Combo originally put together and designed as a US answer to the Beatles, with carefully planned media hype and exposure tailored to hit the teen heart. Debute album was a huge commercial success and this follow-up three months later did even better topping lists all over the world and remaining #1 in US for eighteen weeks. Many of the cuts were leftovers from earlier sessions and as before the group had no control over track choice or final release. Though most of it written and performed by hired pros it was still presented as a band effort. A monetary triumph for the record company, but a low point for the band with Michael Nesmith later calling it "probably the worst album in the history of the world". As a collector it's fun to know background on artists and recordings, but all that really matters is the result. If it grabs me I don't care who or what's behind. Briefly a fan in the sixties, but I'm not there anymore. Considering all talent involved from studio musicians and songwriters and the mostly high quality of American music business at the time it could have been tophole. Yet in comparison to the black soul coming out of Motown in the sixties or then emerging flower power/psych/prog genres it's hardly passable - uneven and partly inanimate. Saved by three small pop gems only - "I'm A Believer", "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone" and "Mary Mary". Premiere US on Colgems (COM/COS 102). First UK had ridged label as shown here and laminated cover.
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