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Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell (Deluxe)
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I doubt that Monty Are I will be the next big thing. But damn, they sure are trying.

Monty Are I can be wedged right there along with Matchbook Romance’s new release and I Am Ghost, easily. I won’t be surprised if Epitaph adds them to their lineup in the near future.

With that said, I bet most of you have already turned away from your computer in disgust. Well, unlike say, I Am Ghost, Monty Are I can be saved. They display the talent to write very catchy pop-punk. Unlike most bands in their genre they do not sound whiny; their lead vocalist strays from the normal pseudo-sadness that seems to unnecessarily tinge most other vocalists in the genre.

Also, they don’t necessarily depend on guitars always, sometimes craftily using well-laid out pianos or synths. The band’s backup vocals are occasionally produced to sound like church choruses which give it, I guess, an extra touch. It’s not necessarily good, but it’s a welcome change. The album’s highlight (which is sadly, the closer), “Tie Off Your Veins” features a brass section almost making it sound like if Monty Are I were a darker ska band (in any case, not a very good ska band). I won’t even go into the lyrics, because it’s the same stuff you’ve heard before in other bands that play this kind of music.

Monty Are I will just be another band tossed into the oozing pool of emo music that’s taking over everything these days. But they can be saved -- maybe if they worked with horns more often and did become a mournful ska band they would be something new, and maybe even original. They definitely have the imagination to be different, but they haven’t decided what yet. The choice is yours, Monty Are I.



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    Posted by Holy_Balls on 2007-04-24 22:36:33
    My Score:

    I like this CD. It's a little piece of dandy music

    Posted by sumblinkkid on 2007-01-21 00:31:09
    My Score:

    anyone who says this band sucks has their head up their ass

    Posted by crazytoledo on 2007-01-10 08:49:22

    Well I like this cd. Not that anyone really cares. It's a fun enough listen.

    Posted by drummbumm311 on 2006-11-19 12:04:31
    My Score:

    for all of you people who are talking down about this band, you need to shut up. seriously, if you have never been to a monty concert, you cant talk bad about them.

    the name change was not their idea. if they wanted to get signed with stolen transmission, they needed to change the name of the band from monty, because there is already a signed artist called monty. its called a law people. the new name displays the pride that they take in being a big time band from such a small state, RI. They take pride in where they are from, and they have come a long way in the past six years.

    crappy emo ska? ummm, no. they classify themselves as "action rock". dont dispute that until you have seen them perform live. They used to be a great ska band, then they evolved. they evolved into the most energetic band on the scene today.

    saying that their lyrics are "a dime a dozen" is horrible. every word in every song has a meaning...

    "Anchor And Hope" This song explains how the lead singer (Steve Aiello) absolutely hated the state of rhode island. he had a revalation, and wrote this song. "ANCHOR AND HOPE, HAVE FAITH IN YOUR HOME"

    "In This Legacy" - For everyone who doubted this band, and its talented musicians, this one is for you. "Soon to see the glory."

    Come on people, get a cd, read the lyrics, listen to the songs, and stop being closed minded jerks about it. GO to a Monty show, and you will see what I mean. These are great musicians, more dedicated to what they do than anyone else i have ever known. Talk to Andrew(Trombone/Keyboard/Vocals) this guy helped my pass myt R.I. studies class in Highschool with an interview. These are good people, and even better musicians.

    GO TO A MONTY SHOW, AND GET YOUR FACE MELTED. then tell me they suck.

    Or, get Tony Hawk's Project 8. Yea, thats right, Between the Sheets, and In This Legacy are in this, along with ATV Offroad Fury 4.

    GO AHEAD, ARGUE WITH THAT.

    Posted by drummbumm311 on 2006-11-19 12:04:07

    for all of you people who are talking down about this band, you need to shut up. seriously, if you have never been to a monty concert, you cant talk bad about them.

    the name change was not their idea. if they wanted to get signed with stolen transmission, they needed to change the name of the band from monty, because there is already a signed artist called monty. its called a law people. the new name displays the pride that they take in being a big time band from such a small state, RI. They take pride in where they are from, and they have come a long way in the past six years.

    crappy emo ska? ummm, no. they classify themselves as "action rock". dont dispute that until you have seen them perform live. They used to be a great ska band, then they evolved. they evolved into the most energetic band on the scene today.

    saying that their lyrics are "a dime a dozen" is horrible. every word in every song has a meaning...

    "Anchor And Hope" This song explains how the lead singer (Steve Aiello) absolutely hated the state of rhode island. he had a revalation, and wrote this song. "ANCHOR AND HOPE, HAVE FAITH IN YOUR HOME"

    "In This Legacy" - For everyone who doubted this band, and its talented musicians, this one is for you. "Soon to see the glory."

    Come on people, get a cd, read the lyrics, listen to the songs, and stop being closed minded jerks about it. GO to a Monty show, and you will see what I mean. These are great musicians, more dedicated to what they do than anyone else i have ever known. Talk to Andrew(Trombone/Keyboard/Vocals) this guy helped my pass myt R.I. studies class in Highschool with an interview. These are good people, and even better musicians.

    GO TO A MONTY SHOW, AND GET YOUR FACE MELTED. then tell me they suck.

    Or, get Tony Hawk's Project 8. Yea, thats right, Between the Sheets, and In This Legacy are in this, along with ATV Offroad Fury 4.

    GO AHEAD, ARGUE WITH THAT.

    Posted by punkrockchick_2007 on 2006-09-19 13:20:16
    My Score:

    Okay you guys are so WRONG! Monty Are I are a really great band. Personally I think they sound way different from most bands around now. Which is a good thing. They may be somewhat emo. But they are not as whiny and shit. They totally kick ass. They are a incredibly talented band. Especially how they use the trumpets and shit. It's great! And you have no idea what the hell good music is if you dont like them!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 14, 2006 at 12:02 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    You all suck. This band is great. Don't be bitter.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 8:02 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    You guys are asses. You wouldn't know good musical talent if it was sucking your own cock. Monty Are I is absolutely amazing. Who cares what their name is, or "if you knew them first" when they were Monty's Fan Club. They could call themselves Golden Buttnuggets and I would still love this band. The singer, Steve Aiello, has such an awesome voice and is killer on the guitar as well. His vocals blend so well with Ryan Muir's voice that it almost makes you cry. This album is SO SO SO good... and I have to correct this review--Tie Off Your Veins is NOT the closer... it's track #11 which is Only The Weak. Obviously the reviewer only skimmed through this album once and didn't -really- listen to it like he should have. Dublin Waltz is one of the greatest songs ever written.

    Grow up and accept this band for the more mature band they have become. They have an INSANE amount of talent and their live show will blow you away. Unless, of course, you're a closed-minded piece of shit. In that case, just go back to your little hole with your My Chemical Romance CDs and shut the hell up because nobody wants to hear your whining.

    Posted by cherrycolarain on 2006-08-03 00:02:40
    My Score:

    Only one has complained about my review so far? I thought my reviews were hated around here. This certainly puts a smile on my face. haha.

    Posted by Scootz_McNasty on 2006-08-02 22:15:13

    i saw these guys last night with RX Bandits. I'll be honest, they put on an exciting set. I was pleasantly surprised.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 5:23 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Bad music. But, score is for the cover art.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 4:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Score is for the review.

    Posted by remainsunseen on 2006-08-01 22:15:47

    they should have kept playing ska

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 9:55 PM (EDT)

    Worst name change ever.

    Posted by mustard on 2006-08-01 18:37:55

    This band used to be so much better as Montys Fan Club. Their first CD (which doesnt exist anymore) was full of catchy ska/pop punk songs. Now they just fucking blow.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 5:41 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Each time their name changed they sucked more cock. I'm really used to like these guys too.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 3:46 PM (EDT)

    i wish this band would just choose a name/sound and stick with it. they were infinitely better as montys fan club, one of my fondest memories of lupos heartbreak hotel in providence RI.

    once the legal issues with the name began, so did their sound's demise

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 3:08 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i saw them live too. they blow goats. i had to be physically restrained from gouging out my eyeballs and jamming pencils in my ears to stop the punishment. god. awful.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 12:13 PM (EDT)

    i saw them live and there's a lot of musical talent here along with a hell of a lot of energy. although the goth thing doesn't seem to exactly work for them

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 10:44 AM (EDT)

    I saw them with RxB in Cleveland and thought they sounded like a two-step behind Bandits (that is to say, they sounded in concert now how the Bandits sounded on Progress). They used lots of the same minor key horn parts and harmonic leads.

    Posted by dietcokeofpunk on 2006-08-01 08:48:43

    these guys were way better when they were monty's fan club. that's when they sounded like rx bandits.

    Posted by cherrycolarain on 2006-08-01 03:23:28

    Whoa, I didn't expect to see this here just yet... Hmmm, well the only song on this CD that reminds me of Rx-Bandits is "Tie Off Your Veins" and as said in the review, it isn't even that amazing. I have hope these guys will someday find themselves though. But then again, here's to hoping.

    Posted by Mute98 on 2006-08-01 02:42:57
    My Score:

    bad bad cd, i downloaded it due to comparisons to the rx bandits but please dont even try it out

    i actually like i am ghost haha

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 2:35 AM (EDT)

    The biggest crime this band committed is beating quality punk/ska band The Fad for this label bullshit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at 2:32 AM (EDT)

    Brass is for playing, not dancing around on stage with, you fucks.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2006-08-01 02:22:49

    This band was unquestionably better when they were known as Monty's Fan Club and played mildly RX Bandits-influenced ska-punk. I saw them open for Zox at my first ever Providence show and they completely saved a bill that featured two too many shitty college rock acts.

    And this is coming from someone that probably listens to more shitty nü-emo than any ska-punk.

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