| | | | If we tell you that Uncle Monk is a bluegrass duo with Tommy Ramone in it, you’re bound to think of something like punkgrass or bluepunk or 1, 2, 3, grass! But Ramone and Claudia Tienan serve it up pretty straight — and solid.
Uncle Monk mines the thin golden vein connecting punk and bluegrass by stubbornly avoiding a mixture of the two. In fact, given the rough-and-tumble roots of one half of the duo, they are surprisingly faithful to the time-worn traditions and structures of the latter.
Their self-titled debut distinguishes itself on the merit of its unconventional subject matter and the deadpan delivery of guitarist/singer Tienan. Emotional Needs, Home Sweet Reality and Bright Fluorescent all present a wry and entirely modern take on the eternal quest for leaving one’s troubles behind. | | | | | |