar sound, and aural economy.

Yet here is the album, full bore with diversity and maximum sound. "Artifical Energy," is full royal horns that is head to head with the best chamber rock. It is also, almost, funky."Goin' Back" is lush balladry for FM radio. The eletro lab of "Draft Morning" deals with Vietnam, while Crosby's "Tribal Gathering," with its bullet circular riff has the drive of rock and the challenging edge of jazz. Even a bonus track here, a moog experiment, shows how big the Byrds' ambition was beyond folk rock.

It never happened, as rock went back to the roots, and the Byrds tore down musical and cultural lines with Rock and Roll's first pure country album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, a suicide move for any rock band in 1968, and one of the most brilliant coups in the music, ever.

"The Notorious Byrd Brothers" is usually regarded as the last album by the original band. Gene Clark had actually left after the second album, but it's obvious that this is the last album where the original Byrd-sound is still predominant. Still, as with every new Byrds album, this it's not just a repition of previous efforts.

New sounds, rhythms and instruments and are explored on the album, which must be their most psychedelic. But as always it's the songs that make this another great Byrds album - of course along with the brilliant guitar-playing and the delicate vocal harmonies.

No Bob Dylan songs were recorded for the album; instead two fine Goffin/King songs stand out among the most memorable on the album. Both "Goin'Back" and "Wasn't Born to Follow" have the classic Byrds-sound and both songs are lyrically and musically very strong.

Among the new original Byrds songs "Draft Morning" is a highlight. The song was originally written by David Crosby, but he was asked to leave the band midways through the recording of the album, so the song was finished by Hillman and McGuinn. Another David Crosby song "Triad" may be have the reason for his ousting. Crosby wanted the song included on the album instead of "Goin' Back", but the other band members may have found Crosby's lyrics too controversal. The song was given to Jefferson Airplane and Crosby was out of the Byrds. Iin retrospect this seem a pretty stupid solution, considering that both tracks could easily have been included - Byrds albums usually had a very short playing time - and TNBB is no exception with its app. 30 minutes. Now the song is to find among the bonus-tracks.

Crosby was not involved with the final recordings which include the opener "Artificial Energy", "Natural Harmony", "Get to You" and the terrific "Wasn't Born to Follow" which feature the great Clarence White on guitar. White is actually playing on several on these recordings, and he was later to join the Byrds as a permanent member. His contribution to "Change is Now" make this average tune another stand-out; almost like a new "Eight Miles High".

Hillman's "Old John Robertson" is catchy Byrds-country and another favourite.

Weakest track is the closing tune ( sea-shanty style ) "Space Odyssey" feature odd space sounds, but somehow seems to go nowhere; a paradox that It is the longest track on the album.

Among the bonus-tracks the instrumental "Bound to Fall" is quite good, but sounds unfinsihed. Though all bonus tracks are interesting "Triad" is really the only track that ought have been included on the original album. "Moon Raga" is the weakest and it's wonder why it was not placed as the last track.

A hidden track feature studio talk that reveal there was a lot of tension within the band during these recordings.

This is one of my favorite Byrds LP's on a few fronts. 1st it shows how resilient they were in the face of inner turmoil. Founding member & co-leader Crosby was sacked during these sessions. They seemed to reinvent themselves as psychedelic country rock pioneers after the pop masterpeice of "YTY". Notorius is an arguable peak of the band especially in a creative aspect. The songs fade into each other & give this LP a loose "concept" feel (at least "sonically"). Clarence White continued to up the anti on the guitar & he would be 1 significant factor making the Byrds as an unbeatable live band. Notorius, has anti-war, freedom-hippie movement themes running through it & its definately appropriate for it's time.
Some of my fave cuts are Artificial Energy, Change is Now, Going Back, Draft Morning, Dolphins Smile, & Old John Robertson.

If you want to talk about some of the greatest albums ever recorded, NBB has got to be among the cream of the crop. Both the last of their final Gene Clark era sound and the predecessor to Sweetheart of the Rodeo, this is some mighty fine psychedelic crafting from these melodic, harmonic, heavyweights. The album explores everything from their roots sound to a hybridization of raga influenced sound effects that rival Sargeant Pepper and explorations with country and their previous dabblings with jazz. Decidedly cosmic and trippy, it is interesting how the beautiful, childhood embracing Carole King and Gerry Goffin song "Goin' Back" still manages to fit in anyway.

Best songs have to be the Moody Blues-like "Natural Harmony" in all its brilliant cosmic glory, the gorgeously poetic country rock of "Wasn't Born to Follow," and Crosby's sensuously jazzy "Tribal Gathering." "Get to You" is also of note, as Gene Clark co-penned this with Roger McGuinn, though he didn't get the credit. McGuinn has stated this as a fact.

Bonus tracks include a rather dated sounding "Moog Raga" which reminds me of the sound effects from late 70s Atari games, alternative takes on "Goin' Back," "Draft Morning," and Crosby's disgusting menage a trois piece, "Triad," which McGuinn and Hillman were largely opposed to. Well, who wouldn't be? This was probably one of many long-term factors that got him fired from the group, and rightly so. Still, he contributed a lot of good things during his time with the group, and is not to be dismissed. Check out the hidden track in which he begins a huge argument with Michael Clarke, that escalates to something rather ugly.

Despite artistic tensions, this album is nothing short of brilliant, captivating, and timeless despite its dated subject matter. Beautiful harmonies, lush musical vision, and rapt with poetic lyrics that could melt the Alps, NBB is a great Byrds album that is timeless in its own rite.

I forgot how good these guys were. Great 60's sound. The last Crosby alblum. Worth the money a must have for all Byrds fans.Some of the out takes are better than the originals. the cover of Carol King's GOING BACK in the bonus tracts has a definite southern twang in the vocals Gram Parson maybe? Crosby's TRIAD, & Hillman's DRAFT MORNING are classics

This has always been my favorite Byrds album. Younger Than Yesterday may be more brilliant, at least it places, and Untitled may have more great tracks, but Notorious Byrd Brothers holds together better as an album. I'm surprised that none of the prior reviewers mentioned Trying to Get to You, which to my mind may be the best track on the album, with a terrific McGuinn vocal. The version of Goin' Back here--with the brief but memorable Kevin Kelly drum break right before the end--is definitive. Draft Morning, Old John Robertson, Wasn't Born to Follow, Natural Harmony--all terrific. I've been listening to this album for over 40 years and I haven't tired of it.

The Byrds/ Wanted-The Notorious Byrd Brothers: I like this album but it is a mix of different styles and it does not feel like an album, more like an odds and sods kind of release. However, with "Goin' Back", "Wasn't born to follow" and "Old John Robertson" among the songs, It is an album well worth having. There is a new version of this CD with a few bonus tracks. I don't like the bonus tracks (with the exception of "triad" which can be found elsewhere). With the bonus tracks CD costing twice that of the original CD (in 2011), I would definitely get the original 11 track CD and save the money.

Notorious Byrd Brothers
An album that was an end of an era plus a new beginning for The Byrds. Some of the group stayed in the background while others went on to other projects. IE: Poco,The Flying Burrito Brothers just to name 2.