The Stone Roses ‘All For One’ Track Review: A Blooming Comeback
So this is it. ‘All For One’ – the track Stone Roses fans have waited over 20 years to hear.
And what a mighty return it is. Clocking in at just 3 mins 36 seconds, ‘All For One’ is a song about unity and friendship that celebrates the bond between Ian, John, Mani and Reni – and it’s catchy as hell.
The big question, of course, was what it would sound like. Since their 2012 reunion, Stone Roses live shows have tended to focus much more on material from their 1989 debut than 1994’s follow-up, ‘Second Coming’.
You might have expected that the band would attempt to recreate the sound of their early singles; instead, they’ve given us a song that’s pitched somewhere between the two, with a big, poppy chorus (like much of the debut) and a bloody massive guitar solo (like much of Second Coming).
Where Ian Brown’s solo work has seen him exploring the cosmos in his lyrics, ‘All For One’ is much more down-to-earth and direct: “All for one/One for all/If we all join hands we’ll make a wall,” runs one repeated line, and it’s hard not to think that he’s talking purely about the band, who’ve created a bulletproof barrier of silence around them since their return, refusing to talk to the press at all since that first conference. “Chemistry, all one family,” says another telling line.
Reaction to the song online has been overwhelmingly positive because it’s genuinely great to have new material from this special band. It’s not the greatest song of the year. It’s not the greatest Roses song. But it’s a track that shows the band can still tap into the essence of what made – and makes – them brilliant.
It takes a special band to have people huddling around radios to hear a new track, to make a country sit up and listen in unison, as happened at 7.50pm tonight.
And one thing’s for sure – ‘All For One’ is destined to go down a beer-swigging storm when the band play their mega-gigs at the Manchester Etihad Stadium next month. This is an anthem for the terraces, the band and – most importantly – the fans.
Let’s hope there’s plenty more where it came from.
By
NME
12th May 2016
The Stone Roses: All For One review – lacking the stardust of the band's peak. 3/5
The Manchester band’s first music in 21 years will please the faithful, but those who crave the group’s true magic are unlikely to feel fulfilled
The message from the band wasn’t exactly overflowing with detail: “The Stone Roses will release a new single tonight at 8pm,” it said. Well, they always could be a bit terse.
Yet it said enough. After the Twitter rumours, the snaps of band members hurriedly entering Paul Epworth’s north London recording studio and a series of lemon posters erected in their hometown of Manchester, we’re finally here: All For One is the first new material from the Stone Roses in 21 years. And on paper, it has plenty of Roses touchstones: psychedelic vocals, a brilliant Squire solo that doesn’t overstay its welcome and a lyrical theme of solidarity – “All for one, one for all/If we all join hands we’ll make a wall” – that harks back to their rave roots. It’s surprisingly rocking – Reni’s drums flinging it along at a frantic, clattering pace – and the chorus will be bellowed loudly in fields by many a middle-aged man this summer.
But the Stone Roses were never about ticking off points on a checklist. What made them such a life-changing force was how far beyond the sum of their parts they could venture – giving their simple melodies both a depth and a featherlight grace that wasn’t replicable by their countless imitators. In truth, this feels more like an imitation than the real thing – it has the swagger but it’s heavy handed too, toiling away like a bog-standard Britpop rocker.
It’s a disappointment only because of what the band once were. To this day, their self-titled debut album remains one of the most perfect statements ever made in British pop music, marking a point where classic 60s-inspired songwriting collided with the stardust-sprinkled headrush of acid house’s second summer of love. But by its follow up, 1994’s muso-leaning Second Coming, their magic seemed to have dissipated. For that reason, many fans were anxious about the release of new material in 2016. After all, if they could make that much of a mess of things in five years, god knows what they might do given 20.
After a handful of listens, All For One doesn’t sound like the reputation-shredding disaster some feared. It will please the Madchester faithful, who don’t require a fresh take on what these musicians are about, but rather something that, on the surface at least, could slot neatly onto a Shine compilation from the era. But for those who crave the magic of the band at their peak, the wait goes on.
Tim Jonze
The Guardian
SINGLE REVIEW: The Stone Roses – ‘All For One’
'Whilst it’s still an indie tune and I want my Stone Roses to remain an indie band, it’s funked up, rocky indie. There are fluid riffs, head nodding drums, and identifiable Stones Roses resolution and discord to the tune'
The opening 7 seconds of ‘All for One’ is unmistakably Stone Roses…. Listen to it, flit to the intro of ‘Waterfall’, flit back again to the intro of ‘All for One’, unmistakeably, enticingly, Stone Roses (I realise that is probably quite a geeky thing to have done). A slow, teasing, suspenseful opening gambit, I could feel my heart aflutter with delight. The Stone Roses know how to open a tune, and they’re back with one after 21 years.
Now then. I was one of those kids. The Stone Roses arrive on the scene during my formative musical years (playing havoc with my A level results, but never mind) and I loved them, I mean adored. First gig, Blackpool Empress Ballroom 1989, second gig, ‘Second Coming’ tour – the Apollo, third gig – our work Christmas party – free tickets to the Stone Roses at Sheffield Arena supported by Black Grape (all my Christmasses HAD come at once). At the time, my workmate commented, “I am more excited to see how excited you are about this gig than I am excited about the gig”.
So you can imagine my mounting anticipation of the rumours of a gig, but more excitingly, new material. Loved the ubiquitous lemon logo tease campaign around Manchester and then, ‘All for One’, the first Stone Roses release for 21 years. I was nervous; I have an attachment to this band and I wanted to love it, but did they still have it?
I listened in anxious anticipation. The opening 7 seconds – oh yes, they still had it alright in captivating bucket loads. Then it just got better as enter stage right: Mr John Squires…. and the magic has been recreated. It’s tempting to gush on for many a paragraph about the genius of Squires. You’ve heard the adjectives before: slick, fluid, tight, seamless, effortless, beautiful riffs… god, his guitar playing, it’s a joy to the ears. All true, and here Mr Squires proves he most definitely has still got it – even more so.
Whilst it’s still an indie tune and I want my Stone Roses to remain an indie band, it’s funked up, rocky indie. There are fluid riffs, head nodding drums, and identifiable Stones Roses resolution and discord to the tune.
Ian Brown too retains his discernible Mancness, BUT and it is the only but, but it’s a big one – lyrically, the tune lacks for me. And this means I like the tune a lot, but I don’t love it. The Stone Roses have put down some memorable words in their career, but ‘All for One’s’ lyrics lacks depth for me. I read that the tune is about the fact they’re back together; they’re a team again, having healed old wounds at Mani’s mum’s funeral. This is a touching tale, and I love the fact their comeback single is honest and pays homage to this reconciliation, maybe they don’t say too much as it’s a private affair, but more lyrical complexity really would’ve made this a golden nugget of a return single. I wait in anticipation for their next tune as this is a tasty start.
By Brigid Callaghan
Local ound Focus
