BYRDS,THE - Byrdmaniax (Sealed) (CD)

Another album from the most overlooked period of the band's existence. Yeah, Crosby and both Clark and Clarke (and Parsons) were gone by this point, but we were still left with a solid hybrid of country and psychedelic tunes even with some heavy-handed arrangements that sometimes get in the way. I don't understand why the latter period of this band doesn't get more respect and attention; the songs and the performances here are great. My favorite track on here is the somewhat out-of-place "Citizen Kane" with bassist Skip Battin with it's vivid portrait of old Hollywood that pulls me in every time I hear it and the bluegrass breakdown of "Green Apple Quick Step" showcases the other end of the extreme in terms of sound. We also get the second part of the Dog Trilogy with "Old Blue" as well as one of the first songwriting contributions from a young Jackson Browne on side 2. To me this is a true lost classic if there ever was one. A smart person would pick this one up.