Chris Antonik - Monarch - New Release review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Monarch, from Chris Antonik and it's really good. Opening with I'd Burn It All Down For You, Antonik is joined by Chuck Keeping with a great drum riff reinforced by Guenther Kapelle on bass and Jesse O'Brien on keys. Antonik's vocals are solid and his guitar playing inspired. This lightly funky track is a great opener. On Mike Bloomfield's You're Killing My Love, again a touch of funk and super posturing this track moves. Antonik has great attack and the backing of Richard Underhill on sax, William Sperandel on trumpet and William Carn separates this track from the pack. Slow Moving Train has more of a rock edge, again giving Antonik breathing rook to lay down some real nice guitar riffs. With a rumbling bottom, Gold Star, follows in the Dickey Betts "Southbound" format with it's lightly funky country jam. Antonik peppers the track with hot riffs and his vocals are tops. The Monarch and the Wrecking Ball features really nice backing vocals by Samantha Martin, Sherie Marshall and Stacie Tabb. Antonik's own smooth vocals, super groove/hook and slide guitar work make this one of the best tracks on the release. Strong ballad, Love, Bettike, is smooth as silk and Antonik's guitar sings. Country flavored ballad, All Our Days, has a strong melody featuring Burke Carroll on pedal steel blended nicely with Antonik's own acoustic and electric guitars. vocals and string work by Drek Jurecka and Rebekah Wolkstein on violin, Shannon Knights on viola and Lydia Munchinsky on cello giving the track a quietly Roger Walters feel. Wrapping the release is Everywhere I Go, a simple pop track with a strong melody and quiet and appealing execution. With a nice trumpet solo by O'Brien and smooth backing vocals by Ben Fisher and Paul Olsen, this is a perfect closer to a real nice release.

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