station to station: THE EUROPEAN CANON IS HERE! lovely song, love the three sections, especially the groovy instrumental + the repetitive “it’s too late, it’s too late, the european canon is here.” even though he was heavily drugged and unwell during the making of the album, i am not sure if i completely buy him saying he doesn’t recall making this album: “it’s not the side affect of cocaine.” love the avant garde-artsy stuff he did 1975 onwards, breaking away from traditional rock (going to kraftwerk etc).
golden years: so catchy! makes you want to move along, and there’s a romantic vibe, but it’s equally sinister? wonderfully produced, especially with the whistling towards the end, so balanced. there’s a hint of creepiness.
word on a wing: lyrics = 10/10, definitely something i’ll listen to on loop, because it’s comforting and v profound (in this age of grand illusion…scheme of things AND “just because i believe, don’t mean i don’t think as well”)
tvc15: like this the least, it just doesn’t work for me, and i don’t know why. i think it’s the breathiness of his voice? but the “oh my tvc15…” part is cool. interested to know what the title means.
stay: what a banger! love the guitar, beautiful intro! bowie really knew how to write songs and whatever he was pulling from his life during the album is crazy, “ cause you can never really tell when somebody wants something you want to”
wild is the wind: nice song. i love the intro, but there’s something particularly spooky and sad about it, especially the initial, “love me, love me…” AND “don’t you know you’re life itself?”
overall, nice album. musically brilliant, i love the production and wanting to try something different. clearly a lot of influence of the occult etc, but the picture and persona of the thin white duke reminds me so much of pink, because they’re both running away from celebrity and popularity, have created worlds to keep them safe. is thin white duke a line of cocaine? it’s clearly a call for help, an acknowledgment of how bad he has gotten, especially with how word on a wing also has a call to god. lots to think about, especially more about the film and brian eno and the berlin trilogy and bowie in LA.
i wanna be adored: i love the bassline, so wonderfully dreamy. "you adore me, i wanna be adored." also, turnstile did a good job covering this song.
she bangs the drums: "the past was yours, but the future is mine." you can feel the optimism oozing from this song; it makes me want to put my headphones in and dance. it clearly has the quality of being an anthem for teenagers.
waterfall: the "she" from the previous song is now free, likened to a warerfall, "she'll carry through it all, she's a waterfall" and i love that. it's about free spirits, youth, and the desire to leave behind home and the familiarity of home, which at a particular age doesn't quite inspire inspiration and awe.
don't stop: only makes sense when i listen to this right after waterfall, but even though it's not my favourite song off the record, i can't deny its genius! reversing a song, aaah! even lyrically, it makes much more sense when seen in tandem with waterfall.
bye bye bad man: lyrically wonderful! musically? might not be my favourite song from the record. but i love the lyrics and what they stand for, and the may '68 student protests, and the album art. "citrus-sucking sunshine" is the smartest lyric i have come across.
elizabeth my dear: reminds me of a simon and garfunkel tune. ooh, scarborough fair! and is elizabeth the queen? "i'll not rest till she's lost her throne." love the craziness and punk-iness of the madchester people.
(song for my) sugar spun sister: so visceral! reminds me of unrequited love, like black by pearl jam or you're beautiful by james blunt. also, the stone roses remind me a lot of the smiths and the cure, i think it has to do with happy sounding melodic tunes and visceral lyrics. easily one of my favourite songs on the record. it's so hard to feel 'worthy' of love, but i am willing to do all it takes, even though it's practically impossible.
made of stone: the intro reminds me of like a stone? and the first verse reminds me of paint it black, but i love the spookiness and the urgency. also, i have always remembered pollock and it's so crazy that this might be about pollock's car crash. the chorus is A1: "sometimes i fantasise...are you all alone, is anybody home?" and i love me a guitar solo!
shoot you down: lovely intro, aah! "i'd love to do it and you know you've always had it coming" sounds like something indie bands would sing nowadays, and it's such a comforting and uplifting sounding song. i love the production. but at the end of the day, it's still about foreseeing the end of a relationship.
this is the one: glory glory man utd! iconic song. love the intro, always makes me dream of watching a game at old trafford. i love when songs have refrains and utilise them as beautifully as the stone roses did in this song. another favourite from this album!
i am the resurrection: "i am the resurrection and i am the life." i love the anti-religious sentiment and man, what a wonderful way to diss the god/religion. A1 instrumentals, especially the guitar solo. i will dream about this outro. there's also the sound of a coin dropping?
fools gold: oooOOH, what a banging intro, man! i see why pete townshend called reni the greatest drummer since keith moon. sounds like james brown's funky drummer. and did i spot beck in the music video?
overall: WHAT AN ALBUM! brilliant, brilliant debut album, they could have definitely been the best in the world. love their contribution to the madchester movement, and the influence they have had on so many bands i love and adore: primal scream (love you, mani), oasis, libertines etc. it's the most perfect fusion of the 80s and what came to define the 90s in the UK. if i would have been a teenager in the 80s in london, this would be MY record. not a concept album, but definitely one of the best albums to show how the order of songs is really important! GENIUS and so bloody innovative. love the political commentary and general awareness. also aziz ibrahim. on my way to get it on vinyl. also, i think this is the kind of delusion and sheer belief in your abilities you require at times.
ALSO I GET TO DO THIS TILL MAY 27th, 2029!
