Uncle Dysfunktional

by

Happy Mondays

Edit

This is not a "comeback," in a The Who/Rolling Stones/whatever kind of way. The Happy Mondays aren't at all concerned about recapturing their old magic, but are rather moving forward while capturing a completely different kind of magic. Musically, this is the Mondays' most adventurous album to date, and though some might complain that they've lost some of their darker undertones that made Pills 'n Thrills a bit eerie and deeper, you really can't complain with music this good. Mondays revived with a touch of Black Grape. Fantastic fun music, I highly recommend.

Conventional wisdom has always said that the Happy Mondays were a band that were only ever as good as their producer.

The story goes something like this: "Happy Mondays were a band of marginally talented musicians who could barely play their instruments but happened to be fronted by a charismatic frontman. Bummed was down to Martin Hannett and Pills & Thrills & Bellyaches was Paul Oakenfold's baby. Both look like miracle workers when compared to Mondays live shows."

Or something like that. Hell, even I believed it. But listening to Uncle Dysfunktional, I came to realize just how much the other members of the Mondays really contributed to the sound and what they were about.

Make no mistake. Uncle Dysfunktional is not a Happy Mondays album. Sure, Gary Whelan is still around on drums. And Bez is there uh... contributing uh... vibes. But for all intents and purposes, this is a Shaun Ryder solo album.

Mark Day's eccentric guitar style and Paul Ryder rolling basslines are absent. And the myth that all the Mondays need is Shaun and good producer falls apart. The Mondays were about the chemistry.

OK, having said that, is Uncle Dysfunktional any good?

It's alright, I guess. It's growing on me slightly. It's a more even album than "Yes Please" but without the flashes of brilliance.

I'd list Angels and [...], Rats With Wings, and Dr. Dick as the highlights. Although none of them are as good as Judge Fudge (arguably their weakest pre-Unkle single).

To be honest, I probably would not have bought it if it didn't have the name Happy Mondays on it. Unless they re-united the Pills & Thrill line-up, I really don't think I'll buy any future Mondays albums.