Saturday 14 April 2012

GUEST SPOT # 42 - Stone Roses - 'Driving South'

Saturday is GUEST SPOT day, so If you've got a song you're itching to tell the world about, be it a guilty pleasure, a song by you're own fledgling band, or just a favourite track, please don't be shy and fill out our Guest Spot form to submit! It's as easy as that!



The Stone Roses - 'Driving South' (1994)

This week's GUEST SPOT is from Neo (AKA London Scouser). You music lovers out there know the excitement of a long awaited album's first unveiling. How do you play yours? Play straight through from beginning to end? Skip through the singles first before hearing the tracks you don't know? Or how about skip to track 7, your lucky number and prove to yourself that track 7 is always the best one on every album? Well, Neo likes to run a nice hot bath, press 'random' and settle down for a nice long soak! Little did he know that The Stone Roses had a few "hidden tracks" up their sleeves!

I liked Second Coming by The Stone Roses. I'll repeat it in case you don't take me seriously. Actually, no I bloody love Second Coming, okay it's different to their first album, but come on if you want to listen to the first album then do so. But on first hearing I almost didn't like it, in fact it annoyed me immensely. Sit back and I'll tell you why. It was a Sunday evening, I had filled the bath for a nice relaxing well earned soak before the 9 to 5 ritual began again next morning. I unwrapped my new purchase, put it in the Hi-Fi, started the first track "Breaking Into Heaven" then pressed random, jumped into the bath and listened. Great start I thought, "they're back !!" I can't remember what the next track that came on was but I'm sure I enjoyed it. It was after this that my annoyance started. All of a sudden I couldn't hear anything... WTF ?!? Is the CD broken ?? Have we had a power cut ?? Then another track started and I relaxed again. After that song finished, again I was met by silence. This time longer than the previous gap. "I know what's happening" I thought. My brother is playing silly buggers and stopping the CD. I promptly started calling him a few naughty adjectives but he didn't reply. I was just about to quickly get out of the bath and sort him out when another track started. Very confusing.

When I finally got out and dried myself off I noticed the problem. The CD display said there were 99 tracks ??? Surely that's a mistake. I stopped the CD, took off random and pressed play again from track 1. Hearing music, I skipped to track 2, this continued until track 13 started. After 4 seconds it went to 14, 4 seconds and then 15. I stared intently at the display until track 90 came on. Finally more music (of sorts !!) tracks 91 to 99 were again the 4 seconds of nothing. I can laugh about it now, especially as I only listen to music through my iPod/iTunes now so I can stop those pesky silent bits in their tracks.



Brownie and co...in need of a good bath

My standout from the album is Driving South, however the whole album for me deserves more praise. Check it out or rediscover it.



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GUEST SPOT # 42 - Stone Roses - 'Driving South'
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Oleh

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Anonymous
14 April 2012 at 12:58

Couldn't agree with you more, sir! This album got a real kicking when it came out but I actually preferred it to their first one! I've since changed my stance on that but still think it is better than is given credit for. This is when Squire found his inner Jimmy Page, which, for me, is more enjoyable than his Johnny Marr impersonation. 'Driving South' is brilliant...ditto 'Love Spreads'. You've made me go and put it on. Cool.

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14 April 2012 at 15:20

Funny story! Although it is taking away from your manliness somewhat! I loved this song, definitely one of their best in my opinion but the first album wins for me.

Hidden tracks are so cool, I remember the excitement of discovering them, usually when I was out of the room and hadn't stopped the CD at the end.

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sfw
14 April 2012 at 16:20

Great story London Scouser. Like the way you get all romantic with new albums, run the bath, burn some candles, best pants? However, I never really got into the the "Second Coming" but your story has made me want to dig it out, put on some scent and listen again!

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15 April 2012 at 10:57

Good one Neo, great story, pesky Hi Fi's. I remember begging my supervisor when I worked on Eurostar to let me take an earlier train home so that I could get to Waterloo before Our Price shut on the day Second Coming was released. I hadn't felt that much excitement and eventual disappointment since De La Soul's follow up to 3 Feet High (I like both follow ups now). I must have burst a blood vessel in my head I tried to like it so much. Love Spreads is the one for me though, I heard it recently and it's monumental now as it was then.

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17 April 2012 at 03:10

I remember the unveiling when FC brought the CD back and the dissapointment....one of theses too much anticipation albums and wanting to hear an extension of the previous album...like for me Ziggy Stardust and Aladinsain. Good post I'm off for a shower....in my new walk in shower...candles my arse!

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