I often sit and stare at my iTunes library wondering how I let it acquire so many gaps. I have the new Shins album, which is fantastic, but I've failed to import any of my Beatles albums. I have Chris Brown's Exclusive, but not any Rolling Stones. Yes, this is a pretty atrocious thing to realize, especially being raised on rock and roll. In light of this realization, I decided to shift the focus from the popular new releases to something that debuted many moons ago -- way back in 1989.
Nic Harcourt, a radio show host in California, has, among other things, published a book titled Music Lust that discusses everything from Frank Sinatra to what music one should listen to before having sex. It was in Music Lust that I found The Stone Roses and their self-titled first album.
The Stone Roses were part of a phenomenon called "Madchester," which occurred in Manchester in the 1980s and early 1990s and featured indie rock mixed with dance music. Forming in 1984, the band's first album quickly became a classic, topping the charts in the United Kingdom. After The Stone Roses they released Second Coming before breaking up in 1996.
Now, with advertisements everywhere and reality television shows such as America's Next Top Model and I Love New York 2, it's especially refreshing to remember how it was in the good ol' days. The Stone Roses reminds me of the time when pogs were cool (and in existence), Nickelodeon actually had shows worth watching and the idea of gawking at "real people" hooking up on television would have seemed strange. I don't want to get nostalgic, but come on, I know I'm not the only one who misses Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Yes, I know these tasty little morsels of memory occurred in the mid-90's; the point is, The Stone Roses contains a remarkably refreshing sound -- a sound that recalls the days of our youth while also sounding new and exciting.
The album begins with "I Wanna Be Adored," a brooding song that has repetitive lyrics while still managing to be poignant with its ethereal sound and sentiment. The rest of the album follows suit with easy, simple lyrics set to looped guitars and vocals. Yet these touches give each song its own unique personality and emotion to convey.
"Don't Stop" is undoubtedly my favorite song on the 13-track album. It starts with many layers of looped guitar chords and rhythms reminiscent of later Beatles songs featuring Ravi Shankar, and then blossoms into what I can only describe as a kaleidoscope of colorful chords, vocals and beats. Seriously, if you don't end up buying this album, please get this song. It won't distract you in the upcoming weeks of studying for exams, but its complex enough to just listen to without any interruptions.
The Stone Roses is one of the best albums I've reviewed. Its sound is accessible, interesting, and complex through its simplicity. When life seems complicated it's important to return to the things you know make you happy. My advice for the stressed college student is to stop saving up for that iPhone or trying to figure out where you're living next year and just find something that allows you to relax. This album is the equivalent to that; it's that Ben & Jerry's ice cream you've been craving, it's your big bed at home, its that CD you listened to when you were a kid on long road trips to places you couldn't wait to get back to.
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