"BYE BYE BAD MAN" THE STONE ROSES (1989)

For October, the Mental Jukebox is dialing it way back to the eighties and going deep. Deep cuts have always been an important element of music listening to me because they’re often the songs that resonate with me most. Deep cuts are usually the ones that the true fans appreciate most. I like my singles and hits, but I love my deep cuts.

The day I discovered The Stone Roses’ debut album was a watershed moment for me as a music fan. Looking back, I think this is when I became a serious fan of music. I got lost in the music – and I couldn’t help but dissect every element of those songs. The Velvet Underground was known as the band that made its listeners want to start their own band. Well, that’s what The Stone Roses did for me. One of the less heralded tracks on the debut record would be another band’s anthem track. “Bye Bye Bad Man” is resolutely a significant part of my life’s soundtrack.

The melody is exceptional. So exceptional, in fact, that I can’t imagine another band concocting it. It gives “Bye Bye Bad Man” that rare juxtaposition of smooth flow and hard edges. Instrumentally there are no slouches here. Every band piece is so critical to the sound. Each member adds serious muscle to the track – from Ian Brown’s Manchester drone and Squire’s jangle fest on guitar to Mani’s chunky bass meanderings and Reni’s garage rock sound on drums. The song is a reminder of how endearing Tracks 1-12 were, not just the single releases. An extraordinary track from one of the most impressive debut albums of all time.

“Choke me, smoke the air in this citrus-sucking sunshine. I don't care. You're not all there.”

"I WANNA BE ADORED" THE STONE ROSES (1989)

Great album openers get the listeners to keep on listening. They can do this in any number of ways. Some openers set the tone by easing us in. Others jump right in and blow our minds from the very beginning. A great album opener isn’t an easy thing to create. More than a great song, it’s all about the sequence. Track 1 has to be the perfect starter. This month, I’m highlighting my favorites. #AlbumOpeningSongs

A review of the best album openers isn’t complete without “I Wanna Be Adored”. For one year, this was the greatest band alive. The Stone Roses never regained form after recording one of the strongest albums ever made. But they deserve a ton of credit for inspiring a new musical era and helping to birth the Manchester scene. They say that The Velvet Underground was the band that made kids want to start a rock band. Well, that’s what The Stone Roses were for me. If I were to be in a band, I would want it to be just like The Stone Roses. Indexing high on magnetic one-liners, airy production and attitude. And “I Wanna Be Adored” will forever be The Stone Roses’ one true anthem.

It’s their entry into the rock world and perhaps it’s also a glimpse into what ultimately caused their demise. On every part of this track, there was an attitude that we haven’t heard before: Ian Brown’s insistent vocals, John Squire’s wailing guitar, Reni’s barrage on the drum kit and that killer bass line from Mani. The bass seems to have a mind of its own. Meandering as if it’s lost and in complete control at the same time. There’s an incredible audacity to the lyrics as they’re written like they came from a band that was already on top of the world. But it happened the other way around. After they wrote and produced the song and album, it seemed like they were on top staring everyone else down.

"FOOL'S GOLD" THE STONE ROSES (1989)

This month, the Mental Jukebox revisits the movie soundtracks of the nineties. The music I’m highlighting are some of my personal favorites. In many cases, the movies themselves were huge for me as well. But the focus will still be on the music – as always. Let’s bring on the throwback classics, the grunge, the gangsta rap, and the indie gems. #31DaysOf90sMovieSongs

Movie: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

The Stone Roses was one of those bands that made me want to be in a band myself. They didn’t last long, but for a couple of years, it seemed like they were almost larger than life. They paved new musical territory and are considered by many to be the catalysts of the Madchester scene. The debut album is one of my Top Ten albums of all time, and several of the songs are among some of my favorites. At the top of that list is the infectious “Fools Gold”.

Highly unusual, the album version of the song clocked in at nearly ten minutes. It was the last song on the debut album, serving as the coda to a brilliant record. It was all funk, all beats. While many rhythm sections do their thing in the background, Mani and Reni were often thrusted into the foreground — and “Fools Gold” was their song. The bass line cascades down and the trippy snare hits are relentless. John Squire adds the funk with his wah-wah effects while Ian Brown murmurs a story about the unlikely perils of searching for gold with friends. Every song on the band’s debut album seemed to be a brash statement — and on “Fools Gold” the band used the rhythm to deliver it.

“Sometimes you have to try to get along dear. I know the truth and I know what you're thinking.”

"FOOL'S GOLD" THE STONE ROSES (1989)

For the month of October, I’m selecting a song each day from the decade that has the most meaning to me: the 80s. It was the decade that I grew up in. The period of time where I discovered my love for music — and explored many different genres. For the next 31 days, I’ll highlight a handful of songs that I truly loved and that were representative of the decade. #31DaysOf80sSongs

The Stone Roses was one of those bands that made me want to be in a band myself. They didn’t last long, but for a couple of years, it seemed like they were almost larger than life. They paved new musical territory and are considered by many to be the catalysts of the Madchester scene. The debut album is one of my Top Ten albums of all time, and several of the songs are among some of my favorites. At the top of that list is the infectious “Fools Gold”.

Highly unusual, the album version of the song clocked in at nearly ten minutes. It was the last song on the debut album, serving as the coda to a brilliant record. It was all funk, all beats. While many rhythm sections do their thing in the background, Mani and Reni were often thrusted into the foreground — and “Fools Gold” was their song. The bass line cascades down and the trippy snare hits are relentless. John Squire adds the funk with his wah-wah effects while Ian Brown murmurs a story about the unlikely perils of searching for gold with friends. Every song on the band’s debut album seemed to be a brash statement — and on “Fools Gold” the band used the rhythm to deliver it.

“Sometimes you have to try to get along dear. I know the truth and I know what you're thinking.”

"FOOLS GOLD" THE STONE ROSES (1989)

It takes a certain level of confidence - maybe even cockiness - to put out an 8+ minute song. Zeppelin, Floyd, Maiden, Metallica and The Who have all done it. And the Stone Roses were no exception. “Fools Gold” was the nearly 10-minute long, psychedelic, jammy finale from one of the best debut albums of the era. Mani, John Squire and Ian Brown held their own, but it was Reni on drums who stole the spotlight from beginning to end.

“I know the truth and I know what you're thinking.”