RISE of the LAVA MEN by Uncle Monsterface review

“There they were, the present-day protectors of Dino-skeleton Island Looking for a quest… or a bar…” And thus begins one of the most imaginative, quirky, delightful, and, dare I say, raddest albums I have heard in years. RISE of the LAVA MEN is the 2014 release of Uncle Monsterface, a New York band named after it’s mascot—a tall man in white gloves wearing a suit who, oh yeah, has the face of a giant sock puppet with square red eyes and blocky yellow teeth. Equal parts punk, comedy, and art, Uncle Monsterface is not only a band, it’s a concept, an experience. Within this album you’ll find songs about Brain-Rocket Scientists, Ninjas, Flying Accountants, Cowboys, Giant Squids, and Chefs. There’s even a ballad about a cat with just the right amount of heavy metal affectations. Each song when listened to on its own dominates with ample charm and humor. Moreover, when listening to the collective album you’re also struck with a sincerity that might take you by surprise considering the subject matter. Uncle Monsterface, whose music might best be described as a cross between They Might Be Giants and Atom and His Package, with dashes of Weird Al and the occasional sprinkling of ska, is the brainchild of Marty Allen, a New York-based artist, musician, author, and creator that is perhaps best known for his work with Sock Puppets (remember how I mentioned Uncle Monsterface was based on a sock puppet? It’s all starting to come together). For over twelve years, Marty has been making art centered around Sock Puppets. Now you may be thinking “hey, what a silly thing to devote one’s energies to.” Wow, jaded much? Think about it: Who hasn’t made a sock puppet in their life? No one I know. Was it fun? Yes. Were you proud of yourself for making a piece of art? Probably. Did you literally make yourself a friend when you did it? I bet you did, even if it was just for an afternoon. Why did we “grow up” and dismiss this art form? Marty Allen didn’t. He’s created a multimedia platform from the art. Not only has he literally written a book on sock puppets, made and sold custom sock puppets, and formed Uncle Monsterface, he’s elevated sock puppets to the level of Fine Art with his Sock Puppet Portraits. Sock Puppet Portraits are just what the name implies: framed photos of literal sock puppets Marty has created, each with their own name and story. From Theodore, a nerdy kid who gets thrown into a space-spanning adventure as an amateur Magician-Detective, to Sergeant Bullocks, the animal loving punk rocker, to Spot the Elusive Dinosaur, a narcoleptic who slept through the extinction of his species to go on and become a ukulele-playing vegan. If that sounds bizarre to you, I get it. But it should also sound awesome. And now, after a challenging year due to *gestures vaguely at everything in 2020,* Marty has recently launched a Kickstarter to breathe new life into his Sock Puppet Portraits, and to help build his brand, Sock Puppet City. If you are into Outsider Artists, Independent Artists, Inventive Musicians, Sock Puppets, or even just Dreamers, you should check out his art, and his Kickstarter which ends August 18, 2021. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/martystuff/return-of-the-sock-puppet-portraits) RISE of the LAVA MEN by Uncle Monsterface is available on most music streaming services and available for purchase on the artist’s official Bandcamp (https://unclemonsterface.bandcamp.com/) Cheers, Saddest Factory