THE MONOLATORS
It's probably safe to call it "fate" that Eli Chartkoff met his wife - and band mate to be - Mary, at The Good Luck Bar, because ever since that encounter in 2000, the duo has had nothing but that. Marrying in 2001, Mary (drums) and Eli (vocals, guitar) took their casual living room jams out of the house and onto various Los Angeles stages in the fall of 2002 as The Monolators. After two 7"s and two full lengths (2003's Rejection Set Me Free and 2006's Our Tears Have Wings), the now trio, with the addition of Andrew Bollas (8-Bit) on bass, are back with the You Look Good On the Train EP.
Clocking in at less than 14 minutes, You Look Good On the Train is The Monolators' most mature and rowdy as ever effort, that continues to liken the trio with Jonathan Richman's The Modern Lovers. Combining early punk rooted in 50's rock (see title track opener) with child-like narratives (see "Eagle Fighting Zebra"), the band maintains their own identity with Eli's unique yelp that's closest comparison is that of contemporary, Hutch Harris of The Thermals. Their live formula of exclusively guitar, bass and drums is augmented here, with saxophone (care of Mary and The Sweet Hurt's Wendy Wang) on "Weaker Self" and closer "Eagle Fighting Zebra", which details a less than ordinary bar fight. Tom Bogdon (Charles Brown Superstar, Shirley Rolls) contributed guitar and backing vocals for "Top of the Stairs" whose chorus of "summer's long but it's almost gone my dear" sums up both the beauty and the boredom of the season. Influenced by His 'n' Hers-era Pulp, the stand out title track single features a relentless piano line while Eli romanticizes a verbally abusive and insane woman simply because she "looks good on the train" and making it the group's catchiest and most endearing song to date.
Fusing their appreciation of the technology of yesteryear with that of our modern times, You Look Good will be released via digital download as well as 10" vinyl. Raymond Richards (Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Broken West), who also played keys and stylophone, returned to produce and mix the EP that was recorded at his Red Rockets Glare studio in West LA with mastering done by John Golden (Sonic Youth, Superchunk).
The Monolators have become parent like figures in the burgeoning Silverlake/Echo Park scene of Los Angeles by helping many up and coming local acts book shows at their monthly First Friday's at Mr. T's Bowl. They have also shared the stage with local successes Airborne Toxic Event and Castledoor as well as touring acts such as Peter and the Wolf. The success of their last album Our Tears Have Wings and it's singles "Strawberry Roan" and "We Fell Dead" led to airplay on such legendary radio stations as KCRW, Indie103.1 and KXLU. You Look Good On the Train is their most polished work to date and is sure to keep their pattern of good luck intact.
More info:
The Monolators Official Site
The Monolators on MySpace
Discography
