ROB MUNK presents 'Run!' - a high-energy treat from his debut 'Phased Out' LP, out now via Magic Door Record Label

March 28, 2023

"A crunchy blast of indie rock bliss that’s redolent with laconic charm and unexpected longing. Bringing to mind everyone from Built To Spill to Australia’s late great Soap Star Joe... as dynamic and hook-laden as it gets" ~ Stereo Embers Magazine

"Sassy power-pop... the same blend of jaunt and joyfulness and slightly downbeat and world-weariness running through their music as, say, The Lemonheads or The Dandy Warhols. Not to mention no small amount of early R.E.M. wonky majesty" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Enjoyable, danceable, moshable – timeless in the same way as Pixies and Throwing Muses will never seem old. But Munk’s music itself is perhaps closer to Sebadoh, Sparklehorse, The Shins, Fastball, Weezer or Presidents of the USA" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Munk’s an idealistic singer/songwriter with great guitar and vocal chops, not to mention stellar songwriting skills" ~ Popular Culture Beat

New Jersey-based indie rocker Rob Munk presents the video for 'Run',
a fun upbeat offering for the ears and spirit. The accompanying video was written and directed by Iam Williams with animation and editing by lincktendo.

the latest single from his debut album 'Phased Out', released both digitally and on vinyl via Montclair-based Magic Door Record Label. a grassroots imprint founded by Guided by Voices' Kevin March, producer Ray Ketchem and artist-vocalist Renée LoBue.

"Run! Is about sprinting through life with reckless abandon, so it only makes sense that the video feell like an 80’s style 8-bit video game, both nostalgic and fun. Run! is the perfect springtime anthem for those ready to get outside, smash some bottles on the street and really blossom,” says Rob Munk.

Munk comes back with a strong return after 20+ years since Munk left the music scene at the turn of the century. 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 is now officially out in the world, ready to begin its slow trudge towards obsolescence or meteoric rise to greatness, depending on the listener. The journey truly has been the reward, and it’s been so creatively rewarding. As it turns out, it takes a village to make a solo record, and I have immeasurable gratitude towards the village people that helped make this real," 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.

Munk's foray into show business began as an actor in commercials (including Jello pudding with Bill Cosby) and movies (cast as young Woody Allen in 'Stardust Memories'). At 14, he jumped ship on acting to form a band and his life changed. His band Thudpucker was a staple on the 1990s Boston rock (opening for Pavement, Hole, Afghan Whigs and Juliana Hatfield) and later formed Tinsel in Chapel Hill, NC (supporting the likes of Polvo, Guided By Voices, Pipe and Come), plus cover bands with Superchunk and Firehose members. These bands eventually imploded of natural rock and roll causes.

Munk eventually 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.

'RUN' SINGLE CREDITS
Written by Rob Munk
Released by Magic Door Record Label
Rob Munk - vocals, guitar
Daniel London - lead guitar
Scott Anthony - bass
Joe Ventura - drums
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Album cover artwork by Ron Liberti
Video written and directed by Iam Williams
Animation and editing by lincktendo

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New Jersey indie rocker ROB MUNK presents 'Slumber' from debut 'Phased Out' album

December 9, 2022

"Enjoyable, danceable, moshable – timeless in the same way as Pixies and Throwing Muses will never seem old. But Munk’s music itself is perhaps closer to Sebadoh, Sparklehorse, The Shins, Fastball, Weezer or Presidents of the USA" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Munk’s an idealistic singer/songwriter with great guitar and vocal chops, not to mention stellar songwriting skills" ~ Popular Culture Beat

American indie rocker Rob Munk presents 'Slumber', the latest offering from his new 'Phased Out' LP, a sign of the times, where so many people are challenged to rest and even sleep through the night.

"Slumber chronicles the challenge of trying to find rest in a time of unrest, peace when you are disturbed. It’s a plea to go back to a simpler time, before the anxieties that tend to bloom with insomnia were fully justified because things are truly scary. Basically, just let me sleep," says Rob Munk.

"There’s been a lot of stuff happening with AI these days, but it seemed apt to apply it to the dreamworld where this song lives. We used it as a tool to help bridge that nebulous gap between 1 and 5 in the morning, where the surreal and the hyper-real are almost interchangeable. The imagery added both depth and comedy to a pretty relatable scenario."

'Phased Out' comes 20 years after initially leaving the music scene. Alas, music takes on its own life, pushing Rob back into its realm with better and more personal songs than ever before. During the pandemic, Munk recorded this album with actor-writer-artist Daniel London (Old Joy, Minority Report, Manhattan) and Tinsel drummer Joe Ventura.

Released 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, this ambitious 2-track collection is, according to Munk, "a little poppy, a little sloppy and entirely honest".

"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.

Mixed in Oakland by Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide, 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.

Earlier, Munk released the singles 'Youth', 'Amazon' and earlier singles '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 out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where it can be ordered directly from the artist.

'PHASED OUT' ALBUM CREDITS:
Written by Rob Munk
Rob Munk - vocals, guitar
Daniel London - lead guitar
Joe Ventura - drums
Scott Anthony - bass
Megan Reilly - vocals
Peter Gallagher - vocals
Maple Munk - vocals
George Munk - keyboards
Ray Ketchem - drums, keyboards, synths
Chuck Johnson - guitar, pedal steel, synths
Recorded and mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Mixed by Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide in Oakland
Cover artwork by Ron Liberti
'Youth' video concept by Iam Williams and Rob Munk
Directed and edited by Iam Williams @ Shoffice

ROB MUNK 'Youth' - a fun rocking ode to a misspent youth. His new 'Phased Out' LP is out November 18

November 11, 2022

"Sassy power-pop... the same blend of jaunt and joyfulness and slightly downbeat and world-weariness running through their music as, say, The Lemonheads or The Dandy Warhols. Not to mention no small amount of early R.E.M. wonky majesty" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Enjoyable, danceable, moshable – timeless in the same way as Pixies and Throwing Muses will never seem old. But Munk’s music itself is perhaps closer to Sebadoh, Sparklehorse, The Shins, Fastball, Weezer or Presidents of the USA" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Munk’s an idealistic singer/songwriter with great guitar and vocal chops, not to mention stellar songwriting skills" ~ Popular Culture Beat

American indie rocker Rob Munk presents his new single 'Youth', the latest taster of his 'Phased Out' LP, which it out on November 18 via Montclair-based Magic Door Label, a grassroots imprint founded by Guided by Voices' Kevin March, together with producer Ray Ketchem and artist-vocalist Renée LoBue.

Following earlier singles 'Heavy Shoes (to kill the blues)', 'Ghosts of San Francisco' and the upbeat environmentally-conscious lead track 'Amazon', 'Youth' is a sonic love letter to misspent youth, a misty-eyed celebration of juvenile delinquency and bad decisions made in that magical time before consequences, regret and civic responsibility took their rightful place as guiding principles.

"When we’re young, mistakes and triumphs are often indistinguishable but at least it’s all exciting. We could probably all write this song, and extend it for a thousand verses," says Rob Munk.

"I wanted to try something simple, where the verse and chorus had the same chord progression. I always liked songs that were able to pull that off. Producer Ray Ketchem referenced Love and Rockets when we tracked this, which felt perfect because Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven was one of my favorite records during peak adolescence."

20 years after leaving the music scene, Rob is back again with better and more personal songs that mean a great deal to him. During the pandemic, he recorded this album with his good friend, actor-writer Daniel London (Old Joy, Minority Report, Manhattan) and Tinsel drummer and writer-director Joe Ventura.

Mixed by Oakland composer-producer Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide, this album was produced, recorded, mastered and partially mixed at Magic Door Recordingby Ray Ketchem, whose production credits include Guided By Voices, Gramercy Arms, Luna and Elk City.

An ambitious modern rock album, this 12-track collection is, in Munk's own words, "a little poppy, a little sloppy and entirely honest". 'Phased Out' is a record that somehow comes out of nowhere from an artist that has been almost everywhere. This is modern rock that respects people's emotional intelligence. 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. An actor from the age of three, he and his brothers would commute into NYC from New Jersey for gigs to help support life with a single Mom. After several years of filming commercials (including Jello pudding with Bill Cosby), Rob was cast as young Woody Allen in 'Stardust Memories', his brother having played the same role in the Oscar-winning 'Annie Hall'. He left acting at 14, enrolled in boarding school and formed a band, soon learning that music felt more natural and was far more fun than acting. He was hooked.

Upon moving to Boston, Rob’s new band Thudpucker became a staple on the Boston rock scene in the early 90’s as many local bands were starting to explode. Between several singles, local gigs and touring, they opened for everyone from Pavement and Hole to the Afghan Whigs and Juliana Hatfield. After relocating to Chapel Hill, NC, Rob formed the indie rock band Tinsel, having opened for Polvo, Guided By Voices, Pipe and Come, while also playing in cover bands with members of Firehose and Superchunk. After some touring and a few singles, they put out two records before imploding of natural rock and roll causes.

After stints in a few more NYC bands, Munk was once again doing commercials and TV shows, 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. With his writing brought to the attention of the creative directors at famed ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, Rob returned to New York - only this time as a copywriter and creative director, writing huge campaigns for ESPN, Delta Airlines and AT&T.

'Youth' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify. As of November 18, the full 'Phased Out' album will be available everywhere online, including Bandcamp, where it can already be ordered.

'PHASED OUT' ALBUM CREDITS:
Written by Rob Munk
Rob Munk - vocals, guitar
Daniel London - lead guitar
Joe Ventura - drums
Scott Anthony - bass
Megan Reilly - vocals
Peter Gallagher - vocals
Maple Munk - vocals
George Munk - keyboards
Ray Ketchem - drums, keyboards, synths
Chuck Johnson - guitar, pedal steel, synths
Recorded and mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Mixed by Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide in Oakland
Cover artwork by Ron Liberti
'Youth' video concept by Iam Williams and Rob Munk
Directed and edited by Iam Williams @ Shoffice

New Jersey's ROB MUNK releases new single 'Youth' ahead of new 'Phased Out' LP

November 2, 2022

"When we’re young, mistakes and triumphs are often indistinguishable but at least it’s all exciting. We could probably all write this song, and extend it for a thousand verses," says Rob Munk.

"I wanted to try something simple, where the verse and chorus had the same chord progression. I always liked songs that were able to pull that off. Producer Ray Ketchem referenced Love and Rockets when we tracked this, which felt perfect because Seventh Dream of Teenage Heaven was one of my favorite records during peak adolescence."

An ambitious modern rock album, this 12-track collection is, in Munk's own words, "a little poppy, a little sloppy and entirely honest". 'Phased Out' is a record that somehow comes out of nowhere from an artist that has been almost everywhere. This is modern rock that respects people's emotional intelligence. 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. An actor from the age of three, he and his brothers would commute into NYC from New Jersey for gigs to help support life with a single Mom. After several years of filming commercials (including Jello pudding with Bill Cosby), Rob was cast as young Woody Allen in 'Stardust Memories', his brother having played the same role in the Oscar-winning 'Annie Hall'. He left acting at 14, enrolled in boarding school and formed a band, soon learning that music felt more natural and was far more fun than acting. He was hooked.

Upon moving to Boston, Rob’s new band Thudpucker became a staple on the Boston rock scene in the early 90’s as many local bands were starting to explode. Between several singles, local gigs and touring, they opened for everyone from Pavement and Hole to the Afghan Whigs and Juliana Hatfield. After relocating to Chapel Hill, NC, Rob formed the indie rock band Tinsel, having opened for Polvo, Guided By Voices, Pipe and Come, while also playing in cover bands with members of Firehose and Superchunk. After some touring and a few singles, they put out two records before imploding of natural rock and roll causes.

After stints in a few more NYC bands, Munk was once again doing commercials and TV shows, 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. With his writing brought to the attention of the creative directors at famed ad agency Wieden + Kennedy, Rob returned to New York - only this time as a copywriter and creative director, writing huge campaigns for ESPN, Delta Airlines and AT&T.

20 years on, Rob has again returned to music with better and more personal songs that mean a great deal to him. During the pandemic, he reocrded this album with his good friend, actor-writer Daniel London (Old Joy, Minority Report, Manhattan)and Tinsel drummer and writer-director Joe Ventura. The first releases from this were the singles 'Heavy Shoes (to kill the blues)' and 'Ghosts of San Francisco'.

Mixed by Oakland composer-producer Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide, this album was produced, recorded, mastered and partially mixed at Magic Door Recordingby Ray Ketchem, whose production credits include Guided By Voices, Gramercy Arms, Luna and Elk City.

As of November 2, 'Youth' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify. The full 'Phased Out' album, which is out on November 18, can also be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

'PHASED OUT' ALBUM CREDITS:
Written by Rob Munk
Rob Munk - vocals, guitar
Daniel London - lead guitar
Joe Ventura - drums
Scott Anthony - bass
Megan Reilly - vocals
Peter Gallagher - vocals
Maple Munk - vocals
George Munk - keyboards
Ray Ketchem - drums, keyboards, synths
Chuck Johnson - guitar, pedal steel, synths
Recorded and mastered by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Mixed by Chuck Johnson at Cirrus Oxide in Oakland
Cover artwork by Ron Liberti