Black Monk Time

The story of the Monks is one of those rock & roll tales that seems too good to be true -- five Americans soldiers stationed in Germany form a rock band to blow off steam, and after starting out playing solid but ordinary R&B-influenced beat music, their songs evolve into something that bear practically no relation to anything happening in pop in 1966. If anything, the Monks were far wilder than their story would suggest; they may have looked bizarre in their matching black outfits, rope ties, and tonsures, but it was their music that was truly radical, with the sharp fuzz and feedback of Gary Burger's guitar faced off against the bludgeoning clang of Dave Day's amplified banjo (taking the place of rhythm guitar), as Roger Johnston pounded out minimalist patterns on the drums, Eddie Shaw's electric bass gave forth with a monstrous throb, and Larry Clark's keyboard bounced off the surfaces of the aural melee. This would have been heady stuff even without Burger's wild-eyed vocals, in which he howls "I hate you with a passion, baby," "Why do you kill all those kids over there in Vietnam?" and "Believing you're wise, being so dumb" over the band's dissonant fury. The closest thing the Monks had to a musical counterpart in 1966 were the Velvet Underground, but existing on separate continents they never heard one another at the time, and while Lou Reed and John Cale were schooled in free jazz and contemporary classical that influenced their work, the Monks were creating a new species of rock & roll pretty much out of their heads. Given all this, it's all the more remarkable that they landed a record deal with a major German label, and while Black Monk Time, their first and only studio album, doesn't boast a fancy production, the simple, clean recording of the group's crazed sounds captures their mad genius to striking effect, and the mingled rage and lunatic joy that rises from these songs is still striking decades after they were recorded. Within a year of the release of Black Monk Time, the band would break up (reportedly over disagreements about a possible tour of Vietnam), and the two singles that followed the LP were more pop-oriented efforts that suggested the Monks couldn't keep up this level of intensity forever. But in late 1965, the Monks were rock & roll's most savage visionaries, and Black Monk Time preserves their cleansing rage in simple but grand style.

These guys were either music trolls who didn't give a fuck, visionaries who were waiting for the rest of the rock world to catch up to them, or (mostly likely) both. At times it's post-punk before punk was even a thing and this Aussie likes it and gives it five bowls of Weet-Bix out of five.

When I read pitchfork rated this 'the 127th greatest album of the 60's' I knew I was in for some bullshit.

Fuck yes. Stooges, eat your heart out. Awesome proto-punk that I literally never knew about prior. Demented, fun, and way ahead of it's time. Favorite tracks: "I Hate You", "Higgle-Dy Piggle-Dy", "Monk Time"

The album that apparently invented punk rock AND krautrock. This sounds a bit like Booker T and the MCs trying to play the Sex Pistols. Undoubtedly musically and lyrically innovative and influential; it's incredible that this was released in 1966. However, to my modern ear it's pretty much unlistenable. Rating: 1.5/5 Playlist track: We Do We Do Date listened: 25/08/22

I cannot overstate just how much this rips. The music on here is so primitive that I felt my IQ points dropping. One gets the impression that the band couldn't spell the word 'subtle' as a group effort, let alone understand it any kind of conceptual sense. There is a magic zone, however, between ambition and execution that this album occupies. Just to take one example - the drumming is so rudimentary that it morphs into something quite hypnotic and almost martial in its simple insistence. Limitations become an asset and something weird and wonderful is brought into the world. As a consequence, this feels like the headwaters for a lot of punk, garage rock and even krautrock. Superb.

A few weeks ago I got some forgettable album from some forgettable band that played forgettable music around the same year this came out. I said something like: "there was so much going on that was revolutionary or excellent around this time that this being included in this list is just asinine" Black Monk Time is one of those albums. This is just phenomenal when you consider what was going on in music at the time. This is on par with the likes of The Velvet Underground and The Stooges. Just amazing music made the way they wanted to make it. I will admit that my total enjoyment of the music itself is probably a 3, but it gets extra points for how and when it was made. This was at the beginning of my favorite movement in music. I'm glad this project got me to listen to this. I needed this.

Fantastic! This is a good example of 1001 albums revealing a hidden gem. I took a guess this was made in the 90s and was shocked to see it was 1965! This beats freakout by zappa, which is the closest album I can compare it to. As for a review, these guys were way ahead of their time. Super talented band. Completely uninhibited and a feat for the ears. Favorite song - Shut up / complication. Least favorite: cuckoo. I did not include the bonus songs in my review. Lower to 4 stars with the bonus songs.

It was fucking awesome. Take the who, royally piss them off, and throw in some doors.

A hidden gem. I had never heard of this band but after listening to this album, I can hear tinges of punk within an experimental framework. It's interesting to think about what was coming out in 1966, the Beatles' Revolver, the Beach Boy's Pet Sounds etc., and Black Monk Time sounds completely different. Truly incredible

This record is fucking bananas and I kind of love it. Also, I can’t believe it came out in 1966 - in Germany. Holy shit.

Found the music quite irritating, actually

holy crap. the only thing i can say is that it really is amazing that there is essentially something different to hate about every single song on this album. they are way too much up their own butt with psychedelic clown music.

my favorite phase in a lot of rock bands is that phase where their ambition exceeds their abilities and usually that's the part that gets swept away and hidden when the band makes it big. but that phase was it for the monks- weird skronky ideas that sound like rough drafts, stabs at early proto-prog, and a lot of quirks that would show up later in punk. except the compositions are almost childlike in nature, delivered unenthusiastically and clumsily. shitpost by band that knew what they were doing or amateurs with ideas exceeding their talents? this thing's kinda great.

Points for being unique and ahead of its time, and a fair bit of music I genuinely enjoyed, but as is often the case with the avant garde I found a fair bit of it pretty trying as well.

This is genuinely one of the best album's I've gotten in this project. From the story, to the lyrics, to the outfits, to, of course, the music. This feels like Velvet Even More Underground. It's like pre-punk post-punk. I LOVE THIS.

I liked this! As an early punk and garage rock fan, this seems like important listening. It's a bummer it's not on Apple Music because I'd consider listening to it again.

Frustrating I had to listen to this through YouTube, as I really enjoyed this so impressive it came out in 1966, clearly a massive proto punk album. Not a perfect album but clearly influenced so many of those albums that would follow, 4 stars.

What a weird and wonderful album. Can definitely feel the roots of punk rock and psychedelic in this album. Some songs sound like they could directly be the queens of the stone age

This band was way ahead of their time, like, this was a 60s record? It's so irreverent and punkish in tones and just seems like a bunch of young kids breaking shit and having a good time and I dig it. Honestly reminded me a bit of The Electric Prunes, but stronger and more "I don't give a fuck" I really liked "We Do Wie Du"

Funky, psychedelic. Hammond organ, perfect

This is some wild shit that I’ve never heard of. Wow

another very fun listen, very proto-punk great 60s vibe, i hate you and higgle dy piggle dy are bangers

Anticipates Devo and other herky-jerk rockers by a decade or so. Their descedants were an improvement.

Holy shit, everything about this album is amazing! A group of American soldiers stationed in West Germany just when the Germans were getting eager for American rock n roll. They were possibly the most free rock band on the planet at the time, benefitting from a language barrier that allowed them to access unimaginably dark lyrics and a budding German record industry that didn't quite know enough about commercial appeal to stop them experimenting with everything. The Beatles had to earn the right to experiment. The Monks were just in the right place at the right time. And thank god they were. This album is one of the most influential works in the history of recorded music. It immediately shaped the budding German rock scene.

Not available on streaming services as of Nov 2024, but look around for it and you will be well rewarded. This is an outstanding album and one of the rare times I agree with this list. Its just different from everything else in the best way possible. 5/5

I adore this album and its pioneering impact.

Hoooooly shit. Literally? These boiz are living on another plane than the rest of us. Tonsured heads gimmick, 6 string banjo, every instrument a rhythm instrument, ludicrous horny antiwar lyrics from a bunch of post discharge germany stationed army men all years before any of this would ever happen again. Showmanship and innovation. If you can't see this is a 5 you may as well give up.

So raw, primal and absolutely strange. I've loved this album since the first time I heard it and it has only continued to grow on me since.

Mooi lekker punk

En 1966, The Monks (groupe de GI américains basé en Allemagne) a sorti "Black Monk Time" son seul et unique album. Pionniers du proto-punk, du proto-krautrock et du proto-VU, ce groupe au style provocateur (tout de noir vêtu et avec une tonsure de moine) a ouvert la voie à des centaines de groupes qui officieront par la suite dans des styles pourtant très éloignés les uns des autres. Cités en tant que référence autant par les White Stripes que par The Fall (excusez du peu), leur musique décomplexée et très corrosive pour l’époque au son très brut fait des Monks un excellent groupe de rock garage voir un groupe punk avant l'heure. Voix déglinguée, paranoïaque ou explosives, guitares saturées, enregistrement lo-fi et rythmique en avant, les Monks se font plaisir en jouant leur musique. Comme les Beatles, ils ont joué dans les mêmes salles de concert et les mêmes bars à putes d'Hambourg et certainement attrapé les mêmes maladies vénériennes. Mais à la différence des Beatles, ils resteront totalement inconnus du grand public. Un album à écouter, un groupe à découvrir et un joli 4/5... Allons, soyons fou et rendons à César ce qui appartient à César… Ce sera à un beau 5/5.

Oh... much better than I expected. Find it on YouTube

Man, what an album. It's like the animals found a time machine and grew up listening to the white stripes! It's proto everything! Edgy and punky but still loose and fun. So hard without taking itself too seriously. Dope shit.

God damn. THIS is why I use this website. Never even heard of these guys and they are absolute FIRE. Favourite tracks: all.

What in incredible album and discovery. This has all the spirit that so much of the mid-60's music is missing for me. There's hypnotic rhythms, straightforward punky lyrics, jangling garage sound guitars. This is going straight on repeat

very good

Wow this is from 1966! Sounds clearly ahead of it‘s time with punk and blues rock elements. I didn‘t know music like this existed back in the 60s and I guess besides a few exceptions it did not exist in the mainstream music.

Very nice!

Wow, this was pretty neat. I agree that it was important for me to have experienced this one in my lifetime.

Somewhere twixt Buddy Holly and Pere Ubu there lie The Monks. I was entertained and educated, exactly what I'm here for.

I thought we had pretty good 60s coverage, and then came The Monks. The primal rhythms instantly had me bouncing around the house as I collected and took out the trash. Teetering on the edge of novelty, this album never really crosses that line. This was a ton of fun to listen to! It’s a shame the album wasn’t available in its entirety on Apple Music in the US, but by playing the songs I couldn’t find on YouTube I was able to enjoy a fantastic live performance of Complication. This seems like such a no-brainer for this list. Fascinating and wonderful!

At first I expected this to be boring garage rock but as the album progressed, I couldn’t have been more wrong. These guys pulled in unusual instrumentation (banjo!), unusual influences (German folk music - yodeling!), irreverent and sometimes humorous lyrics. They were off on their own and way ahead of their time.

You had me at electric banjo. Proto-punk before proto-punk even existed, let alone punk. Throbbing, primal drum beats, jangly electric guitar (and banjo), thick bass lines, political lyrics... but also fun and wacky, with some klezmer(??) / carnival influence, as well as '60s doo wop. Very weird, in a good way. Gives the Mothers of Invention a run for their money.

"Black Monk Time" is the only studio album by German-based American garage rock band the Monks. The Monks were composed of five American GI's stationed in West Germany. The band members wore black habits with cinctures wrapped around their necks and hair worn in partially shaved tongues. Well, at the very least I learned two new words today. The album is considered a landmark recording in the development of punk with a subversive style and blunt lyrics. It had no commercial success and was not released in theUS until 1994 due its condemnation of the Vietnam War. It did receive wide-spread critical acclaim retrospectively. The album starts out fast with "Monk Time." A ringing guitar, a hypnotic marching band drumbeat and a pyschedelic organ. Lead singer Gary Burger howls "Hi, my name is Gary." It's hard time. It's monk time" being repeated in this anti-Vietnam War song. "I Hate You" proves grunge did exist in the 60's. Slow with the bass and drums. The guitar sounding like an engine. Burger chaotically screaming why he hates her. The next song, "Oh, How to Do Now," speeds things up. The organ has a grinding sound. The guitar is awash in feedback. The whole group singing while Burger is yodeling over the top. This is the first yodeling I've come across in 614 albums. Echoing guitar slashes open their single "Complication." A pounding drum and bass. A chaotic organ. Multiple vocals singing "People die, people cry for you." Burger singing "complications" simultaneously is his whacked-out voice. Another anti-war song. The rhythm section gets a Bo Diddly beat going in "Drunken Maria." An over-the-top organ. The band repeating "Sleepy Maria don't drink. Drunk Maria don't sleep." Sometimes, simplicity works. This album was great, in your face, minimalist and punk. Their style was a mix of Suicidal Tendencies, Frank Zappa and an even more whacked out Angus Young on vocals. But, it works. Most songs are rhythm driven by a pounding bass and drums. An eerie chaotic organ along with a guitar that slashes and uses feedback. They also add a banjo in at times buried in the rhythm. Most vocals are short sentences. Crazy does not do justice descrbing lead singer Gary Burger. He's somewhat beyond that. The lyrics are more serious when addressing anti-war and comical with everything else. I see their influence in punk and in the band Kraftwerk (minimalist vocals). This is an album that everyone needs to listen to.

The things which exist that escape most people. What a find and a gem this one off record. Every punk band has this record in their DNA whether they know it or not!

We Do Wie Du, we do we do we do Marc Riley on 6 Music.... Yes it's ridiculous this came out in 1966, and it's ridiculously good. You very rarely find garage rock bands where the whole album is good. Cool band story too. The 4 bonus tracks are mainly curios, although Cuckoo is great fun.

This could be released today and still be amazing. A timeless album for us garage rock heads.

I had zero clue about The Monks. I came out thinking "how the hell have I never heard more about The Monks?!" This must have been akin to Thrash Metal back in 1966. There's Beatles, there's Doors, there's Beach Boys ... but done at 100mph with everything turned up to 11. It's a shame it isn't available on Apple Music and I had to listen on YouTube again ... but I will be back for more. I loved it.

Cool to see the origins of garage rock so clearly here. As that's one of my favorite genres, I really appreciate this album. So much of that sound is already so clear here. Plus the songs are just catchy bops.

This was an incredible listen. Really enjoyed this. This must have been pretty revolutionary.

Upbeat, lively. Cacophonous. Not a lot of lyrics. Rock-a-billy/beatles/punk.

Total banger

So far ahead of its time. It's honestly quite surprising to think that this came out when and where it did. Yes, it does get pretty out there at times, but it's genuinely interesting to listen to.

Such an amazing hidden gem.

Wait, wait, wait! This exists! Rhythmically sonic and playful -- a fun, unexpected moment in time. I praise this album because it's both unexpected (how did I miss this?) and a joy to listen to repeatedly.

Now this is some interesting proto Punk garage stuff. I loved it, but it does get an Asterisk low 5 for being off Spotify and only on YouTube as far as I could find it.

Similar sound to The Animals, same keyboard sounds but overall easy to listen to

These guys didn't give a fuck in the most interesting way possible. Their unique context allowed them to get away with pushing the envelope further than most could at the time. The sheer intensity of the playing on this album is simply amazing. So uninhibited, with this fierce bitter anger underlying every note of their mutant garage rock, no matter how sarcastically sweet they try to make it. Sounds at once overly rigid to the point of absurdity, and like sheer wild abandonment. I'm so glad they made their catharsis into an album.

1966? Holy shit. The subversiveness feels much more modern in terms of sensibilities, I would have believed this to come out this year even. It's unhinged in the best way, not too abrasive but they got something to fucking say. Continues to build the case that I am a huge fan of protopunk over modern punk. I mean, look at this shit. Brilliant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H-fmmNmrRs Only album by them, very punk rock of them. *chefs kiss*

Wow! Somebody needs to do a doco on these legends. Had never heard of them but won't ever forget them.

This is brilliant. I am actually disappointed that I'd not heard it previously. Especially liked We Do Wie Du, but the whole album has a lovely pre-punk feel that really strokes my yak. I'll definitely be coming back to this.

Well this is...........ahead of it's time. To give some background to my 5 star rating I'd just spent the morning listening to artsy twaddle from the 50's in another chart so when I put this on it blew the cobwebs away. 5 stars for impact alone. These guys just don't give a damn and it's great.

Off-the-beaten-path and hokey and spastic in places, but these guys took a risk. Though they fizzled, easy to find the influences in other music that I enjoy.

Higgle-dy - Piggle-dy, mfers

Psychedelic proto punk gold. The velvet underground, Stooges and the Doors with a pinch of Captain Beefheart thrown in for good measure. This is what I love about 1001 albums!

Amazing find. Loved every second of this. The shrill voice, the punk aspects.

Superb. Love The Monks.

Over a decade ago I listened to this because it was on a Pitchfork list, and unlike a lot of the stuff on there, it blew me away. It sounds like pre punk punk, except with bizarre instrumentation (Hammond and banjo feature as a standard part, but played as part of a punky set up). It is slightly angry and slightly silly (Higgle-dy, piggle dy?) And all bloody brilliant.

Up until now only knew a couple of Monks songs (from Nuggets, Fall covers, soundtracks etc) but had never listened to the album. This album is much, much better than your average 60s garage rock album. Together with "Elephant Mountain" the two best albums that I found out about through the 1001 Album Generator. (Unfortunately I listened to the version with bonus tracks - skip these tracks!)

First time I've heard this album. Good!

Wild ride! Crazy to think this album came out in '66. Very early punk elements, quite avant-garde for it's time. Loved it.

Just great stuff

I loved it. Fun sound, funny band photos.

Great

Mayor of Turtle River!!

Great stuff right here. I love the first few tracks with their experimental, unhinged, wild style. Definitely Proto-punk/garage/avant-garde/however you want to describe it. The back half gives a more mainstream garage rock sound, as if the band were either leaning towards more pop-appeal, or were getting "better" with writing and playing, or were pushed in a different direction. It's not as satisfying for me, but it's still pretty solid.

How the hell do you create post-punk in 1965-66, well before punk was even a thing???

Absurd It brings on the table so much things: it's revolutionary, funny, stupid and go on

these funky boys are just having fun

They‘re so unusual

Das Album hat mir gut gefallen. Auch die Geschichte der Band fand ich interessant. Gestern habe ich ausführlichere Notizen zu dem Album geschrieben. Leider sind die verschwunden. Daher bleibt es jetzt bei diesem Kurzkommentar. 4/5

Overall, I liked it. It was pretty chill.

Thank you "No Dogs In Space" for introducing me to this album before it got pulled off of Apple Music, and for giving it context. Listening to 8 hours of podcast for each of these albums seems a little unpractical but it does help understand them.

if any artist was capable of going back in time to make an album before most of their influences even existed, simply thru Sheer Force Of Contrarianism, maybe itd be mark e smith because this reminds me way more of the fall than i does the ramones, or even the early garage-y kinks singles. i dont wanna imply the main virtue of this thing is coming out in 1966 but its pretty impossible not to think about...i havent heard the sonics, but how much sounded like this Ever at this point in time??? it all comes out of genuinely creative and eccentric choices mixing antithetic repetition of barely-formed lyrics, free jazz atonal instrumental flourishes, and essentially no recognizable compositional conventions of the time whatsoever (at least, none that arent distorted beyond belief). a bit exhausting even at a short length but this still packs an unbelievable punch, i cant even imagine how it sounded on release to whatever small number of people actually heard it

Kinda based to have one song. Good song had me wanting more

This album sounds like the prototype for the Dead Kennedys. It does feel like the last couple songs, don't match the rest of the album. And where out there to try and make "normal song" for radio play/sales.

Very interesting and unique album, definitely ahead of its time. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Favorite song - I hate you Least Favorite Song - I can't get over you

This was a treat, had not heard this band/album and it confirms I really do like psychedelic and pre punk rock

Thanks to No Dogs in Space for exposing me to the Monks. Their story is very interesting and certainly unexpected. For 1966, this sounds like nothing else around. Very cool!

Now we are getting into some deep list stuff. Never heard of The Monks before but wish I had. This album is great fun with playful songs that don't get too cheesy. The band is on the strange side, especially the lead Burger. They sound like a mix of a bunch of bands from the 60s like Kinks, Byrds, Hollies, Doors. I'm into their sound...good use of organ and sprinkling of other instruments. I'm a monk, you're a monk, were all monks...3.55.

Tolerable punk rock from 60s. Just the fact that I kind of liked it, makes it an exceptional feat. Pretty nice, old, trailblazing album.

Some interesting things going on in this record. Firstly, the fact that it was released in 1966. These guys were at the head of the punk movement for sure. Fast and rough. Sounds like The Stooges but 2 years earlier. It's like someone took speed then played Velvet Underground songs. Dude simply abuses the shit out of his keyboard. Maybe not the best music I've ever heard, but this was definately at the heart of the punk movement. Given that tidbit of information, it's really solid! Favourite songs: Drunken Maria, Complication, Boys Are Boys and Girls Are Choice, We Do Wie Du Least favourite songs: Blast Off! 4/5

I like this a lot. I can't in good conscience, give it five stars because it's new to me and I'd have to see if I return to it some more. But I'm digging it. It's more 60s proto-punk like The Sonics. It reminded me of all sorts of things from The Cardiacs to the Fall (who covered some of the songs) to early Frank Zappa and the Mothers. Oh, and Clinic. It has this great abrasive sound - distorted guitars and the clean organ droning away. I love some of the "guitar solos" which are just noises. And the singing itself, which, somehow, sounds very 60s despite just being a voice. It's a sound that feels weird for being made up of 60s pop and modern gritty punk. Like a kind of Evil Monkees. Great stuff! If I was still doing compilation tapes I would be earmarking some tracks here to be thrown in between something similar-but-different. Interesting. Fascinating. Great!

by 60s/70s standards this is a proto punk blend of the Mothers and Residents but a more apt comparison somehow is Ween...explosive, playful theatricality that morphs from genre to genre, serious to silly in an effortless cycle...i don't love all 16 songs but the spirit and execution of this thing is so uniquely beautiful 8/10

Honestly pretty good. Had to listen on youtube

Travesty this isn't on spotify! This is some kooky oddball 60's stuff that I gets my blood pumping. I'm into it. Music ripe for a Tarantino spotlight. So groovy, so of it's time, but in the coolest way. I'm digging it.

I wonder if it is just a region thing, but this album was not on any music streaming service available to me. So I had to find this one on YouTube; and I find it a shame because I would love to have it in my library. Perhaps I'll hunt down the physical LP? This is the one of the reasons I started this whole thing: I wanted to force myself into listening to a diverse selection of music. But I also wanted to discover hidden gems that I otherwise would have went my entire life not knowing about. I wasn't familiar with this band at all. Their origin story is quite interesting and unique, which I think is completely projected on this album. They seemed to be very much a product of their era, yet had a vision that was totally ahead of its time. The psychedelic elements are straight out of the late 60's, but their punk rock elements were almost an entire decade too soon. I can understand why 'Black Monk Time' isn't on some bestseller list, but I'm also retroactively frustrated about it. This is a pure record. It is raw, it is primitive, it is daring (for its time), and the world of music took considerable time catching up to it. This is definitely a band that deserve a lot more credit than they are getting. A must listen if you like psychedelic rock. But also a must listen if you like punk in its most stripped back form.

proto

True freak music of the 13th Floor Elevators variety

I reckon I could get into 60s garage music