BANANARCHY

BANANARCHY MUSIC

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BANANARCHY
Asian Man Records - 2015

This album is available on CD, Vinyl and Digital Download.

Track List:

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ALBUM REVIEWS
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1340MAG.COM - Drew 1340
Formed back in 1995 during the height of the third wave of ska, Monkey chose to go a different route and focus on two-tone ska. Monkey latest album, Bananarchy, offers a sound that makes us feel like we never left the late 1970's and a youthful energy that makes those of us who were around when they formed, feel like teenagers again (for a ska-fan that’s exactly what you want). The band stays proudly true to its roots with its pleasing, warm, ska sound proudly on display, retaining the key danceability of this breed of music. There was no need for Monkey to experiment, they just aimed to please their ska-loving core base and in that aspect exceeded expectations with a string of victories, dotting across this album’s ten tracks.

SKABOOM.COM
Mr. Meacham and company, AKA ‘Monkey’ are set to release their newest LP on Asian Man Records later this month. This album is the first from these ska veterans since 2009 (“Lost at Sea”-Asian Man Records). Let’s take this for a test drive…

1. “You’re becoming a Jerk”-Clocking in at only 1:47, this is the shortest song on the album. What this song lacks in length, it make up in peppiness. This catchy little number will get you skanking for sure! Grade: A-

2. “Blind Faith”-Tight horns and the low rumbling of the organ make up this next tune. I also really enjoyed the backing vocals in this one. Although you hear the words “Blind Faith” over and over again, it never gets old. This song is a winner. Grade: A-

3. “The Epic”-To me this ditty infuses surf rock with a James Bond kind of feel. The vocals take on a slightly darker feel than the previous songs. While the entire song is fantastic, the sax solo near the end steals the show. Grade: A

4. “The Curse”-A more light-hearted tune is found in “The Curse.” After a few listens to this ditty, it’s almost impossible to get the chorus out of your head. Love it! Grade: A

5. “Can of Worms”-Both the ska guitar and organ set the pace in this slower number. I typically like my instrumentals of the faster side, but this is still a well performed song. Grade: A-

6. “Bicycle”-The saxophone gets another solo in this song, aside from the already catchy horn melodies. This is another fun, whimsical song. Grade: B+

7. “Bad Neighbor”- Reminding me of some of the songs by The Planet Smasher, I think the greatest strength of this song are the lyrics. Whether on your block or in your dorm in college, I’m sure you have all endured a neighbor that is less than ideal. The belting out of lyrics by Meacham makes you lament his situation even more. Grade: B

8. “Caffeine”- Not really a skanking song per se, but I do have the sudden urge to do the cha cha. This song has a little Spanish flare, while staying with an overall “brassy” feel. Also to note, I always enjoy non-traditional instrumentation added to the genre, and that is found in this song with the flute solo. Nice work. Grade: A-

9. “Lazy Boy”-“Lazy Boy” draws from different styles of music to include early rock and roll with a big-band horn feel. This is not my favorite song on the disc, but it is still a definite winner. Grade: B+

10. “Johnny”-While it’s somewhat cliché to end an album with an acoustic number, this is a solid tune. It has a nice “coffee house” vibe to it. Grade B+

It’s always exciting to review an album after it has been several years since a band’s previous release. “Will the band pick up where they left off” or “have they adopted a new sound” are thoughts that run through my head in this situation. I think in the case of Monkey’s “Bananarchy,” the former vs. the latter is true. This album will appeal to not only older Monkey fans, but those that are just getting into traditional ska as well. The instrumentation is excellent, as would be expected from a seasoned band. Meacham’s voice is also enjoyable to listen to, as he never tries to pull off anything out of his range. A few of the songs pull influences from other genres of music, however they never stray too far away from the ska sound they are known for. Bananarchy’s greatest strength lies in its simplicity. This is not to downplay the quality of the instrumentation, but overall, Meacham and gang keep everything light and fun during the entire experience. If you like your music to be laden with strong political stances and to address heavy subject matter, then this is not the record for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a “get-up-and-dance, carefree, good time” while experiencing your music, then I cannot recommend this album enough. In short, this album is bananas! Overall Grade: A-

READJUNK - Creature of War (Jersey City, NJ)
The San Francisco ska legends are back with their long-awaited follow up to 2009’s “Lost At Sea” and the title says it all…it’s bananas!

Monkey doesn’t mess around when kicking off “Bananarchy”. The first half dozen songs are pure third wave/two-tone bliss. “You’re Becoming A Jerk” deals with that “I-told-you-so” kind of person that we all have in our lives while fixing us up a fast skankable beat. “Blind Faith” lets Monkey’s horn and rhythm sections shine with a beat that will get any rude boy or girl dancing while the songs “The Epic” and “The Curse” (two separate songs) keep things blazing on with “The Epic” probably being the fastest song on the album.

Things slow down with the with the instrumental track “Can of Worms” which borrows most of its rhythm from Prince Buster’s “Rough Rider”. “Bicycle” is on the faster side and has a great sing-a-long feel to it. “Bad Neighbor” is a good mix of a sing-a-long, danceable track and one of my favorites on the album. “Caffeine” is another instrumental that is heavily influenced by salsa with a ska backdrop. “Lazy Boy” is one of the slower songs on the album and it has a soul/Motown feel to it. The last of the ten tracks on “Bananarchy” is an acoustic ska track titled “Johnny”.

While “Bananarchy” runs somewhat short with only ten tracks and roughly a half an hour run time, it’s not the quantity that counts, it’s the quality. This is a solid follow up to “Lost At Sea” and a very good two-tone/third wave ska album. The songs are solid, fun, catchy and very danceable. I can see these songs being a staple in the bands live performances much to the delight of the audience.

The only issue that I have with “Bananarchy” would be the sound levels. I’m not sure if this is due to the recording process or just in the digital download, but the album sounds low and muffled at some points. I just cranked it up louder and it sounds fine to me. Other than that, the album is one of the better ska albums of the year so far. It’s good to get a new album from Monkey after a long wait, and it was worth it.

Bottom Line: An album that epitomizes modern ska with its witty lyrics, danceable tracks, superb musical craftsmanship and overall fun vibe. “Bananarchy” is just a fun listen. Period.

AMAZON MUSIC - Editorial Review
MONKEY is celebrating their 20th year of music-making with more 2-tone energy and fun than ever before. In the intervening years since the release of their last album, Lost At Sea, Monkey has toured Europe and continued to play for excited crowds nearly every weekend in their home state of California. The ten songs on their new album, Bananarchy, revel in big, brassy horns reminiscent of Bad Manners, and soulful rhythms not unlike the Isley Brothers. Monkey's music is timeless and fresh, and guaranteed to get your feet moving.

INTERPUNK (Richmond, VA)
Monkey is celebrating their 20th year of music-making with more 2-tone energy and fun than ever before. In the intervening years since the release of their last album, Lost At Sea, Monkey has toured Europe and continued to play for excited crowds nearly every weekend in their home state of California. The ten songs on their new album,Bananarchy, revel in big, brassy horns reminiscent of Bad Manners, and soulful rhythms not unlike the Isley Brothers. Monkey's music is timeless and fresh, and guaranteed to get your feet moving.

A LITTLE HISTORY: You probably know Monkey if you follow the ska US for several years, this group created in 1995 by Curtis Meacham and Kevin Miller comes from the bay of San Francisco and more precisely from a city called San Jose.

In 1997, the band self-produced their first CD, ¡Changito !, resolutely directed towards a South American-sounding 60s sound, an excellent album that we advise you to buy if you have missed it. Despite many changes of musicians, the band continues to tour with the two founding members as their main focus. Monkey won a Bay Area Music Award in 1999, but in 2001, Kevin Miller left the group leaving only Curtis Meacham who spent the keyboard on the guitar while continuing the song.

In 2002, the group released its second LP self-produced and a turn begins at the level of influences. Indeed, the band moves away from the traditional ska sound and Latin sounds to integrate elements more swing or rock. It's two years after this publication that Asian Man Records has signed the group and allows them to release two other albums: Cruel Tutelage in 2005 and Lost at Sea in 2009. The contribution of the label is sensitive to the level of sound that is more licked and the various influences of the group since its beginnings are all present which allows a good alternation in the atmospheres of the pieces of these two patties. Note also that the band plays a lot of concerts with nearly 200 dates a year and even a European tour that allowed them to meet Bad Manners which they will ensure the first part of their US tour of 2009.

RUDEBOY TRAIN (France)
THE DISC: The first observation is that the disc is short, barely 29 minutes for ten pieces, but it's probably better than trying to fill, the quality, not the quantity.

The overall color is a ska rock removed and playful, found in the vast majority of titles. Thus, the album starts on the nose with 4 tracks in the purest vein "3rd wave ska", the guitars are clear, the brass are powerful, the keyboard is in place and the rhythm section is doing its job. From this first salvo, we will remember "Blind Faith" with its melodic copper and "The Epic" and its furious counter-time supported by touches of copper felt strongly reminiscent of some pieces of the 90s.

"Can of Worms", an instrumental reggae, comes to bring a moment of welcome calm to avoid having a too linear album, a pleasant title with a good melody. But the slowdown is short-lived, we resume crescendo with "Bicycle song", funny song that you can discover below then "Bad Neighbor" which tells us neighborhood problems with a very catchy verse and brass again put in evidence. "Caffeine" takes us to the side of Latin influences and can recall the legendary "Tequila" by its rhythm, with the contribution of a flute for the touch of originality.

The album ends with "Lazy boy" which is a path between soul and English pop and has a little something of Madness somewhere, then "Johnny", an acoustic ballad that will not upset pure ska lovers and hard but that pleasantly changes other pieces of the LP.

In the end, Monkey delivers us a coherent and effective album in the vein ska rock genre "3rd wave". Lovers of the genre will surely be seduced, those who are more attracted to the traditional ska will regret the almost total disappearance of sixties or Latin sounds that made the group's appeal in its infancy. The set is of good quality and by its qualities, can attract a wide range of listeners.

BANANARCHY MUSIC

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