Song 149 - This is how it feels - Inspiral Carpets

Following on from The Stones Roses, I have to Inspiral Carpets and This is how it feels. Why? Because that how the songs played on the mix tape that I nicked from my sister! Also, Inspiral Carpets is another awesome bands from the Madchester, which defines the end of the 1980s/ early 1990s for me.

Released in 1990, This is how it feels peaked at number 14 in the UK single chart, which was the first time the band had entered the charts with a single. Formed in 1983 (there's a pattern emerging for the bands I have been choosing in the last few days), Inspiral Carpets consisted of Graham Lambert and Stephen Holt, who had been friends from school.  Their sound is characterised by psychedelic influences such as organ playing and distorted guitars. Inspiral Carpets' fame though peeked in 1990s, with their album Life coming out shortly after their single success and reaching number 2 in the album chart.  After 1990 the band did not manage to secure similar success with their singles and were eventually dropped by their record label in 1992 and the band split up.

However, after a period of nearly 15 years, the band reformed in 2007 and in 2011 returned to its original format and are still touring to their own beat and delighting old and new fans alike.

To hear This is how it feels
Inspiral Carpets' This is how it feels

Written by Clint Boon
Released: 1992
Album: Life

Song 148 - Elephant Stone - The Stone Roses

I feel I should be in my school uniform whilst writing this as this song reminds me of high school and pretending that I didn't like the Stone Roses just to get a reaction from some boy that I used to fancy! Out of all the Stones Roses' hits I have chosen this one for two reasons. Elephant Stone was on a compilation tape that my sister made (and I nicked! Sorry sis, I still have the tape if you want it back) and I fell in love with the song before knowing who was singing it. And two, it allows me to talk mention one of my favourite animals in my music blog!!

Okay, lets move on before I start talking trunks, if you read yesterday's blog closely you would have heard me mention Madchester scene and Stone Roses have to be the biggest band to come out of Manchester at this time. Elephant Stone was first released in 1988 and didn't chart, however, in 1990 after their debut album was release, it was re-released and reached number 8 in the charts. When asked what Elephant Stone was about, John Squires muted it may have been about a girl he once known. If you listen to the track carefully you can hear the incorporation of dance beat into the tune. Released as a standalone single in the UK, it is one of my favourite tracks the band ever recorded.

When their debut album The Stone Roses was released, it is fair to say the album was a slow burner with consumers and critics in the UK, with the exception of NME and Melody Maker, who were heavily involved with the Madchester scene. However, they say that the longer the burn the greater the heat and respect people build for music which is true about this album. Within the industry the talents of the band and the album is a testament to the fusion of rock and dance music  inspired by the late 1980s. Some would say it is one of the most important albums of all time as it capture a period of music and transitions the music scene of Manchester from bands from The Smiths to Oasis in the 1990s.

Whilst I will leave you to decide whether Stone Roses fits in your music taste; have a dance with elephant:

Elephant Stone by The Stone Roses

Written by Ian Brown and John Squires
Released: 1989, 1990
Album: N/A - it was a standalone single.