Unfinished Monkey Business - Ian Brown

So, you've been in the most crictically acclaimed band fo the past ten years, it's split up and you're on your own. What do you do? Well according to Ian Brown you write an album which is almost an hour long attack on your former guitarist. The Stone Roses' second album was completely written by John Squire, even the lyrics, but if a singer had such a sharp tounge as this it seems strange that he didn't let him use it. From that point of view it bears some similarity to Marvin Gaye's "Whats Going On" which was a verbal attack on his ex wife. But that puts unfair pressure on Ian comparing him to the greatest vocalist of all ...  Read the complete review

UNFINISHED MONKEY BUSINESS is the title of indie rock star IAN BROWN's album. The album contains 12 tracks. The opening song INTRO UNDER THE PAVING STONES: THE BEACH is a gentle track which sets the moody tone of the album with some nice instrumental support and dominant vocals. MY STAR is a mellow tune with wonderful melodies that carry the vocals with lyrics that tell a good story. CAN'T SEE ME has an aggressive tone with lots of attitude coming from the instruments although the chorus is quite catchy and the rhythm is funky. ICE COLD CUBE contains a belting intro which introduces the vocals which add extra vigour to the ...  Read the complete review

being obsessed as i am with the stone roses, i'd awaited the seahorses album with baited breath. the single 'love is the law' had squires roses written all over it, i couldnt wait. however, as they'd sy in the fast show, the results were disappointing. maybe i'd have to accept that them days were gone, i still had the memories, the ticketstubs and 12 inches. then this album came along, squire may have been the brains behind the band, brown was the perfect frontman though, and has collaborated with mani and reni on this album. lions is piss poor, thats the only one though. brilliant album, bit of sniping at squire which is a tad unecessary but thats ...  Read the complete review

This album was almost the death of Ian Brown, as far as my fickle brain was concerned. Reasonable production values, reasonable tunes and reasonable lyrics led me to conclude that the spirit of his former band was indeed dead. However, since being won over by his second album (and his involvement with UNKLE) I have returned to this one with a renewed outlook. And I can now find plenty to like about it - the songs Corpses and My Star certainly have their charm, for a start. Overall, though, this is a far less accomplished album than his second - very much a testing the water affair. Worth oqning if you're a fan, though. ...  Read the complete review