Kleptomania [Content/Copy-Protected CD, Import]

Okay so it's not a 'proper' album but when did Mansun ever release a proper album anyway('Little Kix' excluded)? The sheer inventiveness of this truly under-rated band never deserted them. Though the booklet provided tells of 'sluggish' and 'uninspired' sessions there is no evidence of this as 'Getting Your Way', at the start of c.d.1, stampedes with gusto and absolute balls out confidence. 'Slipping Away' is officially the last ever single and it is more than worthy but 'Love Remains' would have been a killer punch of a follow up. It is a tragedy that this song will never be on the radio play list where it belongs. It's the best single Mansun have never released.
These 'what ifs...' are hard to shake off with the knowledge that there is no band around right now to promote this, the album is unfinished (apparantly) and, hardest of all to swallow at first, one band member (Stove) is completely absent from the first c.d. and much of the third with not much in the way of explanation.
Despite this c.d.1 (for that is the forth album I have been waiting four years for) is the 2nd best Mansun album of them all behind 'Six' and I urge you to buy it (though I feel I'm preaching to the converted). It is much better than any fan could reasonably have expected at a perfectly formed 11 tracks.
After the sheer blinding brilliance of the forth album we get a second c.d. which compiles the best of the fourteen e.p.s the band released between 1995 and 2001. How could this c.d. fail? Let's take just one of these tracks - 'My Idea Of Fun' b side to 'I Can Only Disappoint U'. It is impossible not to be seduced by this raunchy stomper. Paul Draper's voice (completely unlike any other) is utilised as a musical instrument as he takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the psyche of the deranged. Dominic Chad's guitar work leaves me breathless. Studio effects, backwards guitar, and general mayhem but above all true musical talent ensues. This is thrilling music! C.d.2 is 15 tracks long. Having heard all the non album tracks it could easily have been 20.
C.d. 3 is best regarded as a mop up for completists. 'Rock n' Roll Loser' was apparantly going to be a single at some stage before the band wisely decided that it wasn't good enough. There are various demos, sessions and a bonkers live recording of 'Taxloss' which sets the pulse racing nicely.
But best of all there are four more songs from the fourth album sessions which (can't resist 'what ifing') would have been up to scratch b-sides to 'Slipping Away' and 'Love Remains' which we get a demo version of here reinforcing my view that it would have been a single to get very excited about.
Okay, I'm obsessed...
But just in case anyone still thought this box set was a rip off there are three hidden tracks spread across the three c.d.s including one other e.p. only track - 'Theif'.
That brings the total track count to 40.
As I have said I have been waiting for this album for a long time. The fact that it is a complete return to form after the mildly disappointing 'Little Kix' is fantastic. But to have all these new songs is an unexpected delight and shows great generosity on the bands part. Buy it. You will be hooked.

Mansuns backcatalogue is extremely good, especially Six. This was released some time after the bands break up, and contains 3 cd's - one of which was supposed to be their fourth album, and the other 2 contain odds and ends. Reading the sleeve notes you'd be forgiven that the fourth album was unfinished and rubbish.

Well, actually, it's extremely good. They could have easily released the 4th album on its own with no complaints from Mansun fans. The other 2 cd's are packed with great stuff too. Not everything sounds great on first listen, but that's typical for Mansun stuff - sit back and listen again, and you'll love it.

This is great value for money, great quality music from a great band. C'mon guys, get back together!

I do agree that many people will dismiss this CD as probably not that good as it wasnt a complete album and was released after the split. But that's their loss!
The songs don't really sound like their 'earlier' material as reported, but more a progression from Little Kix. Many people would argue that CD1 is just as good,if not stronger than Little Kix. Its amazing how great these latest songs are seeing that most of them are in an incomplete state!
At the very least, this compilation is great value.Although listening to CD1, it still makes you wonder why they called it quits at the time they did.
All the best Paul Draper in your future ventures