Comments on: The Byrds “Notorious Byrd Brothers”

By: W. Stacy

W. Stacy — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 19:56:21 +0000

I know I am nearly 2 years late on my comment (I just discovered your site a couple weeks ago – lots of catching up) but this is a transitional record, albeit with some good stuff on it. Production-wise I believe it to be original and, dare I say, daring when taken in context of its release. Song-wise it is lacking and cannot be fairly compared to records like their debut or SOTR. It is better than Byrdmaniax though!

By: derek

derek — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:24:45 +0000

The Byrds did some marginally interesting songs that weren’t Dylan covers. Whether they influenced any other bands or not doesn’t matter. Every band is influenced by other bands or artists. The best of the Byrds is still heard today. The rest should stay where it belongs, in the 60s.

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:10:48 +0000

The synthesizer is no more a toy than the guitar. The Byrds simply don't do it for me, here. And on this album, it seems foolish that McGuinn and friends get the credit for this being a psychedlic or eclectic record. To me, the credit goes to Paul Beaver, Gary Usher and the R.A. Moog company long before McG and friends. Without production efforts from those aforementioned fellars (Beaver, Usher), I don't think this would have been considered a whole lot different from previous efforts. The songwriting is good. The song lyrics are regretable. "Moog Raga" is good. I believe Sweetheart of The Rodeo to be a superior effort.

Well, in most cases, I couldn't care less about digital synthesizers or the 1980's + beyond. But the truth is, technological efforts by companies like Moog and Buchla in the 1960's were the genesis for much of the technology found in recording studios today.

I would be hard pressed to find a record worth listening to from the 1970's that did not use the analog synthesizer in some capacity. It was ubiquitous!

Let us not forget Abbey Road, which is filled with Moog.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:17:56 +0000

alright well, i ordered the B&K, so we’ll talk when I get it, (I lied before!)
as for the Byrds VS synthesizers….
it’s a great debate!

By: J

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 19:04:49 +0000

Man Ken, seems that you don’t know your stuff. The Byrds sound influenced legions of bands from the Replacements, REM, Husker Du and the Minutemen – some big names. They were influential than and still now. That first album alone is revolutionary and considered one of the best ever! I think straight up rock will always get the nod before snyth pop. The snyth seems like a dated little toy now. Theres been some decent music created by the synthesizer, but if we are talking the 80s to current synth music, example – depeche mode is garbage or any of that new wave shit – well thats just plain bad – opinions or not. It’s just not taken seriously anymore. But I will give you the nod if your into Kraut and Prog rock.

By: Ken

Ken — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 04:57:27 +0000

Well, BRENDAN, we are all entitled to our own opinions. Beaver and Krause helped (iin no small part) introduce the music world to the synthesizer, a legacy surely greater than that of the Byrds.

It should also be mentioned that Beaver and Krause had a Moog demonstration booth at the Monterey Pop Festival!

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:17:22 +0000

whatever KENNETH! I can barely stand Beaver and Krause!!

By: Kenneth

Kenneth — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:53:21 +0000

It might be interesting to note that this record was among the first to use the Moog synthesizer. The man who programmed the Moog in the studio for Gary Usher co. was Paul Beaver. He (along with collaborator Bernie Krause) released "The Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music" in 1967 on Nonesuch Records, and I believe that record to be the highest selling technical demonstration record of all time (certainly for that time). It is a brilliant recording!

Beaver and Krause were also responsible for Moog-ing many popular records during that period (including work by The Beatles,The Doors,The Rolling Stones, et. al.) and were employed, for a period, by the R.A. Moog company as west coast sales representatives.

For the record, I can barely stand this album by the Byrds.

By: Taylor

Taylor — Sat, 19 May 2007 04:54:57 +0000

holy sh*#, I never realized the Byrds got this psychedelic.