UNCLE MONK: Uncle Monk

Uncle Monk

Uncle Monk

© 2006 Airday Records (837101153928)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Alt-Country, Progressive Bluegrass, Old-Timey music by Tommy Ramone & Claudia Tienan.

tracks

1 Round the Bend
2 Emotional Needs
3 Happy Tune
4 Home Sweet Reality
5 Mean to Me
6 Airday
7 Need a Life
8 Heaven
9 Name of the Game
10 Mr. Endicott
11 Urban Renewal
12 Walking Bandit
13 Bright Fluorescent
14 Wishing At the Moon

notes

Uncle Monk is an alt-country progressive bluegrass duo featuring Tommy Ramone on vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo and dobro, and Claudia Tienan on vocals, guitar and bass. Uncle Monk's music is rooted in old-time and bluegrass influences. To this mix they have added unique musical textures to create a sound with a new sensibility.

Tommy Ramone began his musical career as Tom Erdelyi an engineer at the Record Plant recording studios. In the musical doldrums of the 70's he, along with the great Johnny, Joey and Dee Dee Ramone, formed the rock group Ramones and participated in the birth of New Wave, Punk Rock, and Alternative music. As manager, producer and drummer for the band, Tommy Ramone helped create the sound, style and ideology for what was to become modern rock. Claudia Tienan, formerly with the group The Simplistics, is a partner with Tommy Ramone in Uncle Monk. Her penetrating lyrics and haunting vocals add facets and dimension to the songs. The music of the two artist complement each other. There is a Yin and Yang sensibility at work, a touch of light and dark, of bitter and sweet.

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • Good surprise
    author: Bedlam

    Simple but excellent. A really cool CD.

  • New (& Different) Music from the Great Tommy Ramone
    author: Ken F

    As a friend of mine (who plays bluegrass) said when he heard about this record, "Of course the Ramones would be into bluegrass; it's all crazy music for white people!" Tommy's songs are the standouts here, and he wrote most of them. Tienan's voice is very limited and takes some getting used to, but everything is played with pleasure and spunk, just like the Ramones.

  • Real good, down to earth stuff.
    author: Craig Kent

    I really am enjoying this CD. The simple acoustic instruments and sparse production is what I like best these days in music. Plus good, honest lyrics make this a joy to listen to. Life just rolls on Uncle Monk has a great way of expressing to us that the the wheels just keep turning, albeit with a few twists and turns in the old dusty trail. Happy trails Uncle Monk, looking forward to the next CD.

  • Who knew? Punk finds Bluegrass
    author: Kimjam

    You know, I love this CD. I ran into it on myspace actually. Someone had them as a friend etc. I had no idea it was Tommy from the Ramones era. But he and Claudia just got it on this one, imho. I'm finding so many former punk or whatever you'd call it, artists are now into country and bluegrass. They bring a new idea to it I find, that I like. I'm not a traditionalist, but I like it when they stay true to the music they play. This CD has that. It's more accessible to a guy who grew up rock n roll. I actually did go through that late 70's thing with country...J.J.Cale, Jerry Jeff etc. Still love that stuff. But I never really got into the bluegrass. And I'm finding that Uncle Monk gets that right here as far as I'm concerned. It's something that I can immediately identify with. Good tunes, stripped down. Jon Langford fans, Graham Parker fans, they did it country. Tommy and Claudia did it bluegrass. And I like them all. It fits my sensibilities. Check it out. Kim

  • Different..but worth many listens
    author: LJT

    This isn't really Alt-Bluegrass, but isn't your grandfather's bluegrass ether. Give it a listen!

  • Really cool
    author: Peter Åstedt

    Really cool CD. I'm not that expert on Bluegrass. But i'm converting some after this CD. There are some really catchy things. Specially like the duett in Emotional needs. Hope I'm are abel to see them live.

  • my favorite bluegrass cd of the year
    author: fran liscio

    there's a wonderful quality about this bluegrass music. the artists manage to create the complex arrangements and playing that are a hallmark of great bluegrass, but they also manage to invoke the spare, pure essence of early country music. tommy was a founder of the ramones and he brought that same elegance to his first band. i liked this cd so much i bought five copies to give to friends to make sure they didn't miss it. these friends are all big fans of both punk and bluegrass so i imagine they'll be in heaven, much as i have been, listening to this great cd. my next goal is to catch uncle monk on tour. i love the vocals, too--clear, direct and pitch perfect, ornamented by nothing but emotion and even, in one or two cases, a little humor. nothing pretentious--just pure, beautiful, mandolin-rich bluegrass.

email

Please log in to email this artist.