NunSexMonkRock

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NunSexMonkRock
File:Nunsexmonkrock.jpg
Studio album by Nina Hagen
Released June 12, 1982 (1982-06-12)
Recorded 1981–82
Studio Blue Rock Studios (New York City, New York)
Genre
Length 40:06
Label CBS
Producer Mike Thorne
Nina Hagen chronology
Unbehagen
(1979)Unbehagen1979		 NunSexMonkRock
(1982)		 Fearless
(1983)Fearless1983
Singles from NunSexMonkRock
  1. "Smack Jack"
    Released: 1982

NunSexMonkRock is the debut studio album by German singer Nina Hagen. It was released on June 12, 1982 by CBS Records. It marked Hagen's first release since her departure from the Nina Hagen Band and was also her first album with all songs in English language. Hagen recorded the album in New York City with Mike Thorne and collaborated with musicians Paul Roessler, Ferdi Karmelk, and Karl Rucker when writing the songs for the album. The lyrics deal with various themes including motherhood, religion, drug abuse, and UFOs. Musically, NunSexMonkRock is an experimental rock with influences of post-punk and new wave music.

Upon its release, NunSexMonkRock received mixed reviews from music critics. While some praised Hagen's theatrical vocals, others criticized its experimental production. Rolling Stone called it the "most unlistenable" album ever made. Commercialy, the album achieved a moderate success. In the United States, it peaked at number 184 on the Billboard 200. In Germany, it reached number twenty-seven, and also peaked inside the top forty in other countries, such as New Zealand and Norway. "Smack Jack" was the only single released from the album. It managed to be successful in Norway where it peaked at number seven.

Background

In 1979, after working on the movie Cha Cha with Herman Brood and Lene Lovich, Hagen met the Dutch guitarist Ferdinand "Ferdi" Karmelk, with whom she later had a daughter Cosma Shiva. Together they started working on new music after Hagen's departure from the Nina Hagen Band.

After her European tour was canceled in 1980, Hagen moved to the United States and signed with Bennett Glotzer, the former manager of Frank Zappa. She began working on songs in English, since most of her previous material was in German and after six month she returned to Germany with her new tour. Shortly after discovering she was pregnant, Hagen broke up with Karmelk and moved back to Los Angeles. In 1982, Hagen signed a new recording deal with CBS Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[1]
Robert Christgau C+[2]

Upon its release, NunSexMonkRock received mixed reviews from music critics. Bil Carpenter at AllMusic gave it four and a half star out of five, calling it an "eccentric rock material" and praising Hagen's vocal diversity.[1] Robert Christgau commented that "she does have a new-wave sense of humor - instead of taking on Maria Callas with her umpteen-octave range she does impressions of Linda Blair and Mercedes McCambridge."[2]

Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Antiworld"  
4:41
2. "Smack Jack"  
  • Ferdinand Karmelk
 5:16
3. "Taitschi-Tarot"  
  • Hagen
  • Roessler
 2:05
4. "Dread Love"  
  • Hagen
  • Karmelk
 4:08
5. "Future Is Now"  
  • Hagen
 2:55
6. "Born In Xixax"  
  • Hagen
 2:55
7. "Iki Maska"  
  • Hagen
 5:08
8. "Dr. Art"  
  • Hagen
  • Karl Rucker
 4:49
9. "Cosma Shiva"  
  • Hagen
 3:17
10. "UFO"  
  • Hagen
  • Rucker
 4:52
Total length:
 40:06
Notes

Credits and personnel

  • Nina Hagen – vocals, synthesizer, guitar
  • Mike Thorne – production
  • Allan Schwartzberg – drums
  • Karl Rucker – bass, synthesizer
  • Chris Spedding – guitar
  • Paul Shaffer – synthesizer
  • Paul Roessler – synthesizer, piano
  • Axel Gath – baritone saxophone, contrabass clarinet,
  • Michael Ewasko – engineer
  • Don Wershba – additional overdubs
  • Harvey Goldberg – mixing, additional overdubs
  • Jack Skinner – mastering
  • Nicolaj Ilieff – design
  • Juliana Grigorova – photography

Charts

Chart (1982) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[3] 27
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[4] 38
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[5] 18
US Billboard 200[6] 184

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Nina Hagen – NunSexMonkRock". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Nina Hagen – NunSexMonkRock". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Nina Hagen – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Nina Hagen. Retrieved April 5, 2016.

External links

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