| Speak No Evil - Pinmonkey | |
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Reviewed by Matt Bjorke
Recently signed to BNA records, Pinmonkey released Speak No Evil in March of 2002. It was self-released on Drifter's Church Productions. There is a lot to like about Pinmonkey. First, the band has a unique and cool name that was taken from a "Simpson's" episode. You see, a Pinmonkey is a person who walks along the back lanes of the old style bowling halls and places the pins. Second, Pinmonkey has a unique sound of Diamond Rio meets the Eagles with some bluegrass tossed in for good measure. Finally, the band is compromised of four members who all play their own instruments.
None of the songs on Speak No Evil are supposed to show up on their BNA release, scheduled for this summer (with their first single called "Barbed Wire and Roses"), so some may not want to get this CD. That would be a huge mistake, for this is a fine collection of music. Those who like the bluegrass styled harmonies mixed with a contemporary, but distinctly country, sound. The group's lead vocalist wrote three of the ten tracks and there are some writers such as the team who wrote the Dixie Chicks "There's Your Trouble." In fact, Pinmonkey has been called, at times, the "male Dixie Chicks" for their honest and down-home harmonic sound.
"Lonesome Pine Special" is a remake and was originally done by the Carter Family many years ago. Here the group showcases their feel for classic roots music and all that it stands for. This is a track that could easily be a hit on the charts.
"Augusta" is a smooth ballad that is the centerpiece of the CD. This song would be a hit if it was included on their BNA release. The song sounds as if it could be on a keith urban CD and sonically it has a sound structure to it with wonderfully written lyrics.
"Love Sometimes" has a sound to it that would make you swear that you were listening to a Tracy Chapman song or even a Poco song from the late 1960's. This song talks about a guy telling about all the things that love can do to you.
"Cheap Motel" tells of the band's life on the road and pitfalls of being an entertainer. Sonically the song has sounds that make you feel the yearning of wising you were closer to home.
"Nothing But Living" sounds as if it came from the Pure Prairie League. It is a nice song with loads of steel guitar and a pseudo crowd to cheer along the band as if this song is a fan favorite about a man who loses his girl yet he says he's "King of the world, but still a fool, with nothing but livin' to do."
With a wide variety of harmonic songs, this is one CD that gets enjoyable with each successive listen.
Song List:
Sound Clips and Album cover courtesy of Pinmonkey's Official Website
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