7.5 / 10
Ian's return to the "filthiest business in the universe" was a triumphant one. I, for one, cannot see him bettering this effort.
There are some low moments on this LP. Lions and Unfinished Monkey Business should have been dropped. Some would argue that Ian should have brought in a quality producer to:
a) encourage the binning of efforts not worthy of a place on the LP
b) erase the raw (almost amateurish) feel of the overall effort.
While I would wholly agree with the thinking behind a), I would argue that b) would be somewhat to the detriment of the album. It is great precisely because it is Ian Brown (the uncompromising essence of the album is perfectly captured by the stern-faced Ian on the cover). Unfinished Monkey Business is the antithesis of Squire's Do It Yourself - a polished uninspired effort. Endless overdubs and added layers (a la Second Coming) or use of top-of-the-range studio equipment (a la Music Of The Spheres) are not necessary if an album by itself is good enough. And this effort passes the test with ease.
1. Under The Paving Stones: The Beach
2. My Star
3. Can't See Me
4. Ice Cold Cube
5. Sunshine
6. Lions
7. Corpses In Their Mouths
8. What Happened To Ya Part 1
9. What Happened To Ya Part 2
10. Nah Nah
11. Deep Pile Dreams
12. Unfinished Monkey Business
Format:
Released 1997:
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor / Mercury, MEAD 167, US promo CD)
Released 1998:
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor, MONKEY 1, Promo CD)
Released 14th January 1998:
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor, POCP 7272, Japanese CD)
Released 2nd February 1998:
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor, 539 565-2, CD)
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor, 539 565-4, cassette)
Unfinished Monkey Business (Polydor, 539 916-1, Limited edition gatefold vinyl)
UK chart position: #4
The monkey to be found on the back of the Unfinished Monkey Business album is late 19th century German sculptor Hugo Rheinhold's 'Philosophizing Monkey' statuette.
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