Matti Fagerholm, the world’s oldest teenager, recently turned 60. Aka Michael Monroe, the former Hanoi Rocks lead singer doesn’t let trivial shit like age bother him and rocks on like never before. To go out on sporadic nostalgia greatest hits tours is not for him. He tour sure – and then some – but releasing new music is pivotal for this man, something we all should be thankful for. The world has enough of old guys with their days as recording artists behind them which is a shame. A new album with Monroe isn’t about going out on new territories. No sir, with Monroe you know what to expect – driven, dirty Rock ‘n’ Roll with both Pop and Punk influences. Direct songs that leaves you no time to catch your breath – and we don’t want it any other way, now do we?
The upbeat glam-pop-rock stomper “Murder The Summer Of Love” that opens the album is also the leading single and there’s a good reason for that – it’s a catchy as hell MF, see. It’s also gritty, dirty and crunchy, a driving Rock n Roll blaster with hooks that hits like an asteroid. This is Michael Monroe through and through from beginning to end. A cocky number with a distinct chorus. Very good. The crunchy rocker “Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics” is a straight forward 70’s Glam Rock meets Classic Rock tune. It’s plain, it’s simple, it’s raw and robust with a whole bunch of pop-hooks. It’s a good tune where the refrain might be good enough but lacks that little “it” thing that makes it hit bulls-eye.
Latest single “Derelict Paradise” takes a more down-beat approach and holds a laid-back and darker atmospheric outlook yet with lots and lots of pop-laden hooks and smooth melodies. It also flirts with both 80’s Goth and old Alice Cooper, the band not the solo artist which contrasts in a really cool way. It might not be a direct grabber but after a couple of spins it sure hits home. On the other side of the track “All Fighter” is a crunchy pop-punk rocker, very in-your-face, raw and rough with attitude and guts. It’s glammy and concise and short. It holds its catchiness but I’ve never really been a fan of short pop-punk tunes. It’s still ok though.
The very pop-friendly, Classic Rock stomper “Everybody’s Somebody” feels like a pretty obvious choice for a single with its instant hooks and catchy melodies. Crunchy guitars and a steady beat on a straight forward rhythm with a harmonica solo added takes the song for a big groove. It’s a spot on, classic Monroe romper with equal parts attitude and melody. Damn good. “Antisocialite” is a slow burner, a 70’s sounding Classic Rock ballad with acoustic guitars, piano and a saddening atmosphere. It’s also an Arena Rock, lighter-in-the-air number with a great main melody and a chorus that will have you sing along directly. Great stuff.
Another single, “Can’t Stop Falling Apart” is party rocker that brings on a 70’s vibe, some Classic Rock stomps complete with a honk piano. The guitars are rowdy and edgy, the rhythm is infectious and the whole thing is live-friendly with a major swing. “Pagan Prayer” goes for the throat with on a fast tempo, very in-your-face and punky with a “Got The Time” (Joe Jackson/Anthrax) vibe all over – direct and concise but a bit forgettable while “No Guilt” is a super-swingy pop-glam groover perfect for the party. It might be mid-paced but it’s so rhythmic the dead will get up and move – and the contagious chorus is a real winner. Very good.
The album’s titular track is one rowdy ripper. It’s a glammy, direct and attitude laden rocker with a pop-punky outlook that sports a lot of memorable melodies all over the track. The song is a distant cousin to Monroe’s old classic “Dead, Jail Or Rock ‘n’ Roll” with some live-friendly sing-along hooks and a catchy as hell refrain and as a little bonus, Slash guests with a very Slash-y guitar solo. Great stuff. The album closes with a left turn which is the dark, laid-back and stripped down slow paced “Dearly Departed”. It’s bleak and emotional and I don’t think I’ve heard Monroe sing a song like this before. It’s a great song that just maybe shouldn’t have closed the album as an album like this needs to go out with a bang.
For Michael Monroe fans this album is pretty much a no-brainer. While he’s not exactly doing anything off the charts here – everything is very much Monroe as we know and love him – he and his cohorts has managed to write a whole bunch if really good songs that will work like a charm both live, for the home-party and from the stereo at home. It’s straight forward, energetic, firey and it will surely kick up some dust. But if you’re listening while driving your car make sure the cruise control is on or your driver’s license might be in jeopardy as this is a pedal-to-the-metal album for sure.
7/10
More Michael Monroe reviews:
Sensory Overdrive
Horns And Halos
Blackout States
One Man Gang
Tracklist:
1. Murder The Summer Of Love
2. Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics
3. Derelict Palace
4. All Fighter
5. Everybody’s Nobody
6. Antisocialite
7. Can’t Stop Falling Apart
8. Pagan Prayer
9. No Guilt
10. I Live Too Fast To Die Young
11. Dearly Departed
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