Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Second place, October 12, 2004
How do you follow up one of the most influential modern rock albums, a universally beloved debut? Well... you can't. Sadly, the Stone Roses couldn't either, several years after their legendary self-titled debut. But after several years, "Second Coming" has gotten over its initial bad rap, and proved itself a solid -- though not stellar -- piece of Brit-rock.
A rising chord seeps into a growling bassline... followed by water trickling and some distant bird songs. "Breaking Into Heaven," is probably the most memorable part of the whole album, especially when it rises into some jungle drums, then a funky rock rhythm. The eleven-minute intro alone has more variety than most rock bands can manage in a whole album.
And after the intro? The fiery rock of "Driving South," funkiness of "Daybreak," or the acoustic-led sweetness of "Your Star Will Shine" and "Tightrope." There are dips into pop, hard rock, and the occasional nod to Led Zeppelin's famous riffs. It ends on a robust note with "Love Spreads," not the best Stone Roses song but a likable, grounded one.
If video killed the radio star, then success killed the Stone Roses. They disbanded shortly after "Second Coming" was given a disappointing reception, and after a nasty lawsuit from their record company. But time has been kind to the sophomore album. Sure, okay, it's not as good as the self-titled debut -- but it is a good rock album in its own right, inventive and sometimes a little insane.
John Squire's guitar contortions are what you really notice about the music -- he can do mellow acoustic strumming in one song, then Zeppelin-style riffs that tear your throat out. Renni's agile drumming is allowed to shine best in the opener and "Straight To the Mind," and Mani's thick basslines slide under the belly of Squire's guitar.
Ian Brown's vocals shift tempo in this album, sounding slow and almost seductive. The one area in which "Second Coming" sometimes stumbles is the songwriting. Some of the songs are gorgeous lyrically ("All through the night I'll watch the skies/And your distant sun will shine like the gun/That's trained right between your Daddy's eyes"), while others are merely mediocre ("Take my hand baby I'm your man/I got loving enough for two").
"Second Coming" suffers from the dreaded sophomore slump, all the more so because the first album was nearly flawless. But the Stone Roses' final album is an hypnotic rock experience, and one that Stone Roses fans should definitely listen to... but only with an open mind.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Outstanding Farewell To The Stone Roses, November 30, 2003
After the phenomenal success in the UK of their 1989 self-titled debut, the Stone Roses should've capitalised on their success and recorded a follow-up album a year or two later. Instead, the band got tangled up in legal problems with their record label (though I don't know the details), which would sideline the group for five long years. When the smoke *finally* cleared in 1994, with the Stone Roses having switched over to Geffen Records, they finally released their long-awaited second album, appropriately-titled "Second Coming." Unfortunately, in the five years that the Stone Roses had been away, it seemed that time had passed them by. Oasis were now the UK's #1 group, and reaction to "Second Coming," both in sales and fan & critical response, was disappointing. The Stone Roses disbanded shortly afterwards, and since then, "Second Coming" seems to have been forgotten. It doesn't deserve to be---"Second Coming" is an outstanding album that I, personally, like even *better* than the band's celebrated 1989 debut, though brilliant that album is. I guess this makes me a "twisted" Stone Roses fan, but seriously, people, I LOVE this album. Nevermind the ridiculous criticism or disappointing sales---"Second Coming" is a fantastic, powerful piece of work, and one of my all-time favorite albums. For "Second Coming," the Stone Roses branched out into rock music even more experimental than on their debut disc, combining even more abundant elements of pop, psychedelia, dance, acoustic, progressive, and Zeppelin-esque hard rock. The towering 11 1/2 minute opener, "Breaking Into Heaven," is sensational, beginning with jungle sound effects, followed by some tight, rhythmic percussion by drummer Reni, and then at last, the rest of the band charge in with some incredible grooves & musical interplay, capped off by Ian Brown's smooth, assured vocals. The rest of the album brilliantly matches this track, including the tough-as-nails rock of "Driving South," the funky "Daybreak," and the acoustic beauty of "Your Star Will Shine." "Begging You" is a thrilling dance rave-up, recalling the group's earlier classic, "Fool's Gold." "Tightrope" is a wonderful sing-along, and "Tears" is the Stone Roses' obvious tip-of-the-hat to Led Zeppelin, from guitarist John Squire's opening acoustic riff to the hard-rocking bridge that recalls "Stairway To Heaven." "How Do You Sleep" is beautiful pop, and the album closer, "Love Spreads," is awesome, beefy rock with all the trimmings. Once again, the band's musicianship & songwriting is stunning, as Squire, Brown, Reni, and bassist Gary "Mani" Mounfield's chemistry sparkles like fireworks. It's such a terrible, terrible shame that this outstanding band closed shop after only a pair of albums, but oh, what a pair of albums. Most Stone Roses fans prefer the 1989 debut album over "Second Coming." So be it---it is indeed a superb album. But, in my opinion, "Second Coming" is even more superb, and it's also a very fond farewell to this groundbreaking, trailblazing British band. As I said in my review of the group's first album, popular bands like Coldplay, Radiohead & Oasis may rule the roost in British rock these days, but ALL of them owe a debt in some way or another to the Stone Roses. Thank you John, Ian, Mani & Reni---you guys rock!
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A travesty that this isn't well known, June 20, 2004
This album puts a HUGE majority of albums to shame with it's virtuosity, lyrics, melody, beauty and art. It is SO overlooked and underappreciated that it should be considered a crime against humanity.I really have to respectfully submit a theory that those who don't like this CD had expectations problems from the first release. This CD is not "The Stone Roses Part II" it is a new direction with hints at the old direction (listen: "Ten Storey Love Song"). This is a BIG slice of funk, blues, pop, and rock that would make any rock music fan drool endlessly. I am so sad that this CD is not listened to and admired as it should be. From the opening jungle sounds, betraying the (ultimately) African (or African American) influences which shaped this wonder to the final guitar soloing, breathy singing of Ian Brown, and rollicking bassline of "Love Spreads", this CD is full of quality art. Please, if you discovered the Stone Roses late or just never picked this up, pick it up and listen to it as a work of art. An independent CD not related to the first CD in any but the smallest ways. Let me put you in the picture,
let me show you what I mean.
The messiah is my sister,
ain't no king man, she's my queen! Thank you Stone Roses for giving us this beautiful CD and all the other wonderful music you created!
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by The Stone Roses 
