Stone Roses Redo Classic Skidmore News 9/25/09
Like virtually every obscenely hyped band that has failed to follow through on its initial success, The Stone Roses' reputation has swelled to mythic proportions.
A string of unglamorous lawsuits and public bickering in the wake of their 1988 self-titled debut delayed the release of a follow up until 1994, and by that time the rock press and the public had moved on. Ironically, the Brit Pop bands that dominated the world at the time cited the 'Roses as a major influence. It is not difficult to see why.
The Stone Roses were the ones to popularize the 60s-style guitar rock that British rock stars would emulate in the 90s with much greater commercial success. However, that is hardly to say that the Stone Roses can be reduced to "the band that inspired Brit Pop." In the space of one album, they displayed a level of craft and creativity that Oasis would never equal and that Blur would only achieve after a string of unimpressive releases.
The Stone Roses major breakthrough was to fuse the sweet, bubbly melodies of classic pop bands like the Beatles, The Byrds and The Beach Boys with the syncopated beats of the Manchester rave scene, elevating them beyond the scores of bands who make a career of imitating their idols. The Stone Roses' rhythm section, composed of drummer Gary "Mani" Manfield and Alan "Reni" Wren, imbues guitarist John Squire's psychedelic jangling, the likes of which one is accustomed to hearing in a soft context, with a manic, vaguely exotic drive, particularly on album opener I Wanna Be Adored and the melancholy Made of Stone.
Despite his best efforts at lyrical depth (his is not a bad lyricist, but nothing special either and self-important declarations it is difficult to think of a more audacious, if ironic testament to one's own importance than that found on "I Am The Resurrection," Ian Brown is not a particularly distinctive singer and is largely overshadowed by the rest of the band, although the melodies he sings and self-harmonies more than compensate.
As great an album as The Stone Roses is, the question of whether to bother shelling out money for the re-issue depends on your level of interest. Devoted fans will certainly want to hear every last demo and B-Side, but the quality of the material is variable at best.
None of album track demos are superior or all that different from the originals and the songs that did not make it to the album are not particularly revealing. Producer John Leckie's remastering job, on the other hand, is a significant draw. The instruments now have a much fuller, contemporary sound, particularly the drums (listen to the appropriately titled "She Bangs the Drums" for the best example.)
For all but hardcore fans, the standard remastered version of the album should suffice. The Stone Roses debut, despite its esteemed reputation in hipster circles, is not a difficult record and deserves to be heard by all fans of rock music. In a decade where radio was dominated mostly by hair metal, the Stone Roses were a rare example of an indie band with the will and the ability to invade the mainstream and the impact they made is as relevant today as it was when it was first released. Plus, in addition to revitalizing mainstream music, it is packed with some damn catchy songs that are as enjoyable on the first listen as they are on the hundredth.
Album: 5 Stars
Box Set: 3.5 Stars
Eric Shapiro is a sophomore who loves rock music in all its forms. You may see him around campus in a band T-Shirt listening to his iPod and looking unapproachable, but rest assured he is quite friendly and will usually only attack when provoked.
A string of unglamorous lawsuits and public bickering in the wake of their 1988 self-titled debut delayed the release of a follow up until 1994, and by that time the rock press and the public had moved on. Ironically, the Brit Pop bands that dominated the world at the time cited the 'Roses as a major influence. It is not difficult to see why.
The Stone Roses were the ones to popularize the 60s-style guitar rock that British rock stars would emulate in the 90s with much greater commercial success. However, that is hardly to say that the Stone Roses can be reduced to "the band that inspired Brit Pop." In the space of one album, they displayed a level of craft and creativity that Oasis would never equal and that Blur would only achieve after a string of unimpressive releases.
The Stone Roses major breakthrough was to fuse the sweet, bubbly melodies of classic pop bands like the Beatles, The Byrds and The Beach Boys with the syncopated beats of the Manchester rave scene, elevating them beyond the scores of bands who make a career of imitating their idols. The Stone Roses' rhythm section, composed of drummer Gary "Mani" Manfield and Alan "Reni" Wren, imbues guitarist John Squire's psychedelic jangling, the likes of which one is accustomed to hearing in a soft context, with a manic, vaguely exotic drive, particularly on album opener I Wanna Be Adored and the melancholy Made of Stone.
Despite his best efforts at lyrical depth (his is not a bad lyricist, but nothing special either and self-important declarations it is difficult to think of a more audacious, if ironic testament to one's own importance than that found on "I Am The Resurrection," Ian Brown is not a particularly distinctive singer and is largely overshadowed by the rest of the band, although the melodies he sings and self-harmonies more than compensate.
As great an album as The Stone Roses is, the question of whether to bother shelling out money for the re-issue depends on your level of interest. Devoted fans will certainly want to hear every last demo and B-Side, but the quality of the material is variable at best.
None of album track demos are superior or all that different from the originals and the songs that did not make it to the album are not particularly revealing. Producer John Leckie's remastering job, on the other hand, is a significant draw. The instruments now have a much fuller, contemporary sound, particularly the drums (listen to the appropriately titled "She Bangs the Drums" for the best example.)
For all but hardcore fans, the standard remastered version of the album should suffice. The Stone Roses debut, despite its esteemed reputation in hipster circles, is not a difficult record and deserves to be heard by all fans of rock music. In a decade where radio was dominated mostly by hair metal, the Stone Roses were a rare example of an indie band with the will and the ability to invade the mainstream and the impact they made is as relevant today as it was when it was first released. Plus, in addition to revitalizing mainstream music, it is packed with some damn catchy songs that are as enjoyable on the first listen as they are on the hundredth.
Album: 5 Stars
Box Set: 3.5 Stars
Eric Shapiro is a sophomore who loves rock music in all its forms. You may see him around campus in a band T-Shirt listening to his iPod and looking unapproachable, but rest assured he is quite friendly and will usually only attack when provoked.