Monroe Monroe

This fourth EP from Monroe Monroe is a more refined effort than previous offerings, both sonically and in terms of the songwriting. On “Everything You Give,” the descending-guitar-riff intro and the way it then winds through the song is reminiscent of Comsat Angels’ melancholic compositions, only infused with more upbeat energy. The clipped rhythms of guitar and drums over the wash of dark tones in “The Salesman” recall something Duran Duran might have done had it followed the natural progression out of “Planet Earth.” On “Sleepy Rose,” Frank Abbatecola’s Ian McCulloch-esque vocals lock in well with the song’s sweeping and urgent pace. As much as Monroe Monroe has honed its sound, the band’s expansive energy is still in place, as is its ability to craft dynamic, anthemic melodies.