I'd actually rate this collection three-and-a-half stars. If you remember these tunes from their original release, up the rank a star; if you have no particular curiosity for a late '60s time capsule, drop it to two-and-a-half. This sliding scale may seem like a cheat, but many of these songs do feel like museum pieces: They're worthy of preservation, but they're so much a product of their time, they feel dated -- at times, even quaint. You've got lyrics about long hair, love-ins, turning on and dropping out; you've got your Dylan soundalike, your proto-Monkees, your "Eleanor Rigby" wannabes. With the historical and musical influences already ingrained in our consciousness, their less-familiar imitators lose some excitement, some immediacy. Therefore, listeners today who bring nostalgia or enthusiasm to "More Nuggets" will get far more from it than casual listeners will.
For my money, the more aggressive selections (e.g., "Diddy Wah Diddy" and both Chocolate Watch Band tunes) have aged best, along with the sneering, insinuating ones (the faux-Dylan "Public Execution," the fantastic "Try It," the buzzing "Mr. Farmer.") "More Nuggets" lets you hear the roots of garage rock and what '70s "corporate rock" relegated to "indie" status; you can also pick up countercultural sentiment already being co-opted and packaged to sell. Yet for all the catchy touches and the occasional still-persuasive emotion, lots of the songs here don't build to much of anything -- they basically repeat the chorus and verse a few times before fading away. Maybe this is the price of having a representative batch of authentic psychedelia; they can't all be brilliant.
Purists will be happy that the mono originals haven't mutated into stereo. The fact-packed liner notes, set amongst vintage (!) ads pushing goods and services to music-making young 'uns, are up to Rhino's proud standards.
One more thing: Shuffle play is essential to this album. The middle third is chock full of sensitive men testing the high end of their vocal cords; listen straight through, and it's like being assaulted by troubadours. Mix the order and you'll do fine.
1. (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet - The Blues Magoos
2. Mr. Farmer - The Seeds
3. Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White - The Standells
4. Liar, Liar - The Castaways
5. Diddy Wah Diddy - Captain Beefheart
6. Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love-In)? - The Chocolate Watch Band
7. Talk Talk - The Music Machine
8. Live - The Merry-Go-Round
9. Western Union - The Five Americans
10. The Little Black Egg - The Nightcrawlers
11. Sunshine Girl - The Parade
12. You're A Very Lovely Woman - The Merry-Go-Round
13. Desiree - The Left Banke
14. I Wonder What She's Doing - Boyce And Hart
15. A Public Execution - Mouse And The Traps
16. Try It - The Standells
17. Sweet Young Thing - The Chocolate Watch Band
18. Gonna Have A Good Time - The Easybeats
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