In 1967, David Fricke of the Rolling Stone claimed this album would be realeased in July, unfortunately for the Byrds' sales this album was realeased in Febuary 1967. However, this album still managed to do good and stayed on the charts for 24 weeks. It could be heard all through out the "Summer of Love". With the Byrds' signature Rickenbacker 360/12 heard jangling all throught out the album, this is another excellent Byrds' folk rocker. This album however is incredibly short, at only around 29 minutes long! Here is a review of the tracks:
So You Want To Be A Rock "n" Roll Star- This song is alright, the lyrics are sorta funny,"when you're hair's combed right and your pants too tight it's alright". Sound effects of screaming girls (proably recorded at a Beatles concert) come in around the middle of the song. A Spanish sounding horn rings out through the album.
Have You Seen Her Face- This song, like most Byrds songs kind of drones-but not in a bad way. It's a nice little chill out song.
C.T.A 102- Bizzare noises start attacking your ear drums through the middle of this song, I know it was trippy and far out back then but, I really don't like it. This song is really just not that great.
Renaissance Fair- Proably the most famous songs on this album. Standard 60's lyrics, "I think maybe I'm dreaming, I smell cinnamon and spices, I hear music everywhere, all around a kaliediscope of color." This song has nice guitar works that echos the singer. I like this song because of the cool vibe that surrounds it. It just grooves. Unfortunately it ends too quick, cutting out at 1:55.
Time Between- Nice little country-folk rock song. It's about all the time between him and his lover. This song reminds tons of Crosby, Stills, and Nash. David Crosby was in the Byrds incase you didn't know. Great song overall.
Everybody's Been Burned- Another famous song on this album. This song is somewhat eerie. Very spacey. The lyrics are somewhat depressing however. The notes of this song seem to just glide. Very relaxing song, and I don't mind that, one of my favorites on this album.
Thoughts and Words- Another very spacey song on this album. Backwords guitars start rushing in for the solo break, which shows what an impact the Beatles' "revolver" was making on the world of popular rock music. Alright song.
Mind Gardens- Another CSN-esque song. Very trippy song. I really don't know what to say about this song, it's very give or take, you like it or you don't, that kind of song. I really don't like this song.
My Back Pages- This song was writen by Bob Dylan. Really great lyrics that are so descriptive and glorious, and the great line, "I was so much older than, I'm younger than that now". Soothing guitar solo comes through the middle. Very awesome song.
The Girl With No Name- This song is about a head over heels love affair with a girl. Very short though and overall just unoriginal.
Why- A harder song to end the album, he always says "no" to this girl,and she always says to no to him about all kinds of things, hence "Why?". Alright ender for an album.
Overall, the songwriting on this album is great, unfortunately they are all pretty short, and some not very good. Still, I would recommend this album to anybody. 4/5
