CD Review: Ian Brown, "Solarized"

Brown was a figurehead with The Stone Roses during the mini-British music invasion of the early-'90s. Unfortunately, the cocksure attitude that made the band famous eventually led to its break-up.

Since then, Brown has developed a successful solo career in his native U.K. with three albums that have had little-to-no stateside impact--two weren't even released with an American label--as well as some guest appearances for trip-hop innovators U.N.K.L.E.

With hopes of gaining U.S. notoriety for a second time, Brown releases "Solarized" amid a resurgence of British acts on American radio playlists. Fortunately, the comeback isn't a retracing of his past. Brown has moved away from his rock days, and instead experiments with moody electronics merged with mid-tempo, psychedelic guitar harmonies.

The album opens with the backward electronic loops of "Longsight M13," and the spacey vibe continues throughout the album. Catchy tracks blend electronics with aspects of Spanish horns in "Time is My Everything," Middle Eastern exotics in "One Way Ticket to Paradise," and even some guitar help from fellow liege Noel Gallagher (Oasis) in "Keep What Ya Got."

While fans of The Stone Roses may balk at the idea of this Britpop pioneer releasing something different from his golden days, it's refreshing to see that Brown isn't afraid to forgo a trip down memory lane in favor of a new road.

Taken from http://www.livedaily.com/news/7748.html