McNabb followed "APPBOBOTEP" with a live acoustic album, "Live at Life" (2000), compiled from a pair of Christmas gigs in 1999. The album included one newly written track, "Why Are the Beautiful So Sad", which continued to chronicle McNabb's dislike of celebrity culture as noted earlier in "Don't Patronise Me". "Ian McNabb" (2001) marked McNabb's full-band return, and was issued by Sanctuary Records. The album's opening track, "Livin' Proof (Miracles Can Happen)", was written for the Go-Go's reunion which had recently taken place, but was declined by that band. McNabb's version was pressed as a promo single. The album was moderately received critically, with reviewers complaining of a lack of variety in the rock bombast of the record as compared to its two predecessors. 2001 also saw the issue of a demos and outtakes collection, "Waifs and Strays", which included previously unreleased material and alternate versions of familiar McNabb chestnuts. McNabb returned to his own Fairfield label in 2002, and issued the low-key "The Gentleman Adventurer". Best described as a semi-acoustic album, it is similar in spirit to his first solo album, "Truth and Beauty", with occasional use of the drum machine to accompany more upbeat numbers such as "Ain't No Way to Behave". Almost entirely performed by McNabb (with help from his long-time collaborator and bassist in the latter-day Icicle Works Roy Corkill), the album takes in a variety of styles from rock, through ballads, a touch of funk, and acoustic storytelling. Another "bits and pieces" collection, "Boots" followed in 2003, the title being both McNabb's nickname (after his penchant for wearing Beatles-style boots in the mid-1980s while with The Icicle Works), and a reference to the 'official bootleg' nature of the release. The double disc set includes some very hard to find items, demos, and alternative versions.  2004 saw McNabb issuing a second 'Best Of' album, "". This covered his whole solo oeuvre, showcasing his eclectic musical taste and output. In 2005, McNabb successfully pushed a single, "Let The Young Girl Do What She Wants To" to No. 38 on the UK Singles Chart. This was McNabb's highest-ever chart placing as a solo artist, and his biggest hit since The Icicle Works' "Love Is a Wonderful Colour" reached No. 15 in early 1984, a span of over 21 years.