It has been twenty years since the classic debut album from the Stone Roses, and 14 years since the follow up. In 11 years as a solo artist he has released 6 albums, which although they may not reach the heights of his previous band, they have all been interesting, and all worth hearing.
The album’s opening track (and first single) ‘Stellify’ with Brown’s trademark vocals over pounding bass and staccato rhythm is the best thing he has done since ‘Dolphins Were Monkeys’ from the second album. As the title suggests, this is a much more personal album than previous releases, with lines such as “I see you as an angel freshly fallen from the sky” (‘Stellify’), “Those were the days, When we had it all, And these are the times, I got so much more” (‘Always Remember Me’), and “Even though you did me wrong, Well Still I wish you well, But by all means necessary, You can go to hell” (‘By All Means Necessary’), which suggest a man comfortable with where he is now, but still with a lot of issues regarding his previous band and band mates.
Best tracks from the album are ‘Stellify’, a mariachi style cover of ‘In The Year 2525’, and the lyrically barbed ‘Always Remember Me’. This is Brown’s best solo record, and hopefully many more will follow.