If there was ever one album that came to single-handedly
define a band it was this one, the self-titled debut album by Manchester quartet
the Stone Roses. Released in 1989, not only would this album define the band’s
sound, as well as enshrine their legacy, but it would also help to kick start
indie guitar rock in the UK and go on to influence an entire generation of
bands in the process.
Coming out of the popular Madchester scene, a scene which
led to the growth of a style of music which mixed together elements of
psychedelic rock, alternative rock and dance music, The Stone Roses album was based on a template of The Byrds meets
rave culture, with the sound of this album an eclectic combination of 60s
melodies and harmony, 80s jangly guitar and dance music. This album is arguably
the best representation of Madchester as a style of music, with the individual talents
of the band members and their abilities as players ensuring that the mixture of
indie rock and dance worked well together. Guitarist John Squire is amazing at
what he does and can change his style of playing between a more classic Hendrix
rock sound to a more feel-based percussive-like playing. His jangly guitar contributes
in a big way to the bands overall sound, while his use of phasing and echo
helps to give a lot of the material on this album that dance-like feel. Bass
player Mani has groove to burn, with his R&B and soul influences helping give
the material a dance feel and an overall grove that holds everything together,
while drummer Reni has an amazing feel for rhythm and timing to the point that
at times his precision-like playing even sounds like a dance sample. Quite
simply it is these three guys which make singer Ian Brown’s job so much easier,
so much that he only really needs to serve the needs of the song without
stretching too much vocally, with his backing band doing enough as it is in helping
create what is almost a sonic-sphere of melody, harmony and rhythm.
The
Stone Roses is one of those albums where it is
quite hard to find a dud song, and as an album it is pretty much perfect from
track one all the way through. Album opener “I Wanna Be Adored” is an
enchanting atmospheric psychedelic number highlighted by a Middle Eastern
styled pentatonic riff by John Squire. This is followed by “She Bangs the Drums”
an indie anthem like no other, and “Waterfall” with that instantly recognisable
guitar riff that chimes along throughout the song. If I was going to be picky,
a couple of tracks in the middle of the album such as anti-monarchy folk pastiche
“Elizabeth My Dear” and a backwards recording of Waterfall “Don’t Stop” don’t
add anything to the album and could have been overlooked for something else,
but what they do, do is set up nicely the run home in what surely represents one
of the greatest run of songs to end an album ever.
The ending sequence starts with “Made of Stone”, a guitar
heavy psychedelic indie swirl which features an electrifying solo from Squire
and moves on to “Shoot You Down”, a slower number with a prominent bass line,
bright guitar flourishes, and some of the most amazing harmony singing that
sucks you in completely whilst giving a new definition to the phrase music to
my ears. This then leads into the final two tracks, the jangle guitar infused “This
is the One” and the epic finale “I Am the Resurrection”. “I Am the Resurrection”
is the bands masterpiece and probably their most definitive musical statement,
while as a track it is a perfect example of what the Madchester sound is all
about stylistically. At eight minutes in length, the song starts as a
straightforward indie rock song before at around the four minute mark transforming
into a dance-rock track complete with a dance drum beat and funky bass riff.
The rhythm section combines brilliantly with Squires infectious guitar licks to
create one of the more original songs on the album and one of the best ever album
outro’s in rock history. In marking a point where indie rock meets acid house, “I
Am the Resurrection” is nothing short of being a truly brilliant ending to a
fantastic album.
This album to me represents the perfect album. It is one of
those albums which stand out from the really good albums and one which deserves
a place under the category of amazing albums. This is also seen in how it seems
not a year goes by where this album does not appear in a list of the greatest
albums of all time in a music magazine or on a music web page. Its eclectic mix
of indie rock, psychedelia, Beatles harmonies and dance music works so well
together, while the songs themselves just ooze melody and rhythm. The band got
it so spot on with this first release that they really needn’t have made
another album, as it is this album and its melodically rhythmic nature which
has come to define The Stone Roses and their sound. The Stone Roses is the perfect album for summer and is a great
album to chill out to with a beer in the sun. I couldn’t recommend it anymore strongly,
especially for those into indie rock, acid house, and classic 60s guitar rock. It
will not disappoint, and I am pretty sure that after several listens you will
become hooked just like me and millions of others have been.
A+
- Sam
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