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Ian Brown - Golden Greats Audio CD

A fair review of the Ian Brown "Golden Greats" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Ian Brown reviews here, or go back to the Ian Brown tabs.

Ian Brown Band: Ian Brown
Title: Golden Greats
Rating:
Release Date: 2000-04-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Gettin' High 2: Love Like a Fountain 3: Free My Way 4: Set My Baby Free 5: So Many Soldiers 6: Golden Gaze 7: Dolphins Were Monkeys 8: Neptune 9: First World 10: Babasonicos 11: Love Like a Fountain [US Version][*] 12: Dolphins Were Monkeys [U.N.K.LE. Vs. South Remix][*]

IAN BROWN'S GOLDEN GREATS IS SIMPLY GOLDEN
Indeed, some of our friends who had no idea who he was thought this was a greatest hits cd from the quality of music & the title. I bought this cd for myself & an old girlfriend of mine back in December 1999, we were big Stone Roses fans and this cd simply amazed us. From the opening chimes of the oriental sounding guitars of Getting High to the closing moments of Babasonicos this album is full of great sounds, killer hooks & futuristic production. While Unfinished Monkey Business(1997)contained a few classic songs on it(the triumphant My Star, booming Can't See Me & strangely pretty Corpses In Their Mouths) it left a lot to be desired as many songs felt unfinished. This however, is the proper return of Ian Brown, boasting many of his best songs,including the unstoppable guitar rock of Getting High, the hit dance single Love Like A Fountain, the intense Golden Gaze & the simply awesome funkiness of Dolphins Were Monkeys. The lesser known tracks that make up the album like Free My Way, Set My Baby Free & So Many Soldiers are almost as good with great beats,thought provoking lyrics & intricate production while the chilled out Neptune is the perfect comedown after the workout of Dolphins Were Monkeys. The Brazilian band Babasonicos provided the music for the song of the same name and the band doesn't disappoint with an intense, bluesy yet altogether unique sound for Ian's heartfelt lyric. I highly recommend seeking out the b-sides to this album as well,as they enhance this album's already golden luster(his cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean has to be heard as it is simply mind blowing & will sway any doubter). Altogether Golden Greats proved that Ian Brown was still capable of creating brilliant music & firmly established his solo career here. The follow up, Music Of The Spheres, comes close and is recommended as well but can't compete with the golden songs of Golden Greats. .


Very very good
I'm happy to say, then, that the album has over the years given much much joy and listening-pleasure. I was personally a bit disappointed with Brown's first solo effort "Unfinished Monkey Business", and purchased "Golden Greats" with a great measure of hesitation.
The grooves on "Golden Greats" are somewhat loose and hazy, yet they do not lack focus or melody.
Overall, highly recommended, a fine return to form for Mr. Brown and - if you needed any further incentive to purchase this disc - the "DOLPHINS WERE MONKEYS" remix by U. N. K. L. E. is pretty bloody amazing.


Ian's touch of being on the edge has fallen over the edge
In the end, it must be done of course for relativity and mainly because you have to see just how much more he is capable of. Ok, first it is tough not to compare anything Ian has done with The Stone Roses, or his first solo album. You have to credit Brown for his willingness to experiment. . . but he abandoned his prior mastery of guitar based rock for this??? There is no passion from his voice, and no passion from the dull fuzz beats that change about 16 times a song to no avail. Sure, there is a fan base for this album, but there is a fan base of some kind for every album. 'Getting High' and 'Love Like a Fountain' are the only tracks worth listening to, but after a few listens you aren't too inspired to do much of anything. A great rock record makes you wish you could be John Squire rolling out the guitar parts of 'Breaking into Heaven', or sing something great like Brown did in 'What the World is Waiting For' with the Roses. His first solo album had 5 or 6 great songs, and it is unfortunate that his work later than this album gets even more unlistenable. He needs to kick some life back into it, no matter what it takes.


Comeback Browny
He has a brillyant opener "getting High" and only for Ian we would not have any liam gallager or Richard Ashcroft. Great come Back for the lengend, this album has some whopping tracks.


Stone Roses+Stereo MCs= Ian Browns Golden Greats
It has drive, steam, and depth, yet is totally unconfrontational. A good cd all around. Good, good, good. The album starts out with "Gettin' High", complete with a strong guitar riff and rough drums. "Love Like a Fountain" gets into a nice groove with plenty of stank on it. "Free My Way" is a quieter digital track; pleasant. "Set My Baby Free" is remarkably memorable, and probably the best vocal track on the album. "So Many Soldiers", though a bit dragging, stitches the previous and the following track together nicely. "Golden Gaze" begins to get the disc back on track with a more upbeat rhythm, and "Dolphins Were Monkeys" plants some fun into the album, winding down in the end to "Neptune" which is, well, probably the only forgetable track due to it's lack of direction. "First World" is a minute-too-long funk-drum laden song, with a tinge of blistering bass guitar; vocals are bit singular in tone.
"Babasonicos" is a lonely 50's style reprisal tune.
Not often do you find a recently made album so accessible these days. Overall "Golden Greats" is a far better full length album than most any record you will stumble across lately. You can't go wrong with this purchase.


You can see a complete list of all Ian Brown discography, or go back to the Ian Brown tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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