Las Vegas Weekly
www.lasvegasweekly.com (article link)
CD Review
December 28, 2000

WISE MONKEY ORCHESTRA
THEY LIVE

Rating: A

Darwin was right: The strong survive. And given an opportunity, the weird mutate. Take a gander at San Diego's six-headed rhythm monkey. Proving that evolution is more than just a theory, Wise Monkey Orchestra has adapted to lineup changes and the rigors of the road without missing a beat. In fact, the band is stronger than ever. Culled from a handful of West Coast shows early this year, They Live, released on Lauan Records, captures the monkey in its natural surroundings--on stage. Welcome to the wild kingdom! Flexing the same musical muscles that pumped up their regional fan base into a national following, WMO's poly-textured party grooves never rocked so hard. The reason--new members Marty Schwartz (guitar) and drummer Bruce Stodola. A ferocious fret shredder who slips jazz chords and pops funk riffs with equal authority, Schwartz creates an edgier, bluesier mutation of the funky monkey without genetically altering the band's essence. Plenty-o-sultry female vocals, grab-ya-by-the-booty bass grooves, freak-board techno-gurgles, and oodles of SoCal so-cool slide trombone throughout. The energy crackles on all 10 tracks--a mix of new material and fresh takes on WMO classics. Clearly, evolution has been kind to the monkey.

--Lee Abraham