Coming five years after 2015’s ‘Sound Of Sinning’, Bay area combo The Monophonics (featuring lead singer Kelly Finnigan) hit pay dirt with what has to rank as their best! An unashamedly political, social and personal album, ‘It’s Only Us’ is a somewhat self-depreciating title for a body of work that has such universal scope. The catchy, uptempo ‘Chances’ is brilliant opener that has a heavily bittersweet vibe while the emphatic dancer ‘Last One Standing’ sounds like we’re hearing both sides of a 45, with the first 3:18 mins a full on northern soul mover while the second half is more brooding and soundtrack-like. The desolate desert-soul of ‘Tunnel Vision’ is a wiry, edgy piece of cinematic soulful funk while the gorgeous beat ballad ‘It’s Only Us’ takes things up a notch. Just when you things things have peaked they drop the stunning ‘All In The Family’ – a cavernous downbeat soul number that brings to mind Finnigan’s most heart wrenching moments from his brilliant ‘The Tales People Tell’ set. The swirling blues of ‘Day By Day’ wraps up the album in incredible fashion. This is definitely an album that is up there with the critically acclaimed label mates’ Durand Jones & The Indications’ ‘American Love Call’ from last year (2019). These guys are on fire here! Don’t overlook this gem!
Buy Here
See all by Monophonics here
Listen to tracks
Chances
Suffocating
Last One Standing
Tunnel Vision
It’s Only Us
Run For Your Life
All In The Family
Day By Day
