Monkey Vs. Shark

AMG Review of Monkey Vs. Shark

Brian Way
All Music Guide

Thee More Shallows' 2006 EP Monkey vs. Shark is more than merely a stop-gap between their two amazing albums 2005's More Deep Cuts and 2007's Book of Bad Breaks. Consisting of what could be outtakes from the Cuts sessions, it also showcases a knack for oddball cover songs with its eyebrow-raising interpretation of the Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You" (which sounds more like singer/mainman Dee Kesler can't even get out of bed) and oddball collaborations with the unlikely contribution of Odd Nosdam's "Freshman Remix," based on "Freshman Thesis" from Cuts (which sadly adds nothing to the original, but presages the decidedly non-rap Shallows' incongruous move to indie hip-hop label Anticon for Breaks). At only five proper songs plus the remix and an instrumental, it's as strong a release as any in the Shallows' catalog, and well worth investigating. [The CD was also released with two bonus tracks.]