MICHAEL MONROE: I Live Too Fast To Die Young (HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

If there is a rock icon who has kept his integrity in all modesty, it is Michael Monroe. We had the pleasure of interviewing him in 2019 on the occasion of the release of "One Man Gang", and his words were marked by a mixture of spontaneity and wisdom. As he reaches his 60th birthday, the charismatic showman offers us a new opus whose title seems to sum up the character: "I Live Too Fast To Die Young". While the line-up of the band has not changed, confirming that if it bears the name of its frontman, it is indeed a full-fledged band, it is funny to find a certain Slash among the guests. Indeed, the Finnish singer had been dithyrambic about the American guitarist in the famous interview quoted above.

The former leader of Hanoi Rocks has always refused to be stuck with a too restrictive stylistic label. And it's fair to say that he still hasn't decided to change his position on the matter with the collection of eleven incendiary tracks that he delivers here. "I Live Too Fast To Die Young" is a new opus of Rock with a big R, passing from a raging punk ('All Fighter') to a melodic and melancholic stonian rock ('Everybody's Nobody') without that poses him the least problem. Michael Monroe does not have limit of musical genre and only the quality of the titles which he proposes matters to him. Here, this last is maintained on the tops, even when the icon of Helsinki ventures on gothic grounds recalling as well the compatriots of H.I.M. as the British of the Lords Of The New Church ('Derelict Palace'), or when he embarks on a delicious ballad with the brit-rock accents ('Antisocialite').

Indeed, whatever the stylistic territory on which he engages, Michael Monroe makes it sound to his image, that of a rocker at the same time rebel and benevolent. The punk component is present most of the time, throwing a good slap here ('Pagan Prayer') or mixing with a hyper catchy and involving rock there ('I Live Too Fast To Die Young'), but always bringing this positive energy which carries all on its way. Finally, these are eleven unstoppable nuggets that shake in all directions. Even the O.V.N.I. that represents 'Dearly Departed' succeeds in bewitching with its dark, air and melancholic atmosphere.

Michael Monroe is thus still far from losing his legendary positive energy and he succeeds with "I Live Too Fast To Die Young" to release one of the best opus of his talented career. Real condensed of freshness, rage and optimism, this album is the proof that a free artist can keep a coherence in his works. So put "I Live Too Fast To Die Young" between your ears and there is little chance that it will leave you throughout the summer period that is coming. - Official website

MICHAEL MONROE

I LIVE TOO FAST TO DIE YOUNG

SILVER LINING MUSIC

HARD ROCK