On
Bliss, Detroit's
Junk Monkeys bash out sloppy, energetic rock in the tradition of
the Replacements,
Soul Asylum, and the Goo Goo Dolls. In fact, singer
David Bierman sounds a bit like a composite of
Paul Westerberg, Dave Pirner, and John Rzeznik. Tracks like "I Got Fear," "All in a Day," and "And It Caved In" display the band's affinity for unleashing aggression 2½ minutes at a time. Occasional midtempo tracks, such as "Bliss," "Frayed," and "Rag," are interspersed throughout the album to keep the pace from getting out of hand.
Bliss is crammed with driving guitars and beer-soaked vocals, without a weak track in the bunch. The album is capped off by a beautiful acoustic ballad, "Shine," proving that the
Junk Monkeys are capable of more than reckless fury.