Michael Monroe – One Man Gang
Release Date: October 18, 2019
Since I first heard Hanoi Rocks back in 1986, Michael Monroe has been one of my favorite vocalists. Monroe’s distinct vocals and signature harmonica and saxophone playing were a huge part of the Hanoi Rocks sound, and when the band disbanded in 1984, rock n’ roll lost one of the greatest bands that barely anyone in America ever heard of.
Since Monroe’s 1990 solo release Not Fakin’ It, I have followed his solo career. In his 32 career as a solo artist, Michael Monroe has had been some strikes and gutters along the way. In my opinion, Not Fakin’ It was his finest moment… until now.
In 2019 Michael Monroe released One Man Gang, and not only is this his finest piece of solo work, but this album also stands tall beside such legendary Hanoi Rocks releases as Bankok Shocks, Saigon Kicks and Self Destruction Blues. Kicking off with the New York-style glam/punk of title track “One Man Gang,” Monroe’s distinct punk, attitude driven growl backed by some of the most hook-laden hard rock I’ve heard in a long time had me smiling ear to ear.
“Last Train to Tokyo” has a very Ramones-esque feel to it and shows Monroe’s love for that old school New York punk while “Wasted Years” was a time warp back to the Hanoi Rocks days. This song would have been very much at home on the debut album. “Wasted Years” is the show stopper on this album, and how this song isn’t a fucking hit is way beyond my comprehension.
Michael Monroe has proved that his best years are still ahead of him. With a stable band lineup and great songwriters joining him drives home, an album that I feel like Monroe has wanted to put out for years. As a fan, One Man Gang is the album I’ve been hoping he’d make since Not Fakin’ It.
One Man Gang is fun and beautifully nostalgic. Three-person basement hangouts, blaring Hanoi Rocks, and dreaming big are just a few of the memories One Man Gang brew up inside of me. This is an album that will bring back great memories while being more than a suitable soundtrack for creating new memories as well. Thank you, Michael, for not letting me forget.
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