Fresh Rot‘s thirteen tracks are influenced by rock’s legends and revolutionists. The problem, however, is that the material has all been heard before from a slew of bands — that have listened to each other.
What does divide the rock enthusiasts from contemporary competition is singer/guitarist Kevin Richard’s drunken howl. Richard is able to bring the band’s lyrics to attention and not just recite them for the sake of it. The band puts just as much emphasis on lyrics as it does music.
As songs go, some are hits and others are misses. Mannequin Men’s song writing is refined and comprises of intros, chord progressions, and a few tricks tossed into the mix. “The Pigpen” and “Grapefruit” are near-perfect songs with colorful lyrics and sharp riffs. These two songs display the band in high fashion, but a few others sound unoriginal.
Though the band does a good job of playing straight rock, it becomes too optimistic when it takes a detour of path and expands on small ideas. “Sewers” is bland and flows like molasses, whereas “22nd Century” seems to be the revelation of guitars plus chorus.
– Adrian Finiak
Mannequin Men: www.myspace.com/mannequinmen
Flameshovel Records: www.flameshovel.com