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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Can't go back!, 31 Jul 2007
Before I commence with my review of the Mondays new album Uncle Dysfunktional, I would like to give you my disclaimer. I am an avid Mondays fan, even today, and have been since the late 1980s when I was totally amazed with their seminal album 'Bummed', which for me was their finest moment. With Pills 'N' Thrills they hit their peak, not only in terms of the impact they had, culturally, on Britan's pop landscape, but also due to their meainstram success. Although Pills 'N' Thrills was their most popular album, and spawned great social observations as Kinky Afro and Loosefit, as well as the great fantasy/dream that is Gods Cop, for me, musically it was not their greatest work. But, alongside Madchester and Squiral and G-man, the Mondays gave us great attitude, gigs, urbnan poetry, music, crazyness, spontaniety and some great moments to reflect upon. So, taking all this on board, realising they were releasing a new album after 14 years, although with a different line-up, I was excited to say the least. I hoped Uncle Dysfunktional would be to the Mondays what It's Great When Your Straight..Yeah was to Black Grape - a classic! I really wanted the album to be good, but sadly it was far from it. Musically, it was not too bad, but, lyrically I thought the content was very poor, as were the ideas and the topics that were being 'sung' about. I listened to it a second time, just to double check it was as bad as I thought it was... and it was. There was nothing there for me, no good ideas/topics, no wit, no spark, no spirit, no soul and no emotion in the songs to hook me in; it just seemed that Shaun Ryder was rambling nonesense. To be honest, it made me realise what the Mondays did 20 years ago cannot be repeated and will be confined to the vaults of history along and the trips down memory lane - Can't go back! If you want to listen to a good Mondays album choose one of the 5 originals.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Something missing, 8 Jul 2007
For me the Mondays sound began with Paul Ryder basslines, Mark Day on guitar. Without them it's just Shaun and a band, not Happy Mondays.
The new bird ain't a patch on Rowetta neither.
Album just ok for me.
About 3 good tunes, but this is no Pills & Thrills.
I even preferred Yes Please.
I think this is the worst Mondays artwork as well.
Music has moved on. Think it's time Mr Ryder retired.
Saw him looking old and reading an autocue on the last tour.
The joke's over
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
No Thanks, 11 Jul 2007
For a man who was abusing drugs from a very young age (thats abusing drugs, as opposed to banging a few pills on the weekend), Shaun Ryder 'had it' far longer than he really had any right to. The first Black Grape, in 1995, album was a stone cold classic, the second had its moments moments and Englands Irie was the best of the Euro 96 tunes, but 'it' has deserted him with this. The twisted lateral wordplay that graced the first 3 Mondays albums and Black Grape has been replaced by average chav-thug half rhymes, and its fair to say that there is really no point to this. Its a shame that as the Mondays influence becomes apparent they are back to sully their own legacy.
Leave it.
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