$35 & A Dream - Rose Maddox

Advantages: Paved the way for every great guitar band since 1989.
Disadvantages: Slightly muted production, "Don't Stop".

...of this album, which filters through most of its contents, is the contrast of styles, often oxymoronic. As mentioned, musically, this song seems full of love, or joy. Yet the lyrics, so importantly, give it a cynical, menacing twist. None of the songs on this album should be taken at face value… Elizabeth My Dear (0.59) …apart from this one! A simple acoustic folk song, with lyrics that require no explanation: "Tear me apart and boil my bones / I'll not rest till she's lost her throne / My aim is true, my message is clear / It's curtains for you, Elizabeth My Dear". Ian Brown claims that the entire song was revealed to him in a dream about assassinating the Queen. Staunch anti-royalists, The Stone Roses would court minor controversy with this song (one has to remember that in 1989 the Royal Family were still relatively... Read review

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Advantages: Sparkling tunes that remain unsurpassed.
Disadvantages: The Second Coming.

..., it fulfils every dream you ever had of writing the best song ever. Reni hammers his instrument until it warps, Mani loops the loop on bass, Brown sings with a wicked intensity and the star of the show, John Squire surpasses most guitar legends in the furore that is the last 4 and half minutes. Phenomenal. 'The Stone Roses' is absolutely indispensable for any record collection. The band would go on to record the 'Second Coming' and slightly tarnish their legend, but their debut album is so good if they'd recorded an album based on off-key yodels we still would have bought it. Hats off to all then, except Reni that is!... Read review

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Advantages: Poptastic
Disadvantages: The forgotten album of the last 20 years

...Bam it's in your face. They inspired the great Oasis. They gave the late 80s and early 90s a lot to shout about. They were The Stone Roses. I Wanna Be Adored - Dum dum dum dum dum, a bassy intro just rips straight through your chest and from nowhere just comes this beautiful, chiming guitar. Then it breaks out of it's shell and the drums and guitar take off providing a dark and mysterious tone to the song. Ian Brown chirps that he doesn't have to sell his soul because it's already in him. That lyric always confuses me but nonetheless it still makes you want to marry the song. The song just centres around rhythmic drumming, catchy bass lines and several fantastic guitar riffs. If only every album could have an opener like this. 10/10. She Bangs The Drums - Have you seen or have you heard? This song really is one for the summer... Read review

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