Freddy Monday

Five bars go by on "Blow up The World," the opening track of Freddy Monday's new full-length, and you realize quickly: This man is serious.
Once again, we're astounded by the creativity and moxie displayed by an area musician. The effort looks and especially sounds like a major label release, and it should-the album was mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering in Portland, Maine, showing Monday was mega-serious about the disc's aural quality. The entire album,which doesn't list studio information, brings one thought to mind: If Words In Pencil was home-recorded, it's one of the most perfect such jobs we've ever heard, and that's saying a mouthful.
As a singer-songwriter, Monday is upbeat and buoyant with a serious pop bent, but with a mature demeanor. In fact, we were expecting a dour, sour record with the first two titles being "Blow Up The World" and "The End Of Your Life," but Monday's writing style is of life, not dark matters. Plus, the obvious Beatles and Beach Boys influences on display here seem almost refreshing in this over-sampled music era.
The effervescent Monday and his band Sorethumb have been area music favorites for a long while now: they have performed at New York Islanders games and other top venues. Monday should not have trouble shopping this to major labels and getting at the very least a publishing deal, because Words In Pencil surely seems like an important first step for a sparkling new talent on the national scene. Monday surely will be on any pop music fan's mind, every day of the week.
For more information or to order a copy of the disc, log on to freddymonday.com
-Syl Nathan
- GOOD TIMES MAGAZINE

From what I can gather, Freddy Monday must be a pretty happy guy. With a sound that’s pretty well surmised as being described as a cross between Gavin Degraw and Jason Mraz, his upbeat, poppy songs pay homage to the brighter side of life. While he’s thankfully not as gratuitously happy as “Walking on Sunshine,” he’s definitely mastered the art of writing the pseudo-inspirational ditty. Just look at lines like “no such thing as impossible/believe in who you are” in “Your Own Shadow.” Words in Pencil is unceasingly bright and carefree, as he writes of “being king someday” and seeing shooting stars. While some songs employ harder guitars than others, the album is definitely very laid back and faithfully consistent all the way through. Instrumentally, the album never really lets loose with any fantastic solos, although there is a nice mix of modern and vintage sounding pop mixed together. “End of Your Life,” for example, makes use of a little accordion in the back to add some flavor, while “Blow Up the World” sounds very much modern. Interestingly, Monday does take a softer turn on “If I Keep It Up,” opened with acoustic guitar and taking a more troubled approach lyrically, as he sings of losing a girl. But no doubt with vigor and energy. If Words in Pencil is anything, it’s honest. Freddy’s not cryptic or pretentious, he’s just plain happy. His Beatles-esque sound is a perfect example of honest pop-songwriting at its finest. www.freddymonday.com
-Kristen Brown - cd reviews.com

With catchy pop melodies similar to
Jason Mraz, Freddy Monday should
have a chance in this broad world
of music. His debut release Words
in Pencil is a solid example of what
pop music is all about. That being
said, you won’t find the next Sting
here, but you will find a songwriter
that understands what radio wants
and delivers it with each track. Good solid production, catchy melodies and choruses that stick in your head long after the song has stopped, talk about pop music. - UNSIGNED MUSIC MAG

There is a simple but yet beautiful quality
to Freddy Monday's debut cd, Words in
Pencil. Every song has a kind of soulful,
melodic quality to it. The cd has potential
to really connect with fans of bands like
Train to perhaps even James Blunt. There
are no pretenses with the music; It's just
honest, from-the-heart, and passionate.
I really think this will appeal to a wider
audience. I wouldn't be surprised seeing
his name around town sometime soon. - CMJ

This is the debut solo CD from Freddy
Monday, frontman from Long Island band
Sorethumb. As to be expected, it's bright,
upbeat, pop rock in nature, with a lot of
acoustic guitar and perky vocals. Monday
wrote and recorded the entire project alone
in his 24-track home studio, but you couldn't
tell from the high production values. The
opening track "Blow Up The World" sets the
tone for the CD, but my favorite is "It's What
You Get," which probably has the best hook in
it. "If We Go" is simplistic, but catchy as well. If
easygoing, melodic, popdriven rock is your
thing, this may be your ticket to ride.-Mike Ferrari - INSIDE CONNECTION