History Music / PiscesAquariusCapricornAndJonesLtd

** And "Star Collector" ends the album with a fickle {{Groupie}} throwing herself at a rock star who wants nothing to do with her

** "Don't Call on Me" has the singer telling his unfaithful girlfriend that it's over, and if her next lover treats her the same way she treated him it'll serve her right.

** "Hard to Believe" hs the singer baring his soul to woman who's already with someone else, in hopes that he can win her back.

** In "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round?" the protagonist travels to UsefulNotes/{{Mexico}}, "lightly takes advantage" of a local girl who falls in love with him, but doesn't realize he loves her too until he's back in the USA. He wants to return to her, but realizes even if he does she probably won't take him back.

* SillyLoveSongs: Eight tracks fit the trope description, but it's notable how most of them view romance with either despair or cynicism. If the characters aren't trying to save a troubled relationship, or one of the partners is already on leaving, or has no intention of getting involved in the first place.

** "Cuddly Toy" is performed in a bouncy, almost vaudevillian style. However, while the lyrics are vague enough to be interpreted in different ways (some quite sinister), they're plainly about some sort of unwholesome sexual encounter. It doesn't help that the singer is basically telling the woman: "Sure, I used you! So what? Get over it!"

** The apocalyptic ending of "Pleasant Valley Sunday", which drenches the track with increasing layers of reverb until it's pretty much inaudible, is another example.

** "Cuddly Toy" is performed in a bouncy, almost vaudevillian style. However, while the lyrics are vague enough to be interpreted in different ways (some quite sinister), they're plainly about some sort of unwholesome sexual encounter.

-->''"Second hands that minds have slowed\\

THE QUESTIONS BUT NO ANSWERS!"''

* LyricalDissonance: Musically, "Don't Call on Me" is one of the mellowest songs on the album. Lyrically, it's a BreakupSong in which the singer kisses off his cheating girlfriend.

--->''"With his fool's gold stacked up all around him\\

In his counting house where nothing counts but more"''

The album was something of a TroubledProduction; it was recorded over a period of six months (April to October 1967) in three different cities (UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity and UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}), whenever the Monkees could find time in their busy schedule of touring and filming [[Series/TheMonkees their TV series]]. Also, the track listing was adjusted several times before the final release. Despite this hectic atmosphere, the group's artistic ambition carried the day. Their new songs incorporated everything from strings and horns to CountryMusic, from bossa nova to some of the earliest ElectronicMusic to appear on a pop record, while taking advantage of sophisticated production techniques. This meant that the band had to go back to using session musicians to fill out their sound, which some members were more comfortable with than others (see the above quotes). Still, the public was ready to accept the psychedelic version of the Monkees, as ''Pisces, Aquarius'' became their fourth #1 album in a row. (Admittedly, it was also their last #1 album.)

* WesternZodiac: The album takes its title from the Monkees' astrological signs, which explains is use of OddNameOut. Micky is a Pisces, Peter is an Aquarius, and Mike and Davy are not only both Capricorns, but famously share the same birthday (December 30).

Creator/RhinoRecords has released two deluxe remasters of ''Pisces, Aquarius", a single-disc CD in 1995 and a two-disc CD in 2007; each features different bonus tracks. While most of these are just different mixes or recordings of the songs from the final album, both versions feature two tracks that were dropped at the last minute, "Special Announcement" and "Goin' Down". Also, the 2007 remaster includes "Riu Chiu", a [[ChristmasSongs Christmas Song]] from the TV episode "[[ChristmasEpisode The Christmas Story]]".

* EpicRocking: While none of the songs meet the official six-minute mark, "Star Collector" was the longest track the Monkees had issued to date, which is why its official time was shortened on the original album.

* RecordProducer: Chip Douglas, returning from ''Headquarters''. He also plays on some tracks.

* AffectionateParody: "Don't Call on Me" is one for the GenreMotif/EasyListening genre, with Mike singing the song as a LoungeLizard.

The album was something of a TroubledProduction; it was recorded over a period of six months (April to October 1967) in three different cities (UsefulNotes/LosAngeles, UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity and UsefulNotes/{{Nashville}}), whenever the Monkees could find time in their busy schedule of touring and filming [[Series/TheMonkees their TV series]]. Also, the track listing was adjusted several times before the final release. Despite this hectic atmosphere, the group's artistic ambition carried the day. Their new songs incorporated everything from strings and horns to CountryMusic, from bossa nova to some of the earliest ElectronicMusic to appear on a mainstream pop record, while taking advantage of sophisticated production techniques. This meant that the band had to go back to using session musicians to fill out their sound, which some members were more comfortable with than others (see the above quotes). Still, the public was ready to accept the psychedelic version of the Monkees, as ''Pisces, Aquarius'' became their fourth #1 album in a row. (Admittedly, it was also their last #1 album.)

** "Daily Nightly" and "Star Collector" are among the earliest examples marketed to a mainstream pop audience. Micky had purchased one of the first 20 Moog synthesizers ever manufactured and enjoyed playing with it; his improvisations are featured prominently in "Daily Nightly". Paul Beaver, a more experienced player, was brought in for "Star Collector".

With the overbearing Don Kirshner ousted, the Monkees had recorded their third album ''Headquarters'' mostly by themselves, with only a handful of session musicians; its success proved that the made-for-TV band could make music on their own terms while maintaining their popularity. However, there were many people in the [[HippieIndex hippie counterculture]] who still doubted their credibility, dismissing them as the "Pre-Fab Four". Also, the world of pop music was evolving; Music/TheBeatles and Music/BobDylan were expanding the boundaries of what a hit record could be, while PsychedelicRock was rapidly maturing. Clearly, the Monkees had something to prove, and they stepped up to the challenge with ''Pisces, Aquarius'', which (along with the ''Film/{{Head}}'' film and soundtrack) became their most eclectic and experimental project.

# "What Am I Doin' Hangin' Round" (3:02)

* NewSoundAlbum: As noted, this album takes the Monkees' music and lyrics into new territory.

** "The Door Into Summer" is both a denunciation of {{Greed}} and a veiled commentary on UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar. The VillainProtagonist is a war profiteer who, like Film/CitizenKane, doesn't realize he's wasted his life pursuing power until it's too late.

# "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (3:15)[[note]]On the original album, this track and "Peter Percival" are listed as one track with a total time of 3:30[[/note]]

* Peter Tork - recitation, backing vocals, guitar, keyboards

** The apocalyptic ending of "Pleasant Valley Sunday", which drenches the track in increasing layers of reverb until it's pretty much inaudible, is another example.

TOWARD BRINING DOWN SOMEONE WHO'S FOUND\\

Along with various session musicians, most notably:

* "Fast" Eddie Hoh - drums on all other tracks except "Hard to Believe", whose drummer is Kim Capli

* ElectronicMusic: "Daily Nightly" and "Star Collector" are among the earliest examples marketed to a mainstream pop audience. Micky had purchased one of the first 20 Moog synthesizers manufactured and enjoyed playing with it; his improvisations are featured prominently in "Daily Nightly". Paul Beaver, a more experienced player, was brought in for "Star Collector".

* ElectronicMusic: "Daily Nightly" and "Star Collector" are among the earliest examples marketed to a mainstream pop audience.

->''"I thought ''Pisces, Aquarius'' was the one that caught it all. We went back to the basics of making music for the television shows – trying to make good pop records – and I think we did a good job."''
-->--'''Music/MichaelNesmith''', from the liner notes of the 1995 CD reissue

->''"It’s sort of a mixed-mode band. You hear us, and you hear the pros. It’s a compromise. It’s not what I would have liked, but it’s better than what was before, as far as I’m concerned."''
-->--'''Peter Tork''', also from the 1995 liner notes

# "Pleasant Valley Sunday" (3:15)[[note]]On the original album, this track and "Peter Pervial" are listed as one track with a total time of 3:30[[/note]]

* TheBlank: The first three albums had [[FaceOnTheCover pictures of the band]] on the front, but here Bernard Yeszin's cover painting has faceless versions of the Monkees standing in a field of pastel-covered flowers that partially cover their guitar-shaped logo.

** Like the Buffalo Springfield hit "For What it's Worth", "Daily Nightly" is about the 1966 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunset_Strip_curfew_riots Sunset Strip curfew riots]]. Unlike "For What It's Worth", a straightforward FolkRock numnber, "Daily Nightly" combines Mike's poetic lyrics with Micky's heavily echoed vocals and [[ElectronicMusic synthesizer noises]] to create a bizarre, surreal atmosphere.

''Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.'' is Music/TheMonkees' fourth album; recorded throughout 1967 and released that November, it has become one of their most acclaimed works.

* ProtestSong: Two examples.

Two songs from the album, "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Words", were released as both sides of a single. Each track was a hit; "Pleasant Valley Sunday" peaked at #3, while its BSide "Words" made it to #11 in its own right.

''Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.'' is Music/TheMonkees' fourth album; it was recorded between April and October of 1967, whenever the group could find time in their hectic schedule, and released that November. It has become one of their most acclaimed works.

With the overbearing Don Kirshner ousted, the Monkees had recorded their third album ''Headquarters'' mostly by themselves, with only a handful of session musicians; its success proved that the made-for-TV band could make music on their own terms while maintaining their popularity. However, there were many people in the [[HippieIndex hippie counterculture]] who still doubted their credibility, dismissing them as the "Pre-Fab Four". Also, the world of pop music was evolving; Music/TheBeatles and Music/BobDylan were expanding the boundaries of what a hit record could be, while PsychedelicRock was rapidly maturing. Clearly, the Monkees had something to prove, and they stepped up to the challenge with ''Pisces, Aquarius'', which (along with the ''Film/{{Head}}'' film and soundtrack) became their most eclectic and experimental project.