MICHAEL MONROE

SENSORY OVERDRIVE

Released 2011

Well what an album! It’s 2011 and you get to hear what could well be Mr Monroe’s very best. There’s the essence of Hanoi, the spirit of the Dolls, the cool of the seventies and a modern sound that looks like the hand of the Wildhearts main man, though I’m glad to say that the measures here all very well balanced an nothing is sitting too high in that heady mix.

Opener ‘Trick of the wrist’ and second up ‘78’ are gems that give you all the hints you need that you have just bought something very special. Man if this was just vinyl it would be perfect! If you thought it would let up then grab that energy drink ‘cuz this one doesn’t let up!

‘Got Blood’ rocks in the spirit of all that was good about 70’s punk, with some early Hanoi sheen.

‘Superpowered Superfly’ is a track that is just perfect for the album, there’s a real retro pop feel to it that makes you feel like you’re listening to the radio on a seventies summer's day!

‘Bombs away’ as the title suggests quite simply rocks and tears it up at the volume we played it at. ‘All You Need’ is the Hanoi-esque life-affirming slow one you need to hear.   

In truth there’s not a song here that doesn’t hit the spot for me and to see this live is right up there on my list for the next twelve months!

Mark Diggins