I just listened to one of the latest songs from Butch Walker, “The Weight of Her,” and realized that something is missing from the song that I used to love about Butch – his sense of urgency and energy which drove a pop hook in almost a “bouncing” manner. And while “The Weight of Her” is a very good little number in its own right, I think that maybe it’s about time ol’ BW lays off the Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen and skips right to the Elvis Costello and Green Day playlists on his iPod. But that’s just me!
In the meantime, I have found an artist that does create music with that power pop-esque writing style that propels each song’s hook skyward. For me, Johnny Monaco has filled a certain void that has been slightly barren since Walker’s first solo CD (“Left of Self Centered”). And while I may use Butch as a comparison – in no way, shape or form am I saying that these two acts sound exactly alike. But in Monaco’s songs, I find that unexplained x-factor that Butch’s songs once had – a combination of energy and fun that creates a cool vibe that just glides along. This so-called “ingredient” creates within a chorus a sense of weightlessness or a certain easiness, but yet at the same time gives the music a firm foundation and weight. Even validity. Oh heck – instead of referring to "it" as an ingredient, let’s just call it what it is - talent. And a fairly unique talent at that.
I first came across Johnny Monaco during his tenure with Enuff Z’Nuff. He initially was the lead guitarist for the band in the mid-90s, and then became the vocalist for a few years after original singer Donnie Vie left to explore other avenues. But truth be told, the live version of Enuff Z’Nuff with Monaco was as strong as the group had been in years. It was nice to see a great rock act solidify itself later in its career – with or without its original singer. Donnie Vie has recently returned to Enuff Z’Nuff, and Johnny has since gone his own way as well.
A few of the songs on Johnny Monaco’s album “Overrated” were released as an EP a few years back, and I was impressed enough to write about it then. And believe me, now that a full album is available, I am more than impressed enough to write about it now. Not every song on the release is cut from the same cloth, so there’s a nice enough variety without the entire project sounding disjointed or too eclectic. It fits right into the rock/power-pop pocket that a band like Jellyfish or Cheap Trick once filled, or by other more somewhat recent bands such as Fountains of Wayne and The Wildhearts, but doing so in a way all to its own. Aside from the lead track “The Wrong Crowd,” other standouts are “Model of a Woman,” “Still Haven’t Called” and “On a Shelf.” In fact, “Still Haven’t Called” is probably the best Enuff Z’Nuff song that the band hasn’t written (and that is not an insult). To sum it up - “Overrated” is just a great collection of songs.
Here are a few other reviews to back me up…
“Johnny Monaco comes across as a slightly heavier up Squeeze…In short, this is straight ahead angsty, Anglo-centric pop.” – Classic Rock Magazine
“The songs are extremely well crafted and leave you humming the melodies for hours afterwards.” – Black Velvet Magazine
"Johnny Monaco crams 13 high-octane, radio-friendly pop punk tracks into Overrated. The chunky riffs and driving rhythms recall lightweight contemporary outfits like Cartel, while the harder-rocking numbers ("Television Love, " "Long Way Down") veer closer to classic punk rock." – Illinois Entertainer
And like I stated in a previous review of the eight song EP, Monaco has a lot of similar sound qualities as nearly anything on the radio today, but his words are a little more honest and mature. The fact that he’s not 19 (or pretending to be) is a relief to an older music fan like myself. With no tattoos and not a skateboard in sight, I am glad to have come across this gem.
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