By Aleksi Takala, alumni
This edition is about the band The Stone Roses, and their album The Stone Roses, 1989.
Before the ecstasy driven “Madchester” scene reached its peak in the early 90s, The Stone Roses released their debut album, The Stone Roses. Influenced by an environment where alternative rock was being merged with acid house, The Stone Roses may be the album that best defines the sound of “Madchester” (along with the album Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches by the Happy Mondays, 1989). Furthermore, it can be argued that the album also laid the foundations for the next dominant scene of music in the United Kingdom: Britpop (Oasis, The Verve, Blur, and Suede).
With it’s track record, it is obvious that The Stone Roses is a very special album indeed. To start off, nearly everything in the album hints at revolution and displeasure towards the monarchy and government. The album cover, inspired by James Pollock, has 3 lemons and a poorly painted French flag on the top left corner, referencing to the 1968 Paris riots. According to John Squire, during the riots, Parisian students sucked on lemons to counteract the teargas used by riot police, hence the lemons on the cover. The song “Bye-bye badman” makes further references to the riots in a jolly and melodic tune.
“Elizabeth my dear”, the most ballad-like song of the album, attacks Queen Elizabeth with lyrics that go “I’ll not rest/ Till she’s lost her throne” over an ironically beautiful finger picked guitar track.
The music it has a list of jangly and rhythmic tracks accompanied by Ian Brown’s anarchical lyrics
