The great thing about being a music fanatic is that regardless of how much you think you know, you can always come across something that blows your mind. In the latest installment of "I can't believe that I missed this the first time around" comes the remakable debut record from Manchester, England's The Stone Roses. It's not like this was exactly under the radar, as it helped to launch the "Madchester" music movement and while it didn't really make a dent Stateside, in Britain it is considered one of the greatest British records ever released. After doing some research, I found that it ranks in the Top 10 in a host of British music polls of the Greatest Records Ever variety, and in 2009 NME declared that it was the "greatest debut album ever." So, there I am this last weekend, sitting on the couch watching VH1 Classic's documentary on British indie music, and almost half of the freakin' show is dedicated to The Stone Roses. I'm sitting there like a dumbass asking, "who are these guys?"
Naturally I have since rectified that problem. The Stone Roses came out of the music hotbed of Manchester in the late 80's along with Happy Mondays, James and other English notables. They were sort of a second wave, as New Order, The Smiths and The Fall had all come out of the same city earlier in the decade. In many ways, they were the precursor to Oasis, even down to their egos. Before their debut came out, lead singer Ian Brown was loudly crowning his band the greatest band in the world. But damned if their debut didn't, at least for a very short time, back it up.
Full of bold and brash British rock, it is brimming with grooves and hooks every second of its running time. What makes the record so great (and rare) is that it balances equally melodic and hooky pop songwriting with hypnotic grooves and jams. I think this is why they were embraced across the musical spectrum in England at the time. It touches equally on rock, house, psychedelia and pop.
TSR opens with my current favorite song, "I Wanna Be Adored," where singer Ian Brown is more demanding to be adored than asking. While Brown is a potent force, it is guitarist John Squire who makes this band so special. His deft guitar work lays down riffs, glorious arpeggios and a rhythmic touch that is masterful. The rhythm section of Mani on bass and Reni on drums provide a firm foundation that can rock hard or get you out on the dance floor.
The first three tunes were all singles and are all ridiculously great. "I Wanna Be Adored," "She Bangs the Drums" and "Waterfall" are all perfect rock/pop songs. Following "Waterfall" is "Don't Stop," which takes the "Waterfall" track and plays it backwards, creating a mesmerizing groove of its own. After these tunes, I was thinking that it could not stay this good all the way through, but it pretty much does. They had another single with the beautiful "Made of Stone" (which to me sounds like the best Oasis song I've ever heard) and the record closes with the epic "I Am the Resurrection," another British hit for them that clocks in at over 8 minutes.
After TSR came out, they were the toast of the British music scene. But the familiar story of drug excess, clashing egos and record label lawsuits stopped all of the momentum. They would only release one other record (1994's disappointing Second Coming) and then call it quits. Their legacy is a mere two albums and a handful of brilliant non-album singles and b-sides (collected on Turns Into Stone), but what a great band. Get The Stone Roses.
ABOVE: Here's one of the singles, "Made of Stone"
***** out of *****
3 comments:
See, this is what people were listening to while you were busy listening to only the 1960s and 70s. Thanks for the "tip."
Yes, weall have our gaps. By the way, have you heard of this Beatles group? Quite good. I will tell you about them next.
Have you checked out Shed Seven at all? And be sure to catch James - they are touring the states now. Just saw them at House of Blues in Orlando and was incredible!
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