By DALE WATTS
GLAM rock icon Michael Monroe, late of the legendary Hanoi Rocks, is back with his 11th solo album (and 21st album overall) I Live To Fast to Die Young … and it’s a belter.
Starting with the high energy of “Murder the Summer of Love”, Monroe and his band (which features his former Hanoi Rocks bass player Sam Yaffa, alongside drummer Karl Rockfist, and guitarists Rick Jones and Steve Conte) barely let up throughout the album.
Those familiar with his classic Not Fakin’ It album may be happy to know that most songs here are at the same pace and energy level as that record’s title track, or the even more manic “Shakedown”.
This is real “jump up and down, shout along to the chorus, put your arms around your best friend and headbang”, feel-good music, for the most part.
There are a couple of slower, more reflective songs. But I wouldn’t class these as ballads and they’re just as good as the faster material.
The odd song out is the final track, “Dearly Departed”, which is still a fantastic piece but has a more synth/new wave feel and may not be to everyone’s taste.
All in all though, this is an utterly brilliant album from beginning to end and probably the best album Monroe has ever been part of.
Now I’m off to sing along to it again.
“They’re all coming out tonight. Everyone who’s ever been nobody.”
