Customer Reviews

Golden Greats

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although Ian Brown does have one of the most unique, enduring, and pleasant voices, the new material leaves room for much improvement. Realizing that most of the material was formulated from his recent bout with a prison sentence, it does provide a more intimate window into Ian's life. Perhaps I yearn for a more traditional Rose sound. Not being much of a techno fan, I was a bit disappointed with the persistence to have the mechanical beats be the foundation of most of the tunes. However, I think that the album is worth listening to, if anything, for his alluring voice and personal lyrics.

Yes, I still long for the days when I could expect something new from the Roses, but those days are gone. Heck, The Seahorses are dead too. This album is a triumph as far as I'm concerned, though. Sure, not all of it is "gold" (the lyrics in "Love Like a Fountain" are embarrassingly simple), and there is a touch too much drone here and there, but I see this as good jumping off point for more good things ("Set My Baby Free" has an incredibly catchy groove). This is NOT a Stone Roses album (although I can hear where Squire could fit in here and there), it's an Ian Brown album, and that's not a bad thing. There are good grooves, there is posturing, and there is stuff that sticks with you for the whole day. Mr. Brown has created stuff that I look forward to hearing over and over. I suspect Stone Roses fans will like it if they remember the Roses are no more. Take it for what it is, a very decent album from the former lead singer of a fantastic group.

I was personally a bit disappointed with Brown's first solo effort "Unfinished Monkey Business", and purchased "Golden Greats" with a great measure of hesitation. I'm happy to say, then, that the album has over the years given much much joy and listening-pleasure.
The grooves on "Golden Greats" are somewhat loose and hazy, yet they do not lack focus or melody.
Overall, highly recommended, a fine return to form for Mr. Brown and - if you needed any further incentive to purchase this disc - the "DOLPHINS WERE MONKEYS" remix by U.N.K.L.E. is pretty bloody amazing.

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.

This is my favourite solo album by Ian Brown.Though the voice behind The Stone Roses never achieved the impact as a solo artist,this album is a pretty good attempt at reviving those amazing glory days.It isn't just a guitar album at all.It's sort of a mixture between dance riffs and rhythms,exotic beats and yes of course some pretty heavy guitar riffs.Recorded after some difficult moments for Brown himself-I'm sure it was a relief for him to have returned at all.He even refers to his time in prison on the 3rd track "Free My Way"-which is a mixture of fast drum beats and the sound of the cello.The first track also has a triumphant feeling-opening with an Oriental sound it soon gets swallowed up by a huge loud guitar riff and heavy drum beats.It shows he's really up for it and it's a great return to form.Track 2-"Love Like A Fountain" is the albums big single.Distorted vocals and an even more distorted synth sound that drifts in and out and up and down the volume scale.It still gets clubs and pubs jumping when it's played.Track 4 I love also-his Northern accent really comes out with some heavily pronounced words.It's got a really funky feel to it and it's one of the albums more circumspect numbers.Track 6-"Golden Gaze" is sensational.There is the sound of Latino beats shimmering in the background before it gets swallowed up by heavier beats,a throbbing bassline.You can really feel your heart pounding when this one gets going."Dolphins Were Monkeys" is another of the albums relatively successful singles.The sound is like strange string sounding competing with dance beats that just refuse to quit.Then when the chorus kicks in we get a more funky,retrospective dance sound."Neptune" is a really lowkey funky track.Tabla drums and a gentle drum machine,mix with feint synth sounds and Brown giving us a strange vocal tour guide to the planets.It's slow in tempo and a real chilled out track.Track 9 sounds like Leftfields last album and sees Brown fully embracing the dance culture and sounds in his own unique way.This is a really enjoyable album and one I feel should have done much better.I've been to certain trendy pubs where they play this c.d. from start to finish and it's always well-received.Even though I've had it for over 2 years now I still listen to it regularly.Plus it's great to hear Brown despite all his trials and tribulations sounding so boldly defiant!

I have been a fan of the Stone Roses for over eleven years and was thrilled when I found out Ian Brown had solo albums. This album is awesome and one you can't seem to stop playing over and over. The critics may not agree, but they only like music that fits a certian criteria. You listen to these songs and realize how much Ian Brown is a true artist. In the days of Rap and Top 40, this is true thought provoking alternative music. His music has energy, passion, vision, and a true sense that he put himself into the songs. I highly recommend this album and Stone Rose fans will definately enjoy this forever.

Ian Brown's best album. This album is really like a greatest hits package, each song is that good. Memorable melodies, great production, and catchy beats, with a lot of the Stone Roses guitar rave style and hipster attitude thrown in.

In concert he lacks energy and voice control (he tends to stop shows and look like he's blaming the soundman for it, but that's probably a defensive move) but in the studio he's able to create some engaging, mellow vocals and the truth is his melodic instincts and songwriting skills are perhaps better than Chris Squire's. Though one would think that the Squire guitar-driven songwriting of the Roses was responsible for most of their great songs, its clear that perhaps Brown's contributions even outweighed Squire's (in terms of the melodies and lyrics/attitude, and this album is the evidence) even with a limited though captivating vocal range.

I bought this cd for myself & an old girlfriend of mine back in December 1999, we were big Stone Roses fans and this cd simply amazed us.Indeed, some of our friends who had no idea who he was thought this was a greatest hits cd from the quality of music & the title.From the opening chimes of the oriental sounding guitars of Getting High to the closing moments of Babasonicos this album is full of great sounds, killer hooks & futuristic production.While Unfinished Monkey Business(1997)contained a few classic songs on it(the triumphant My Star, booming Can't See Me & strangely pretty Corpses In Their Mouths) it left a lot to be desired as many songs felt unfinished. This however, is the proper return of Ian Brown, boasting many of his best songs,including the unstoppable guitar rock of Getting High, the hit dance single Love Like A Fountain, the intense Golden Gaze & the simply awesome funkiness of Dolphins Were Monkeys. The lesser known tracks that make up the album like Free My Way, Set My Baby Free & So Many Soldiers are almost as good with great beats,thought provoking lyrics & intricate production while the chilled out Neptune is the perfect comedown after the workout of Dolphins Were Monkeys. The Brazilian band Babasonicos provided the music for the song of the same name and the band doesn't disappoint with an intense, bluesy yet altogether unique sound for Ian's heartfelt lyric. I highly recommend seeking out the b-sides to this album as well,as they enhance this album's already golden luster(his cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean has to be heard as it is simply mind blowing & will sway any doubter). Altogether Golden Greats proved that Ian Brown was still capable of creating brilliant music & firmly established his solo career here. The follow up, Music Of The Spheres, comes close and is recommended as well but can't compete with the golden songs of Golden Greats.

I've had this CD for about 2 years, since I took a trip to England, flew into and out of Manchester. I guess I was inspired by that trip and took a risk on buying this album. Well, in a nutshell, this is probably one of 3 CDs I own (out of ~ 1,000) that I don't tire of. The production work is excellent (it's recorded in HDCD, for those of you with HDCD decoding CD players or DVD players), the instrumentation is intelligent, the hooks are catchy and Ian Brown is down right awesome. This guy swoons with the music...This is music for people who want to be challenged: It's gonna take you 10-15 listens of this CD to be able to successfuly hum a whole song. This isn't indicitave of anything forboading, but, to the contrarary: there is substance here.

Hmm .. A friend of mine .. Luke (Warrington), who is also a close friend of Ian Brown recommended this album to me. I remember the Roses when I was at Manchester Uni (the Madchester days). I you like the Roses you will not be disappointed with this excellent piece of work.