Photogenic Photo Finnish!
I’m reviewing this my friends tinged with a little sadness as I remember Hanoi Rocks( got Cheyenne on repeat), pioneers of true grit Rock ‘N Roll, all the way from Finland to pave the way for the hellraisers who were but a glint in their parents’ eyes. Michael Monroe, blonde, devilishly handsome( swoon….faint), boasting a rich and tuneful voice is back in business with his tenth solo album.
Aging with sagacity, a youthful humour and exuberance, there is a magical, mysterious quality that links directly back to the glory days. He has it all ladies and gents, genuine glad rags swag, rocket fuel running through his veins, oh my I can’t keep up. Bursting at the seams is ‘One Man Gang’ ‘a fun- filled roller coaster of an adventure with late nights under the streetlights and finding you’re all alone on ‘the last train back to Tokyo’, this is a stylish and confident outing. The epitome of a rock star, our friend here has braved many a trial to stay in the game and still fight off the opposition. Supported by his lip-smacking, rib-cracking bandmates they strut and stride around, deservedly proud of their achievements.
‘I ain’t walking on water but I know a trick or two’ is lyrically inspiring and witty, combined with Captain Sensible(oh captain, my captain…) on guitar we’re off to a rollicking start.
The frolics continue with ‘Last Train To Tokyo’, ‘The Pitfalls Of Being An Outsider’ and that old reprobate Nasty Suicide featuring on guitar for ‘Wasted Years’ all containing the punky, funky, catchy and alley cat scratchy rhythms to drive you wild and throw your knickers in the air in gay abandon.
The insightful ‘Hollywood Paranoia’ has the hilarious line ‘when they call the cops, you better call your lawyer’ spoken with his finger on the pulse folks. On ‘Heaven Is A Free State’ we have Tero Saarti on trumpet, smooth as you like, sleek like a panther stalking, ready to pounce.
In our current climate it’s hard to avoid politics, dirty as it is, we have ‘Black Ties And Red Tape’ but to wake up in Helsinki city ‘with my pockets empty’ oh god damn, this is good!
The third guest is on ‘Low Life In High Places’ and she is cellist Eicca Topinnen, adding interest and fragility to the rambunctiousness. So there you have it, dear readers, boisterously beautiful, a brazen and sassy little number to sink your teeth into.
A little sleazy, free and easy, lay it on the line my friends, excuse me while I lose the plot….
Michael Monroe – One Man Gang out now via Silver Lining Music