Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Sonically I found this interesting. Kind of garage rock, proto punk, but with an almost straight laced sound to the vocals. I was ready to give this a strong 3 but the last tracks composition pushed me over to a 4.
nice enough
3 stars Just learned about this. It’s nice to learn about something that was so groundbreaking for the time. But I wouldn’t listen to this for pleasure.
Already based for not being on streaming services, though with its extremely shrill mastering at times it made for a jarring listen at times. I can see how this laid the groundwork for a lot of Doors music in one sense and potentially James Brown in another. It’d be a good vinyl to own especially given it’s significance, but I can’t say many tracks beside I Hate You deviated much from a fast, Rhodes-driven storm of blues rock. Favourite: I Hate You Least Favourite: Shut Up 5.5/10
This thing definitely gets off to a rocky start, but as it presses on I definitely started to enjoy this a lot more. Holy shit this is from the 60's? I genuinely thought this was part of the 70's punk craze. That's insane. Talk about ahead of time. The story behind this band is fascinating. The band disbanding because they thought the Viet Cong were going to set them on fire is really funny, for one. Rick Ruben and Henry Rollins releasing this on their own label in 1997? That's also really interesting. Music wise, the vocalist is definitely on the jading side. But I tended to drown him out a bit to focus on the music itself. This really does sound like one of the first punk albums, and wow you can hear their influence in so many other punk bands. I really did enjoy this one. It was such a weirdly delightful juxtaposition of 60's era rock and gritty grungy American proto-punk from the late 70's. I don't think it deserves the global rating of 2.93.
Definitely more of a novel listen for the time period than something I could see myself coming back to regularly. I appreciated how goofy their tone was but was definitely thinking to myself 'ok I think I get it' after about 15 or so minutes
For a second you're like "wow this is ahead of its time," then you remember The Velvet Underground was a thing and they were good and this is bad. 4/10
Pretty good for a bunch of army guys blowing off steam. My main criticism is a question: was this guy the best singer they had in the group or was that the style they were going for? A couple of good songs on here but nothing that is going to make me come back to this. Highlights: I Hate You
Based on my experience with other Vietnam-era psychedelic-adjacent bands I expected not to like this one. As soon as I heard the organ I had unpleasant Doors flashbacks. But this actually whips. I re-listened to this album five times yesterday. It’s sad this is their only album, but after listening to their additional songs like Cuckoo and He Went Down to the Sea…well, maybe that’s for the best.
It's nice that it's such an early record and such a proto-everything project, you can definitely hear the influence they'd have in later works. On the other hand though, I didn't find it a good or interesting listen? They're not bad by any means, they're definitely innovative and not afraid to get weird, they find interesting moments in which they go far out and it works, but in many other moments, it doesn't work. And after the midpoint it kind of drags on. I think it could've definitely benefited from being like half an hour long. I thought the best one was "Oh, How To Do Now", but "Boys are Boys and Girls are Choice" was also interesting. It's like a 2.5 for me.
For some reason I read this albums release year as 1986 instead of 1966, so I was underwhelmed and confused until I looked again during the song “Oh How To Do Now” (which is a fantastic song) and realized it’s from 1966. With that in mind, I’m super impressed by the lead singers performances - so much personality & vibrance. Im a little split on this one. On one hand, it’s another rock album from the 1960’s. On another hand, it exceeded my expectations for a rock album from the 1960’s. Soft 3/5
first listen not terrible
This is a lost gem. I haven't listened to it for years and I almost forget how great this album was. It's completely wild, raw, innovative and unique. The American GIs stationed in Germany decided to do some music after they get bored with the usual rock and roll scene. They had full artistic freedom which resulted in this highly enjoyable, heavily rhythm based proto punk, garage rock album. I can ever hear the influences on krautrock. Amazing. The album was illegally listened to on radios in Eastern Germany and they appreciated this music even more. I think if people are oppressed they can appreciate indivduality and uniqueness even more. This is a really influential album which is close to perfect, and I loved to revisit it again, so it deserves the five stars.
A solid oldie but nothing too spectacular to me.
It sounded like they were fine, then had a seizure midsong.
This sounded muddy.
Very punk rock, interesting guitar riffs and lyrical word play.
It's campy and punk'ish, with that dooby dooby doo nonsense of the 60s. It's a little much at times, but kind of fun.
pretty vanilla old rock
decent album
***An ok album
pretty good
Tried listening to this with my 1966 ears. I don’t think I would have given it any credence back then. I understand how it could be considered influential. But, all my 2025 ears hear is simplistic, uninteresting music.
Is it just me or is this kinda proto-punk?
Couldn't find this on streaming service. Oh well.
They didn't have this album on my streaming service. Listened to bits and pieces. I bet this would have been wild back in the 60's. Enjoyed what I heard, but probably won't revisit.
Difficult to find the full album. These guys seem to be poking a fair bit of fun at themselves and having a good time as well as making some statements. Not too bad, and would have been interesting to see how they developed had they stuck together.
we do, wie du, we dubi dubi dooo! ich verstehe nicht wirklich, wieso dieses album auf irgendeiner liste gelandet ist .. vielleicht war in den 60ern einfach nicht mehr da?!
Wow, so gut kann Musik aus den 60er sein! Ein Vorläufer, ja vielleicht aber auch zeitlos gut.
So this was fine. There was some moments of chaos I didn't love.
neat
It's not a great album, but for 1966 this is very impressive.
There was a couple songs I like, but most of it just seemed pretty dull to me.
It was pretty ok!
Fun album. Well ahead of it's time - hard to believe it is from the 60s. 7/10
Pretty interesting; had never heard of them.
Strange album, the percussion was definitely the highlight
This was an interesting one. . I read a little bit about it for context, and some people think they're complete amateurs who managed to create a masterpiece, and some think they're a normal garage band that have an interesting backstory and that explains most of the critical acclaim. I think a fall more towards the latter. It's a fun album with some catchy hooks and a unique sound. I agree that this album is unique in that it would have been polished had it been recorded by a larger label in the US, and much of the charm may have been lost. To me it's a talented garage band having fun and recording their true sound, and I'm glad I listened to it.
Good album and definitely some proto-punk styling. Well worth having on this list.
Absolute delight - bouncy, boppy, joyful music from the middle of nowhere.
What a trip. I loved this!
Feeling like I unearthed music for straitjacket sickos straight from the ‘60s with zero layover; totally new to me, and an absolute blast from start to finish.
Like many others have pointed out, The Monks are one of the earliest examples of proto-punk, especially considering that punk as a genre wouldn’t fully emerge until nearly a decade later. But what makes this album even more fascinating is how much it foreshadows both Krautrock and No Wave. The band’s music is rhythmically intense, built around a kind of motorik repetition that gives it a trance like, hypnotic quality. There’s something futuristic in their sound. It’s stripped-down, percussive, and minimalistic in a way that feels ahead of its time. That repetition, paired with raw aggression, also aligns with the ethos of the No Wave movement that surfaced in late ’70s New York. The Monks had that same anti-pop, anti-establishment attitude, not just in sound but in spirit. What’s even more remarkable is their position as cultural outsiders. Though American, the members were GIs stationed in Germany when they formed the band, so in Europe, they were seen as foreign outsiders. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., they were completely rejected by the mainstream and largely ignored by the underground scene. Their abrasive, anti-commercial approach made them too radical for either audience, and quite simply, too far ahead of their time for the American market.
This, to me, sounded like some bizarre mash up of The Doors and CCR but before both of those bands were putting out music (barely). Lots of organ and guitar and good drumming. The vocals were pretty wild and all over the place which works most of the time but is kind of irritating in spots. As I listened I kind of liked it more and more, however, for its sheer unique-ness. The yodeling is crazy but catchy! The history of the band is cool, and this album makes more sense with that perspective. A few soldiers stationed in Germany decide to form a proto anti-war punk rock band in the 60s and only releasing a single album is some wild lore. Standouts while listening were "I Hate You" and "Oh, How To Do Now" It's an interesting album, but do I was to listen to 45 minutes of it? Probably not again. Super cool though, this one deserves 3/5 stars
solid album
Freaky percussion-forward garage rock. Crunchy and dark but not dour. I also dig the organ work. It’s a fun listen. Reminds me a little of Captain Beefheart at their least confrontational (complimentary). I tend to think it’s a bit of a shame when a creative, unique album has fallen to the wayside, but maybe the underground-ness is part of the charm and legacy. Call me a convert because I think this album rips.
IT'S MONK TIME
Every song was the same. Maybe revolutionary, yes, but boring.
One's not at all invested in the question of whether or not this is the first punk record, so one doesn't care and finds little musically to engage with. It sort of sounds like someone's antique roadshow sort of find, perfectly fine, but really who cares?
This album feels like reward for all the shit you have to wade through on this epic thousand record journey. I’d never heard of them before and wasn’t expecting much but this is pure ground-zero straight from the source gold. I’ve seen it described as Proto-everything and that’s a great description but when I listened to it it felt like I was getting a Syd Barrett style insight of what it’s like to live in the mind of a disturbed genius.
Way ahead of its time, cool beats, cool backstory and lyricism.
Гаражний прог, цікаво хіба що з історичної перспективи
З усіх альбомів 60х, що були у цьому списку, Black Monk Time був найцікавішим для мене (принаймні поки що). Перша пісня взагалі майже панк.
було дуже весело, а це головне
1. Monk Time - a little repetitive, wasn't completely for me but I liked the guitar in the back at least. 2. Boys are Boys - I can't help but feel like it's taken something from rocksteady and more poorly executed it. The backing music is good but the singing and lyrics are a little obnoxious to be honest. 3. Higgle-dy Piggle-dy - This song is better! I like the guitar solo, although repetitive, I think we can just assume that this type of music isn't for me. But I did really like the guitar solo a lot! 4. I Hate You - This song was actually a lot more fun, I did enjoy it a bit more for certain! It's got a fun rhythm! (⌒0⌒)／~~ 5. Oh, How To Do Now - Alright, good, okay 👍 6. We Do Wie Du - also just okay. I feel like I'd just rather listen to Desmond Dekker or The Ethiopians if I wanted to listen to this type of music though. It feels like a poor imitation and has been a hang up for me the whole time I've been listening to this album to be honest. 7. Love Came Tumblin' Down - also just okay. 8. Pretty Suzanne - also just okay. Overall, none of these songs will be added to any of my playlists and this was overall a meh album. It felt like a poor imitation of rocksteady and wasn't that enjoyable to me. All songs were just okay, and although some songs had some fun parts in them, it still is nothing to really write home about. I'd give this album a 2/5. It just wasn't for me if I'm going to be honest.
These guys honed a sound that touches on 50s doo-wop, 60s pop and 70s punk, yet sounds completely cohesive. Feral but tight, rhythmic but tuneful. Plus they all cut their hair like monks and the singer was called Gary Burger. All in all, a lot to like: 3.5 stars.
You ever start reading a book, and its not quite fun to read? And as you keep reading it gets less and less fun? And you're thinking "Certainly there's a point to all this reading" and about halfway through you realize that its not going to get much better than this and you couldn't be bothered to continue? Yeah thats this album. Its just... noise. I expected some sort of depth or interesting concept behind it, but about 4 songs in I just couldn't subject myself to it, and I DNF'd. 1/5
One of those 60's albums I can't truly appreciate because of how much has built upon it since its release. I had a pleasant time listening to it though. 3 Stars.
The story of the Monks is really interesting. Their music, not so much.
Generic political 60s rock
Fun ride, but probably best that they didn't become a smash hit and then try to make a bunch more albums. Captivating, obscure "lost" garage-psych albums are my weakness.
I can see why they only had one studio album. Kind of a mix between The Doors (probably because of the synthesizers) and happy punk rock? Definitely an odd mix that I can't say was great to listen to, but there were some catchy parts that I did enjoy. Mixed feelings on this so it gets a 3/5
Never heard of it.
When this linked to my Spotify , it took me to an album called Black Monk Time, which only included 3 tracks, so I found the whole album on YouTube. While it wasn’t the worst thing I’ve heard, and it did go quick, I can’t see myself listening to this again. Pretty much the whole album sounded the same, there was nothing that really stood out to me. Rating: 2/5
This was definitely the most work I had to do to listen to the album of the day. Only one track was available on Spotify, so had to go searching. Luckily, someone had posted the whole album on YouTube. They posted it out of album sequence, but at least I got to hear all the tracks. A great garage band album - really the embodiment of transition between rock and roll and punk. Especially liked the bass-forward tracks. Would have liked to have listened as intended, I’ll have to try to find a copy.
Garage proto-punk and some truly deranged singing make for a great introduction to this band. Love the manic organ playing and the Vietnam war protest lyrics of "Complication." This was truly ahead of its time and sounded great through car speakers. One of the best discoveries of the 1001 albums project.
Punk as fuck, in every sense of the word. Says on Wikipedia that this has been cited as an influence on artists as diverse as Yo La Tengo, the Dead Kennedys, and the White Stripes, can definitely hear it and I love that
At times really good, at times really weird, this may be the most emblematic album of the 1960s. I'm somehow surprised and not at all concerned that I'd never heard of this before.
Great discovery: great garage rock
Crazy that this was recorded in 1965.
Is this the first punk rock album? There are so many artists from the 2000s I can think of who must have holed up in a basement somewhere and drilled The Monks into their brains and then went and started their own bands. The Hives, The White Stripes, The Strokes, etc. Anyway, cool shit. Nice discovery. 4/5 #145
++: Monk Time, Shut Up, Boys Are Boys and Girls Are Choice, Complication, Love Came Tumblin' Down, Blast Off! +: I Hate You, Oh, How to Do Now, We Do Wie Do, Drunken Maria +-: Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy, That's My Girl 7,0/10
Discazo disfruton. Solo habia escuchado de la existencia del grupo y que eran pioneros en el punk (proto punk en este caso, a caballo entre los Beatles y la Velvet Underground ). Se hace muy ameno aunque no sera para todo el mundo, tiene que interesarte el garage y conocer la raiz de los estilos musicales.
Good and slightly deranged. Some of the other proto-punk albums here have been misses for me... I mostly like this one.
You know what, hell yea Favorite track: We Do Wie Du
So many things here. It is fairly unusual to someone in the throes of a number of genres to have a band from 1964 they're never heard of. This was the case for me. Next, the sound is so across the board and almost feels anachronistic at times. From the jangly to fiercely crunchy guitars, the sonic overload of all the instruments at once in places then having a wonderfully balanced valley rock sound, these players find so many angles at a pivotal point in time.
I fuck with this heavy. It might not sound like punk we know but it get's to the soul of what punk is.
I think this was nice? Maybe revisit if it ever makes it to Spotify
I actually really liked this.
Out of time. A nugget of many carats.
What do you MEAN this came out in '66, how do you invent post-punk before anybody has even invented punk
Nope.
Who picks these albums?
I was not expecting much out of The Monks. I had never heard of them, and I'm not typically a fan of 60's garage rock, but this was a delightful little record.
I have to admit it's quite ahead of its time. Great keyboards. I am feeling generous with my today's rating.
82% Best: Monk Time; Oh How to Do Now; Complications Must-Hear? This is completely ahead of its time, unlike anything else I've heard from the 1960s. Sure
A super fun discovery. Clearly ahead of its time in 1966, and can see how this was a precursor to Punk. These are the kind of albums I really enjoy discovering along this journey. 4/5
So I couldn't find tis on my music provider - Tidal, however I did find a compliation called The Early Years (1964 to 1965). I also found the original album on Youtube, so after listening to the compilation listened to the album proper. Both are primitive and raw sounding. Tribal, tom -centric drums and stabbing guitars, organ fills that bring some sebance of melody and vocals that are amateurish but endearing and not bad in a raw bluesy style. All in all I liked both lstens. I appreciate their DIY attitude and I found the music engaging. I am tempted to give it 4 stars but it's a little too unskilled to merit that score. 3.5 overall (but 4 stars for hitting the right notes for me personally)
Can’t listen to it not on Amazon music
Only one of the 18 songs on this album was available - psychedelic Beatles sounding, unremarkable.
Was great the momentum and everything, idk the album was not on spotify
Day 21 First listen- The fact that this album came out in 1966 is crazy, I bet it sounded revolutionary. It was a nice listen! (3.5/5)
Never heard of this band. Only one song available from this album and only a minute and a half long, wacky for sure. Would listen to more if available but in short bursts.
This was OK. The history behind the group was the most interesting thing about the album, unfortunately.
Struggled to find the complete album, but listened to their “hits” on Spotify which covered most of the tracks, plus a few others and tried to pick off the rest on YouTube - quite enjoyed it!
Second album I had to source from YouTube. I recognize context matters and this was influential for its time. But I never want to hear anything from it again.
Not my kind
Not available on Youtube Music :(
Quirky and unique. Enjoyable but I most likely won’t be back. 2.5/5
This was a hilarious and pleasant surprise that at time was comically enjoyable. And the story of how these guys formed is even more fascinating. Drums with no cymbals. Six-string banjo in place of a rhythm guitar. Gotta love it. Nothing more punk rock than that. And all taking place in 1966. It’s as if The Animals, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Iggy Pop and The Kinks had a future baby and named him Johnny WhiteStripeHiveStrokes.
Though I don’t have an ultra rating on this, I wish we had more lesser-known albums like this on the list. Delightfully quirky, enjoyed this one. Maybe just not enough to it to warrant more than average marks
Sure
"Alright, my name's Gary" is an all time opening line for an album. This was a nice little surprise. Cool backstory and a shame they were never able to make another album. Def seems like they had something that could have progressed into some really interesting music. And being described as proto-punk just sounds cool. 3.25/5
I can't believe this is from 1966!
Lite knölig att hitta. Inte så bra faktiskt.
The story of the Monks feels like the setup for one of those lesser-known Hanna-Barbera cartoons: they're American GIs stationed in Germany who don monk outfits by night to fight back against the boredom and barbarism of their lives through the power of rock and roll! All of which is fun enough, but none of which would matter if their music wasn't also vibrant, from the antiwar shout-outs on the opener "Monk Time" to the basic, childlike, almost regressive lyrics of "Shut Up" and "Oh, How to Do Now" (no wonder Henry Rollins is a notable fan). I listened once through and immediately wanted to hear it all again. Also, it's worth seeking out a version with the bonus tracks as they're all actually worth hearing.
Ces gens sont fous.
Absolutely wild album, wild story, just really didn't like 95% of the sound of the whole thing, but props for the precursor to punk
For some reason there is only 1 song on this album available on Spotify and I can't be arsed to use Youtube. Since I only listened to one song I can't really give this a fair review so I'll just go with a 3 out of 5 and move on.
Tough to find. What I did hear was interesting and understood why it’s a tough find.
2.5
I guess it sounds a bit ahead of its time for 1966, but I don't get the sense they have a vision for themselves other than what they are not. The music sounds partly there but the vocal is just too off-putting though for me to give the music a chance to engage.
Surprising and very cool!
This was OK. Couldn’t get too excited about it.
I picked this up when it was re-released in the late 90s. I liked it OK, though their particular brand of rock struck me at the time as more of an interesting artifact than something I wanted to listen to. It was energetic and fun, but also a little too dorky for my tastes. Listening to it today, though, I was struck by: how many of these songs I remembered; how much these guys influenced the Krautrockers and The Fall; how varied this thing is; and finally, how much I enjoyed myself. Man, Love Came Tumblin' Down is so fucking weird and great. It's such a cool mix of 50s doo-wop, Everly Brothers, and speed. Glad I got to revisit this. I know a 5 might be a little high, but it just hit me the right way. Plus, there's nothing else like it.
Couldn't listen to it
Could not find the album on Spotify so just listened to a few tracks from a greatest hits compilation - which was sufficient to get the flavour. Its another album thats on the list due to its ground breaking / subsequent influence rather than its intrinsic listen-ability. For 1965 its pretty fucking nuts how out there it is for breaking new ground and establishing templates. Its not the greatest listen but you can admire their balls.
Black Monk Time Another one of those classic lost albums that I’ve not listened to, and also another YouTube album as it’s not on Tidal. For the most part, it’s much as I thought it would be, sloppily energetic and raucous proto punk garage rock, with guitars, shouting and organs bandied about willy nilly. Monk Times’s repetitive bass guitar and drums create a great frantic groove and I really like the shouty singy proselytising about Vietnam. Across much of it it’s those repeating rhythms that stand out, I can see why it was an influence on Kraftwerk and Krautrock and why people keep talking about it now, it’s simple, propulsive and minimalist, while the bass, drums and organs supplement the sound, with occasional very instrumental passages breaking out, like on Boys are Boys, Girls are Choice It is remarkable how ahead of its time it sounds it is for 1965, if not always musically then certainly rhythmically and certainly attitudinally, before many of the West Coast acid rock bands did their garagey bluesy psychedelic shuffling in subsequent years and obviously way before punk happened in the mid 70s. Aside from Monk Time and Boys are Boys, Girls are Choice, Higgle-dy-Piggle-Dy, I Hate You, with it’s a snaking bass line, Oh How To Do Now, We Do, Wie Du and Love Came Tumblin’ Down are the highlights It’s a really fun listen, although the overall quality of the songs (and recording) probably rightfully takes a back seat to the attitude and feel of the whole thing, and it’s relentlessly rhythmical, naive, outsider-art, anything goes proto-punk directness and subsequent influence on loads of great bands is probably where its the majority of its value and significance lie. It’s definitely more than a historical curio though, the crazed energy and sense of originality do give it a nice freshness, although it’s debatable how often I’ll come back to it, which puts it on the cusp of 3 and 4. It’s close to a 4 but I’ll stick with a high 3, it’s both very enjoyable and very interesting but it’s probably not going to go on regular rotation, even though I will listen again. 📿📿📿 Playlist submission: Monk Time
A curious blend: garage rock warped by eccentric vocals, bursts of sharp provocation giving way to surreal humour. We've had a few mid-60s US garage bands recently and they all struggle to get past a two rating. Whilst this has some great raw energy, some great eccentricity (and points for the band donning actual tonsures), it feels like a bit of an artefact. But when some claim it's the start of punk, I can see it.
This is quite an unique record, not only because of its innovative aspect, but also thanks to the fact that this is only album from the group. It adds a lot of mystery to it. The garage-rock sound of it and the performances make this album a very fun listen. It even feels a little chaotic considering this is a 1966 project. I also find my feelings to be conflicting. I find this album impressive for how it sounds, but it also didn't blow me mind. Still, I'm giving it 4 well deserved stars.
Well I can definitely tell they had fun with it. Not really sure what perspective they were going for with this. They seemed angry with something or someone, but also completely content with life. It was just all in all a tad off kilter. I enjoyed most of it, but mostly for the camp aspect. It was entertaining, not quality. 3/5
Doesn't exist on Spotify or Youtube music, but I managed to listen to half of it anyway. Wasn't to my liking. You can hear that it's early in the rock era and not as refined as it later becomes. Everything sounded barebones and the instrumentals and vocals didn't carry.
I don't know what I expected, but it was better than that. ⭐⭐⭐ For the music ⭐ For the novelty ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hockey arena organ player on acid
Incredibly strong start with the bonkers intro song and some bangers in there, but also a lot of filler. Cuckoo is bananas though, sounds exactly like Sparks
Can't say I'm a fan, and the fact it's only really on Youtube means I absolutely won't listen to it again
Can't believe I had to load up YouTube to listen to this
Enough to make a man want to shave a circle into the top of his head.
Best Song: We Do Wie Du Gotta say, I'm not a fan. I can kind of hear where there is some very early punk in here but that gets overshadowed by either boring or irritating songs. FYI, as of July, 2025 this isn't available on YouTube Music.
The release date for this is sure respectable, but I found no joy in this outside of historical perspective.
People in the 60’s were more talented and somehow found each other. So many cool bands that splashed then dipped out for a normal life. The Monks were really cool, would have liked more from them.
Far out kind of sound. Tight groove. Cool guitars. A little trippy. The band were Army guys in Germany in 1960s that dressed like monks. Couldn’t find the whole album anywhere but I bet it is cool and a good listen.
Liked it more than I thought I would when I first started listening - although there were a few songs I didn’t really like. Definitely one that grew on me on a second listen. Fav song: He Went Down to the Sea - also liked Monk Time and Love Came Tumblin’ Down Least fav: That’s My Girl
Minus points because it’s not on Spotify. Not a huge fan of the organ at the start of every song either. Meh otherwise Specific rating- 2.9 Fav song- monk time Least fav- pretty suzanne
2.3 So torn. On the one hand it's shit. It's not enjoyable to listen to, even the 25 minutes that exist on Spotify was far far longer than I wanted to listen to it for. On the other hand, it's possibly the first pisstake, critique at modern rock. I get why some might view it as the first true punk album. A middle finger to 60s pop bands, just as they were conquering the world. I think with better musicianship it would have landed better, but maybe that's the point. Drums and bass just far too simplistic to even partly enjoy. Can see why it should be included though.
awful.
The warning that I received, you may take with however many grains of salt you wish, that the brown acid that is circulating around us is specifically not too good. It's suggested that you do stay away from that; of course, it's your own trip, so be my guest.
Possibly interesting, back in the day.
Interesting and great back story. Not much substance to the songs.
Decent enough but no real standouts
Im a sucker for this sort of garage rock.
Blast off!! It’s Monk Time. Praise the heavens
Some bits were a bit too wild for me, but worth another listen
Excellent. Another one I had listened to and heard about because of the book. Impossible to find the full album to stream apart from YouTube.
This is the kind of wild shit I was hoping for doing this project. American GI's stationed in Germany making groundbreaking pre punk garage rock with wild lyrics with a distorted banjo. I wish Spotify had this so it were more accessible to listen to again.
This album was not for me at all
I enjoyed the music and the variety of instruments!
alright, not my thing, giving another star because this must have been so unique at the time
3 stars
Probably revolution for its day, not into it. Very 60's vocals, raw garage band but without that edge or interesting music. Proto punk? Maybe.
This is a little gem, going against the era's grain. i am happy it's put the Monks back on my radar.
OK, not great.
The Cuckoo song sealed their fate.
Loved it, fast paced and didn’t have me wanting it to end at any point
I lol'd when I read this from the album's description: "In 2017, Black Monk Time was ranked the 127th greatest album of the 1960s by Pitchfork." Well, as they say in the first song, it's monk time... (Had to listen on Youtube since it's not on Spotify or Apple Music, bleh) This was a fine 60s rock album. I don't usually agree with Pitchfork on much nor do I have the time/energy to cross-reference the other 126 albums from the 60s that may or may not be on this list and compare it to this one, so I'll take their word for it... Low 3.
No Spotify means I lose sense of tracks completely. General impression is this vacillated between good and solid throughout. I enjoyed the fuzzy guitar and organ work throughout. Felt a bit surf-rock-ish at times and at others more psych. Vocals are rough, but intentionally so -- I can see why this falls into "proto punk." I'd say this is a mid-high 3 to my ears.
Nice energy and all, but nothing spectacular. File this away as "unremarkable"
Perfectly fine 60s rock. Kind of all sounded the same. Low 3
Not on AM :( off to YouTube for this one. Pretty standard 60's rock, going with a pretty even 3 on this one.
2/5
Incredible album. Not a single bad track. One of the absolute highlights of this endeavor so far. Lyrics, sound, pacing- all perfect. I cNt believe I've never heard of this album/band before.
Wow. This was totally new to me. I don't even recall ever reading about this band. Organ, electric banjo proto beach pre punk music? Sign me up!
"Smokey, my friend, you’re entering a world of pain"
Crazy weird garage rock. A lot of great stuff but a few that could have been left on the cutting room floor (Cuckoo, etc). But a pretty fun listen that I’ll go back to.
Such a wonderfully weird record. A thoroughly enjoyable experimental proto-punk album It's strange to think they were active in Germany at the same time the Beatles were.
Very weird, and yet oddly enjoyable.
Like many others have pointed out, The Monks are one of the earliest examples of proto-punk, especially considering that punk as a genre wouldn’t fully emerge until nearly a decade later. But what makes this album even more fascinating is how much it foreshadows both Krautrock and No Wave. The band’s music is rhythmically intense, built around a kind of motorik repetition that gives it a trance like, hypnotic quality. There’s something futuristic in their sound. It’s stripped-down, percussive, and minimalistic in a way that feels ahead of its time. That repetition, paired with raw aggression, also aligns with the ethos of the No Wave movement that surfaced in late ’70s New York. The Monks had that same anti-pop, anti-establishment attitude, not just in sound but in spirit. What’s even more remarkable is their position as cultural outsiders. Though American, the members were GIs stationed in Germany when they formed the band, so in Europe, they were seen as foreign outsiders. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., they were completely rejected by the mainstream and largely ignored by the underground scene. Their abrasive, anti-commercial approach made them too radical for either audience, and quite simply, too far ahead of their time for the American market.
IT'S THAT SONG! IT'S THAT SONG FORM THE BIG LEBOWSKI! Did actually enjoy this more than I expected. I felt it didn't take itself that seriously in that good sort of way. Pleasantly surprised
I couldn’t find this album on my streaming platform, so I listened to a compilation album that included seven of the songs, plus five others so I think I did get the general idea. A weird record, but I did find it enjoyable and most of the tunes catchy, while still offbeat. I would normally give something like this two stars, but since I enjoyed it and I wasn’t just waiting for it to end, I will give it three stars.
Full album not available. Song I heard was deec. 3 stars.
It took me a while to find this one to listen to it. When I finally did, I wasn't sure what to expect. I can really only compare the experience to being at some sort of demented carnival, trapped in the funhouse with crazy clowns while on drugs. This album is what would blare over the speaker system. For some reason, I still enjoyed it. There's a lot of energy there, to say the least. I can't tell if the band members knew how to play their instruments before making this album, or if they decided to pick them up and learn as they went, adding some form of yodeling, screeching vocalist to really drive it home. Even with all the chaos it was coherent music, so I think the style was a deliberate choice. It's pretty interesting that this got made in the mid-60s when albums were geared toward studio-driven productions rather than more spontaneous efforts. No to mention using anti-war messaging in that time. I can see why the article says it's a precursor to punk rock and more modern alt rock. The style is like a weird blend of early and contemporary rock with the garage-esque production and oddity added in. Some points were almost like if 90s Green Day made a Crickets album. There were interesting builds at times and noticeable deconstructions at others. Regardless of the section, the instrumentation and vocals demanded attention. I'm not sure I would have liked it as much if I knew what to expect going into it. I think the novelty of it is one of its greater strengths, because I don't know how much re-listening value it really has. Additionally, it got kind of grating as it went on, even with how short it was. This album was weird, but in an interesting and memorable way. It earned a lot more "style" points than substance points, which makes it difficult for me to evaluate. I can't say I found it great, but I did get something from it that isn't present in a lot of other albums. I'm glad I heard it once even if I don't know that I'll ever listen to it again. I will definitely think about it again, though. Overall: 3/5
Annoying had to listen on YouTube. But this was more aggressive than I expected. Pioneers of punk maybe? Looked them up and haircuts were priceless. Boys are boys and girls are choice - poignant stuff.
This was very intriguing - has shades of all kinds of rock sub-genres; garage, alternative, psychadelic, punk, and all in 1966. It must've sounded very out there and been ahead of its time. Not sure I enjoyed listening to it that much but definitely see the artistic merit
какая-то дисковакханалия, с трудом послушала полтора раза с вк, но потом вечером как-то отвлеклась и нормально сто раз прокрутила) но ста раз мне пожалуй хватит
Sounds a lot like The Clash,
Every true music curmudgeon has one mid to late ‘60s underground rock band that they claim secretly sort of invented punk before anyone else. And as quite the curmudgeon myself, mine has been The Monks for some time now. While The Monks may have been limited by the music aesthetics of the time and the technology available to American GIs in Germany in like 1966, the punk spirit is alive and well on Black Monk Time, and frankly the sound isn’t as far as you’d think. The songs are repetitive and simple and sorta pummeling in their own sort of scuzzy garage rock way. The lyrics are blunt, angry and often politically charged. And a kind of energy rarely seen in rock at this time courses through the album. Also, this is a particularly brisk ~30 minutes, well suited to the kind of stuff here. There’s some really cool drum work here too, and I was pleasantly surprised by the organ incorporation that could have only been here in 1966. This is some really unique, exciting rock music, and I’m glad the 1001 albums list gave it some love.
I'm sure it must have been amazing to hear in 1966. To my ears it was fine, occasionally grating, but didn't overstay its welcome. Interesting and appreciable at least.
So sad there were only 2 songs from the album on Spotify. Luckily Ive heard it many years ago and it was really cool.
When Alex and Blake were at the peak of their pretentious music phase, this is exactly the kind of crap they’d go on about being 'good'. Utter rubbish
“Guys, wouldn’t it be hysterical if we all shaved our heads like monks and put the powers that be on blast through rock‘n roll music??” In other words: Black Monk Time is what you get when a high school inside joke goes way too far. The music isn’t exactly accessible with its nails on a chalkboard vocals. It’s all fairly raw and immediate for its era, and it feels a little bit like ground zero for the 70’s punk acts that followed - so I am willing to extend a bit of grace to a group that dared to put out something other than sugary harmonies. However, for me, it just doesn’t add up to a smooth listening experience. ⭐️⭐️
The Monks sound is in the realm of The Animals and The Kinks. And you can see where they might have influenced hard core punk or early New Wave. All of that and there is a banjo!
garage punk if it was the doors
Monks walked so 5678s could run
Hey Anthony. What's the most punk rock album in your collection from the mid 60s?
Couldn’t find it anywhere. Did find one of the singles and it was cool.
okay, interesting sound, some songs were too repetitive for me
I have a bit of a soft spot for American garage bands of the mid-60s, even those in military bases in Germany. I really enjoyed this no-nonsense album.
Not my kind of music
Nuggets style garage psych rock.
legal d+
bizarro ter saído em 66 hein bem proto-punk e proto-outras coisas. dá pra sentir de onde o the fall tirou algumas melodias tbm fiquei surpreso, achei que seria mto pior. top e distorcido as vezes.
W pewnym momencie to już brzmiało tak samo, ale i tak bardzo doceniam! Rock osadzony na bębnach, bardzo rytmiczny, czasem quirky. Końcowe piosenki to już odczepione wrotki na całości, ale i tak duże i pozytywne zaskoczenie 8/10
Okayish
One of those singular albums that exists in its own time and space. Everything about this album rips and was way ahead of it's time. It's still has incredible to me now as it was the first time I heard it 20 years ago. Incredible artifact from a time and place when a band like this had no constraints to make whatever they wanted.
A prehistoric reference on punk's history. Coming from the 60's rock and r&b that also lead to other styles, in this case you can anticipate rythm structures, base lines and lyrics that will evolve into hard rock and punk.
2.75 Man, I really tried to like this, but it followed Captain Beefheart and I've already had my fill of kooky for awhile.
Very cool
Unexpectedly marvellous. (There was one track I couldn't find; didn't have time to comb YT, etc, but I found the others on a compilation.) Tbh, it probably sounds exactly like you'd expect five GIs based in Germany in the mid-60s, pissed off with the war, to sound. Hints of California, but darker: paving the way for the Doors, the Stooges and beyond. Groovy, but subversive. Like they're playing at a holiday camp, but someone might just be about to kill everyone. Irresistable repetition. Mad drumming. The organ is so randomly enjoyable! Not for the first time, this project has thrown up something subversive, addictive and ahead of its time from Germany (well, America, sort of). If Quentin Tarantino had stuck any of these tracks in a film, I reckon, you'd hear it everywhere. I had to include this from Wiki (all of the Wiki write-up is very enjoyable): "Much was made at the time of the Monks' unconventional attire, with their tailored-made black robes strikingly at odds with the prevailing trends among contemporary beat groups. With all five members abandoning their Beatlesque hairdos for tonsures and plain rope serving ties, the band exuded a mysterious aura, while also looking menacingly non-conformist." As I said. Marvellous. I'd love to have seen them live. (Edit - have now tracked down live footage 😍)
I wasn’t prepared to scour Spotify for all the album tracks, so listened to two and that was quite enough.
I have a lot of respect for bands like The Monks, for experimenting and trying to create a new alternative sound. We wouldn't have many different styles of music today if there weren't pioneers out there trying new stuff. That being said, I did not care for any of this lol.
This feels like 60s to me. I don’t see myself just casually listening to this one again but it was fun for what it was worth. 3.5
yeah sure
Probably groundbreaking at the time, but I dont like it right now. 2.8
Piola Proto Punk
What a surprising experience! This is a '60s Beat sound meeting proto-punk, characterized by heavily rhythm-based, distorted tunes and radical lyrics. It's way ahead of time. Records like this make it worth wading through so many bad or mediocre albums on this list.
Not bad. It's fine. Probably ahead of its time for sure. I appreciate that.
The track that the Spotify linked to sounds fun, but it wasn't the full record. So, who knows if the whole record is any good, cause it seems extremely difficult to find, at least on Spotify.
The Good: No escaping what time it is! The Bad: That we have to do it in the dark… The Ugly: Realizing that these monks are not religious… Always nice to have a virgin experience, even if it is with some monks. Did not know what to expect and reading the initial information did not really assist much either. What is undeniable is that I am getting sick and tired of labels… proto-punk, garage rock, psychodelic rock… oddly enough what would really apply here, in my humble opinion, would be alternative rock. Due to the country I live in, Spotify only had a couple of songs not greyed out, which meant that I had to scour the internet and find the album in streamin’ format, thankfully YouTube always comes to the rescue. So what did I think about the album? Well, it sure has rhythm, that’s no lie. And to be frank, the album flew by in a no time, which means that it was not a bad experience. However, there is little that I would say is memorable… so I will need to be simple here and give them Monks a 3* Maybe at some point in the future, should I recall the album and find it again on YouTube, I might give another score… 3*
I appreciated how loose this was, quirky at times, but always rockin. Feels ahead of its time while also rough around the edges.
not too terrible for punk
Never heard of this album or group before which isn’t surprising as there appears to have been no official UK release. Consequently it wasn’t easy to trace and listen to over the streaming services. Only managed to find it on YouTube. Quite enjoyed it although it is of its time but nevertheless must have been considered an experimental and ground breaking back in 1966. Enjoyed the keyboard work on the album reminding me of The Doors. I detected a reoccurring riff which in itself is quite memorable but I couldn’t help but think it was nicked from an English football clapping chant popular at the time. You know the one… Clap Clap Clap,Clap,Clap, Clap,Clap,Clap,Clap Clap Clap “United” (or City or Town or colour of teams shirts etc) 2/5 5/6/25
Crazy to think this is from ‘66! Definitely need more things like this on the list.
Everything was absolutely pointing towards this being a very frustrating experience. It's only on YouTube, they sound beyond stupid and look insane. And yet! This is just straight up great 60s garage rock, with a heavy tinge to it and no little artistry. The lyrics are quite impenetrable, but still very interesting, and overall, this has been a great discovery.
I had never heard of this group and the album started off with the lead singer talk-singing, which is an immediate put-off for me. The album did improve after that though. I do understand how this was considered pre-punk punk but a lot of the sounds on this album are somewhat similar to other bands were doing in 1966. It's not a totally foreign group of songs to my ears and it's sort of art-punk music. Despite the rough start, I did enjoy this album and there are a lot of ideas seemingly thrown against the wall that stick or will stick in the next decade. I listened to the 16 track version of the album and my favorite songs were: Shut Up I Hate You Oh, How to Do Now Complication (the first 5 seconds sound like a Hendrix song) Love Came Tumblin' Down (which feels like a typical 60's song) I Can't Get Over You Love Can Take a While
Couldn't find the actual album, but apparently, The Early Years 1964-1965 has a similar track listing. Never heard of them before. Not heavy on the lyrics, but I dig their style. They span genres. Sounds like The Doors at times, and 50s bubble gum pop at other times.
Alright, Black Monk Time by The Monks? This ain't just an album, it's a statement. This is raw, visceral, no-holds-barred '60s rock and roll. These cats play like a runaway train – fuzzy guitar, relentless beat, pure primal energy. I am giving this a high 4, almost 5 stars. It's essential. This band was so ahead of its time, they just got lost in the shuffle. Definitely grab this for your vinyl collection; it'll sound even grittier. If you dig '60s guitar rock, Black Monk Time is an absolute must-listen. A pure hidden gem.
Couldn’t find original on Spotify
Did not find anywhere
avg
Another unknown for me, and thankfully an entertaining entry in this collection's mystery grab bag. I can definitely see how this oddball album from 1966 could be considered an early entry in the punk annals, although I'm not sure any real label applies to this incredibly prescient-sounding album, and the weird release history of the album makes it even more bizarrely backwater. It says so much about the American recording industry that the style and content of their music was so appalling to the studios that the album was never distributed in the US until 1994, and that the German label that produced the album apparently didn't care what this ex-US-military band was saying, about Vietnam or culture or anything, as long as it was an American rock band. It's nearly impossible for me (listening in 2025) to imagine how the music or the lyrics would have seemed so experimental and dangerous, but apparently it was. I really enjoyed the experience of listening to this album, and a few tracks really stood out--the outrageous opening track "Monk time", the driving dirge "I hate you" (which apparently was part of "The Big Lebowski" soundtrack, so kudos to the Coen brothers), and the eviscerating "Complication". I probably won't revisit this album, but I really like it that I've now heard The Monks (subversive as they apparently were) thanks to this project.
Wow, this was fun and fresh. I can't imagine what it would have been like to hear them live: like the scene in Back to the Future when Marty plays Johnny B. Goode at the prom and starts playing the guitar behind his head then lying on the floor while playing before he kicks over an amp. Go Monks Go!
That was banging
Terrible album not listenable
This album felt like chore to get through
this was not a very fun listen. the whole time it just reminded me of other music that I'd rather be listening to.
fun!
Okei jes a-puoli, ihan turha jumitus-ska -b-puoli. A kuulosti melkein livelevytyksellä ja hauskaa oli - ja taitavaa laulua. B:llä mun korviin oli vain yhtä asiaa 25 minuuttia, huono juttu. Vahva 2,5.
Kuin tehty yliarvostetuksi: tuntematon, lo-fi, koukuton.
Feels ahead of its time and is still very listenable and fun.
Unavailable. 😔
Felt very uninspired by this, just about as generic and standard as 60s rock gets.
Not sure why this is on the list did nothing for me
This is a great album! I'm shocked I haven't heard it before. I can see how it would be incredibly influential for punk and rock. It's fun and weird. More please.
Both of its time yet just outside of it. Not entirely sure what to make of this one. There's are plenty of good moments but they return to the same well - a lot. Perhaps that is missing the point of the limitations of the genre. But I do think they present some interesting ideas within those boundaries. Less is more. But the tracks that work...work.
Proto-punk/krautrock. A bunch of American GIs make a warped rock n roll album. Crunchy guitars, distorted hammond organ that descends into carny mode, pounding drums and relentless rhythm. Great considering they knew no one would listen. Best Tracks: Monk Time; Boys Are Boys and Girls Are Choice; I Hate You
Ripping garage psych with a prominent organ and a weird approach. Lots of people did the same thing not too long after so it's kind of a tired sound, but credit for being ahead of the pack.
Oh, how I wish you were actually on Spotify. Maybe one day I'll find a pressing out in the wild.
7/10
An odd little gem on the list.
Found this really annoying to be honest. I dont take much issue with the instrumentals, as I think they are alright, but the fact that every song needs this excruciating "funny voice" i do not understand. What people who hate the beatles think they sound like. Best: Monk Time (i guess) Worst: Cuckoo
Weird and hard to track down but interesting
2.5/5
4/5
☀︎considérant qu’il y avait seulement 1 chanson sur 18 que je pouvais écouter sur spotify et que je ne l’ai pas trouvée super, je sais pas comment je peux noter cet album lol
Kinda weird and unique, not unamusing but hard to see going back.
I had really high hopes for this album, given that it could not be found on any streaming service for some reason. The mystery, the anticipation, the wonder. Why was it absent from all major services? What was so controversial about it? So the intrigue was there, to say the least. It was alright. Definitely didn't live up to the hype I created for myself. I can't deny that it's ahead of its time though. The entire thing reminded of one song in particular - "Hold Tight" by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. Very similar vibe. 60's band ahead of their time, producing music that wouldn't necessarily have done well commercially, but definitely struck a chord with the right audience and is looked back on fondly and as progressive for its time. Most tracks are under two minutes, so if you aren't thrilled with one it at least isn't sticking around very long. A lot of it feels like some joke I'm aware of but not entirely in on, like they know something I don't; like somehow the whole thing is a comment on something bigger than the band. I dunno. But there's so much influence here - punk, post-punk, new wave, and more. They're at times a harder version of bands like Talking Heads or Elvis Costello and the Attractions and a softer versions of early punk bands. Sometimes they strike a tone right between both worlds. Hell, there are even moments where I hear early Pink Floyd. One criticism of the album might be that it does get a little repetitive at times. Certain staccato rhythms from the drums repeat themselves (1+2+3+&+4 or 1+2+3+&4+&, for example), and the talk-singing does happen more than a few times, making some songs feel very similar. But that isn't enough to diminish what was otherwise and enjoyable and interesting listen. This is honestly such a fascinating listen, especially for an album from 1966. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Black Monk Time, Shut Up, Oh, How To Do Now, Drunken Maria, Love Came Tumblin' Down, Blast Off
Not good at all. Cool story. Terrible album.
At first this comes across as juvenile and rudimentary, and it just may be. However you then check the date on this and realize that this record had, effectively, zero influences. This guy's are freaking thr fuck out before the Stooges and we'll before the Beatles acid binging.
Couldn’t listen to the actual album but listened to enough know what they are about. Nothing terrible. Nothing compelling.
Essential proto punk garage
I liked the sound a lot. If it were on Spotify, I’d probably listen to a few songs again. 7/10
Monk time!!! Album was very cool but unfortunate it wasn’t on Spotify. Due to time constraints and the headache of listening on YouTube I did not finish the last 3 songs, I’ll go back at some point. But I got a general vibe for the album I was feeling a light 7/10 Favorite track: monk time
An interesting album, but not one I need to hear again. 3 stars or C-.
Im not going to chase these down, sorry
That was fun to listen to.
All except one song is unavailable on Spotify and the one that's there is not very good
I could only listen to two tracks because the rest wasn't on Spotify ☹️
Just about worth tracking down, if it’s good enough for Mark E. Smith then it’s good enough for me. I don’t think there’s enough there for me, but I don’t regret listening.
Enjoyed this musically, especially the psychedelic/jam band energy. Unofrtunately none of the songs were particularly good. This is alright.
This was great!!!! This band is like a heavier punkier version of the Beatles haha. Would definitely listen to this again.
Psychedellic shovelware. Move on, nothing to see here. 2/5
I'm all for pushing boundaries and trying new things, but not all of that experimentation needs to go into your album
didnt listen
Definitely one of the stranger and more obscure bands on this list, The Monks were five American GIs stationed in West Germany who started a band because they were bored. They performed on stage dressed in monk’s costumes with shaved heads, the music featured pounding drums and a heavily distorted banjo and the lyrics were equally wild, attacking the war in Vietnam amongst other things. Nervous record companies refused to release their album in the United States because it was considered too experimental and controversial. In retrospect this can be seen as possible proto-punk record, crossed with weird art-rock and even a bit of skiffle. Monk-tastic!
That is a good example of why this list is interesting, whatever the many fillers and repetitive albums we can find. It's quirky, living in an undefined space between experimental music, proto-punk, art-rock. It didn't change my life but that was a nice discovery.
2 Stars (5/15)
It was actually a fun time hearing what was the precursor to punk music. It’s very lighthearted and energetic for something from the 60’s and I had a good time with it!
This album wasn't on Amazon music but there was one called the early years that had most of these songs and I filled the gaps from YouTube. Didn't think it was very punky initially, each song was announced at the start in a 50s/60s rock and roll way and the church organ and acousticish guitar didn't help. Looking at a gig when listening to a missing track showed that they were proto punk in that they were unhinged and didn't give a fuck, an attitude that didn't really exist in bands at the time and could well have sparked the punk movement. I'm not sure the music was particularly good but definitely worth being on this list. 2.5.
Quite liked, He Went Down To The Sea. More of a diverting, inoffensive listen. Quite enjoyed the musical decoration of use of twinkly bells on half the songs. Don't really know what to make of it otherwise.
Sounds way ahead of it's time. Very rough around the edges though. Think I recognised "we do wei do" but not sure why. 3
Bit gimmicky, I thought. I guess the time and place make the difference…
Neat
This was silly and more fun than I expected. I wouldn’t say it belongs on this list, but not mad I listened to it. It’s a good one time listen that brought smiles to my face and quite a few chuckles.
Volvemos al reto luego de un día de pausa con esta rareza musical que conocí por la banda sonora de "The Big Lebowski" (gran película y soundtrack). Todo lo que tiene que ver con el origen de las cosas siempre me atrapó, por lo que el proto-punk no escapa de eso. Álbum crudo, nacido de las ganas de experimentar y de reinventar el rock por un grupo de pibes aburridos de los sonidos de ése momento. Tremenda recomendación. Hasta mañana.
Cool background story to how they were formed. Definitely a different take on rock given when it was released. Velvet Underground & sex pistols vibes? I didn't hate it but it did get a bit repetitive. I applaud their experimentation in a time where punk rock wasn't exactly accepted
È stato epico quando I Monks hanno detto "it's monk time" e hanno monkato da tutte le parti
Ascoltato molto in sottofondo. Quasi non mi sono accorto. Non è male ma non fa per me.
This was completely unknown, annoyingly difficult to track down and exactly why i'm here. The missing link between Booker T and the Sex Pistols is a description that couldnt be more accurate and i enjoyed it immensely. Ill need to go back to dig deeper but im happy to have found it.
Kind of sounds like a 1960s Geordie Greep album (this is a good thing)
Hearing Black Monk Time’s aggressive garage/proto-punk for the first time is like finding the missing key to a door you already kicked down.
The more I listen to this, the more I'm into it. The songs really hit my type of humor and the last couple of songs are surprising--at one point there's a Beach Boys-esque harmony? It might hit a 3.5 for me on first listen, but bumping to:
1. Shut Up 2. We Do Wie Du 3. I Hate You 4. Drunken Maria 5. Monk Time 6. Oh, How to Do Now 7. Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy 8. Complication 9. That's My Girl 10. Blast Off! 11. Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice 12. Love Came Tumblin' Down
It's alright. Won't be listening to it again though
Kind of like a proto-punk band in a way. Enjoyed some of it. But did get pretty repetitive by the end. 3/5
An obscure 1966 album from an obscure German-based American garage rock band. Spotify would only play 2 tracks unless I upgraded to a paid subscription. Probably best forgotten.
The worst thing something can be is boring. I love the solemnity of the album cover. It IS black monk time. Props to these guys for deciding on a monk theme and just rolling with it. As a fan of some slightly more off-kilter postpunk artists this is right up my alley, its offputting, psychedelic, wild and also incredibly funny. I particularly like the weirdo keyboard in drunken maria, And I liked I can't get over you.
Oh this one was fun. A new find for me but one I'll definitely have to revisit, I love the energy on the tracks and the sound is interesting as a stepping stone between rock and early punk. The album managed to captivate me the whole way and never lost energy even while the sound remained largely the same. Enjoyed the wordplay in We Do Wie Du and Monk time as an intro to the album
was tying to imagine how it would have sounded like if it was made in the 80s or later. In the album, drums just sound like someone was hitting a plastic stool..
very cool to listen to the first proto-punk album. i mean, just from a history perspective thats really cool. that being said... this album was just aight for me. it was cool, it was quirky, but i didn't even know when the album ended and then youtube started playing another playlist. three stars for historical relevance, and because 2 stars seems way too low for this
Fun album. Familiar throughout although I don’t think I’ve heard them before. The guitar riffs were classic sounding and I enjoyed it.
I was trying to figure out which Apple ad Boys are Boys and Girls Are Choice was from because the beginning of the song isn't too unique, and then the 'woo-hoo' part hit and it was a shot of nostalgia. But then I felt really old when I looked up the ad and saw that it was advertising features on the iPhone 7. Pretty generic 60s rock, but better than some of the others from the same decade that we've had prior to this one. Would come back to listen to a couple of the songs, but them not being on streaming services makes it difficult.
You know what? I liked it more than a lot of the albums on this list.
Only had two songs from the album on Spotify. Both were forgettable.
It was ok
It was so promising for the first 30 seconds until the vocals came in. I dug the 60s kind of raw, surf rock inspired style, but the shrill vocals and bizarre lyrics were a turn off. I am happy I listened to it, but was also happy when it was over.
Couldn't listen to it in full on the Spots, but the playlist of most tracks was pretty cool. High 2s
I'm just glad they sound like they're having fun.
campy and cheesy - not that great for me. Have to admit I was definitely not in the mood for this one and another listen might leave a better impression. Although this isn't really my thing anyway so maybe not.
Good listen, fast passing songs
Garage rock bliss! Some strong tracks