Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 04/22/1994
While
the Mono Men were often pegged as just another garage-revival band, anyone who actually listened to them knew there was a lot more to their sound than that -- punk, blues, and straight-ahead hard rock informed their sound as much as 1960s fuzz-tone raunch, and 1992's
Wrecker was the album where they began to prove just how strong their special brew could be after a less-than-stellar debut,
Stop Draggin' Me Down. The presence of new guitarist and singer
John Mortensen beefed up the group's sound, and his songwriting really made a difference, whether
the Men were roaring through amped-up rockers (
"Watch Outside," "Took That Thing"), burly instrumentals (
"Tomahawk"), or even (gasp!) a love song, albeit a loud, growling sort of love song (
"See My Soul").
Mortensen and
Dave Crider's guitars roar impressively throughout, while bassist
Ledge Morrisette and drummer
Aaron Roeder hold down the backbeat in a manner that honors their inspirations but drops a big block engine into the frame at the same time.
Wrecker rocks hard without the taint of nostalgia, and it's good and greasy fun from front to back.
~Mark Deming, All Music Guide
;)
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