In The Way Back Machine: The Stone Roses

Image via Revolver RecordsWhilst looking through my vast wall of cd’s I'm often struck by the amount of good music that I never listen to anymore. Most of it is older material so occasionally I like to hop in my way back machine and take a listen to a forgotten favorite. This week it's The Stone Roses, The Stone Roses.

The album opens with I Wanna be Adored. Reminiscent of Joy Division and New Order, the track opens slowly with background noise before the pounding bass line begins to build. Continuing to whet our anticipation, it’s a full two minutes before we hear Ian Brown's distinctive and haunting vocals break through. As the track crescendos to a finish all elements are pulsing with melodic synchronicity.

Alternatively, She Bangs The Drum and Elephant Stone both show us the lighter, more radio-friendly side of the Stone Roses. With up-tempo beats and catchy choruses the songs lead one to imagine driving down the PCH (or in my case the M6) with the top down and the music blaring.

After several stand out tracks including Waterfall/Don’t Stop and I am the Resurrection the album finale is Fools Gold. One of my favorite tracks of all time, Fools Gold was a cross-over dance hit comprised of a simple drum break, some bongos, a Parliament-style bass line, and Ian's hypnotic vocals. As the track continues, the rhythm stays consistent, the vocals fade into the background, and guitar improvisations take over, as if to mirror the build up of the opening track Adored.

Twenty years after it’s original release The Stone Roses still holds up. The influential sound, which is often credited with launching the Manchester music scene made up of the The Happy Mondays, The Charlatans and later Oasis, is as provocative and engaging as it was in 1989. Previously difficult to find in US Music stores, The Stone Roses will be re-released on August 11th via Silvertone/Legacy records as a 20th Anniversary digitally remastered CD.