Red Monroe, Red Monroe
CD Review
8.December.2006

Last year, Red Monroe landed on the Dallas music scene with a strange claim to fame: its ability to mimic Radiohead’s Pablo/Bends era with alarming accuracy. Lead singer Eric Steele, with his high register and affinity for straining notes, was truly one twitchy eye away from Thom Yorke, and the band defaulted to the overstrummed guitar blasts that dozens of other Jonny Greenwood fans had copped for their bands.

Still, the “alarming” part of that accuracy gave the quintet points for both its musicianship and ability to craft catchy tunes, leaving the doors open for realized potential down the road. That road has proven to be short. Only a year later, the group’s self-titled debut has already abandoned older concert material with a deeper pool of influences and a style that, while obviously indebted to a certain band, sticks a much bolder and more entertaining flag in the rock spectrum.

Steele must’ve taken those Yorke comparisons to heart, because on many songs, he’s converted his heartfelt wailing into a sledgehammer of shouts and gang vocals. Strangely, the Brit with the most influence on Red Monroe isn’t Yorke, but possibly Rotten; on “Fingertips,” a pronounced, twisty-turny bass line, pulsing organ lines and melodic guitars evoke a meth-pumped fusion of Floyd and Radiohead, but as Steele howls, “Janie, there’s a war in my heart!”, and the rest of the band shouts it right back, it’s hard to deny the band’s newfound Brit-punk swagger and recklessness. That’s reflected in the very up-tempo streak on most of the disc, and while these guys aren’t the frickin’ Sex Pistols, the fist-pumping shouts and heavy-handed drums of “A Return To The Old Way Of Thinking” are a change for the better.    

The band’s roots are still obvious in songs like “Wild Eyes (Part II),” whose guitar lines and vocals are just a manufacturing snafu away from sneaking onto new pressings of The Bends. But the best proof that the guys are taking their influences and running with them is “Carolina Cigarette,” a catchy beast that intentionally cranks its synthesizer lines up to give the pulsing melody--and its “gimme the money or else”-style screams--an otherworldly quality when the chorus comes crashing down. Of course, nothing crashes, because the band’s improved guitarwork means the momentum is never ruined with lazy, jam gimmicks--the two guitar lines wrap around each other in snug fashion, never lost in the production or any cheesy bravado. On “Cigarette,” the sonic exploration of Pink Floyd, melody of Radiohead, intensity of British punk and unique songwriting craft of Red Monroe combine to create a rock anthem that deserves an overwhelming light show. If the band keeps this half of their material up, a major label might wind up paying for such a lighting rig before too long.


Judge for yourself: Red Monroe performs at A Spune Christmas at Hailey's on Saturday, December 9, with Starlight Mints, Pleasant Grove, Stumptone and many more.