Customer Reviews

Monk Underground

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4 star:		(2)
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OK, so it's not a five star album, but this may be one of Monk's most accessible works. This was the first Monk album I bought (I'll admit, it was the album cover) and I probably listen to it more than "Brilliant Corners" or "Monk's Music" or any of the other favorites of the purists. This album is maligned only because it came late in his career, when he was no longer breaking new ground. But ther are some winners here, including the haunting "Ugly Beauty" the affectionate "Boo-Boo's Birthday", written for his daughter.

This is the second Monk album I ever heard (Monk's Music was the first) and the first I ever bought. I still listen to it quite often. The criticisms one may have read of it not being very worthwhile because it breaks no new ground strike me as...well, as snobbish. Yes, it has some older songs on it, but "Thelonious" (for example) still sounds good and Monk has rarely hammered a keyboard like he does on this rendition. These are Monk's own songs, for crying out loud, and he obviously felt he had more to explore. Thelonious was such an innovator and so far ahead of his time, I don't understand how someone can criticize his last few Columbia discs because he wasn't breaking new ground when he'd been doing that very thing for close to 20 years.

This CD still swings, and for my money, that's the highest praise possible. Monk was a tormented genius who gave us wonderful music. I for one appreciate his gift. Listen, swing with Monk and enjoy.

Certainly this is not a classic must-have jazz album. But to call this album "mediocre" is a bit harsh. Monk has been more creative, as his somewhat dull playing "Raise Four" proves. He has been more energetic as well. This set fails to consistently raise the excitement bar a whole lot.

But it is a good disc for those wanting to hear Monk for the first time, because the melodies and solos on most of these tracks are worth hearing. In particular, the comical and cute "Boo's Birthday" and the gorgeous melody of "Ugly Beauty" (which sounds incredibly modern in its conception) really kick this disk up a notch.

A decent record, but with so many great Monk CDs available, for completists only. The Columbia years, by and large, where more ones of consolidation than exploration for Monk, and the music is often run-of-the-mill. "Underground" is a perfectly mediocre example.