Reverb Central .:. Review .:.

Dave Crider's Mono Men decided to release "an all instrumental recording dedicated to all those who can't stand the way we sing," hence the title "Shut Up!" The music is thick, brutally powerful, and sometimes melodic. It drips Link Wray and the [Surfin'] Smithereens, with meaner tone and thicker darker ambiance. This Japanese release sports 4 bonus tracks not on the US equivalent, a couple of which are worth the price alone.

Picks: WRECKER!, Phantom On Lane 12, Little Miss 3-B, Switchblade, Reset, Warm Piston, Mr. Eliminator, Rumble, I'm Branded, Jack The Ripper, Pete's Pango, Cruster's Theme

Rock (Instrumental)

"WRECKER!" is a thick crusty instro, like a darn heavy backtrack. It is dependent on it's awesome power for survival. Power, power, and more power, but inadequate melody.

Rock (Instrumental)

Thick dark, thematic, and very huge. The melody riff is friendly as mean as the guitar tone, and the bowl-you-over attack leave no doubt about the angst underlying the chunk.

Rock (Instrumental)

Another backtrackish ultra thick grinder, mid tempoed and dark. It has no particular personality. There's more melody in the bass riff than the guitars.

Rock (Instrumental)

Monstrous Link Wray homage, paid with volume and power, and very nice guitar work. Don't get in the way of this evil mother. The incredible mid section pickslide rules!

Rock (Instrumental)

Bass glissandoes, shreddin' guitar riffs, and surf format (if not sound) drive this track into hit land. There's a magnetic draw here that grabs you and won't let go. Can you spell 'Oomph!?"

Rock (Instrumental)

I know that the sleeve says "Warm Piston," but this is mighty close to "Mr. Eliminator." Big. boffo powered, and muscle car driven.

Rock (Instrumental)

Super flux garage presentation of the Dick Dale classic done in an almost identical arrangement years earlier by the Smithereens. Hot and edgie.

Rock (Instrumental)

Link Wray lives right here. Huge, sustained, and a lot like the Johnny Kool and the Rattlesnakes version of a decade earlier. Super grind and power scrape abound. Yikes!

Rock (Instrumental)

Link Wray's chord progression standard meanly driven to the rockpile with dark clouds overhead. Dirty and cool.

Rock (Instrumental)

Now, this is my favorite Link Wray tune, and this is among my favorite evil trash versions. Dark, brooding, sustained, feedback laden, and very VERY mean. Look Out!

Rock (Instrumental)

"Pete's Pango" is a lot like "Mr. Eliminator" in the rhythm department, but not elsewhere. It powers through the backyard, mowing down everything that stands in its way. Heavy power glissandoes and double picked shreddage abound. Egads!

Rock (Instrumental)

This is a swell thundering plunderer of an instro, chord progressional and as dark as midnight. From sludge and honey come a sweetly evil smell.