BROWN,IAN - UNFINISHED MONKEY BUSINESS ((Vinyl))

Released in 1998, Ian Brown's first solo album, UNFINISHED MONKEY BUSINESS, finds the ex-Stone Roses frontman alternately attempting to escape the shadow of his lauded former band, and conjuring up its groove-loving ghost. The disc's shimmering first single, "My Star," recalls the Beatles (via Oasis), and showcases Brown's raspy croon; while the acoustic, chill-out vibe of "Corpses in Their Mouths" makes it one of the record's pleasant surprises. "Can't See Me," on the other hand, sounds exactly like what it is--a Stone Roses song without guitarist John Squire, with the Manchester group's bassist (Mani) and drummer (Reni) sitting in to create a funk-tinged tune that wouldn't have been out of place on SECOND COMING. Although some of the lo-fi experimentation here (see the noisy "Lions") proves to be a bit distracting, UNFINISHED MONKEY BUSINESS reveals a potential that the Madchester icon would follow through with on later outings, particularly MUSIC OF THE SPHERES.

• RSD Release Date: DDD
• Genre: Pop