On his 15e album, Year 8000, Mononc ‘Serge makes a 180 ° turn by offering a flowery and romantic jazz… Of course not! The maverick remains true to his role as a squeaky – and sometimes grumpy – observer of Quebec society.
The comic-tragic singer nevertheless expresses his fed up in a formula more concentrated in hard rock tracks, in particular thanks to the angry guitars of accomplice Peter Paul and the rowdy percussions of Ugo Di Vito. Don’t tell them, but Mononc ‘is tired of riding in a van with [s]on band ”, as he exteriorizes it in a“ defoulatory ”impulse. “Tired of the same osti of pranks / Tanned of seeing them face.” “
Laugh at others, but laugh at yourself, above all. In opening, Mononc ‘Serge presents himself in Beer seller outstanding, who “plays crooked” and who has a “pocket” voice. Regardless, “I sell more pints in two verses than Pierre Lapointe in a full show,” he gargles. He will be convinced later, on the title song, of the benefits of staying on the sidelines of the first pages. “The great who lay masterpieces / Stay away from galas and appetizers”, explains the one who ensures that it will be sung “again in the year 8000”.
In the row of winks, Model citizen comes across as a trashy version of Good guy by Richard Desjardins, while Poor people de Plume Latraverse comes to mind when Mononc ‘Serge caricatures the “theatrics” and the “troubadours”. “When I had a five de lousse, I put it in the bank / But you liked you better to buy yourself a 50”, he praises on Proud of my cash.
At the end of the album, the anger gives way to the nihilism of Terrorist – “It’s not the soft flanks like me who become terrorists” – and I care, raised by church songs… among other ironies.
Ultimately, Year 8000, with its raw sound and brutal observations, is revealed as one of the most timeless albums – thank you for evacuating COVID-19 – and the most solid of Serge Robert.
Rock / Song
Year 8000
Mononc ‘Serge
Serge Productions