Archer Monk LP “Joy Ride Opus” Declares Rightful Existence Of “Tumbleweed Pop”

Northern California’s T. Wold performs under the artist name Archer Monk. His new LP “Joy Ride Opus” is a lovely gateway into the world of “Tumbleweed Pop.” It’s a descriptive phrase Monk himself coined in regards to his music. It’s sticking because it works.

T. Wold has coined the genre “tumbleweed pop” for this album to describe its vibrantly eclectic stylistic palette, which encompasses Dylan/Prine-style storyteller folk, gospel, alt-country, mid-tempo Americana, hot club-style jazz, and psychedelic folk-rock.

https://glidemagazine.com/279355/video-premiere-archer-monk-crafts-dreamy-power-pop-collage-with-hidden-doors/

“Hidden Doors” is currently making its way up the UncleEars.com New Music Top 40. It jumped 23 to 15 last week. But this sweet track is actually the closer to “Joy Ride Opus.”

Before then we experience a swath of guitar-filled melodies covering all sorts of subjects. It’s life through an Americana lens. Consider this lyric from “Lost In Translation.”

We left our institutions, we left them in the dust / we heard about this solution of freedom or bust / there’s plenty of time to settle down / and plenty of lawns to mow / what’s lost in translation / can be found on the open road

Lyrics from “Lost In Translation” https://archermonk.bandcamp.com/album/joy-ride-opus

Or these lines from “Sugar Dance.”

There’s a slow parade
of old friends and good times
like a midnight raid
in the deepest part of the mind
you feel like you’ve lost them all but
you know they’re still inside

Gettin high…
or maybe just layin’ low

Monk plays acoustic and electric guitars, piano, farfisa, violin, and harmonica on “Joy Ride Opus.” The result is a satisfying sonic road trip for your ears.

With its unique, diverse sonic aspects, Joy Ride Opus offers tasty, captivating music, at once atypical yet mainstream.

https://popoff.us/archer-monk-drops-imaginative-joy-ride-opus-596fbd8863ef

Sometimes you take the slower route in explaining how things are going in your life. You do it because that’s the only way to savor the journey. The only way to express each unique experience.

There is a place in this world for Tumbleweed Pop. Archer Monk has carved out a space using the tools of his mind, his talent and his razor-sharp guitars. It’s Americana balladry. It’s how your neighbor wishes he could sound.

At the center of “Joy Ride Opus “ is the the brilliant and world class story telling skills of T.Wold . Delicately crafted songs that are brought to life in vivid vibrant melodies that majestically weave in and out of stellar lyrics.

https://thewholekameese.com/2022/10/27/archer-monk-joy-ride-opus/

Listening to “Joy Ride Opus” sets me off on a journey back to the days when country and pop often danced with each other. Some called it folk for folks. It lives on because sometimes there is simply no other way to tell a story.

LINK: https://archermonk.com/

UNCLE EARS is a music blog written by David Falk. davidrfalk@gmail.com David was born in 1962 and gravitates towards melodies, adventure, unsigned artists, fresh discoveries. He trusts his ear to know what it likes and loves sharing what he finds. He lives near Seattle, WA, USA.

UNCLE EARS YOUTUBE: Check out our ever-growing November playlist of tunes!