Whether with his influential punk and glam outfit Hanoi Rocks, or the various bands he's led over the years, like Demolition 23 and Jerusalem Slim, or the solo albums he's released with help from Ian Hunter, Little Steven Van Zandt, Steve Stevens. and members of both the Dead Boys and the Damned, Michael Monroe has been consistent. He loves rock and roll. And even if you can't easily find every one of his post-Hanoi Rocks records, take it from me, each and every one is full of hard rocking and hook-filled gems.
Now comes, "One Man Gang," what might be his best record since 1994's "Demolition 23." This one explodes out of the gate and never lets up. There are no electronic experiments, no trendy duets, no autotune. This is pure, unadulterated rock and roll, and Michael Monroe, now nearing 60, is singing better than ever.
Every track has a chorus to die for, with most of the songs written or co-written by NYC's Steve Conte and Sorry & The Sinatras guitarist Rich Jones, who also produced "One Man Gang." It wouldn't be a stretch to compare Monroe's attack to Bruce Springsteen. Just substitute a few key locations and turn the guitars up a little, or in some cases, a lot louder, and you will hear the similarities. I know I do.
Here are three tracks to get you started. I'm loving "One Man Gang" and I fully expect this one to finish in the Top 10 of 2019.
9 comments:
I love love love Michael Monroe. I'm also a big can of Steve Conte! Somehow I didn't know this album existed until right now. I'm blasting it right now. Thanks!
you're taking me back, Sal - Hanoi Rocks, Smack, Quireboys, Faster Pussycat, DGeneration. I have to admit that Jesse Malin is the only survivor of that revival that I've followed. His new album is one of his better ones. Michael Monroe is good, but a little generic, kind of like all of those bands were, a good time live.
I have many friends who ADORE Jesse Malin, and yet he fails to move me in anyway. Conversely, I find Michael Monroe genuine, as opposed to generic, while Jesse seems to try too hard to sound like he is not trying hard.
I like Jesse and he puts on a good show. But he's always reminded me of an actor playing a "NY Rock N Roller" rather than the real thing.
On paper, this isn't my thing, but loved the track "Wasted Years" - fun stuff! Thanks for sharing... nice to hear just straight-up rock & roll in 2019.
Listening to enough seconds of each one to get the gist of the sound, made me sad. Rock N Roll is as dead as a door nail as far as I can tell.
The sound is TIRED. The look is irrelevant and dated.
Hanoi Rocks et al, were, at their best, poor knockoffs of the New York Dolls,
but without the personality or songs.
The dream is over
What can I say?
And so dear friends,
you just have to carry on
Jeez
I'm sorry everyone. I don't know what got into me. My reaction was strong obviously, and observations overly harsh, but that's what I heard.
I am going with the one of the best of 2019 group.
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