// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Monkey Land map say? It went bananas.
| Monkey Land | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 1, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | August – September 1990 | |||
| Studios | Arlyn, Austin, Texas | |||
| Genres | Blues, blues rock | |||
| Label | Antone's | |||
| Producer | Omar Dykes | |||
| Omar and the Howlers chronology | ||||
| ||||
Monkey Land is an album by the American band Omar and the Howlers, released on February 1, 1990.[1][2] They supported it with a North American tour.[3]
Production
[edit]Recorded in August and September 1990 at Arlyn Studios, in Austin, the album was produced by Omar; he rarely practiced his guitar playing in order to maintain a rough edge to the music.[4][5] Omar was particularly influenced by Howlin' Wolf.[5] He dismissed prior to the recording sessions his keyboardist, Eric Scortia, to achieve a sound more similar to that of Creedence Clearwater Revival.[6] Omar wrote or cowrote, with Dick Wagner, ten of the album's songs.[7][8] "Fire in the Jungle" is a tribute to Vietnam veterans.[9] "Next Big Thing" is about Omar's experiences on Columbia Records.[5] "She's a Woman" is a cover of the Beatles song.[10] "Ding Dong Clock" and "Modern Man" contain elements of rockabilly.[11]
Critical reception
[edit]
The Toronto Star called the new songs "leaden and cynical", and noted that many touched on Omar's experience with a major label.[18] The San Antonio Express-News deemed Monkey Land the band's best album and praised Omar's "barbed wire guitar and booming Howlin' Wolf voice".[19] The Calgary Herald labeled it "down and dirty Texas blues-rock".[9]
The Ottawa Citizen stated, "One thing never missing from Omar and the Howlers' interpretation of the blues is the humor that most other refried blues groups seem to miss."[17] The Washington Post concluded, "Little here invites, let alone demands, repeated listening, and until Omar comes up with tunes that don't reveal his blues influences so readily, he might as well be howling at the proverbial moon."[20] The Lincoln Journal Star said that Omar "has one of the most distinctive voices in rock".[15]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Monkey Land" | |
| 2. | "Tonight I Think of You" | |
| 3. | "Big Town Shakedown" | |
| 4. | "She's a Woman" | |
| 5. | "Fire in the Jungle" | |
| 6. | "Night Shadows" | |
| 7. | "Modern Man" | |
| 8. | "Loud Mouth Woman" | |
| 9. | "Dirty People" | |
| 10. | "Ding Dong Clock" | |
| 11. | "Next Big Thing" |
References
[edit]- ↑ Popson, Tom (December 22, 1989). "After two albums...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 7.
- ↑ Racine, Marty (January 25, 1990). "Notes from last Saturday's [Fitzgerald]'s bash". Zest. Houston Chronicle. p. 3.
- ↑ McLeese, Don (March 19, 1990). "South by Southwest fest sings the praises of rebels with a song". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 2.27.
- ↑ "Austin musicians ready for release season". Austin American-Statesman. February 2, 1990. p. C13.
- 1 2 3 Popson, Tom (March 23, 1990). "Omar and the Howlers: Retaining the raggedy edge". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. S.
- ↑ Barr, Greg (March 30, 1990). "Omar & the Howlers: Dykes in full control of rockin' guitar sound". Ottawa Citizen. p. D3.
- ↑ Penn, Roberta (February 1990). "Omar and the Howlers". The Rocket. No. 124. p. 23.
- ↑ Carman, Tim (March 4, 1990). "Omar redux". Houston Post. p. H6.
- 1 2 3 Haynes, Dave (March 22, 1990). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. F4.
- ↑ Burliuk, Greg (March 31, 1990). "Omar and the Howlers let primal instincts show". Entertainment. The Kingston Whig-Standard. p. 1.
- 1 2 The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin Books. 2006. p. 501.
- ↑ All Music Guide to the Blues. Miller Freeman Books. 1996. p. 205.
- ↑ Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. III. MUZE. p. 1671.
- ↑ Hadley, Frank-John (1993). The Grove Press Guide to the Blues on CD. Grove Press. p. 172.
- 1 2 Wolgamott, L. Kent (April 12, 1990). "Records". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 12.
- ↑ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide (2nd ed.). Visible Ink Press. 2002. p. 124.
- 1 2 Erskine, Evelyn (March 23, 1990). "Omar and the Howlers Monkey Land". Ottawa Citizen. p. C6.
- ↑ MacInnis, Craig (February 23, 1990). "Omar's new howls muted by cynicism". Toronto Star. p. E14.
- ↑ Young, Ron (March 9, 1990). "Omar and the boys...". San Antonio Express-News. p. G14.
- ↑ Joyce, Mike (April 13, 1990). "Omar's `Monkey' Business Too Usual". Weekend. The Washington Post. p. 26.