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Ian Brown


Formed: 1963
Location: Warrington, England
Genre: Indie Rock, Alternative Dance
Years Active: 1980 -
Real Name: Ian Brown
Real Name: Monkey Man, King Monkey
Way of Working: Artistic vision
Associated: The Stone Roses

Essential Releases

Ian Brown - Golden Greats

Golden Greats (1999)

Second solo album that moves beyond his characteristic indie rock into the electronic.

Ian Brown - Music of the Spheres

Music of
the Spheres (2001)

Atmospheric album with cleaner production.


Performing on stage with his trademark hypnotic swagger, Ian Brown tells the crowd, "For everything a reason," while warm swells pulsate in accompaniment. Less agile than in his years spent boogying on the drug-fuelled, late-'80s Madchester scene, he chants his musings to the fresh faces in the audience who move like he does.

The year was 2001, and having released Music for the Spheres nearing 40, the Mancunian 'monkey man' had finally cracked the solo album on the third attempt by enlisting outside help from producer Dave McCracken. While it didn't reach the same critically acclaimed heights of his earlier work with The Stone Roses, Music for the Spheres was nonetheless a significant step forward in his solo career.

The album continued down the well-lit road to electronica paved by his previous LP, Golden Greats. Only this time, the music repeated, and repeated loops, while Brown's voice chanted in step with the banging drums. His lyrics, "fallen empires are ruling" and "free expression as revolution," expressed his desire to be free from a decaying Britain.

The sentiment echoed similar feelings found on 1989's 'This Is the One': "I'd like to leave the country for a month of Sundays. Burn the town where I was born." At the time of writing, Warrington remains untorched.

In stark contrast to Brown's electronic embrace, The Stone Roses, pioneers of Britpop, sons of the city of Manchester, were famous for playing guitars wove around each other like lovers mid-waltz. In Brown's later work, synths and precise drum machines relegated the guitar to the background. It was a fitting welcome to a new millennium dominated by technology and new creative possibilities.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
55

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
80

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
60

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
75

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this. Brown had several terrible gigs with a only a backing track for accompaniment in what was likely an attempt to save money after his COVID commments.
65

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
80

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
65

Singing

i Technical attributes.
70

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
75

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
70

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
65

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
90

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
75

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
90


Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • BRIT Awards Nominee x5: Best British Solo Artist

Certifications >>>

  • Unfinished Business: Gold in UK
  • Golden Greats: Gold in UK
  • Music of the Spheres: Gold in UK
  • Solarized: Gold in UK
  • The World is Yours: Silver in UK
  • My Way: Silver in UK

Charts >>>

  • Unfinished Business: #4 in UK
  • Music of the Spheres: #3 in UK
  • The World is Yours: #4 in UK
  • Ripples: #4 in UK

Critics



CRITICISM

  • Ant-vax comments. Released the song Little Seed Big Tree featuring the lyrics "Doctor Evil and his needle" and "5G radiation beamed to Earth from space by satellites."


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