Tracks

The Happy Mondays: "Plaground Superstar"

(2005)

By David M. Goldstein | 10 January 2008

I'm not sure which is more surprising at this point; that the Happy Mondays have a new song out, or that Shaun William Ryder is still alive (and looking ok too, if about 100 lbs. heavier).

Unsurprisingly, this one off track from the soundtrack to Brit-football flick Goal! has about as little in common with the classic Mondays sound as you would suspect. By now they've gone through as many personnel changes as Jethro Tull, and Rowetta's bleating is conspiculously (and sadly) absent. So what we're left with is a lager-ready shout along that's some ungodly hybrid of The Stone Roses' "Love Spreads" and Robbie Williams's "Kids," complete with cheesy white-boy harmonica riffing. Hardly "Kinky Afro" then, but still pretty catchy, and it can't help but warm the heart to see 'ol SWR with some remaining semblance of a career at this point. A teaser for the
inevitable (5th or 6th) reunion tour, then?