.Band Members:
Ian Brown - Vocals
John Squire - Guitar
Mani - Bass
Reni - Drums & Percussion
In light of recent events, what with the Arctic Monkeys releasing their debut album, and with Oasis coming back into the 'stream, I felt it was time for me to dig out an album from yet another critically acclaimed Northern band, and yet another band to revolutionise the sound of British music in the mainstream, The Stone Roses. And My God, this album is enough to blow your mind!!
With catchy guitar hooks any guitarist twice John Squire's age would be proud of, bass lines that deliver an awesome beat and are pretty goddam funky at time, drum beats from the man described as "Hendrix on drums" and vocals that make you just want to dance, The Stone Roses' self titled album has everything any band would die for.
As John Robb, author of The Stone Roses' biography says "The Stone Roses revolutionised British Pop. Our days before them had been dark and dingy. The cool people were too scared to take a pot shot at the mainstream, the underground, it seemed, was fading away, leaving the charts dominated by the vile scum of the eighties' pop brigade. The Stone Roses were the most legendary band of the late 1980s. They changed British pop by putting a cool street band back into the mainstream; they made pop and guitars cool again. They were part of their times, but they were also catalyst for the future. They took trad guitar music and breathed new life into it, and when they put out 'Fools Gold' they virtually invented the perfect 1990's pop record."
This basically sums up their impact on the late 80's music scene. They revolutionised rock music in the British Isles, and made it cool to like guitars again.
Now onto the tracks I hear you all say, so here I go:
1) I Wanna Be Adored
A Fantastic opener with pounding drums and bass with the whole song seemingly made up of Ian Brown's incessant chanting of "I Wanna Be Adored", this song does exactly what it says on the tin, some fantastic guitaring by John Squire making this song so excellent.
4.75/5
2) She Bangs The Drums
Again some great rhythm section work carries this song, and makes it go from a decent pop record to a memorable song, about a girl Ian Brown once knew. Lyrically and vocally very strong as well.
4.5/5
3) Waterfall
Ahhh Waterfall. Does this song need any explaining? This song is perfection. From the opening guitar riff to the slightly off key moaning of Ian Brown, this is fantastic. If this song was a woman I would marry her!!
5/5
4) Don't Stop
This song is mostly just parts of Waterfall played and synthesized, this is where the album starts to lose some of it's sting. a decent song, but rather pointless
3.5/5
5) Bye Bye Bad Man
A very good song, with some great drum work from Reni, with a chorus and bass riff that just make you wanna jump up in your seat and dance!
4/5
6) Elizabeth My Dear
A very traditional sounding song, with the tune taken from that old traditional British song, Scarborough Fair. Technically good, but rather pointless
3.5/5
7) (Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister
A great song, with a prechorus and chorus that are just phenomenal lyrically, guitar work is a bit repetitive here, but overall the rhythm and sound of the song is great.
4.25/5
8) Made Of Stone
A great riff here, and the bass and drums just click so well here. One of the Roses most famous songs, with great pounding drums and vocals that just make you need to sing along, it's not hard to see why.
5/5
9) Shoot You Down
A much more relaxed song this time, with very soft vocals and guitar, with the drums being played very quietly, but yet this song just makes you want to sit down and crack open a cold one in front of the telly. Great.
4.25/5
10) This Is The One
A great song, with great guitar and bass work throughout, and yet again Reni pulls a drum beat out of nowhere that is just so good it's indescribable. Great lyrically and vocally.
5/5
11) I Am The Resurrection
Ian Brown is Cockiness personified in this song, but with lyrics like this it's not hard to see why. The first half of the song is a more conventional Roses song, with the second half just the instrumentalists soloing. A Fantastic ender that you just feel marks the end of something that will never be done again.
Conclusion:
A phenomenally successful and influential record, with glittering moments coming from each of the band members, it's just a shame Second Coming couldn't be more like their first effort. Still, this is a great album, and one that will live on for ever as a truly brilliant British Rock Record.
4.75/5
This is my first review so any comments would be much appreciated.
