Michael Monroe’s new album ‘One Man Gang’ is twelve tracks of great Rock and Roll from an artist who seems to defy the odds with each release and just get better and better. OK I admit it, I’m a long time Hanoi Rocks and Michael Monroe fan. Hanoi was the first band I ever snuck into a show under age to see back in the day, and over the years I’ve followed Michael’s career as it’s gone from strength to strength. These days though are the real cream of his career and with each new release I can’t help but be amazed by how he just keeps not only coming up with the goods, but also manages to beat his previous high-water mark each time!
‘One Man Gang’ is better than the wonderful ‘Blackout States’ from 2015, which in turn was better than 2013’s ‘Horns and Halos’ a record that topped 2011’s ‘Sensory Overdrive’ – all albums that made our ‘Best of’ lists for their respective years.
From the spiky nail-bomb punk of opener and title track ‘One Man Gang’ you know that the energy is going to be bursting from this one, and as you might hope for after that solid opening the gems keep on coming: the Hard Rocking and Melodic sweep of ‘Last Train to Tokyo’ is just beautiful with a chorus to scream along to, whilst the harmonica and Elvis Costello beat of the Hanoi-like ‘Junk Planet’ all add up to make the best possible first impressions.
‘Midsummer Nights’ starts out slower and more stripped back than you might expect before launching into a chorus that wouldn’t be out of place on present day Rock Radio. It’s a clean-sounding song that grows in stature with each listen. ‘The Pitfalls of Being An Outsider’ had my attention just reading the title and it delivers in spades – it’s the sort of ‘scream along’ party anthem that Monroe nails so well, full of live and energy and joy! It’s one of my real highlights and the solo is just perfect. But then again so is the next ‘Wasted Years’ a more laid back Rocker, dripping with melody, that takes a look over the shoulder and comes to terms with the past.
Deeper in ‘In The Tall Grass’ sees Monroe paint another picture of yesteryear this one tinged with loss, it’s a nice counterbalance and wonderfully realised. ‘Black Ties and Red Tape’ adds some Punk spite, and ‘Hollywood Paranoia’ again talks of putting the past behind us, it’s a song part of defiance and one that hints that the past might not have been as rosy as it seemed seen through a set of older eyes.
‘Heaven Is A Free State’ adds a little twist of Mexican horns in the hazy hot night air before getting to the solid gold chorus. It’s one of a few twists here that show Monroe is still pushing at the corners. ‘Helsinki Showdown’ on the other hand is pure blue sky rock – traditional and lush, with a huge hook that just sweeps you up. And after that wonderful ride we’re left with ‘Low Life in High Places’ a moody mid tempo rocker that has a wonderful retro feel, its a song you feel could have been birthed in the 60’s in some velvet draped dive bar, and it’s that balance that makes it such a perfect song.
Michael Monroe has been on a real hot streak over the last decade and the more I listen to this album the more I am convinced that it might just be his best yet. And believe me that is a huge call from someone who has been listening to his voice and following his career since the early 1980’s. Some artists get watered down over the years trying to recapture again and again the moments that took them to where they stand today. Some, like Monroe, just get richer and bolder as the years go by, looking back at points with affection, but knowing that you can’t put your arms around those memories, you have to keep moving forward. With Monroe we get the best of both worlds – the ‘Devil’s Cut’ and the ‘Angel’s Share’…
‘One Man Army’ is all about cool, all about “the fun of Friday nights” it’s a record which knows where the party is but also one that brings the elements that make the party memorable – like it says in the press release “Monroe’s vocals blaze their unique trail across catchy, low-slung guitars mixing with saxophones, harmonicas and trumpets, plus a smorgasbord of exciting hooks and melodies. One Man Gang is old-school strut with rudely fresh vigour.” Maybe even the best you’ll hear this year?
