The great thing about a solo album from someone like
Bill Wyman, of
the Rolling Stones, is that quality musicianship and high-profile guest appearances are all but a given. The unfortunate aspect, though, is that the
Stones bassist was never known for his songwriting. In the case of
Monkey Grip, the first claim holds true (with guest appearances by
Dr. John,
Lowell George, and
Leon Russell, the album is a solid affair musically), while the issue of
Wyman's songwriting ability leaves the listener pleasantly surprised. Granted, there aren't any moments where you ask yourself, "why didn't this song appear on a
Stones album?" but tracks such as "I Wanna Get Me a Gun," "White Lightnin'," and "I'll Pull You Thro'" are propelled with a laid-back groove that is surprisingly catchy. And, unlike
Wyman's famous stone-faced stage demeanor, his singing is loose and joy-filled. Though these types of albums can be self-absorbed affairs,
Monkey Grip is meant to be a relaxed, unpretentious outlet for the compositions that would never see the light of day in
Wyman's main band -- and, as a credit to the bassist, it comes off exactly that way. ~ Steve Kurutz