Rock n'roll First. Michael Monroe-ONE MAN GANG, 2019 

(Silver Lining Music/Warner ).Still Got It...

by DK®

He just turned 58 yrs. old yet he sounds younger than in his previous albums. No need to say a lot bout him-the frontman of the Finnish legends Hanoi Rocks, the band that has won the title of Finland's most important musical export or-if we put it this way-the band that didn't sell itself out, just a few seconds-literally!-from signin' up with the Major League players (as far as...the 'rulers of the game', the guys in ...hi places at labels & the big time managers) who were ready to layout on the US market their latest 'catch'- a major success-guaranteed.And truth is that the Lp produced by BoB Ezrin & co-written with Ian Hunter, titled after an all-american classic country rock hit made it allrite-on time as well as it fell like THE nu...'bomb' in the underground sleazy rock scene of Los Ageles.

But,in 1986 when all that followed and Hanoi Rocks's 'called it quits', the band that would/should've been in the place were GnR found'em selves sittin on-with'm or without'm...they found THEMselves to point 0...one more time-seemed like a total disaster!

Hanois didn't let the...show go on-even if that COULD've been done easily (at least, just as easy as it was for so many bands that carried on under similar, if not, the exact same situation) but they just did not let it happen. 

It wasn't a 'stand back' move or a rejection, it was a 'payin' respects' to the REAL: 

REAL surprises,real experiences, real music,

 REAL LIFE & DEATH...

Razzle 'flew away' in a blink of an eye and nobody could do shit about it.

'Up Around The Bend' reached platinum status as the years went by and stories of the 'strange boys play weird openings' were revealed, one by one, mag by a mag, book by book, even documented on film,  each day, each month, each passin' year.

Years went by, Hanoi Rocks reunited just to keep it goin' on-same real stuff as always-and these times were meant NOT to be their finest moments, except the "12 shots On the Rocks" that sold pretty well in the UK and Japan. No need-once mo'-to analyze the facts...

After the 2nd break-up & the Cherry Bombz bein' a joyfull memory from the crazy ol' days, McCoy formed his new band, 'AM band' ,Nasty fooled around here & there before finally retire,Sami stayed by Monroe's side till 2day & he's still the all-around player,'- Karl Rockfist (Chelsea Smiles,Steel Prophet,Misfits,Danzig,the all star horror metal-punk 'Son of Sam',Cheap Trick, Joan Osborne-quite a 'bio',dontcha think?) replaced Terry Chimes,this excellent druimmer who stood for years as a solid rock behind Michael's blonde figure and Rich Jones (Dogs D\Amour, Therapy, Black Halos & mo') appears now as a full member & seond guitar next to Steve Conte (former NY Dolls lead guitarist)

Years and albums by each one of the ol' Hanoi boys were comin' n' goin' in a mess-like the mess we're livin' in and Monroe, this hard workin' (we can't avoid givin'him that alrite!), fine multimusician, this non quiter, ex junkie, ex sex symbol, ex lots-o'-whatevers' describes it in the same, but, more mature way this time.

Anyway..ONE MAN GANG sounds fresh-production work by Conte & Monroe is close to...brilliant. It's his last album to date & if Tokyo Olympics happened in 2020 then Mike's LP's last years contribution to the rock world-album officially was realeased 2019, so it's last year's 'work', innit?

 Contains all the ingredients a Monroe fan loves, punkier than previous albums-listen to 'Hollywood Paranoia'-same kinda melodies & catchy choruses, politic's talk, clever & provocative lyrics & song titles like the all time classic 'Low Time in High Places' with a killer solo by Conte ,mid-tempo flamengo mixes up with reckless rock in 'Heaven is a Free State' (makin' ya, sorta'think of McCoy..."possibilities" but that's anotha story) and above all the two made-to-be-1st class-hits: 'One Man Gang' is just fantasic-a glam rock hit betweeen yo' eyes, 'cut' off fo' all trhose '70s music lovaz & 'Last Train To Tokyo'.Two singles that reveal all Monroe's dynamic & force he's still caryin' around all these years. 

Wasted? I'd rather not try to be the expert on "win or lose" situayions here, but Monoroe's former AND current bands, regardeless of names, make perfectly clear what workin' in this crazy ol' rock n' roll circus is all abouta and is not just about music, but a whole way of life too-risky sometimes...but that's where all the fun is, innit?   It's this long trip on the side-road that he, as well as others did or do, desided to follow, no matter what the cost...a 'path' he 'layed down' next to rock n' roll hi-ways and which he walked all these years, with friends along the way, some present and some not, others gone or lost or somewhere else kickin' it too...Mike never forgets to remind U he's rite here, as long as he's still got it.

 This album CANNOT let U down-no way. Monroe 's got it seems ready an' willin' to rock better than any ol' time. Don't give a fuck about TV shows in Finland-he's at a whole other level at a whole different society than most of us don't really know that well and Mike up there...he's just mainstream:a punk, low life trash & a fine gentleman, a public figure & a nobody as well...depends on -whatever - 's none of'our business' & that's the way it is in a few words-he & Mc Coy are the pride & joy & the glory of the nation, music-talkin' and that's the way things are.Period.

 Listen to 'Midsummer Nights' , forget rock n'roll "history"...lessons if U can & if U will and just think about yo'self... where U've been and how close have U ever came to realities like the ones described in this album and then...chill. And then rock. As in REAL life. A plain, simple, honest contribution to REAL rock n' roll- where this life mean somethin' more to some people out there and that's...wot makes their music real. And we're always gonna get a 'piece' of it, as long dudes like Monroe still got it...That's all that's happenin' 'ere...-enjoy!