Stone Roses - Stone Roses: C/D?

I first heard this album in high school about 1999 and man I was completely totally 100% obsessed. “OMG! Best album ever!”, etc. As an American I missed all the cultural baggage associated with it and all the shitty music it influenced. I think that helped a bit. And of course the version I bought had “Elephant Stone” and “Fools Gold” tacked on, so I got more of a greatest hits album. Now it’s 25 years later and I am listening to it now and it still sounds pretty goddamn perfect. John Squire is the star of the show: the chiming arpeggiated riffs just keep coming at you over and over again and yet the guitar never overpowers the songs - easily one of the best rock guitarists I’ve heard. Shame that he obviously used up his entire bag of tricks on this one album. Didn’t they spend like eight years in between the time they formed and the time they released the album? Perfectionist bastards.

Agree that the album still sounds good and I also think that Fool's Gold/Something's Burning were a great next step forward which was totally forgotten by the time of the disastrous second album. I'm still surprised that Oasis are taken seriously as something amazing as opposed to this. Marr's autobiography (he is a huge hometown booster) totally ignores them (and the Mondays too I think).

Yes it’s still a fucking great album and anyone who doesn’t like “fools gold” is not to be trusted

the second coming is quite underrated. Take out 2 of the acoustic tracks in the middle and it'd be great.

Second Coming had great b-sides as well, particularly the ones that were recorded after the album was completed. Would love a deluxe reissue

thread that makes me realise I shouldn't be trusted!