Classic D Man

The D Man first heard The Stone Roses' lightning-strike brilliance on his brother's killer compilation from MTV's 120 Minutes. "Fools Gold," a bonus track on the 1989 American release of the band's self-titled debut, was dark, slinky, and had one of the best in-the-pocket guitar grooves imaginable.

From there, The D Man may have been the only kid in junior high tripping out to the likes of "I Wanna Be Adored," "She Bangs the Drums," and "Waterfall." Not surprising, considering that the The Stone Roses' first album stopped the music world and left some wondering whether the band would not only surpass The Smiths as the greatest thing to ever come out of Manchester, but whether Ian Brown and company could challenge The Beatles' throne as the best British band ever. The songs were so strong, such thinking was not sacrilege.

While listening to "Elephant Stone" this morning, another bonus track on the American release, The D Man noted that it still captures the mystery and excitement of this great but short-lived band. There is still serious magic in the opening weave of the guitar line, the half-submerged vocals, and the out-in-the open admission, "Seems like there's a hole / in my dreams." The D Man comes back to "Elephant Stone" again and again, and it has crept into that treasured realm of songs that will never grow old and play on forever in some corner of my mind.

By the time The Stone Roses second (and last) album was released in 1994, the momentum from their debut had diminished and the critics had since fallen in love with others. No matter. Consistently named as one the best British albums of all time, The Stone Roses is well worth repeated listens twenty years later.