The Men – New York City | soundsfromthedarkside

the-men-new-york-city Start spreadin’ the news, The Men are back from the sewers of New York City and hit the ground running on their ninth LP.

The Men, a band well on the way to being lesser gods in the rock scene, have never been afraid of exploring musical territories. It garnered them a dedicated following, despite occasionally leaving the fanbase somewhat disgruntled about their choice of direction at times. New York City, their ninth LP and their first in three years, proves to be a pivotal moment in their discography, as they fully embrace their unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll roots.

Recorded in the heart of the Big Apple during the lockdown of 2020, New York City captures the essence of the band in its purest form. From the very beginning, the album exudes a rough ‘n’ ready sleaziness as The Men cough up 10 tracks with unrelenting energy. The opening track, Hard Livin, sets the tone with its sharp vocals, punchy drums and thick riffs and a fair dose of honky-tonk piano that brings the overconfident brashness atmosphere of old.

Throughout the album, The Men display their sonic versatility, drawing from punk, hardcore, country, and alt-rock influences. While they have crossed the broad landscape of rock music for over the last 15 years, New York City is arguably one of their most straightforward works to date. The band said that when everyone left the city during the lockdown, the sewer opened and they crawled out in a most unfiltered manner. Peace of Mind, following the frantic pace of Hard Livin, the band lays bare their emotions: “You’re wasting your life, trying to find peace of mind” and “The years have crept up on you, just like everyone else you’re a fraction of your former self.” These honest reflections cut to the chase and shows a band that has no time to waste.

As the album moves forward, The Men infuse quasi-religious undertones into the rock ‘n’ roll tombola. Tracks such as Echo bring about sturdy drums, frayed guitar riffs, and a demonic preacher howling about “a baptism of fire from your head to your toes.” A loose groove accompanies Eternal Recurrence, featuring Beach Boys-like backing vocals that accompanies an “I want to believe” mantra. This blend of raw energy and spiritual introspection creates a great sonic experience and slightly reminds of Liberation! by Peter Matthew Bauer.

On the album’s final tracks The Men shift down the pace as they start leaning towards alt-county. Anyway I Find You is an isolated, mournful tune, while the album’s final track, River Flows, stretches out a Neil Young-ish groove that leaves room for reflection and closure. Here, the band skillfully balances their inexhaustible energy with moments of restraint.

New York City is a showcase to The Men’s ability to bend and break the rock ‘n’ roll genre to suit their own agenda. This ninth LP stands as an unapologetic celebration of rock ‘n’ roll’s core traits. The Men remind us that amidst all those genre-bending bands who are trying to be different, sometimes returning to basics can be the best expression of what an artist or band is truly about. In this case, …unlimited power, which we of course feed upon since we’re from the Dark Side and all. Anyway, New York City captures The Men at their most elemental, reaffirming their status as true providers of contemporary rock ‘n’ roll.

Label: Fuzz Club, 2023

Buy it here: https://fuzzclub.com/products/the-men-new-york-city

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