It took the Monkees a couple of albums to be taken seriously as a for-real rock band. By the time they released Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. (1967), members Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork had coalesced into a distinctive and multi-faceted whole. This album is alive with psychedelic sonic trappings, including some of the earliest Moog synthesizer heard on a pop record. “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” the album’s best-known single, features Dolenz delivering a cheerful indictment of suburban sterility over a lilting folk-rock track. The satirical theme continues in “Salesman” (a sly swipe at materialism set a Southwestern beat) and “Star Collector” (a boisterous send-up of rock groupies). Just as strong are the more downbeat tunes, especially the haunting “Words” (a duet between Dolenz and Tork). Nesmith in particular shows growth as a songwriter here, contributing the thought-provoking “Daily Nightly” and the country-accented “What Am I Doin’ Hanging Round?” The Monkees may have begun as a made-up band, but albums like Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. show that their talents were genuine.