Review - Jonny Manak and the Depressives

Band: Jonny Manak and The Depressives
Album: Rebound Town
Label: Reach Around Records
Rating: 2.5/5

In all my years of listening to music I haven’t come across a band that I would label “punk n’ roll,” mainly because it’s super cheesy. Jonny Manak and The Depressives definitely would fit into that genre. Some songs are purely punk, others are purely 50-60s rock n’ roll and then there are also songs that mix the two. The most impressive thing about Rebound Town is that Jonny Manak recorded each instrument on his own. There shouldn’t be a doubt in anybody’s mind that Jonny is talented. The guy can play violin, clarinet, trumpet, guitar, bass, and drums and also find time to become a professional skateboarder.

The opening track “Down the Drain” is one song that mixes punk and 50-60s rock n’ roll. Frankly it’s a bore and not a great way to start off an album. The next track “She said Yeah” begins the album’s redemption. The hailing guitar in the intro and the catchy melody is what you would hope to find throughout the whole record. Unfortunately, it only happens a couple of times. Possibly the best part of the whole record is that the songs only range in time from one to two minutes. Any track you don’t like is pretty much over by the time you’re ready to go to the next one.

I would have liked to see Jonny display some more of his guitar skills that can be found in tracks like “She said Yeah” and “Young Girls.” Those are the songs that seem to really work for this band.

Rebound Town as a whole comes off as Jonny being super confused about whether punk or rock n’ roll is his favorite genre. It was almost like a fight between the two. They square off as equals on the track “Down the Drain.” On the track “Sacrifice” punk starts to break away… but wait! Rock n’ roll comes back with a nasty uppercut on the track “No More Lucy.” Whether punk or rock n’ roll ends up winning, you have to be cheering for both sides to be able to enjoy this album.