Ian Brown – My Way

My Way is the sixth studio offering from the ex-Stone Roses front man Ian Brown. Whilst the trend for reforming bands has been prominent recently, it shows the strength of Brown’s solo career that there has yet to be any serious mention of The Stone Roses coming back.

‘Stellify’, the lead single, kicks off proceedings here. Deriving from Latin and translating as ‘to change or be changed into a star’, it’s an immediate, concise example of latter day Ian Brown. It’s ever building, pounding keyboard stabs - which you can not help but tap along to - make it the ideal opener, setting the tone for the rest of the album.

The dramatic clanging bells of ‘Crowning of the Poor’ are more reminiscent of previous Brown albums, yet it is further evidence of the catchy beats that make this album so good. ‘In the Year 2525’ is another highlight from the album, and interestingly, a cover of the 1969 hit by Zager and Evans.
Whilst bizarre it is a completely different to anything else on the album. Fundamentally, though, the key ingredients of My Way are the same as in Brown’s previous extensive output – catchy and compelling tunes, danceable rhythms and lots of hooks.

However, the difference between My Way and Brown’s previous effort is the absence of the sort of in-your-face political comments that dominated the The World Is Yours. ‘Vanity Kills’ is an epic and infuriatingly catchy addition to the album, which shows off Brown’s superior lyrical skills. ‘For The Glory’ returns to the Roses’ years with a number of allusions included, not least the couplet: “When the bombs began to fall / I didn’t do it for the Roses / As I was striding ten-feet-tall / Well, that’s another story”.

There are some weak tracks on the album, most notably the irritating ‘Marathon Man’, which never really seems to go anywhere. Certainly the opening half of the album is stronger than the second, which unfortunately becomes a bit mundane and disappointingly similar other than ‘By All Means Necessary’. If you are unsure whether or not to give this a try then I will direct you to ‘F.E.A.R’ which is Brown’s most well known song, and a good example of his brilliant lyrics. My Way is an engaging and entertaining album – less dark and overtly political than The World Is Yours, but with all the feel good beats and rich orchestration that always make Ian Brown such a good listen.

3.5/5