Review of First National Band Complete, written
by Moltar (moltar7@yahoo.com)
If you're looking to begin your solo Nez collection, start by
purchasing Michael Nesmith and the
First National Band's "Complete". "Complete" is a two CD set containing
all the tracks (minus
"First National Rag") from Nez's first three post-Monkees albums,
"Magnetic South," "Loose
Salute," and "Nevada Fighter." Even though Nez was invited to join the
First National Band by
drummer John Ware and bassist John London, "Complete" makes it quite
clear that the First
National Band was a Nesmith Show. All but eight of the thirty songs are
Nesmith compositions
and "Loose Salute" and "Nevada Fighter" were produced by him as well.
Rounding out the First
National Band was pedal steel guitarist O.J. "Red" Rhodes, who was often
considered one of the best
steel guitarists in the US.
I've tried for a long time to describe the sound of "Complete,"
but genre titles don't seem
to fit this unique collection. The First National Band has been called
a pioneer in country- rock
on several occasions, but Nez dismisses this as nonsense in the liner
notes, and I have to agree. If
you listen to later- Monkees albums such as "Instant Replay" and
"Present" you can somewhat
anticipate the direction Nez was headed, but you can still feel him
tugging against the restraints
of being a Monkee placed on him. On "Complete," you are finally hearing
Nez being himself
and enjoying every last bit of it. It's contagious; you'll soon find
yourself belting out "Dedicated
Friend," a wonderful song concerning the search of long- lost items
ranging from a car to
spirituality, along with Nez's gutsy vocals and yelling "Play, Red!" as
he does. "Complete" is
perfect for playing on the tape deck in your car, driving with the
windows down, during warm,
summery weather and those few precious hours between day and night.
My favorite songs on "Complete" are the ones dealing with Nez's
disregard for standard
social rules, such as "Bye, Bye, Bye" and "Grand Ennui". These songs
describe his aggravation
with restrictions society has placed upon him and his eventual escape
from them. "Complete"
also includes some of Nez's most beautiful love songs, including a
wonderful interpretation of
"Propinquity", the wistful "Texas Morning," and a mournful cover of the
Clapton- Whitlock tune
"I Looked Away." Nez's mild hits "Joanne" (which he now claims was
written about a cow) and
"Silver Moon." He adds his own twist on country classics "Beyond The
Blue Horizon" and
"Tumbling Tumble Weeds". The first follows a farmer through his day,
beginning with the
sound of Nez yawning as an alarm clock rings, whistling, tractors
humming, and then the tiring
end of the day. If you have any of the Monkees "Missing Links" series
put out by Rhino, you
then have several early versions of the songs on "Complete." The
versions that are on
"Complete" though are much more listenable and overall superior. (There
is no "Carlisle
Wheeling," there is only "Conversations.")
"Complete" is an excellent collection. It won't scare away the
solo Nez virgin but will
give them a wonderful introductory course of his solo works. If you
already have it, pull it out
and listen to it again. If you don't, go to Videoranch and order it
now.
(
geocities.com/televisioncity/set) (
geocities.com/televisioncity)