car stereo Magnetic South Salute Michael Nesmith
This is classic country-rock coming from Michael Nesmith right off the heels of his stint with the Monkees. Nesmith had already shown his country-flavor tendencies with many of his songs for the Monkees, some of which weren't released until the 90's.
On his first solo album, Magnetic South, Nez takes several of these unreleased Monkees tunes and beautifully does them again, with the help of fantastic steel-guitarist Red Rhodes, who almost steals the show with a few songs. Magnetic South is one of those few albums where EVERY song is a good listen, from track 1 to track 11.
The 2nd album in this collection is Loose Salute, which didn't quite live up to the strength of Magnetic, but is still quite solid. Its opener, "Silver Moon", is a top 5 Nez song. Nesmith also redoes his Monkees hit "Listen To The Band," which is unlike the original, but still good (in a different way). I particularly like "Conversations."
The bottom line here is you CANNOT go wrong with this album. It is worth every penny and you won't regret it!
Great two-fer! Each album is wonderful in it's own way. Michael Nesmith finally gets to really explore in fantastic detail the kind of music he skirted around with the Monkees. I enjoy every track, but especially the tracks written by Nez. I'm absolutely amazed with the speed and quality of his early solo releases. He had three albums recorded in 13 months, and they are all great! He would not compromise or get sucked in by the current trends. He knew the kind of music he wanted to create and just did it. Nez added to and broadened the musical landscape, and it is a real shame that more folks haven't gotten the chance to enjoy these absolutely classic songs. He was definitely a poet with his heart in the country and his mind in the city, who really knew how to rock!
BalasHapusThis is just great stuff. I bought the first Monkees lp to get "Papa Gene's Blues". This is more of the same. "Beyond the Blue Horizon" was originally dedicated to the "Tomorrow" man on the lp...Nez eventually fessed up and admitted it was about himself..."goodbye to things that bore me, joy is waiting for me...". Saying adeiu to Kirshner and the music machine the Monkees were tied up in gave Nez the creative freedom he wanted and needed. With the exception of Rays, The Prison and the Garden, I recommend all of this man's work.
BalasHapus
BalasHapusWhen Michael Nesmith left the Monkees in March of 1970 he was a little reluctant in forming another band. However drummer John Ware convinced good ol' Nez to do so and the result was Michael Nesmith And The First National Band. This cd reissue contains Nesmith's first two records MAGNETIC SOUTH and LOOSE SALUTE. Both of these being on one disc. MAGNETIC SOUTH was released in July of 1970 and was definetly Michael's best solo album. The album carried the top 20 hit JOANNE. A wonderful country ballad. However that one single did not make the rest of the record all filler. The album opens with a medley of CALICO GIRLFRIEND, NINE TIMES BLUE and LITTLE RED RIDER all of these songs being different styles with a pinch of pedal steel guitar to give out the country mood. THE CRIPPLED LION is one of the best songs on the album it is very unique. MAMA NANTUCKET is a funny number where as KEYS TO THE CAR is very country western. HOLLYWOOD is another one of the best tunes on the album. THE ONE ROSE is a beautiful love song and Nesmith's rendition of BEYOND THE BLUE HORIZON is breathtaking.LOOSE SALUTE was released in November of 1970. Although the album was more bizarre and slightly weaker than Magnetic South in contains aload of underrated classics. SILVER MOON is a wonderful album opener where Nesmith experiments by mixing country rock with reggae. I FALL TO PIECES is a good cover of the classic but is not something you would expect from Nez. DEDICATED FRIEND is a funky fun number and CONVERSATIONS is a beautiful country ballad. TENGO AMORE is a great latin experimental by Nez. Also here is a very country version of LISTEN TO THE BAND a song Nesmith performed while he was with the Monkees however this version is far weaker than the hit original classic. BYE BYE BYE is another fun and funky number where as LADY OF THE VALLEY is a haunting contry rock love song. HELLO LADY brings out the hard rocking side of Nez a bit. The album closes with a bonus instrumental THE FIRST NATIONAL DANCE which makes a fine addition to the cd reissue.Overall Nesmith's first 2 albums are essential. Too bad the public never noticed the potential he had and still has. However time has been kind to these two aging records as more and more people are beginning to discover them.. Maybe one day these will be hailed a classic by all but for now they remain underground classics. Highly recommended!
BalasHapusThis is classic country-rock coming from Michael Nesmith right off the heels of his stint with the Monkees. Nesmith had already shown his country-flavor tendencies with many of his songs for the Monkees, some of which weren't released until the 90's.
BalasHapusOn his first solo album, Magnetic South, Nez takes several of these unreleased Monkees tunes and beautifully does them again, with the help of fantastic steel-guitarist Red Rhodes, who almost steals the show with a few songs. Magnetic South is one of those few albums where EVERY song is a good listen, from track 1 to track 11.
The 2nd album in this collection is Loose Salute, which didn't quite live up to the strength of Magnetic, but is still quite solid. Its opener, "Silver Moon", is a top 5 Nez song. Nesmith also redoes his Monkees hit "Listen To The Band," which is unlike the original, but still good (in a different way). I particularly like "Conversations."
The bottom line here is you CANNOT go wrong with this album. It is worth every penny and you won't regret it!
I am a huge fan of Michael Nesmith's solo music and his music with The Monkees. If you enjoy his country-rock style then I strongly recommend that you check out the following:
BalasHapus1) March 16-20 by Uncle Tupelo
2) Papa Nez: A Loose Salute To The Work Of Michael Nesmith by Various Artists
3) Stranger's Almanac by Whiskeytown
4) Trace by Son Volt