Attitude is something that never leaves. You can tame it or control it, but speaking your mind without mincing words is just how some folks roll. For former San Diego punk rocker Andy “The Smokeboss” Mensing, not even his genre transition from punk rock to a more laid-back bluegrass sound could keep the bite out of the tracks of his new album, “Rise Again.”
“Ain’t It Just Like You” feels like the start of a party. The bouncy beats will get you up and get you moving, with the vocals bringing the same jovial atmosphere. Lyrically, however, the words pull no punches with lines such as “you’ve got the talents of Meryl Streep, but your strategy ran less deep” and “ain’t it just like you to think that the ink on your arms and your legs and your neck and your face… Makes you any kind of special” giving an edge to the upbeat aesthetic. The guitar solo flows into the fiddle solo in an effortless way, with the powerful drums keeping the pulse of the track so you can continue to move to the groove.
“Danglin’” is a track that’s bursting with heart. The twang of the guitars dances with the fiddle and pianos while the drums pound out a beat that’s easy to move your head to. The vocals of Andy “Smokeboss” Mensing carries an upbeat but emotional tone with lines such as “the rhinestone shades might shield you from the sun, but your face ain’t fooling anyone” immersing you in the heart of the song. Along with a memorable and dynamic chorus, “Danglin’” is a treat to listen to and is a track that will have you reaching for the repeat button.
The bouncy beat that the banjo and bass bring to the start of “Misunderstood” hit the ground running and immediately. The beat is intoxicating and bets you to get up and move to the groove it lays down. The track revels in its bluegrass charms, with Smokeboss Mensing’s vocals rising above the instrumental with a powerful display. Lyrics such as “I spent some days believing I was lost or I’d been fucking targeted, or I was cursed” and “I’m not gonna do the comparison sulk, I’m larger than Iron Man smaller than Hulk” tell an introspective story about perseverance and proving oneself. It makes “Misunderstood” a powerful track with a great attitude that oozes style.
The final track, “Wholeheartedly Divided,” rocks hard from the top with deep, free-wheeling guitar riffs that dance with the bass to bring the listener in without wasting a moment. Much like “Misunderstood,” the powerful vocals of Smokeboss Mensing take the wheel and drive the track. It pumps it full of heart, especially when lines such as “I get nervous when you come near. I get way more nervous when you’re not here, so don’t even pack a bag, just come on down” hit. It brings the same energy as “Ain’t It Just Like You,” but loosens up its bite and leans into the heartfelt vibes to make it all feel like it comes full circle.
“Rise Again” proves that genre is merely a suggestion. The punk rock roots of Smokeboss Mensing can be found all over this album. From start to finish, the album’s genre-defying in-your-face bluesy country sounds deliver a wild ride that needs to be heard to be believed. With tracks that have no problems rocking out such as “No Girlfriend” or “Wholeheartedly Divided” and others such as “Danglin’” that lean into the bouncy bluegrass charm, there’s something on the album for everyone, with plenty of attitude and heart to go around.
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