Under the Influence – Ian Brown

Ian Brown, after Morrissey the second Mancunian to helm a volume in DMC's Under the Influences series, may have seen Mozzer at a few Nosebleeds shows, but the two probably weren't crossing paths elsewhere -- certainly not at the Burning Spear shows Brown attended religiously in the late �70s and early �80s. At an opposite pole from Morrissey's very camp mix, this Under the Influence is a collection split primarily into songs on the polemical end of reggae (Burning Spear, Buju Banton, Junior Byles, Papa Levi) and the burning edge of the northern soul nuggets that were most popular when he was a child (from Edwin Starr, Isley Brothers, and the De-Lites). Brown has a few interesting stories behind these tracks -- Cymande's "Fug" was apparently a favorite on the Stone Roses' pre-show stereo -- but Under the Influence isn't a successful collection. It's certainly composed of fair tracks, but they're grouped largely by genre with little pacing evident. Most importantly of all, the simple aesthetic requirements of a transitional mix simply aren't met. Under the Influence may be interesting background material for fans of Brown's continually beguiling solo career, but it won't persuade any disinterested listeners. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide