Stone Roses? The Stone Roses (33 1/3) [Paperback]

Alex Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 27, 2006 | Series: 33 1/3 (Book 33)

The Stone Roses shows a band sizzling with skill, consumed with drive and aspiration and possessing an almost preternatural mastery of the pop paradigm. This book explores the political and cultural zeitgeist of England in 1989, and attempts to apprehend the magic ingredients that made The Stone Roses such a special album.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'A brilliant series of pocket-sized books focussing on a classic album. Each one a work of real love.' NME"

About the Author

Alex Green's interviews and reviews have appeared in Magnet, Trouser Press, CMJ New Music Monthly, Amplifier, Hits! and SOMA. In addition, he teaches English Composition and Greek and Roman Literature at St. Mary's College of California. He is currently the Editor of the online music magazine www.caughtinthecarousel.com.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (February 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826417426
• ISBN-13: 978-0826417428
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #763,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well placed passion, January 16, 2007

By 

P. Serilla "Gorilla" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stone Roses? The Stone Roses (33 1/3) (Paperback)

Stone Roses is a well researched review of a stunning debut album that thrives on the sheer enthusiasm of its author where others in the series have choked on it.

The author also succeeds in striking a balance between the equally interesting rise and fall of the Stone Roses that bookend this fantastic album. The meat of the story is the album itself, well placed in the different contexts of the US and English music markets of the late '80's and supported by a great deal of primary source material from those involved with album and those who witnessed it from the outside.

While the inclusion of a member of the Posies or some obscure English band even many indie music nerds will never have heard of may not be as key as say a lifted quote from John Leckie, they do succeed in bringing the author outside of himself and offering different perspective on the art and artists.

A sure hit for fans of the Stone Roses, `90's Britpop and of course those who appreciate brilliance and Spinal Tap-esque drama fit for "Behind the Music," but with actual music.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Alex Green Makes it Personal, June 8, 2006

By 

Shmoo Bear (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stone Roses? The Stone Roses (33 1/3) (Paperback)

The real Stone Roses are cleverly revealed through Music Critic Green's personal experience, growing up in the suburbs, listening to Brit Pop. Each song is a chapter in the book as well as a chapter in Green's life. This book is a must for all Brit Pop fans. It made me want to have coffee with the author and talk about a million other bands. Green is knowledgeable, funny, and easy to read.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back To The Late 80s, November 8, 2006

By 

Patrick Mc Coy (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stone Roses? The Stone Roses (33 1/3) (Paperback)

The Stone Roses by Seth Green is, so far, one of the best books from the 33 1/3 series by Continuum Books. I think a lot of it has to do with his style which is personal, passionate, engaging, witty, as well as informative. He loves music and knows a lot about it and music can carry very deep personal associations as well. But occasionally it can transcend emotional associations and predictability and become a sort to of personal classic-this album is one of those for him. I think this album has stood the test of time very well, but I'm not sure I can say the same. It is by far the best thing from the late 80s Manchester scene in my opinion, though. So it is befitting that these personal links be explored as well. I think he does a particularly good job of providing the context form which this record was made as well as the context of what it was in relation to other driving forces of music-particularly independent (alternative) or what was then known as college music. I know and understand these references, because Green is the same age as me we and, generally, listen to the same music. However, he was much more passionate and willing to shell-out the cash for the music he needed. for example, he mentions how The Stone roses bridged the gap between indie rock and the rave dance culture. As he states, there was an absence of dance music among what he calls the Westgergians (a truly fitting title for the indie rock guys like me-I didn't really "get" dance music until I came to Japan in 97', but I still profess to be mainly a Westbergian). This was demonstrated by one of my old room mates Gaje, who worked at the college radio station DJing and reviewing records for them, put on what i imagine to be "Elephant Stone or "I Want To Be Adored" when his then room mate, Greg, bust into the room shimming to the record-and if I remember correctly Greg was a Westbergian if there ever was one.

He basically does all this by writing, in essence, a separate essay with a different theme for each song along with a prologue and epilogue. These sections are complete with fitting epigraphs from various sources (songs by Elvis Costello and The Smiths, literary quotes- from Goethe-Byron-Wilde, sound-bites from The Stones Roses, Noel Gallagher. Furthermore, he provides the history of the Manchester scene and the rise of rave culture which begat and influenced this record. He also gets a variety of musicians to make observations about the band and the record (from obscure bands that I used to listen to like The Woodentops, The MIghty Lemons, and Posies). A very enjoyable and nostalgic read-highly recommended.