Good Times!
by The Monkees
  • Record Label: Rhino
  • Release Date: May 27, 2016
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 35
  3. Negative: 3 out of 35
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  1. desertswan
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Love it! It was such a wonderful treat hearing these guys again. I am also amazed at the range of well-known song writers represented here. I hope the Monkees go on recording as long as they can, even if it is not the same without Davy among them for real.
  2. comicman64
    May 28, 2016
    10
    Very strong record-probably the best album released this year-1967 in 2016 , I will take it

    many highlights, and nothing that makes you press fast forward on your cd player
  3. ChuckL
    May 29, 2016
    10
    This album caught me by surprise. It is a fresh view of 1967 that refuses to be pigeonholed into a convenient genre. It is the best of the early Monkees vibe with a healthy dose of modern songwriting that stays true to the Monkees mission statement. My 19 year old daughter relates to it as much as her 51 year old father. This may be their best stuff since Pisces and it may be more than that.
  4. mcrosser
    May 28, 2016
    10
    Without a doubt, this fits seamlessly into my Monkees rotation. If you like the Monkees, you will love this new album. Each of the original Monkees are represented. I gave up thinking that we would ever have another album from these great performers.
  5. jacksterlecat
    May 30, 2016
    10
    A great album to bring in the summer, make you smile, and being back those great childhood memories. A seamless transition from the 1960s Monkees' voices. A must have for any Monkees fan.
  6. LarryD
    May 27, 2016
    9
    Strong album overall with lots of variety in the songwriting. Great to hear David Jones's voice again on "Love To Love". Good production, but I think "I Know What I Know" would have been better with real strings instead of synth keyboards.

    "Our Own World" sounds like a TV sitcom theme to me. "Whatever's Right" just sounds inauthentic for some reason, despite it being a Boyce and Hart    Strong album overall with lots of variety in the songwriting. Great to hear David Jones's voice again on "Love To Love". Good production, but I think "I Know What I Know" would have been better with real strings instead of synth keyboards.

    "Our Own World" sounds like a TV sitcom theme to me. "Whatever's Right" just sounds inauthentic for some reason, despite it being a Boyce and Hart composition.

    The melody of "You Bring The Summer" isn't my favorite, but the lyrics are cute like a fuzzy puppy; and just as hard to resist and criticize. I didn't like "Little Girl" at first because of some painfully simplistic rhymes, but the song structure is unique and has grown on me a little. "I Was There" is fun but insubstantial, though it does make for a nice thematic bookend.

    Highlights for me are "Me & Magdalena", "Birth Of An Accidental Hipster", "Good Times", "I Know What I Know", "Gotta Give It Time", "She Makes Me Laugh", and "Wasn't Born To Follow". Seven keepers out of thirteen songs is a very solid ratio in my book.    … Expand
  7. TBR
    May 29, 2016
    9
    It's the Monkees album many of us have been waiting for since the 80s (probably longer.) It's a shame Davy isn't here to add more to the 'party' but I would have never imagined Mike, Micky, and Peter had one more great album to give us. Good Times, indeed!
  8. sawy93
    May 29, 2016
    9
    Their best album since the '60s.
    A pleasant mix of bubblegum and psychedelic pop, with just enough modern sound to make it interesting.
    A must have for all Monkees lovers and fans of '60s music.

    Better than Justus and Pool It combined!
  9. LindaR
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Beautiful mix of high energy, fun, and thoughtful songs. This may be the best Monkees CD in all of their 50 years of recording. It will bring lots of Good Times!
  10. Calinda
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Great to hear all four Monkees' voices again, and all in top form. Tight instrumentation and vocals, great songs, and both fun and seriousness intertwined The Monkees are back, and they sound GREAT!!
  11. MaggieC
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Some of best music ever from the Monkees!! It's hard to believe the guys are in their 70s. not in their 20s. Great mix of songs. Nice to hear Davy's beautiful voice again (R.I. P. Davy Jones 1845-2012).
  12. MartyLee
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Love! Love! Love! A mix of 1960s Monkees psychedelic and pop with a modern sound. Happy, upbeat songs, great from start to finish. Like a good old vintage wine, the Monkees have gotten better with age. Hard to believe this entire album isn't from a vault of unreleased Monkees songs.
  13. Mwilson
    May 30, 2016
    10
    Great mix of fun and psychedellc songs sung beautifully by all 4 Monkees. The Monkees at their best, on their 50th year anniversary of their debut. All new songs by a variety of great songwriters. A must have for anyone who has ever enjoyed the Monkees or 1960s music. Not one bad song. A great listen!
  14. blood23
    Jun 29, 2016
    10
    In the face of a world gone insane, the joy captured in this album makes it one of the most subversive things the boys have ever done. When everything looks so hopeless, this record bursts out of the speakers like a sunshine blast of optimism at a time we have no right to feel that way anymore. I call it revolutionary and I consider it a kind of sorcery to have been able to pull thisIn the face of a world gone insane, the joy captured in this album makes it one of the most subversive things the boys have ever done. When everything looks so hopeless, this record bursts out of the speakers like a sunshine blast of optimism at a time we have no right to feel that way anymore. I call it revolutionary and I consider it a kind of sorcery to have been able to pull this thing off. I've been playing it every day since it was released and I haven't done that since I was 18 (I'm 53 now). This is a lifeline and a shining rebirth of a spirit that has been sadly missing from the world for too long. The whole affair is busting at the seems with love and good will towards all. Magic, simply magic.… Expand
  15. joeyeagan
    Jul 3, 2016
    10
    I gotta admit that when I first heard about the Monkees new album “Good Times” I was excited, as I am a huge Monkees fan, but I was also bracing myself for a cringe fest. After all, these guys are in their seventies. But, to say that “Good Times” exceeded my expectations is a major understatement. The album is nothing less than a masterpiece that hits the mark in every way that a die-hardI gotta admit that when I first heard about the Monkees new album “Good Times” I was excited, as I am a huge Monkees fan, but I was also bracing myself for a cringe fest. After all, these guys are in their seventies. But, to say that “Good Times” exceeded my expectations is a major understatement. The album is nothing less than a masterpiece that hits the mark in every way that a die-hard Monkees fan like me could hope for. In my opinion, it is the best album the group has released since “Headquarters”. Micky, Mike and Peter all sound better than ever, whether singing separately or together. It was especially great to hear Peter do lead vocals on two tracks and to hear Mike harmonizing so well with Micky on “Me and Magdalena”. Every song on this album is great. The Monkees rock!… Expand

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Blurt Magazine
    Jul 18, 2016
    80
    Being a summer release, the sun really shines down on tunes like “Good Times,” with it’s go-go beat, “She Makes Me Laugh,” “Our Own World,” “Gotta Give It Time,’ and come on get happy with “You Bring the Summer.”
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  2. Classic Rock Magazine
    Jul 7, 2016
    50
    Like their 60s albums, it’s a hodgepodge of self-penned songs and songs written by others, with a few vintage rave-ups thrown into the mix--‘mix’ being the operative word for this patchy affair.
    Read full review
  3. Record Collector
    Jun 20, 2016
    80
    No one ever asked The Monkees to be anything more than pratfalling archetypes who could act and sing a bit, yet they asked more of themselves than they needed to; and they’re digging deep again today.
    Read full review
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