The Monkees

The Monkees 20th Anniversary Reunion Tour was initially a fluke whose runaway success delighted fans and shocked naysayers. However, it has been well over a decade since that reunion and road weariness has caught up with the pre-Fab Four. It can be heard clearly on "Last Train to Clarksville" as Micky Dolenz's vocals intone boredom so severe that he may as well have been singing: "Do I really have to sing this again?" That's not to say this disc is filled with second-rate performances; this is a slick production with some fun moments, especially for the tried-and-true fans. It's the first time Peter Tork's compositions "Can You Dig It?" and "For Pete's Sake" have been officially released on a live album. Dolenz can still pull off vocal hysteria when winding down "I'm a Believer" and "Goin' Down." And, yes, Davy Jones remains the graceful showman with a voice that has matured nicely (although that doesn't make hitting those high notes on "Daydream Believer" any easier). The question remains, however: With the glut of Monkees material available (including numerous live shows from the original Mike Nesmith days) was Live Summer Tour really necessary? ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide