Second Coming
- Dec 31, 2024
- 2 min read
1 Breaking Into Heaven
2 Driving South
3 Ten Storey Love Song
4 Daybreak
5 Your Star Will Shine
6 Straight To The Man
7 Begging You
8 Tightrope
9 Good Times
10 Tears
11 How Do You Sleep
12 Love Spreads
Get ready to dive into the electrifying world of the Stone Roses with their definitive studio album, Second Coming! Released with flair by Geffen Records on 5 December 1994 in the UK, this album is a true testament to the band's artistry. Brought to life at Forge Studios in Oswestry, Shropshire, and Rockfield Studios near Monmouth, Wales, the album emerged from an intense creative journey from 1992 to 1994. It didn't just capture hearts—it soared to platinum status in the UK and sold over a million copies worldwide! Dedicated to their beloved publicist, Philip Hall, who sadly passed away from cancer in 1993, this album holds a special place in the band's history. The Stone Roses made a thrilling comeback in 2011 and even released two fresh singles in 2016. Yet, the much-anticipated new studio album remained a dream, as the band parted ways again in 2017, leaving Second Coming as their crowning achievement.
Background
The second album by the Manchester four-piece burst onto the scene with the intense anticipation built up over the 5½ years since their groundbreaking debut! The band's absence from the live arena for 4½ of those years only added to the buzz. British press speculated that the sky-high expectations from their first record had left the band "paralyzed with self-doubt," as noted by LA Times pop music critic Robert Hilburn. But the Stone Roses made a thrilling comeback to a transformed musical landscape, going head-to-head with a fresh wave of Britpop bands. The album soared to number 4 on the UK Album Chart!
Three electrifying singles ("Love Spreads", "Ten Storey Love Song," and "Begging You") were released in the UK, capturing the essence of their triumphant return.
Artwork
The album cover, designed by the talented Squire, bursts with creativity, showcasing a dark, fabric-like collage of photographs, artwork, text, and symbols. The standout feature is an intriguing stone cherub, captured from a photograph of those on the Newport Town Bridge, casually smoking a cigarette. This captivating image was later spotlighted on the "Love Spreads" single and made an appearance in the monochrome CD.
The liner notes add a delightful touch with charming black and white photographs of the band members as children.
Critical reception
Second Coming made its debut to a variety of reactions in both the UK and US. Rolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, describing its tracks as "tuneless retro psychedelic grooves bloated to six-plus minutes in length." On a brighter note, Robert Hilburn from the Los Angeles Times offered a more upbeat perspective, applauding John Squire's "inspired guitar work." He concluded that "while the album's impact is undercut by some tunes that seem little more than fragments, the standouts offer a soulful earnestness as they speak of the search for salvation and comfort amid the tension and uncertainty of contemporary life."
