The Monkees: Good Times album review - just trying, and failing, to be friendly

Given that the concept of blending The Monkees with Fountains of Wayne is on the right side of genius, it's a shame that Good Times – the American Mop Top's first studio album in 20 years – equals bad vibes.

Released to commemorate the band's 50th anniversary, the weak songs – from Harry Nilsson's title track and Neil Diamond's Love to Love, to original member Peter Tork's Little Girl – too often overshadow the gems.

Songs by Death Cab for Cutie songwriter Ben Gibbard (Me & Magdalena), XTC's Andy Partridge (You Bring The Summer), and Noel Gallagher/Paul Weller (Birth of an Accidental Hipster) brilliantly reference the band's 1960s glory days, but as a cohesive project it's more unpleasant valley Sunday than anything else.