As I noted before, The Mavericks have a kind of timeless sound to them.  Their previous album, In Time, evoked a particular moment in history when you listened to the whole thing.  Their latest release, Mono, doesn’t seem to have  quite the same thematic focus, but all the elements that make the band so ageless are still there.  They’ve further enhanced that quality by recording and mixing the record down to a single channel, hence the name.
I suppose the place to start with a description of some of the individual songs is The Only Question Is: imagine Raul Malo’s oh-so-wonderful voice belting out a Fats Domino number. Â What Am I Supposed To Do is like a 70’s pop song with a little Motown for added spice. Â Out the Door has Malo caressing lyrics that feel like they came from George Jones, with the rest of The Mavericks playing the part of a crack Nashville session team. Â (Waiting) For the World To End is like an 80’s ska tune. Â The English Beat, only better.
Eddie Perez and Paul Deakin do their usual fantastic jobs on guitar and drums. Who really bit me on Mono was keyboardist Jerry Dale McFadden.  His organ and piano truly shine on a couple of the slower numbers, Pardon Me and Let It Rain. And I have to mention the horn section.  The Mavericks always make good use of the brass, but they outdid themselves this time.
 The record finishes with Nitty Gritty, a Doug Sahm cover.  Years ago I assumed The Mavericks were a central Texas band because of how much Sahm influence I thought I heard.  Knowing now they are, and always were, a south Florida band, Nitty Gritty brought things back full circle for me.
If you’re a hardcore music fan anywhere from 9 to 90, at least some of Mono is going to hit you hard. Â It’s difficult not to gush about either the band or this album. Â So before I come off sounding like some kind of musical stalker, let’s just say I really like Mono.
About the author: I've actually driven from Tehatchapee to Tonopah. And I've seen Dallas from a DC-9 at night.