Rating: NNN
It would’ve been so easy for Ian Brown to rest on his laurels and never drop a single new note to the end of his days. For many, he and his Stone Roses were the top dogs of the court that was Madchester. You don’t get a Number-One Album of All Time from NME and lightly go on to some new project – unless you’re Ian Brown. Far from rehashing his early glories, Brown casts about the pop field eclectically, grabbing strokes from Massive Attack, the Gallaghers and the best of the rest. He doesn’t shy away from getting political with his lyrics, and his Brian Wilsonesque interest in the nitty-gritty details of sound distinguishes him from other songwriters, making Solarized a solid effort.
