#498: The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses (1989)

I pride myself on having a decent knowledge of rock music history, if not having actually listened to all of it (thus this project). So I'm ashamed that by just the third album in I haven't heard of the band at all. Rolling Stone doesn't inspire much confidence either with their helpful note that this album is, "highlighted by the ecstatic eight-minute-long "'I Am the Resurrection.'" Goody, I thought.

Surprise, surprise, I loved this album. It's smooth and unexpected and plays on my (sometimes embarrassing) love of jam bands. I wanted to listen to it again on something other than my tinny laptop speakers to give it justice. It's a strange mix of bands much more famous. There's a taste of the soon-to-arrive Nirvana and Pearl Jam ere from the first song, "I Want to Be Adored." A little bit of the 80s sound of the Smiths, the poppiness of The Rembrants, and even, dare I say it, The Proclaimers (listen to "Waterfall" and you'll understand). The slightly slurred singing and driving guitars are a hint at an area to come. Plus, the audible accents are dreamy.

These guys are ripe to be discovered by the next indie movie soundtrack creator. "She Bangs the Drums" just begs to be played over opening credits showing establishing shots of, say, Milwaukee or Portland. In the meantime, I'm glad I discovered them too.

Rating: 8.5/10

Favorite songs: "She Bang the Drums," "Waterfall"

Notes:

• "I Am the Resurrection" isn't even the longest song on the album. The final cut, "Fools Gold" clock in at 9:54. 
• Wikipedia claims that these guys are recording a new album (as of June 2012), which would only be their third. We'll see. Can they really capture the magic more than 20 years later?
• Liam Gallagher was said to have been inspired to start a band after seeing The Stone Roses in concert. You can hear a little bit of Oasis in these songs as well.