Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Most Dynamic Debut Albums Ever Made, representing a varied cross-section of genres, styles and time periods. Click “Next Album” below to explore each album or view the full album index here.
THE STONE ROSES | The Stone Roses
Silvertone (1989) | Listen Below
Selected by Rayna Khaitan
Some bands conjure an alchemy so strong, all it takes is one song to mark their merit. “I Wanna Be Adored,” the opening track on The Stone Roses’ self-titled debut is exactly that—pure addictive mastery. It unfurls like an indulgent secret, with provocative bass and soul-rousing crescendo. A sacred anthem of sorts, the woozy charmer sets the tone for what I’ve long fancied as one of Britpop’s finest records.
Although polished for public consumption in 1989, The Stone Roses flaunts the jangly, psychedelic sound of ‘60s pop, but with the sheen of Madchester’s burgeoning rave culture. The result somehow both typifies the scene, yet defines a dimension all its own—perhaps tapping into that collective consciousness which supersedes time.
This is an album that lights up the mind. For all the discord that would later unravel the band, songwriting pair Ian Brown (vocalist) and John Squire (guitarist) were electric together. The 12 songs forming their debut are no fluke. They’re moments of magnificent confluence—the luminous forces of two artists in the right state of mind. For one reason or another, that level of effervescent collaboration has yet to recur for The Stone Roses, but it’s not for lack of talent. Maybe this band just got their kicks doing something new.
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