Search - Ian Brown :: Golden Greats

Bring it together, again.

03/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Two years after Ian Brown gave us his first solo record and cleared his mind of Stone Roses-inspired compositions which we now know as "Unfinished Monkey Business", "Golden Greats" is the most aptly named album of 1999. Opening with Eastern scales, it is evident that he is a well-travelled man who learns alot from his surroundings with the intention of including these lessons in his productions, hence spreading an important message. Similarities between the two albums are few and far between, however, his love for his subject and strong feel for the music comes through as clearly in "Corpses" ("Monkey Business") as it does in "So Many Soldiers". Out of the four times I have seen him live and having met him in person, I know for a fact that the music is that of a genius. "Getting High" is excellently placed as the opening track, and it's outro mixes cleverly with the funky intro of "Love Like a Fountain", where traces of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" are subtle but evident. Also, "Free My Way" and "Set My Baby Free" set a very dark, haunting scene - both of them written during his stint in Strangeways Prison. Having seen band after band attempting to match even the style of the Stone Roses, and even John Squire's group fade in and then back out again, a track such as "First World" paints the perfect picture of what so many people have strived for without even coming close. It is a classic album by a charismatic artist. His music is one thing, while the intellectualism from which it comes is something else........the sooner he writes a book, the better! Already a legend is Ian Brown - the Godfather of Manchester."