Monitors "Electric Knife" 7"
"Debut single from Wiconsonian all-star cast of future punks. Straight-up synth punk done right. Done right how, you ask? Well, they main thing is that 1-D (aka Wendy, ex-Lookers and ex-Kryptonite Records) can actually play the keys, instead of just doling out lame ass one finger/one note drone. They also have a good and funny gimmick: they’re from the future, man! I always said Ryan Kill-A-Watt could write great songs, and "Electric Knife" is another fine example. Sounds like the Screamers if they were on Rip Off Records. Really, it’s good. "Fungus Boy" switches to Wendy on vox, as does "Missing Hand", both of which are head-of-the-class synth-snot rockers. "(Jerks Down at) Bubble Drome" might be my fave, simple electro-punk that even sounds a little bit Le Shoky. Or Le Schlocky, but I mean that in a good way. An impressive start, and way better than I thought it would be. Also a must-own for a cover pic of Ryan in lame hot pants, tights, eyeliner, and go go boots, Wendy as the punk Judy Jetson, and Mechadrum looking like a duct-taped post-apocalyptic biker reject from Lord Humungus’ horde. Take notes on this one kids. This is gimmickry done right. Dickie Christgau says A+. Scum stats: 500 copies, 200 on translucent green vinyl. Nice job Fungus Boy. -Termbo
In case you didn’t know, the Monitors feature both Ryan and Mechadrum from the Kill-a-watts. Mechadrum plays drums, Ryan plays bass, and Ryan’s wife Wendy, a.k.a 1-D plays the electric piano. No guitar here, folks. This is their second single. The other one came out on Goodbye Boozy Records, so chances are you will never hear it. Anyways...
To these ears, the Monitors sound like the Screamers if the Screamers liked carnival music and didn’t try so hard to be so dark and edgy. I was kinda skeptical about how this would be...the picture on the cover is so goofy. Mechadrum looks like a fat cyborg, Ryan looks like a gay biker from the future, and Wendy looks like Judy Jetson. However, when I put the record on, I was pleasantly surprised. It’s really good. Bass-driven punk that is catchy but not overly poppy.
Come to think of it, the Monitors sound isn’t that far of a departure from what the Kill-a-watts were doing; this is definitely less frantic and more hooky.
I liked all four songs on this record, but my picks to click are the B-side cuts, "Missing Hand" and "Jerks Down at the Bubble Drome".
Definitely worth picking up." -Panic Button Zine
"Fucking CRAP" -Dr Reptilicus
Monitors – Electric Knife (Fungus Boy Records) + Rotten Body Cleanup (Goodbye Boozy)
"Ryan and Mechadrum of the Kill-A-Watts team up with sister 1-D ..board and find a way to express their mutual love for dressing up like extras from a Troma production. Monitors take over from where the Kill-A-Watts left with short spasmodic bursts of boy/girl screaming and songs like ”Future Punx”, ”Teleporter Tragedy”, ”Missing Hand” and ”(Jerks Down At) Bubble Drome” go down very well with the new image. Add the cheapo keyboard sounds and it’s like the musical equivalent of your favorite arcade game anno ’83 - crude but addictive." -Lowcut
"MONITORS:
Self-titled: 7”EP
I’m no musician, and I don’t play one on TV, but I think they’re using the wrong end of the synthesizer, the side with all the high pitched keys. See, the vocals are all fuzzed-out and linty and crazed and the guitars slash while the bass bounces like a car with bad shocks, which is all pretty rad, but then the synthesizer, which is front and center, sounds like it’s backing a dancing fuzzball in a public service announcement between Sunday morning cartoons circa 1972. It just makes it odd because the rest is “Rust has rotted our circuit boards! We’re robots on kill mode! Raaar!” and the synthesizer is all “F is for Family. Let’s all hug this problem out.” I’m trying to like the Monitors, but it’s just bugging me that the Care Bears have been let loose in their interpretation of Philip K. Dick’s future." –Todd Taylor of Razorcake
"This is a new band by Ryan (Kill-a-Watts )! Now that’s PUNK!!! No guitar!!! Just bass/drums and a old junk shop wurlitzer piano!!! Sounds like a cross between Germs/Screamers/Elton Motello/Goblins/K.B.D.shit!!! Limited 300 press!!!" -Soundflat Mailorder
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