| Monster | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Steppenwolf |
| Cover: | SteppenwolfMonster.jpg |
| Released: | November 1969 |
| Recorded: | 1969 |
| Studio: | American Recording, Studio City, California |
| Length: | 32:53 |
| Label: | ABC Dunhill |
| Producer: | Gabriel Mekler |
| Prev Title: | Early Steppenwolf |
| Prev Year: | 1969 |
| Next Title: | Steppenwolf Live |
| Next Year: | 1970 |
Monster is the fourth studio album by Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. The album was released in November 1969, by ABC Dunhill Records. It was their first LP with new lead guitarist Larry Byrom instead of Michael Monarch. The album was Steppenwolf's most political album, making references to important issues at the time, such as the Vietnam War.
The album was the first Steppenwolf album not to feature a US top ten hit, though two singles from the album entered the top 40: "Move Over" and "Monster".[1]
Reviews for Monster have generally been negative. Rolling Stone commented that the playing of the individual performers is "top-notch", but that "[t]heir arrangements have become sloppy and crude, as the early-Zappa lyrics continuously clash with the music."
AllMusic panned the album in their retrospective review, remarking that "these lumbering hard rock tunes were not an effective means to address [important political topics], politically or musically."
On the other hand, Village Voice critic Robert Christgau gave the album praise. Christgau gave the album a B+ rating and called it "an excellent comeback", though he thought the preachy lyrics marred somewhat the final result.
Record World called the title track a "rocking smash" on which "the group never sounded better."[2] Record World said of the single "Move Over" that "Steppenwolf are back in their best of bags."[3]
| Peak position | ||
| US Billboard 200[4] | 17 |
|---|
| Single | Chart | Position | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | "Move Over" | US Billboard Hot 100 | 31 | |
| 1969 | "Monster" | US Billboard Hot 100 | 39 |