Upon being asked about his passion for his music, delta blues legend Son House said “I’m talkin’ ‘bout the blues, I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout monkey junk”. And thus was born the quirky name of the equally quirky contemporary blues band MonkeyJunk. Blending delta blues, soul boogie, and country with modern presentation, MonkeyJunk boasts an innovative and creative approach to the blues on To Behold. Steve Marriner, Tony D, and Matt Sobb, play well off of each other, seamlessly creating an upbeat, catchy sound that has really started to be noticed on the blues scene in Europe and the States.
Retaining the casual sound of a few friends getting together to jam, MonkeyJunk nevertheless manages to really shine on the rock numbers, “Mother’s Crying”, and the ballads, “Let Her Down”, equally on this sophomore effort. One noticeable point about this particular trio is that they’ve forgone the traditional bass in favor of two guitars, which works remarkably well for their sound. One might expect a thinner, less supported mix, but the bass is hardly missed thanks to Sobb’s dexterous rhythmic cadences. Each member of the band particularly shines on their cover of Hank Williams’ “You’re Gonna Change (or I’m Gonna Leave)”.
Marriner, once a teen prodigy at the harmonica, brings his instrument into light, showcasing it through the guitarwork in impressive melodic arrangements. But in spite of the fantastic instrumental success and the fidelity to classic blues, the guys fall a little short on a couple of tracks. The unimpressive “While You Were Mine” and “Right Now” do not quite meet the standards set by the rest of the album, but still do not detract much from it as a whole.
Overall, MonkeyJunk’s To Behold is successful as a musical effort – to have fun while singin’ the blues. It is well-executed, artfully arranged, and well, it ain’t no monkey junk.
Final Words: Not epic, but fun and definitely repeat-worthy.
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