Wrecker!

AMG Review of Wrecker!

Mark Deming
All Music Guide

While the Mono Men were often pegged as just another garage-revival band, anyone who actually listened to them knew there was a lot more to their sound than that -- punk, blues, and straight-ahead hard rock informed their sound as much as 1960s fuzz-tone raunch, and 1992's Wrecker was the album where they began to prove just how strong their special brew could be after a less-than-stellar debut, Stop Draggin' Me Down. The presence of new guitarist and singer John Mortensen beefed up the group's sound, and his songwriting really made a difference, whether the Men were roaring through amped-up rockers ("Watch Outside," "Took That Thing"), burly instrumentals ("Tomahawk"), or even (gasp!) a love song, albeit a loud, growling sort of love song ("See My Soul"). Mortensen and Dave Crider's guitars roar impressively throughout, while bassist Ledge Morrisette and drummer Aaron Roeder hold down the backbeat in a manner that honors their inspirations but drops a big block engine into the frame at the same time. Wrecker rocks hard without the taint of nostalgia, and it's good and greasy fun from front to back.