“Black Monk Time” by The Monks is an interesting aural artefact. It’s very hard to believe this was recorded in 1966. Full of the “punk” attitude that oozed out again 10 years later, it shows antecedents of both The Ramones and The Modern Lovers and some of the weirder elements of the post-hippie “freak” scene. I could hear the drone-rock experiments of early Soft Machine (We Did It Again”) and Kevin Ayers & The Whole World (“Shooting At The Moon”) and also Can etc. in Germany. Haphazard and sloppy in both playing and composition, it’s not really a keeper but certainly a must-hear slice of history.

“Black Sabbath” by Black Sabbath is a landmark album in that it was the starter of a musical style that has persisted to this day. The compositions aren’t that great, and neither is the playing really. It has it’s moments and despite the sludgy sound it has moments of beauty. Not one for repeated listening but not objectionable by any means.

“Black Sabbath Vol. 4” by Black Sabbath is more of the same, for the most part, albeit with improved playing and production. The writing isn’t much better, with a few exceptions, being mostly » Continue Reading.