MonkeyJunk

Time to Roll

Stony Plain Records

MonkeyJunk, the Ottawa Ontario based trio, is Tony “D” Diteodoro, rhythm and lead guitar; Steve Mariner, lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica and organ; and Matt Sobb, drums, percussion, and backing vocals. The band released its first album “Tiger in Your Tank” in 2009 and won the 2010 Blues Music Award for “Best New Artist Debut”.

Their last recording was 2015’s “Moon Turn Red”. On it the band displayed more consistent songwriting than ever before.  “Time To Roll” is their fifth studio recording for Stony Plain. The album is produced by the band and Ken Friesen who also recorded and mixed it at the Signal Path Studio in Almonte, Ontario.

The band just seems to get better and better. None of their previous recordings have included bass. The addition of Mariner’s bass to the mix gives them a fuller and richer sound. The second big improvement is that the album was recorded in just three weeks while their previous recordings were made over a much longer period of time. The band collaborates on the songwriting and has co-written nine of the ten songs included with some of Canada’s best songwriters.

Marriner’s harp and Tony D’s guitar opens “Best Kept Secret” co-written by the band and Paul Reddick. Sung by Marriner; Sobb hammers out the beat with his mallets. Tony D takes an extended solo.

The title track just might be my favorite. It opens with Marriner’s bass. Written by the band with co-producer Freisen “Time To Roll” rocks from start to finish.

An evocative guitar from Marriner opens “Blue Lights Go Down” co-written with Tom Wilson of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings. Sobb’s drum beat accentuates the production. Marriner and Sobb harmonize nicely. The song ends with a minor key harp solo from Marriner.

“Can’t Call You Baby forever” co-written by the band and Matt Chaffey of The Split; features a mid-tempo Rolling Stones beat and great organ and vocal from Marriner.

“Undertaker Blues” features a resonator guitar and Marriner’s harp. “Gone” features both acoustic and electric guitars and the lyric “I’m gone and never comin’ back again”.

“Fuzzy Poodle” is an instrumental bit o’ funk featuring Marriner’s bass and organ; it reminds me of Booker T. and The MG’s.

The only cover is a rockin’ version of “The Hunter” written by Booker T. Jones, Al Jackson Jr, Donald Dunn, and Steve Cropper; known collectively as Booker T. and The MG’s. It was first recorded by Albert King in 1967; it was also recorded by Ike & Tina Turner and is the title track off their 1969 album.

By incorporating swampy blues and rock with thoughtful and intelligent lyrics MonkeyJunk has made their best album yet.

Richard Ludmerer