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| original cover |
release date: Sep. 2, 2003
format: digital (2012 reissue)
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Pete Carroll, Stephen Mallinder, Shane Norton
label: Offworld Sounds - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "The Story" - 2. "Long Legs (Parts 1, 2, 3)" - 3. "Scooter Girl" - 6. "Northern Soul Brother (Shapeshifter)"
Studio solo debut album with the subtitle "Clowns and Pet Sounds" by Shaun Ryder [aka Shaun William George Ryder], or: a collaboration album credited 'Amateur Night in the Big Top' consisting of Shaun Ryder, Shane Norton, Pete Carroll, and Stephen Mallinder. Well, that's what it was originally; however, in 2012 the album was re-issued as Shaun Ryder's solo debut. Dunno about ownership rights but I do know this: being literally the [exact] same album, it should still reflect that, but it doesn't, and that's where ownership rights enters the big picture. Anyway, by the end of Happy Mondays' partecipation [which also happens to be the end of The Happy Mondays' second incarnation] in the "Big Day Out" festival tour of Australia in 2001, Ryder gathered up in a studio in Melbourne, Australia with Norton, Carroll and Mallinder, who composed, mixed and produced music to Ryder's semi-autobiographical lyrics, and within a week's time they were left with this, which was subsequently released on the small Australian label. When re-issued in 2012 it seems Ryder had gained the ownership rights to release it as his solo debut, although, he didn't regard it as a genuine attempt to make a solo effort.
It's not really in style with the music of Happy Mondays, nor that of Black Grape for that matter, which does suggest that Ryder wasn't really in control of the composing part. It's mainly an electronic and big beat-styled collection of songs with some neo-psychedelia to it. It's not all bad, but it does reflect some quick-mass-up-in-the-studio-recordings, and according to Ryder and his recollection of the recordings as described in his auto-biography "Twisting My Mellon" he was having a bad time, wasn't up for new studio sessions, and mostly was heavily influenced by his substance abuse, which he thinks is quite obvious when listening to the album.
It's too bad, Ryder was down and out while babbling along 'cause fact is, he is a gifted narrator, but it does at times remind you of similar destinies in the music industry.
Not all bad, but somewhat unfocused and somewhat tedious after the first three tracks.
Not recommended.
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| 2012 reissue |
