Two Sick Monkeys are two guys from the Punk Rock hotbed that is Swindon, Wiltshire (home to Buzztone and… um…). Formed in 2001 to support Darrin Mooney of Primal Scream, these guys kick up a righteous racket armed with only a bass guitar, a drum kit and their snotty punk vocals. The sound is surprisingly big considering there are no guitarists in the band, and the melodies really do stick in your head. The music is a simple punk rock formula, in the vein of Snuff and Citizen Fish (minus the ska, and of course the guitars).
First track ‘Nowhere, Nothing’, which is the main single on this release, is the stand-out track. With a vocal line that will have you putting on your best Wiltshire punk accent and singing along. The last track, ‘Song 2′ features acoustic guitars and keyboards, and takes a more measured approach, slowing down the tempo and creating a smoother musical environment which rounds off this single nicely.
Definitely a band to keep an eye on, this is a solid release that is nothing original, but possesses a certain charm that will win you over, and possibly have you seeing them support some bigger bands in the Wiltshire area.
www2sickmonkeys.com
Ben Gosling