348) Stone Roses - Second Coming

Losing Mani was a shock, he had been on podcasts recently and was about to go on tour talking about his career. Sadly, he had lost his wife a few years earlier, rough years but we should never forget what a musician this man was.

The Wedding Present were nine years. Massive Attack fifteen years, The Undertones we haven’t had one in eighteen years, and it took The The twenty-four years. Nowadays acts can go years without releasing a record so what was the big fuss about The Stone Roses taking five years to release Second Coming.

They had produced a debut album that had been universally loved by the press, had become the leaders of a scene and as each year passed the hype meant that they were needing to return with one of the greatest albums ever, calling it Second Coming was maybe not the best idea.

Quick instantly catchy songs had been the order of the debut album so for the comeback lets open with an eleven minute track with the sound of water pouring and two minutes later here comes Reni as the drums start and we are nearly five minutes in before the band properly arrive, indulgent yes but John Squire is all over it and when it hits the chorus it’s worth the wait. Driving South Squire is unleashed again a rough guitar throughout, this is a heavier sounding Stone Roses.

Ten Storey Love Song should have been the comeback single, ( I loved Love Spreads Squire riffing away and the familiar shuffling beat and Ian almost whispering but possibly a bit too heavy to storm to the top of the charts), would not have been out of place on the debut, Mani and Reni keeping the beat, Squire layering the guitar and Brown dominant on an incredible catchy chorus. 

I seem to remember at the time the record receiving a fair amount of criticism for the heavy nature of the music but quite a few of the songs have a laid-back nature. Daybreak pleasant enough but, goes on way to long and Your Star Will Shine is the Roses acoustic ballad. Brown’s vocals have always come in for a bit of abuse, but I really enjoy this (he’s not so great on Tears, although Squire’s solo is excellent), the band sound relaxed and at peace, which I am not sure they ever were.

Straight to the Man has a groove from start to finish and Tightrope is a sing a long rough and ready song but again, for me, there is something there. Begging You has an interesting beat and Good Times, for me, is a wonderful song all four members contributing. How Do You Sleep builds to the chorus, the three musicians as tight as ever but no one should waste their time on Foz, it’s crap.

Like everyone I was probably disappointed on the release but over the years I have kept coming back, it’s not as good as their debut, very few are, but it’s a damn fine record.

RIP Mani.

 8/10  

GIVE IT A STREAM: Love Spreads