Golden Greats (US Re-release For "The Greatest")

by

Ian Brown

Edit

Yes, I still long for the days when I could expect something new from the Roses, but those days are gone. Heck, The Seahorses are dead too. This album is a triumph as far as I'm concerned, though. Sure, not all of it is "gold" (the lyrics in "Love Like a Fountain" are embarrassingly simple), and there is a touch too much drone here and there, but I see this as good jumping off point for more good things ("Set My Baby Free" has an incredibly catchy groove). This is NOT a Stone Roses album (although I can hear where Squire could fit in here and there), it's an Ian Brown album, and that's not a bad thing. There are good grooves, there is posturing, and there is stuff that sticks with you for the whole day. Mr. Brown has created stuff that I look forward to hearing over and over. I suspect Stone Roses fans will like it if they remember the Roses are no more. Take it for what it is, a very decent album from the former lead singer of a fantastic group.

Although Ian Brown does have one of the most unique, enduring, and pleasant voices, the new material leaves room for much improvement. Realizing that most of the material was formulated from his recent bout with a prison sentence, it does provide a more intimate window into Ian's life. Perhaps I yearn for a more traditional Rose sound. Not being much of a techno fan, I was a bit disappointed with the persistence to have the mechanical beats be the foundation of most of the tunes. However, I think that the album is worth listening to, if anything, for his alluring voice and personal lyrics.