THE STONE ROSES - S/T (20th Anniversary Edition)

While many credit Nirvana for bringing about the sea change between the silly glam of '80s rock and the alt-rock/indie revolution of the '90s, the Stone Roses’ monumental debut beat Nevermind by a couple of years. Primarily a British phenomenon, the band virtually laid waste to the whole indie scene for a while, as others were forced to adapt, take a back seat, or die out. Having clearly studied the sonorities of the Byrds, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, George Clinton, and even Can, the band made classic rock (and–gasp!–extended guitar solos) acceptable once again, while exploring the dance culture that was then emerging in Manchester. Twenty years on, a generation of Britpop has failed to even approach the genius of this album–the Roses themselves fizzled out after an abysmal second album. Three formats of this classic are available: the Special Edition will get you an updated remaster of the original album; a 2CD/DVD Legacy Edition includes demos and a live DVD; and the Collector’s Edition boasts all of the above plus three vinyl LPs and a disc of their famed B-sides which, on their own, are more impressive than some artists’ whole career discographies. One of the greatest British rock records, and still relevant today.