Search - Happy Mondays :: Pills Thrills & Bellyaches

Thrift store corner of the world

Noddy | New York | 07/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked this record up secondhand for next to nothing in the basement of The United Methodist Church over there on Verbena Avenue. God's benison go with you Pastor Gainus Sikes, your gaff's a goldmine. There it was in any case in a plastic basin with, of all things, a Kenny Rogers cassette. Just the tape too, no cover. Those Salford scallywags leapt right into my hands out of sheer terror. That's half off today, said a perfectly dressed little old lady, we're having a sale. Half off in a thrift shop, I said. Sold, I said. I very nearly galloped back to my hut. I'd heard only good things about, but had never actually listened to, Pills & Thrills and while I was gearing up to be suitably impressed I don't believe I was in any way prepared for the frankly colossal dose of high-grade wang dang doodle delivered by this trippy little disk. I even managed somehow to listen to it out of order the first time, starting off with Holiday which is I think the second last song but what did I care, I was already on the trolley by the time I'd noticed. Ever since then I can't hear Holiday without experiencing an irresistible urge to drift off to sleep in a shrubbery for a week or two. Pappataci Fever if I know me. And would you just look at Mister Intergalactic Laxative himself in there too! I haven't thought about old Cosmic Bananas since I can't exactly remember. You hardly lose with this album. I would complain that it's on the short side if it wasn't such a sure sharkey to play on repeat--I've had this sucker on for literally days at a stretch. But eventually I had to get up and go to work. Happy Mondays everybody."

Groovy Manchester eccentric funk with soulful backup

Greta Maclean | Tulsa, Oklahoma | 07/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album will always be near and dear to me. It came out during my identity-forming teens and it hooked me immediately. Sean Ryder is not a great singer but he's a great lyricist and with the awesome music and backup vocals, it *works*. I love the play on Donovan - "sun shines brightly from my arsehole, today" and "Bob's Yer Uncle" has to be the sexiest song I've ever heard. It reminds me of Pan in that painting with all the maidens. It's funny that expression has little to do with the song - makes me wonder if it's an inside joke. Just about everyone I've met likes this album. I would give definitely give it a try!"