American indie rocker Rob Munk has been waiting for this moment for over 20 years, ever since leaving the music scene at the turn of the century. Finally his debut solo album ‘Phased Out’ LP has now been released on vinyl via Montclair, NJ-based Magic Door Label, a grassroots imprint founded by Guided by Voices’ Kevin March, producer Ray Ketchem and artist-vocalist Renée LoBue.
Now available on limited edition 12″ fully recycled colored vinyl, supporters will also receive the digital download upon purchase. This collection, which Munk calls “a little poppy, a little sloppy and entirely honest”, features better and more personal songs than ever before.
This album was produced, recorded, mastered and partially mixed at Magic Door Recording by Ray Ketchem, whose production credits include Guided By Voices, Gramercy Arms, Luna and Elk City. Mixed in Oakland by Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide, Munk recorded this album during the pandemic with actor-writer-artist Daniel London (Old Joy, Minority Report, Manhattan) and Tinsel drummer Joe Ventura.
“Phased Out was such a joy to make. No oversight but my own standards, nothing at stake but my integrity. Years after wanting a career in music, I made music to supplement my career. I worked with masterful collaborators who understood my vision and worked hard to make it happen. I feel lucky for the opportunity, and proud to make a record as good as I could make,” says Rob Munk.
Earlier, Munk released the singles ‘Youth’, ‘Amazon’, ‘Slumber’ ‘Heavy Shoes (to kill the blues)’ and ‘Ghosts of San Francisco’. With elements of 1990’s and 2000’s indie rock and traces of 1970’s AM pop, this is music that respects people’s emotional intelligence.
For Rob Munk, music was never the plan. From the age of three, he and his brothers did acting gigs to help support life with a single Mom. After several years in commercials (including Jello pudding with Bill Cosby), Rob was cast as young Woody Allen in ‘Stardust Memories’, his brother having played this role in the Oscar-winning ‘Annie Hall’. He left acting at 14, forming a band and quickly discovering that music felt more natural and was far more fun than acting. He was hooked.
Rob’s earlier band Thudpucker was a staple on the 1990s Boston rock, opening for Pavement, Hole, Afghan Whigs and Juliana Hatfield. He later formed the indie rock band Tinsel in Chapel Hill, NC, who opened for Polvo, Guided By Voices, Pipe and Come, while also playing in cover bands with members of Firehose and Superchunk. Both of those bands eventually imploded of natural rock and roll causes.
After stints in a few more NYC bands, Munk returned to acting, including scenes with Tina Fey, Tony Hale, John Goodman and Paul Giammatti. After moving to LA for a pilot season but getting no traction there, Rob launched the now-defunct blog ‘LoserActor’, creatively chronicling his daily humiliation. Noticed by the famed ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, Rob returned to NYC as a copywriter and creative director, writing huge campaigns for ESPN, Delta Airlines and AT&T.
The ‘Phased Out’ LP is available now on vinyl via Bandcamp and everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and other fine outlets.
ALBUM TRACK LIST
01. Heavy Shoes (to kill the blues)
02. The Ghosts of San Francisco
03. Homemade
04. Amazon
05. Eyes of God
06. Youth
07. Slumber
08. Outbound Track
09. Run!
10. Hey Batta Batta
11. Phased Out
12. Brand New Buick
