Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches

Interesting

I was surprised at how much this has to offer. It’s a good album!

I guess you had to be there/on ecstasy.

# 263 : I can listen to it but it's not real good. Nothing stood out and I wouldn't go back to this. Easily forgettable.

Shockingly good

Fun but probably not my favourite album of all time sorry.

Awful album. No more words. Sounds like some mixtape from an amateur band.

Never heard of them before but kinky afro was a dope song. Cool sound

Shambolic genius. High point of Madchester/baggy and indie/rave crossover. Album isn't perfect, but the best bits, stolen from all over and blended to perfection - Kinky Afro, Loose Fit, Step On etc are fantastic fun. It was a great time to be 16.

What a record, what a time. If only rave culture had extended further in the '90s and rap-rock and ALT metal, etc had been precluded or eclipsed, we'd all be happier-chiller now (albeit with vastly fewer brain cells). "Step On" is infectious to a near-otherworldly degree – utterly irresistible. "Bob's Yer Uncle" is among the sexiest-sleaziest grooves of all time. Much else works well and effectively. As with one's youth in clubs, this and they were never gonna last.

Nothing special, I did not hate it, but can't really praise it

You know what your getting with the Mondays

This is a dissolute old acquaintance. I it has more hooks and more variety in pacing than I remembered. A live version of WFL I heard years ago is still my favourite work of theirs. A scary amount of time also I saw Bez DJ at the Exit Festival in Novi Sad. Actually, there was a dude next to him who seemed to be doing all the DJ-ing while Bez kept up something that could be called patter. I think I saw the actual DJ swat Bez’s hands away from a button or knob one time he tried to touch something. A fun set! My highlight was when he tried to rouse the crowd. “Yo Bosnia!” The crowd booed. “Yo Serbia!” The crowd cheered.

The Mondays sure knew how to write a hook, didn't they? I'll spare you the effusive praise for this, but will note that this album and a few of its contemporaries basically spoiled me - for a good while I naively expected every new release to be of this quality, and was usually sorely disappointed. Of course, I have no expectations at all these days, just a fond memory trying to figure out the logistics of "Bob's Yer Uncle"

But same same with the sound. No outstanding songs or any prompt to want to relisten which is a shame as I love some 90s rock 5/10

Probably a 2.5, but that option isn't available..

Music of the era. Not what I was searching for today.

Bit of baggy Madchester fights off the midweek blues.

I didn't really like first four songs on this album, but it picks up for me with Loose Fit. I ended up liking the whole rest of the album. Not a love, but won't mind doing a second listen at some point.

The first track was my favorite; the rest was fine.

Never really listened to much Happy Mondays stuff although I am very aware of them. Surprisingly, I quite enjoyed this album. A fun album mixing dance and 90s British rock. I've always been iffy on Madchester stuff, but the only criticism I have is that Shaun Ryder isn't exactly the best singer. I suppose being a good singer isn't really the point though.

This is a fun album, high in nostalgia and keen to get you moving. I definitely enjoyed getting to know this one, but can't see myself returning too often.

Not my style.

Do you ever fantasize about being able to go back in time to experience the high points of musical history? Maybe it’s the 1920’ with jazz and speakeasies, or NYC in the 70s and CBGB. What about Swinging London in the 60s? All of that would be incredible to witness. Anyway, this album sucks ass and I am glad 90s rave culture passed me by. Good riddance.

Mitt første møte med Madchester-sjangeren, men mistenke at da også blir da siste

Good Instrumentals bad vocals but maybe that’s just taste

Mids

This album took a real downturn after the first couple songs. Generous 3

Sure captures a moment, donit?

more british mediocrity

I liked about half of this album!!

It was a happy Monday listening to this

I'm not familiar enough with the Manchester music scene to appreciate this album in that context. Wiki says they were influential to groups such as Oasis and Stone Roses. I did think they vaguely reminded me of someone but didn't figure out who. The first couple of tracks had me thinking maybe I'd be hooked, but I quickly lost steam. I don't think it's a bad album, just not for me, and I wouldn't listen again.

The summer of love might have concluded in Manchester but that didn't mean the Mondays were through blowing the audience's minds. On their third and probably most popular album, the band found a way to bridge together thrills with possible transatlantic success the kind that would cure a belly ache (with or without pill usage, although they'd probably prefer the former). One of the last gasps of the moment before the vicarious imitators shone through, for better or worse. Favorites: Kinky Afro, God's Cop, Donovan, Grandbag's Funeral, Dennis and Lois, Step On, Holiday, Step On (Twisting My Melon Mix)

Bad. The vapid parody feels unnecessary and the musicality doesn’t save it.

When an album starts with Kinky afro you know you are in for a good one. An indie / rave combo is always going to work! Loose fit and step on are the sounds of my youth!! Favourite song: Kinky Afro and Step on Least favourite: Donovan Album artwork: Iconic britpop cover.

Really not sure why this made the list.

no

Went from thinking it was quite good to hating the vocals to begging it to end. Honestly think the vocals ruined the vibe

really nice driving soundtrack but wouldnt listen to it elsewise

some of the album was good but i feel that the lead singer cant sing well, and some of the album was abit weird.

Heavy dose of electric guitar and repetitive rhythms left me wondering what so appealing about the British rock scene?

This Madchester scene is new to me but if they're all like this I'm going to have to check more out. This is really great stuff. Very dancey and psychedelic while still being clearly rock. I can hear a lot of influence on later dance punk and psych music I listen to.

This is as good as Happy Mondays get. Jangly and a little unhinged, it does make you want to dance like Bez. Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Step On Date listened: 23/05/24

Never heard of them before, or so I thought until I heard a "melon" lyric that rang a bell. Forgettable, though not awful. The dance tracks lost me.

Ok. Probably won’t come back to it

Cooles Album aus 2010 einer alternativen Rockband aus Manchester mit leichten Ska und Avangarde Einflüssen. Sie nehmen sich und ihre Musik nicht ganz so Ernst, sodass z.B. die Flötenexperimente in “Bobs Yer Uncle”eher amüsant klingen. “step On” ist ebenfalls ok. Es ist bedingt zum Wiederhören geeignet.

This album is off to a nice start; I had high hopes on hearing the first two or three tracks. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. After the initial high, the album succumbs to 90s standard fare - a shame, really. 2.5/5

While the Happy Mondays were an integral part of the Baggy scene at it's inception, their debut album Bummed didn't really impress me much. Swimming a little deeper into their catalogue with what is arguably their centerpiece album, Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches is a radical drug-fueled blend of rock and dance music. It features highs and lows that feels like the motions of a night out on the Baggy scene. I'll concede and say that this album captures my imagination a bit better than Bummed did, but doesn't quite impress me as much as Stone Roses did. All things considered, this is a fun listen from front to back.

It seems that Happy Mondays have never written a song that's worthwhile on a compositional level. They were a one-pony trick, using the Hacienda to promote their lame shtick and thus succeeding in creating some sort of "aura" around them--thereby attracting a hype that was mostly based on extra-musical endeavors: drugs, booze, clubbing, style over substance, you name it... They offered a subpar version of what PIL could offer, or what the Stone Roses had already produced by the time this record came out. *Pills 'n' Thrills And Bellyaches* is admittedly more "listenable" than *Bummed* thanks to its production values. Yet those dance-oriented rhythm patterns are still a subpar version of Primal Scream's *Screamadelica*, and those guitar arrangements are still a subpar version of The Edge's work with U2, for instance. And the vocals are most often grating, to the point where it doesn't matter what nonsense and/or witty takes they are sputtering. Oh, and as informative and interestingly written as that raving review topping this section is, it still gives me the feeling that Happy Mondays fans can be quite shallow whenever they try to defend their fave act. I also have a homophobic father, you know. Turns out I stopped "loving him", contrary to this reviewer, and I even stopped talking to him--for this AND for other reasons, admittedly, yet the man's homopobia and neuroses were enough to give me a hint that I shouldn't waste any time with him. Just as I don't see why I should waste my time with Happy Mondays. Show some integrity, for chrissake. Show some backbone. The sort of integrity and backbone that Happy Mondays never had in even one second of their overrated career. I don't even care they blabbered some homophobic rants at some point. Their music is not worth getting interested in their public stances on *any* subject. 2/5 for the purposes of this list. 7/5 for more general purposes (4 for competency--one minus point for the lame vocals-- + 3 for "cultural impact", I guess...) Number of albums left to review: 186 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 353 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 204 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 259 (including this one)

I never really paid much attention to Happy Mondays at the time this album was released and nor was I much into rave culture. That said, I rather like this album despite being about 34 years late to the party.

Meh

After the first few tracks, I was convinced this one wouldn't make me look up and actually focus on what I'm listening to, but what the fuck is Bob's Yer Uncle!? Can't say it is unremarkable, can't say I particularly enjoyed it.

This is such a fun record, one of my favorites from the baggy/Madchester scene in the late 80s/early 90s. One part jangle pop, one part dance/trance, and one part classic rock, this album is more than the sum of its parts. Really just banger after banger that aren’t really club/rave songs, but still tremendously fun to dance to.

I went in with low expectations, but was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this.

inaspettatamente mi è piaciuto parecchio. Ha le vibes di quell'indie rock che mi ha proprio gasato

oh là. questo è l’indie rock che mi piace. bravi amici lunedì felici.

Pensavo mi sarebbe piaciuto perché rientra abbastanza nel mio genere, ma non mi ha detto nulla :(

Se questo album fosse al colloquio per un posto nella mia playlist gli direi che gli farò sapere per poi non richiamare mai più

Een Britse rockformatie waarvan ik durf te zeggen dat ik ze niet ken. Op het eerste nummer klinkt de zanger een beetje als RJ Mitte (Walter White Jr. aka Flynn) en dat is eigenlijk geen compliment. Op andere nummers is dat minder het geval, maar de zanger is ook hier weer eens niet mijn favoriete bandlid. [Hier ChatGPT iets laten prevelen over Madchester zodat het lijkt alsof ik er verstand van heb] Het klinkt allemaal weer iets teveel alsof de zanger onder invloed van drugs het idee heeft dat 'ie het wiel heeft uitgevonden. 'Grandbag's Funeral' is zo'n voorbeeld, een schijtirritante track. Ook 'Dennis and Lois' klinkt actief kut. Klinkt als Stereo MC's en Blur met wat huismerk Fatboy Slim en een zanger die zichzelf qua attitude een van de broertjes Gallagher waant. Ik kan hier niet goed inkomen. Ik blijf steken op 2 sterren.

Couldn't make it through. Some tracks were mildly interesting, but many were just grating.

That's not my taste in musik. But ok

I understand why this is such an important album for the Brits, but to Americans, it falls flat more than soars. It's a good album, but it's nothing earth shattering for us, and I don't think it rises above the stuff it inspired and brought about several years later with Brit-Pop and Brit-Rock of the mid to late 90's and early 00's.

Not at all as bad as what I was thinking. This list of 1001 is filled with so many festering turds that after a while you get gun shy and assume anyone you haven’t heard of is going to suck. But every once in a while you just get good old simple music, and it’s pleasant and joyful. That’s this.

A perfect album now the sun is coming out. It's going alongside The Stone Roses debut and New Order's Technique as incredible summer day-drinking albums from '89/90. It has no clever messages really, just a hedonistic let's-get-fucked-up vibe which is enthralling. Rock and pop and funk and dance all come together wonderfully 05/05/24

Engagingly shambolic. But nevertheless, shambolic.

I might like this in an alternate universe. There are qualities of it I think are solid but I just can't get invested. I think maybe there's not enough there instrumentally to get me excited. It's not bad at all tho. Fav songs: - Kinky Afro

Not a fan

The Mondays are legends but they're not one of my favourite bands. This album is pretty groovy , it's not quite a 3 but I'll give 3 anyway.

This is a pretty cool album...there are some almost lo-fi funk elements to it that are really interesting to me. I definitely wouldn't have found this one without the book. Favorite track: Harmony

Some is quite catchy, but some is kind of noisy and obnoxious.

Album luistert lekker weg. Melodie is wel een beetje basic en ik heb bij geen een nummer een wauw gevoel gehad.

It's aiiiight. Good rock album to listen to on any given day

It’s not as good as The Stone Roses but it has a pleasant nostalgia to it and there’s an energy to it- maybe drug fuelled- that recalls the chaos of the Hacienda era Manchester.

Fun album, nothing too special imho, but fun. Solid 3.5

This was fine, not great not terrible

Miles better than "Bummed", but so is committing arson on an orphanage so that's not very high praise. Poor man's Stone Roses. Starts out pretty solid, but gets annoying fast. Extremely uninteresting band - I lack the fish and chips in my blood to understand why they warrant two entries on this list.

Rock alternativo. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

yipiyipi ayayayayaaa. Pero el resto un poco rollo.

Happy Britpop.

Not bad but in my opinion just another mediocre alt-rock English band on this list.

first listen. Very cool music really did peak in the 90s

wasn’t bad, didn’t take much out of it but there’s some good songs on it

Quite enjoyed this, singles tracks are great

3/4

It’s like Oasis if they were Man U fanboys

yeah not great but hard to hate

Niet mijn ding

Hier ben ik best benieuwd naar. Een album dat ik vaak tegengekomen ben maar nog nooit écht geluisterd heb. De albumart is interessant, maar voor mij te chaotisch. Hopelijk zal de muziek zorgen voor een verademing na de jaren 50, 60 en Lorde achter de boeg. Kinky Afro opent de plaat sterk. Het doet me erg denken aan Oasis. Maar waar hier het Britpop gehalte hoog ligt, wordt dit toch een beetje overschaduwd door de elektronische invloeden. Dit lukt goed bij Step On en Loose Fit. Maar mislukt naar mijn mening bij Dennis and Lois. Dit nummer heeft een chille hook, maar je zit er constant op te wachten. Los van de hook is het te saai. De saaiheid overheerst toch een beetje op veel nummers. Ook bij Bob Yer Uncle lukt het niet om de aandacht er bij te houden. De fluit is ook cheesy. Het is ook een ietwat vreemde mix van britpop en elektronische muziek. Iets wat lekker in de Hacienda klinkt, maar verder de pub noch dansvloer weet te bereiken. Rating: 6,5/10 Highlights: Kinky Afro, Step On

'Madchester' heeft me als subculture, met zijn bruisende club scene en fashion sense die je vandaag de dag nog steeds terugziet in de retro-hype, altijd wat meer gedaan dan als muzikale beweging. Eigenlijk zijn alleen het fenomenale debuut van The Stone Roses en wat spul van The Charlatans echt blijven kleven. Veel andere bands voelden toch altijd een beetje hetzelfde, weinig interessante instrumenten met daaronder een 808 drum machine. Dat is toch wel vaak de valkuil van muziek die zich ontwikkelde voor en op de dansvloer, dat de beat heilig is en de rest van de muzikale elementen onderdanig of hooguit ondersteunend zijn. Een album zo als deze - wat echt een schoolvoorbeeld van de Madchester-sound is - valt dan mijn inziens nogal tegen in een immobiele setting. De eerste twee nummers voelen nog verfrissend aan, maar zien hun waarde ook een beetje slinken naarmate het album vordert. Dit omdat de stijl, én eigenlijk de gehele beat, bijna gekopieerd lijkt naar andere songs op het album. De vocalen van Shaun Ryder komen me ook wel een beetje m'n strot uit na een aantal songs, maar wellicht heeft dat te maken met het mentale beeld wat er wordt gevormd wanneer ik hem hoor brabbelen (zoek 'Shaun Ryder' op google, en dan vooral de tweede foto. Een soort Frits Wester aan de prednison). 'God's Cop' is een lichtpuntje, en vangt de essentie van Madchester op een positieve manier. Niet alleen een goeie beat, maar ook een puike riff. In andere fases waar de band zich enigszins losrukt uit de klauwen van de hypnotiserende drum machine, zit er wel weer iets anders in de weg wat me minder bevalt. 'Bob's Yer Uncle' bijvoorbeeld, wat instrumenteel misschien wel m'n favoriet van de plaat is. Maar die geilneukende lyrics zijn wel echt gênant (pak nog even die prednison kop van Shaun Ryder erbij, maakt het echt niet beter). 'Step On' is de posterchild van de fleurige indie dance music uit het grauwe Manchester. Een heuse classic. Al met al viel het me niet mee, en blijf ik vooral achter met de 'bellyaches'. De 'pills' en de daaropvolgende 'thrills' ontbraken. Het is denk ik echt muziek waar je bij moest zijn in de befaamde club Haçienda, eind jaren 80, met een paar noten achter de kiezen. De psychedelische tinten zijn nice, maar het leunt me iets te veel op die doordravende drumbeat. 5,5/10 Highlights: God's Cop Step On

Happy Mondays lijkt een soort liefdesbaby van the Stone Roses en Oasis. Daar is weinig mis mee, maar ook het meeste mee gezegd. De nummers zijn wel net iets minder dat van bovenstaande grootheden. Met uitzondering van Step On, wat natuurlijk een knaller van een Madchester hit is. 7/10 Highlights Step On Loose Fit Dennis and Lois

Before listening: Were these the guys that sang "We are young, we are free"? I don't know much about them except every time someone mentions the Stone Roses, they mention the Happy Mondays. Were they Britpop? Proto Britpop? This should be fun, British 90s rock kinda tickles my nosty itch. After listening: So it turns out Supergrass sang "We are young, we are free." Sorry about that. This album was just ok for me. I can see why they're always associated with the Stone Roses; it's because every one of their songs sounds like fucking Fools Gold! Every goddam one! Anyway, I guess I like the album because I like Fools Gold.

Reminded a bit of U2, but not as good imo. Stand-out: Harmony

Nothing I disliked but nothing that really stuck out to me. Easy to listen to but all songs sounded pretty similar and sort of blended together.

good album. i liked it but i heard so many uk bands that it gets hard to feel special or different at some point 2/5

Dunno

So weird. Every song feels like it's *almost* great. Not sure what's missing, but I left feeling unsatisfied and intrigued at the same time. Feels like they were early adopters of a mediocre movement that spawned other mediocre bands like EMF and Jesus Jones.

Lazy post-punk for emoer & hipstere som digger distortion. Hørt et par låter og de var fete, hadde ikke tid

syntes jeg havde ja-hatten på, egentlig ikke nogle dårlige numre, men heller ikke super noget for mig. Syntes den stoppede virkelig brat?

Proto-Screamadelica! Kinky Afro er vel det store nummer, men det var måske mit mindst yndlings. Generelt synes jeg det er virkelig fed

Ved ikke om det er godt eller skidt at de fleste par samme føltes som covers 😅

Dosyć fajne, ale nie urywa. Pewnie do szybkiego zapomnienia 3/5

Solid album some of the songs are good some are a little annoying. Yipee ipee ay ay ay yey yey

i need to find some tie-dye

Very funky and original. Well performed and produced, even though its at times deeply layered you can hear every element clearly and it's never overloaded. The lyrics are fun and catchy too. Particularly excellent guitar playing and bass playing Lastly, making good happy music isn't easy, and they really pull it off so there's that too

Hate it

Very '80s without being catchy. Not horrible, but nothing I need to listen to again.

yipiyipi ayayayayaaa. Pero el resto un poco rollo.

Starting track gave me hope that I might enjoy the album and then it fell apart for me from there.

I enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. I happily had it on rotation all day. It’s background music with nothing really standing out and nothing too awful. I’m not interested in listening to additional remixes, but in the spirit of the challenge, I did it just the same.

I didn't get into this one - nothing actually wrong with the music, just felt a bit superficial and boring. ... and while I'm at this review I'm adding a little gripe - I wish the albums were just the original track list so I didn't have to sit through additional remastered or live tracks. As a completionist I feel like I have to listen to the full linked album, so it is super irritating when it’s an extended album.

Good

wow. Like other reviewer, pleasant surprise. Had not heard of the group or the album before, but there is a lot of good stuff here - lofty and hoppin'. You cven hear strains that have bee sampled from them but still - one of those happy finds

Funky, druggy and tawdry, with that combination how could I give it less than five stars?

ну вайбовенько

Это лучше, чем то, что было в прошлый раз! Такой неплохой фанк-рок-дэнс-хип-поп-пуп-туц-туц. И даже не так много следов наркотиков! Напомнило Гэрбэдж, скорее из-за супер-выверенных ритмов.

No me gustó

Everything in here is taken from other artists. Bob Dylan, Culture Club, The Cure... It's all just poor versions of what others have done.

Perfect mix of 70’s rock and 80’s funk… released in 1990 so minus two stars for being derivative

Vibes

First time with this one. Excellent Indie rock. Funky dance beats with interesting lyrics. Some tracks can be a bit repetitive, but I enjoyed this record. I will listen to it again.

I had never heard this. It was decent. I like the sound of it.

INXS did it first and better. Sounded pretty good though.

Uza sve mane ovaj album i dalje ima miljardu hitova

I used to have a best of compilation album that had four songs from this album on, which makes them familiar and the rest of the material pretty new to me. I have to say, that although I love the tracks I knew, some of the other tracks felt a little weak in comparison. I'm going to give this four stars, because it's a great album, but there is a little bit of filler.

Baggytastic

1990 Genre: Madchester, baggy, rock Standouts 5/5: Kinky Afro, Step On 4/5: God's Cop, Donovan, Grandbag's Funeral, Loose Fit, Bob's Yer Uncle, Holiday. 4/5

Kinky Afro - 7/10 God's Cop - 7.5/10 Donovan - 7.5/10 Grandbag's Funeral - 7/10 Loose Fit - 7.5/10 Dennis and Lois - 7/10 Bob's Yer Uncle - 7/10 Step On - 7.5/10 Holiday - 7.5/10 Harmony - 7/10 Step On - 7/10 Kinky Afro - 7.5/10 Loose Fit - 7/10 Bob's Yer Uncle - 7.5/10 Tokoloshe Man - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 109/150

Really feels like that turn-of-the-decade mix. It’s has the 80s elements of synthesized drum beats and big sounds, but you can start to hear the industrial dark-rock mix into it. Like a drug hangover. The music is complex enough, with thoughtful sound and mix. However, I couldn’t get into it to any meaningful amount.

"I think that Shaun Ryder is on a par with W.B. Yeats as a poet." - Tony Wilson, founder of Factory records. He's not wrong and add to the mix the fact that Shaun's brother and rest of the Happy Mondays along with Paul Oakenfold were loved up geniuses.

there was some fun in here but overall I did not enjoy

Crea un ambiente muy lindo en el cual estar, musicalmente tiene cosas interesantes. Por momentos me recordó a INXS.

Seemed like this album might have been recorded in different methods/locations. First half was kind of boring, but there were a couple standouts on the back half that were much more pleasing to listen to and the vocals were solid. Overall meh, maybe in the 900's as far as rankings out of 1000 albums.

Rolling Stones vibes on a few tracks. I like the brightness in the percussion without the 90’s compressed vocals shoved down our ear holes. Cool album.

As I have since I first heard it, I feel like this is three of four brilliant classics, padded out by filler. Filler which is often funky and lyrically clever enough to get away with it, but keeping it from being a five star album. A very good album, the little Screamadelica that could - possibly because Shaun Ryder is so charismatic you forgive him for his sins. The anti-Gillespie if you will.

Great instrumentals not to crazy about the vocals

Fun and light, listened to it twice.

Listened Before? N Meh, it was okay. I think this is too British for me. Didn't really care enough to focus on it. It seemed very musically complex though so +1. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Step On

vibig

2.5/3

nice bit of noise, wheres the ket?

Nooo I can make it Just one month Please have mercy 1

Nicht meine Richtung

Some good grooves. Reminds me of Charlatans UK. A bit repetitive.

Ok, kinda boring ..... perfectly competent.

Eh

90’s galore

This might be a weird take but it sounds like what U2 would be if they were more indie / electronic sounding. Not sure if that’s a compliment or a criticism. Had never heard it before, and I was pleasantly surprised, but also didn’t hear anything mindblowingly memorable to warrant a 5 rating.

Another band (and frankly style of music) that I was not familiar with, but was pleasantly surprised when listening to this album. This isn't exactly my style of music, but I did appreciate it. Favorite tracks: Kinky Afro, God's Cop, Loose Fit, Step On.

This was a particularly weird album. It was groovy and upbeat but the lyrics were weird and the songs weren’t all that great. Overall it was like a 80s funky rock album that may have been made too late and totally missed. Wouldn’t revisit this and don’t see how this can be considered must hear music. 4.6/10

3/5. Well-written and catchy, upbeat songs make you want to vibe with them. Nothing too crazy offered here but I did enjoy it nonetheless. English rock with some influence from the Stone Roses and some other funk and punk elements creates a some fun songs but nothing influential.

Classic!!

Favourite song - Loose fit

Didn’t like a single song on this

An enjoyable trip back to the 90s

This was good I was quite enjoying it although it got annoying towards the end

Just not my favorite

Alright you got me, I enjoyed this more than I anticipated

So fun

Your first impression of an album is almost always the cover. So when I saw this egregiously colorful, vomit inducingly bright hodgepodge of what seems like old school candy and food wrappers, I knew I was in for something. I actually love this cover. It’s like a Where’s Waldo page. I can’t stop looking at it. This is like that CD you randomly find in a music store, and buy because you like to cover, but forget you own and never listen to. And it gave me an idea of what it might sound like before I had even heard a second of music. This is a product of its time in the best possible way. Released late into the first year of the 90’s, it seems as if they waited as long as they could and soaked up as much of the beginning of the era and the end of the 80’s as possible. This is so 90’s it would make millennials cry. From its cover art to its mix of acoustic and electronic drums to its jangly guitar riffs that are pumped so full of effects it’s almost like a shoegaze record. This has a song called Loose Fit for god sake, which is entirely a play on the trendy fashion style of the time period. And it’s just so damn creative. I was not bored for one second. It’s an album that totally warrants and deserves a front to back listen with no breaks. It’s not too long and provides a unique flavor of the same vibe with every song. This makes me want to throw on some baggy pants and skate around my neighborhood, but I’m not capable of doing either of those things, so this works. The worst part about this is that the title is Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches and not Pills, Thrills and Bellyaches. Rating: 10/10!

Cover Impressions: I have no clue what to expect from this ransom note of an album cover. Maybe some psychedelic stuff due to the pills, graphics, and positivity towards Mondays. So I wasn't too far off. And I don't immediately hate it so I count that as win. I know I've heard this singer before. Upon a quick search, "Dare" by Gorillaz was the first hit, then upon further looking I had bought a random CD from a second hand store that had a cow on it, and one of those songs was "In the name of the father" by Black Grape, which I rather liked and is this singers follow up project after Happy Mondays. That has nothing to really do with this album, but does help me place the voice and now I'm coming into this with a little different perspective. As this album goes on, I'm thinking now that a full album of this voice and style is a bit much. After the 4th track I had to take a break for a couple hours. That will likely deduct a star or two. Coming back from that break seems to have helped a lot. The second half seemed less extra. "Loose Fit" and "Step On" could make their way into a playlist. Favorite track "Step On" 3/5

3 stars

Never really got it? I mean Shaun Ryder is iconic of that era and genre, and a working-class hero, but he's not a great lyricist and the music just isn't good enough to carry it all. I guess if you were there at the time it would have been great, but this one should probably be consigned to the dustbin of history.

nice coke jingle reference i guess

Happy, lazy, quirky, bright. A little too hazy at times for me, but a pretty pleasant listen. Best song: Dennis and Lois

An okay album. Not good. Not bad. Forgettable.

Its a fun sound, sort of 90s pop punk

I don't think I've heard of this band, but I'm sure I've heard their stuff. A touch of pearl clutching lyrics. Good Stuff over all

Ok album, wasn’t very enthralled with the music. 2/5.

Boring AF

This held up a whole lot better than I thought it would - OK, sure, Sean Ryder doesn't exactly have the best singing voice, but it works in context. Loose Fit has a great riff, Step on takes me right back to the nineties, and I enjoyed Harmony a lot.

3.75/5

Felt very very 90s. I’d never heard it. Listened once and have no desire to hear it again. 2

That annoying, unnecessarily busy drumbeat that permeated the '90s combined with that half whine/half shouted vocal all mixed together in a repetitive mess that is probably fine if you're drugged-up on a Friday night. It's just a drag. I'm going to keep listening to decide between 1 or 2 stars. 2 stars because it's dull but not horrible. The best sound is the sampled (stolen) riff from He's Gonna Step On You Again. The rest of the song is a pastiche of '90s kitsch horror.

ummm wtf

Not a fan. Bland garbage that didn’t feel different or new for being from 1990

God's Cop Step On

Disliked this one quite a bit. Maybe I was in a bad mood, but it was hitting one note, and I didn't want to hear that note. The main vocalist had a stylistic tick that reminded me of Bob Dylan, in a bad way. The highlight was Holiday. I never want to hear Bob's Yer Uncle again.

Really didn’t enjoy any of this

The music was fun, but I didn’t love the singer’s voice. Also, I was definitely ready for the album to end long before it did. But I really did like the music.

i enjoyed this but there is one song on this album that sounds juuust enough like megalovania to get that stuck in my head. well played, album from 1989, i never saw it comin'

Not bad! Not great! It's fine!

2.5 rounded down. It's not so much that this was bad and is more that I got bored of it quickly. I listened in the morning and by dinnertime I couldn't remember what the album was today. I think I'm starting to struggle to listen to these independently and instead keep wondering why some of them are on this list.

Just noise to me. 1/5

Feels like it's a decade+ too late.

Heard this many times over the years and always had passing respect for it, more of a "don't mind it being on but wouldn't put it on myself" kinda thing. But I enjoyed it more than I remembered!

strong points - step on, kinky afro and bobs your uncle (Chnage of pace too the rest of the album) Album made for 90s clubbing scene and doesn't translate well too casual listening Song writing very formulaic (Clubbing music)

Very indicative of late 80s/early 90s club pop. Interesting, but not enough substance for my tastes.

- God's Cop - Loose Fit

Prima album. Maar niet memorabel

cool concepts. flop album.

Klarer Rock, klare Strukturen - und ok, nette Hintergrundmusik.

Tönt zum Teil etwas rostig und schräg...

Ich kannte diese Band nicht und bin positiv überrascht auch wenn am Schluss halt Britischer Rock.

Not doing much for me. Some of it reminds me of that Soup Dragons song “I’m Free” which is more of an earworm than a song I actually like. Don't think I would choose to listen to this again.

Just didn't like this album. It sounded like worse versions of bands I like and don't like. 1/5

C-

A classic from the north. 3.4

Soort van post 80 vibe. Word er helemaal gestoord van.

Klonk wel vrolijk maar niet iets wat vaker op zal zetten. Ik zet vervolgens Kink FM aan. En wat denk je? 😉

Het begon wel aardig, maar naarmate het album vorderde begon ik me er toch ook steeds meer aan te storen. Het heeft een vibe die ik toch niet helemaal goed trek.

Peaked with Kinky Afro (first song) and downhill into mediocrity from there. Step On stands out at the end. Influence on Oasis/Blur sound is apparent.

Heaps of fun, like a more intriguing version of the Stone Roses

Masterpiece. Amazing album.

youre twisting my melon man

Alternative Rock. Not my usual style but enjoyable enough.

yeah that is another no for me. Might be the mood, but really not digging it. 5.5/10

Great find

Enjoyable but not brilliant.

A generous 3*, gets very samey and Shaun Ryder is very limited in what he can add to the band

A career high point. But yet it’s pretty dreadful and has aged terribly. Very little to love about this.

not bad. it was actually a fun listen, but overall a bit unremarkable. some songs dragged a bit too. - 2 adds

The 2 periods of time where I would have most loved to have been in my 20s would have been mid-late 60s and early 90s - I’d have been no use to anyone but would have had the best time! This is from that period where every band was just made up of some blokes from down the pub - which means every album starts with some bangers then slowly fizzles out into the same track repeated over and over - gets very boring! Maybe pills would make it better? 3.1

well slap my ass and call me Garfield

Spray it on and tag it.

I wrote for luck, they brought me this

"Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches" is the third studio album by English rock band Happy Mondays. Manchester, baggy and rock are the genres. This album and band along with the Stone Roses are seen as s bridge between the Manchester indie and rave scenes. It was produced by Paul Oakenfeld and Steve Osborne. Both had major roles with Oakenfold providing the loops and Osborne the song arrangements. Happy Mondays are Shawn Ryder (vocals), Paul Ryder (bass), Mark Day (guitar), Paul Davis (keyboards. Programming), Gary Whelan (drums) and Bez (percussion, dancer). The album hit #4 in the UK and #57 in the US. It received mostly positive reviews. "Kinky Afro" opens the album with a swirling keyboard and ascending guitars. A nice vocal chorus based off of Labelle's "Lady Marmalade." Interesting lyrics by Ryder as an ode to his Father and fatherhood. They add a slide guitar, horns and a groovy beat to "God's Cop." This rocks kind of hard. Their third single "Loose Fit" has a slower beat and a melodic 80's sounding guitar. A chill vibe. How one should approach life. "Bob's Yer Uncle" has a more Caribbean beat. A strumming acoustic guitar. Ryder is whispering and dirty talking about sex. The loud piano keys, then the beat, the whistle, Ryder talking and finally the guitar and we're off with their big song "Step On." It's a cover of a Jon Kongos' song. It's also a protest song. I love the interplay between the piano and guitar. The album ends with "Harmony." Slide guitar and high pitched piano notes. This sounds like a Flaming Lips' song. It's appropriately about being high on ecstasy. And, it's about time I mentioned drugs; it is Happy Mondays after all. This is very good album. I thought some of it might have sounded dated but I found the beats, guitar, bass and piano/keys interesting and varied. They do incorporate different styles (funk, rock, dance). A decent listen beyond their two big hits.

Good album, but most of the songs sometimes have instrumentals that drag on, and the lyrics are sometimes nonsense. I don’t think I would fit well within the Madchester scene, and this album reeks it all. Favorite: “Step On” Least Favorite: “Grandbag’s Funeral” 3.4/5

BL: this album in many ways does mean some things to me. While never listening to the whole record. “Step On” is a track I’ve been aware of before and even played live a couple times in some cover bands. I also often have Bez cross my mind, I see him as somewhat the UK’s answer to Steve-O (jackass era). So it’ll be interesting to hear the rest of this record outside of the aforementioned track and “Kinky Afro” AL: this record had some real bangers in it. The general upbeat tone of this album and the madchester movement as a whole really creates a good vibe. The similarities to primal scream is massive, though that album certainly trumps this one in every way. Very solid listen though don’t think it quite deserves it’s place on this list compared to some other madchester albums FT: “Donovan”, “Grandbag’s funeral”, “Step On” 3/5

I recognize one or two of these songs but I don't think I knew who the band was. Now, of course, I do, thanks to this album appearing today in my rotation. I enjoyed listening to this album. I especially like it when they lock into a nice groove, like the one we hear in songs like 'Loose Fit' and 'Bob's Yer Uncle' and a few others. Very skilled musicians. Real tight. Good stuff.

Trippy, Brit-hippie nonsense. I like some of the Martin Hannett-associated stuff, but this ain't one of them. Sounds like the Spin Doctors fucked Blind Melon and the offspring were raised on a diet of cheap ecstasy and dirt weed in Manchester.

Blind album and artist. I did not really get anything out of this listen, not even a good track. I didn't hate it but was not good. It felt more electronic than rock in parts and I would not come back to this personally.

This was terrible

OK so the album opens w/ a song called "Kinky Afro" and then you look up at the player & there's an actual music video for it, in which you see.... a bunch of awkward white guys bopping along as they play to a bunch of expressionless white women awkwardly swaying back & forth. The rest of the album was a mix of horribly annoying & constantly-sliding-off-tune half-spoken half-sung wails, and just plain generic. Maybe this album has some special meaning to Brits for some reason, but I won't be listening to them again.

Singles: Step On, Kinky Afro, Loose Fit, Bob's Yer Uncle Standouts: Kinky Afro, Step On

This album is very 90s (not a compliment) and incredibly British (also not a compliment), but it pulls it off nonetheless. Lot of fun and catchy shit.

I didn't really have any background on Happy Mondays before this. I don't think it's something I'd actively seek out but I can imagine it being good background music for a party

everybody talks about britpop in terms of Blur vs. Oasis but nobody talks about it in the form of Primal Scream vs. Happy Mondays

It's madchester man! Easy to hear the same stew brewing from the Stone Roses and Primal Scream's Screamadelica. Touches on jangle pop (Kinky Afro), blues riffs (God's Cop), dancy beats (Step On), shimmery guitar over proto trip hop drum and bass (Loose Fit). Lots of auxiliary percussion and samples throughout. Very distinct sound while also running the gamut of forms and styles.

Would have been three and a half if halves were an option

Pleasant! Singer not quite as dynamic as an Albarn or a Gallagher but some groovy instrumentals here. Love the Brit-hop / trip-pop vibe on Loose Fit (pinkie swear this was in here before others mentioned it lol) and the kooky horns on Bob's Yer Uncle

Rounding down, but I definitely enjoyed this. The back half dragged for me, but a very solid record.

There are a couple of good songs on here but more that are really underwhelming, and reminds me that I was pretty selective about BritPop stuff for a reason. When it's good it's great, but there was loads of guff as well.

We had another Happy Mondays album (Bummed) about 100 days ago, and this is miles better than that was. Shaun Ryder's voice isn't great, but he knows where it works and avoids where it doesn't. Kinky Afro is a brilliant song, I prefer it to Step On, and the rest of the album is decent enough. Also remarkably ahead of its time Britpopwise - we're still 3-4 years before Oasis and Blur get going - so bonus points for that. I think it just about scrapes a 4.

Love that madchester in general, but this one lacks bangers

This was an interesting listen. I enjoyed it. Not something I might necessarily go back to though.

Mega fedt! Klart noget der skal ind i min rotation. 3 banger tracks, og det har bare hjerte og spiller. Mega fedt cover også

Canciones de estilo pop-rock suave. Con algún toque un tanto disco. Se puede escuchar, aunque no destaca especialmente. Nota justa

some neat riffage

Decent madchester stuff, pretty groovy

Helt swag sämre i andra halvan

Þetta er að mestu alveg ágætis plata. Skil samt ekki af hverju helv falska flautinu var hleypt í gegn á sínum tíma. Fæ alveg hroll yfir því. Að öðru leyti fínt stuð. Enda Englands-árið mitt.

I don't get it. Is this a joke or too much a product of its time?

back when people were looking forward to what future holds with stupid optimism "whohooo, let's ride, ride on, ride on!" absolute nightmare to listen to awful voice the epitomy of "repeat the same notes enough times, they could start sound somewhat pleasant" how did this make it on the list is beyond me, I can find 10000 albums more interesting, pleasant and important. or was it somehow so influential that it absolutely needs to be heard?

Is this what sublime would have sounded like if Bradley Nowell had stayed clean?

Very much feels like an album of a specific place and time and it is no longer that time or place.

3.4 I enjoyed the album and I think I will give it another run-through and check out some of the remixes. I just never got into bands like them and the Stone Roses.

2/5

Somehow not great but I still listen to it regularly

A fun album that helped me understand the progression of British music from the 80s to 90s Britpop era. Didn’t mind it at all.

Yet another forgettable album (that didn’t leave much of a mark even at its prime)

HL: “Kinky Afro”, “Bob’s Yer Uncle”, “Loose Fit”, “Donovan” Bad album name File this under my “big dumb fun” albums. Which is to say I didn’t need it today, but I might need it down the road. Music video for “Kinky Afro” added to the positive experience 3.5 November 26, 2023

No idea this existed. Pretty cool!

Another one I spasmodically reacted to when it popped up! I’m really entranced by this whole era of Britpop surrounding Factory Records. Some of my favorite bands are in this orbit (Joy Division/New Order, The Stone Roses), and Happy Mondays are no exception. The movie 24 Hour Party People (so named after a Monday’s song) is a good primer on this whole “Madchester” movement - though Tony Wilson is apparently a much bigger asshole than Steve Coogan portrays him and The Stone Roses get short shrift since they didn’t really give their blessing to the project. Still worth a watch. “Loose Fit” is a personal favorite, but the whole album is full of danceable and sing-along-able tunes. Drug-fueled and sex-driven. Hard not to like this band in spite of all of its baggage. Great record.

Un album rempli de Gifs envoyés par toute l'équipe, se plaignant avec humour de démarrer une nouvelle semaine de travail. Vivement le weekend...

Happy Mondays loupe complétement son pari: mon lundi est tout sauf joyeux après l'écoute de cet album.

Not necessarily memorable

Like a unpopular DuranDuran album. Not offensive, but nothing catchy to me at all.

Dislike the voice and musical style.

More Happy Mondays and Madchester music. This album, with a horrendous title, is more rock and less acid house than Bummed - much like Screamadelica from Primal Scream the year after. So less danceable, but with stronger songwriting. I dig it.

Okay, hear me out… This might sound conspiratorial but I think I’m onto something. Following the horrendous mess that was Bummed, I firmly believe that the record company got rid of the entire group and replaced them with actual instrumentalists and competent songwriters. Nothing else makes sense considering the change in quality in the short amount of time. I deduct one star as I normally wouldn’t condone such KGB methods. This time I will make an exception though.

This was definitely not ever for me at all. Well maybe someday. not now. but bob yer uncle

Not too bad but nothing catchy.

I couldn't get past this being fine. It walked a line between too little and too much for me and never went one way or the other. I kind of wanted it to go more toward too much. But maybe hearing it on a Thursday kills the whole vibe?

Huh - Happy Mondays have always floated in the peripheral of my musical understanding; a band that had its moment a while ago, didn't seem to hold any appeal for me and whose members are mostly known nowadays for being clownish fuck-ups. What a surprise, this is great - a rolling, bouncing melange of rock, indie and dance music. There's an agreeably twisty quality to the guitar work, as if it's created with more adherence to the rules of geometry than those of music. Underpinning everything is a mildly lysergic sensibility and sense of slightly lunatic fun. Good! Great!

I feel like this guy's voice does not fit this music. There's a rub here, right? I couldn't get into it. To be fair, I'm not a big fan of the three things in the album title on their own, let alone all together. It was always going to be a tough sell.

Impressions: It sounds like a rock-new wave-dance album. Liked it. Favorite tracks: Kinky Afro, God’s Cop, Bob’s Yer Uncle, Step On Rating: 4/5

It was just ok

Absolutely nothing stands out, unremarkable at best.

Grooves very well and is good indie pop. Immense fun and genuinely no filler. Has aged surprisingly well and is as infectious as when I first lapped it up. Who really knows what or cares what Shaun is really singing about. But seriously, drugs are bad, kids. These scallywags are not a good influence.

Oké album voelde hem niet zo

Wel oke

Dance-y without being super techno. Tears for Fears/Wham/Culture Club. Solid

3 étoiles, sympa mais très daté 90's

This album was alright, there was something about it that didn't quite move me. Not sure, maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it today. It was fine enough, good even, but some of the lyrics were kind of vulgar in a childish way - something that rubbed me the wrong way a little bit? Not sure. I'm not a prude, but I felt like it detracted from the music a bit. Still, all and all, an alright time to be had.

Does really do it for me.

This was listenable enough, but I never really got into it. I'm not so much a fan of the vocals, although I appreciate the instrumentation.

I had mixed feelings as I listened. I would really be liking a track and then I would suddenly feel irritated and wish it would end. I think it had to do with the dj work (love it) versus the vocal work (not so much). Overall, I think my good feelings were more plentiful than my irritated ones.

I had to check to see if we'd listened to any Happy Mondays yet and, yes, we listened to Bummed about a year ago. In my review, I said I wouldn't remember it and I did in fact not. This was much more enjoyable though. Some songs were very catchy and appealing. Don't know if I'll remember this one but I'm more likely to listen to it again.

I’m not sure what I expected… but this exceeded expectations. Fun. Kinda catchy!

It was fine. I liked it better than the previous Happy Mondays album I was given early on in this project. But I won’t seek it out or put it on again of my own choosing.

Not super into this, I think maybe just didn’t age well. Kinda generic sounding now, at the time in 1990 probably would have blown me away more.

Fun

Nothing great or horrible about this album, just very average and unexceptional. Meh ok.

This might just be too 90s for me.

Wasn’t really my jam.

Kinky Afro // Step On // 2.5-3/5

It might not be the best album, best singer or even music for that matter, but dear me, does this album make me happy. Best effort from Madchesters most drugged up band.

Kind of whatever, Step On is a classic but other than that nothing particularly interesting for me on this album.

I had never heard of this band. I liked this...it wasn't love at first listen but I think I'm going to keep it on my phone and listen again. It sounded very 90s, so it's interesting it only came out in 1990.

Funny that a band called Happy Mondays has a song called Donovan. I liked some of there stuff but found there was a bit too much filler.

So this is one of the first "Indie-Dance" albums and it does have a bit more of a rhytymic beat though there is no mention of drum machines. I guess the yet-to-be famous Paul Oakenfold as producer had some influence on that. My favorite song is "Bob's yer Uncle" but it doesn't get mentioned by the critics. Back up vocals by Rowetta are also good.

The last time we got a Brit-pop album I mentioned that I hoped that it was the last album of this wretched genre that I would have to listen to. Well, Surprise! ... those sneaky Brit authors have another one up their sleeve. Why can’t they spread their wings and offer up something different like the Bulgarian women choir or Tibetan throat singers instead of the same old boring Brit-pop? FML.

Inoffensive but also a bit boring.

interesting album, hard to describe but pretty consistent

I easily forget that this album is playing. It might not exist and the world would remain the same.

Some tracks show that this album could be enjoyable but most of it is forgetable.

It was pretty good, take me back to my youth. Couple a classic tracks on here.

OK. Bit of fun, some good ‘uns there. What does Bez do?

i thought i loved this album until i realised i didnt