1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #65. The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966)

The Monks - Black Monk Time (1966)

Label – Polydor
Producer – Jimmy Bowen
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality -USA
Running Time – 28:01

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Monk Time
2. Shut Up
3. Boys Are Boys And Girls Are Choice
4. Higgle-Dy-Piggle-Dy
5. I Hate You
6. Oh How To Do Now
7. Complication
8. We Do Wie Du
9. Drunken Maria
10. Love Came Tumblin' Down
11. Blast Off
12. That's My Girl

This is the Monks' only album, and may be the first punk album ever made. Packed with anthems of angst such as "Shut Up," "I Hate You," "Complication," and "Drunken Maria." This is perhaps one of the strangest recordings ever made. It starts of great with “Monk Time” but it gets really old really fast and I found myself with each passing track hoping it was the last.
The Monks were formed in the early '60s by American G.I.s stationed in Germany. Little did they know that the furious, minimalist original music they were making anticipated the punk era. And their look matched. The Monks shaved the top of their heads and performed their songs in actual monks' clothing. They disbanded in 1967, but their album has gained a cult following among collectors, and has ironically made them much more popular and influential on an international level than they were during their lifetime.
Unfortunately it’s not very good and is not recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.