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I figured it wood be worth posting specifically what I’ve been listening to and my thoughts.
U.F.O. by Jim Sullivan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DeAvcscc3Y
This is one I came across this last week before I went down the Curt Boettcher rabbit hole. I think it’s bretty good, but I'm not as big on the folk style as I am on the poppier approaches of these other albums I mention. It has some nice contributions from the Wrecking Crew though. Jim Sullivan’s story is sad but interesting. He ended up going missing in New Mexico in the ‘70s.
Sagittarius – Present Tense:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pZbBZrOHJk
This is the sunshine pop album I started off with in my recent phase (I'd already heard The Mamas & the Papas a while ago and had kind of mixed feelings about them). I imagine it wood just seem saccharine and extremely cheesy to most, but I love the lush sound it has. I think “Another Time,” “Glass,” and “Musty Dusty” are standout tracks. Conversely, “The Keeper of the Games” and especially “Wood You Like to Go” I find kind of annoying. I don’t consider anything else to be bad. Mercifully, the longest track isn’t even 3.5 minutes long. Present Tense is an album that respects your time, so it has that going for it. The whole thing is over in half an hour. I like it.
Sagittarius – The Blue Marble:
I can’t say I consider this up to snuff in comparison to Present Tense, although the inclusion of Moog sounds is interesting. I haven’t been listening to this as much as the other albums and don’t really have much to say. “I Sing My Song” and “Blue Marble” are the songs that I found the most memorable.
I’d post the album in case anyone habbens to be curious, but I can’t find the entire thing on a single video like these other albums I’m posting.
The Millennium – Begin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2exrvUiRvE
I highly recommend this. There are more conventional pop and rock elements to some of the songs, so this is one to listen to if you’re curious about sunshine pup but afraid of spiking your blood sugar too hard. “Karmic Dream Sequence #1” is even on the moody side. Besides that, the songs are consistently good. In fact, I wood put this against just about any ‘60s album I’ve heard (not that I’m that knowledgeable). Yes, even The Beatles.
V/A - A Whole Lot Of Rainbows: Soft Pop Nuggets From The WEA Vaults:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmB-juoJAiY
I heard for the first time tonight. It's part of the Nuggets compilation series, the most famous of which was the original protopunk-focused release from 1972. I enjoyed this one much better than the original album, which didn't do much for me despite being so influential. I think it might be hell for anyone who doesn’t like this style of music though.
From my limited listening, I think this banger from the Monkees is the biggest highlight of the compilation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omsztJPRcrQ
Thank you for subjecting yourself to my autism.