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Review
Never one to pull his punches, Ian Brown's fifth solo album manages to combine a vitriolic state of the world address with a string-laden, Manchester-infused Bond theme backing. The World Is Yours places electronic bleeps against a bed of sometimes raucous guitar and sweeping orchestral sounds, all topped off by Brown's shimmery, languorous vocals.
Its an interesting sound, and during a self-imposed cannabis-free writing session, Brown has turned his attention to hypocrisy of the church, the Iraq war, the plight of street children, and the demonisation of the young. Yet he manages to avoid preaching at his audience, and the lushness and creativeness of the music steering him well clear of the annoying sanctimony of Richard Ashcroft, amongst others. Not the greatest of singers, Brown makes up for that with passion, style and swagger - and delivers the lyrics with conviction.
It is also jam-packed full of star turns, with former Sex Pistols, Steve Jones and Paul Cook, lending some blistering, buzzing guitar lines, and ferocious drumming to 'Sister Rose' and 'Me And You Forever', while former Happy Mondays bassist Paul Ryder and ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke add a smattering of funky sounds throughout. Sinead O'Connor also pops up, lending a breathy, whispering vocal to lead single 'Illegal Attacks' and 'Some Folks Are Hollow'.
'Me And You Forever', and the funk-infused 'The World Is Yours' are both lovely tracks, making up for 'On Track', which does not showcase Brown's occasionally flat voice at its best. 'Sister Rose' has some real bite to it, with burning guitar and intense lyrics, and is a sharp contrast to the lush feel of 'Goodbye To The Broken'. And for those considering shelling out for the special edition bonus CD, the treat of a fully orchestral version of the album awaits.
There is a cinematic feel to the breadth and depth of the sound here. It's unmistakeably Manchester indie, but Brown has borrowed the best of classical and electronic music to create into something distinctly individual, intriguing and down right brilliant. --Helen Groom
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ever since he released 'Unfinished Monkey Business' he has been making his own musical strides, constantly producing innovative music. 'Unfinished Monkey Business' and 'Golden Greats' come from the same roots as much of the Stone Roses stuff, whereas 'Music Of Spheres', 'Solarized' and 'The World Is Yours' are a huge leap away in terms of musical makeup.
Damian Alburn is another artist who arguably has jumped from one style to another with apparent ease, the Gorillaz project is a huge success and it is people like Ian Brown and Damian Alburn who are the first great musicians to appear from the rubble of the fallen Brit Pop empire.
Ian Brown's latest offering is solid. Not his most spectacular release but nevertheless good. Ian Brown continually is morphing with his arrangement and delivery and this album is no different. The string section that we first heard back on F.E.A.R in 2002 has returned and features on most of the album. Nearly all tracks, including 'Sister Rose' and 'Save Us' are built round the core of an orchestra jamming with a dirty broken beat and Brown's lazy lyrical delivery. It works too, the lyrics are as politically charged and dreamy as ever.(See 'Street Children lyrics - "Wish that I could scoop; all of those children in my arms; give the love they need; and protect them all from harm;") Some of the songs like 'Eternal Flame' have an almost R'n'B feel about it.
This album is a rather laid back chilled affair, the funky guitar riffs on 'Sister Rose' is as upbeat and rousing as it gets, but that is not a bad thing. Once again Brown has moved with the times and not content in keeping safe in familiarity. Would recommend this album to anyone with an open mind and has liked the two previous albums Brown has released.
*** Like :- Ian Brown -thankfully **
Damian Alburn is another artist who arguably has jumped from one style to another with apparent ease, the Gorillaz project is a huge success and it is people like Ian Brown and Damian Alburn who are the first great musicians to appear from the rubble of the fallen Brit Pop empire.
Ian Brown's latest offering is solid. Not his most spectacular release but nevertheless good. Ian Brown continually is morphing with his arrangement and delivery and this album is no different. The string section that we first heard back on F.E.A.R in 2002 has returned and features on most of the album. Nearly all tracks, including 'Sister Rose' and 'Save Us' are built round the core of an orchestra jamming with a dirty broken beat and Brown's lazy lyrical delivery. It works too, the lyrics are as politically charged and dreamy as ever.(See 'Street Children lyrics - "Wish that I could scoop; all of those children in my arms; give the love they need; and protect them all from harm;") Some of the songs like 'Eternal Flame' have an almost R'n'B feel about it.
This album is a rather laid back chilled affair, the funky guitar riffs on 'Sister Rose' is as upbeat and rousing as it gets, but that is not a bad thing. Once again Brown has moved with the times and not content in keeping safe in familiarity. Would recommend this album to anyone with an open mind and has liked the two previous albums Brown has released.
*** Like :- Ian Brown -thankfully **
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In his heyday with the Stone Roses, Brown was often asked what he considered to be the greatest album of all time, and invariably he always answered that it was "What's Goin' On", the great social- political commentary opus by Marvin Gaye- an album that outlined the ills of the day- poverty, war, homelessness, the apathy towards the common man from the rulers governing the world. If this sounds familiar, it is because Ian Brown has made a very brave attempt to make "What's Goin' On" part 2- brave, firstly, because he could never be considered a great singer, but also because he has set himself up for ridicule.
Detractors will point out the apparent bluntness of the lyrics. "Save us from the imbeciles that rule the world", "These are illegal attacks so bring the soldiers back", "get your life on track", etc. etc. but the whole point of this album is not meant to be an excersice in arch witticism or baleful intellectual posturing. It's meant to be profound and sincere. If it makes you cringe, as some reviewers such as Dan Cairns from The Times have pointed out, then that is probably because you're too comfortable sipping your champagne and blowing your nose from cocaine abuse to care.
Musically, the album is Browns best yet, with inch perfect hip hop beats and gorgeous strings the order of the day. The stand out tracks, for me are "Some Folks Are Hollow", "On Track", "Eternal Flame (sounding uncannily like a Dr. Dre production), "Goodbye To The Broken", and of course, the recent Bush baiting single, "Illegal Attacks".
"What's Goin' On" is some album to live up to- and Brown, let's be honest, was never going to match it. We should salute him for caring enough to attempt it, however. It's a damn fine album, if not a great one.
Detractors will point out the apparent bluntness of the lyrics. "Save us from the imbeciles that rule the world", "These are illegal attacks so bring the soldiers back", "get your life on track", etc. etc. but the whole point of this album is not meant to be an excersice in arch witticism or baleful intellectual posturing. It's meant to be profound and sincere. If it makes you cringe, as some reviewers such as Dan Cairns from The Times have pointed out, then that is probably because you're too comfortable sipping your champagne and blowing your nose from cocaine abuse to care.
Musically, the album is Browns best yet, with inch perfect hip hop beats and gorgeous strings the order of the day. The stand out tracks, for me are "Some Folks Are Hollow", "On Track", "Eternal Flame (sounding uncannily like a Dr. Dre production), "Goodbye To The Broken", and of course, the recent Bush baiting single, "Illegal Attacks".
"What's Goin' On" is some album to live up to- and Brown, let's be honest, was never going to match it. We should salute him for caring enough to attempt it, however. It's a damn fine album, if not a great one.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Get past the fact that despite some of the subject matter already sounding a little old hat, given that so many other artists have already worn out the skin on an already heavily beaten drum - the War in Iraq, the Church, suffering in the 3rd world et al and forgive the man his indulgence, because no matter what you say, these issues are still relevant and still continue unchallenged or unresolved.
Personally, I think this album is superb. Ian Brown is very much like Mark E. Smith of The Fall - he never gives his fans (or rather fans who cling desparately to the memory of the Stone Roses - f*ck off and give the man a break. The Roses are DEAD. Period.) exactly what he thinks they would really like or expect and instaead throws them a curve ball to contend with. That's the beauty of his music - his constant evolution (nice 'Primate' link).
This album is no different. It doesn't push boundaries but it doesn't kiss the arse of the current "mainstream" either. I believe one of Ian Brown's favourite albums of all time is Marvin Gaye's seminal "What's Going on" and in my mind there is no doubt that "The World is Yours" is heavily influenced, to the point of plagiarising subject matter, by this album. I'd also imagine that many reviewers reactions (not necessarily on Amazon) to it's release were pretty similar to Berry Gordy's at Motown when Marvin Gaye explained the concept of "What's Going On" i.e "What the f*ck IS going on!
This is Ian Brown's contemporary take on Gaye's Motown classic, it also takes in a lot of '70's Blaxploitation Soul/Funk (Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, etc), the lush orchestral arrangements in particular (in fact other than Drums and Bass, other instruments are very sparsely used) which works perfectly from a historic perspective and the evolution of 'Black' music, when you consider the Hip Hop beats which underpin many of the songs.
This album will ultimately benefit from a retrospective perspective - time will show this to be one of the best, if not the best, Ian Brown album - in fact it could be argued that IS a retrospective perspective on an era of music that was underpinned by the album that inspired this album - "What's Going On."
Anyway just buy it. It's a great chill out record. Best Track for me "Some Folks are Hollow."
Personally, I think this album is superb. Ian Brown is very much like Mark E. Smith of The Fall - he never gives his fans (or rather fans who cling desparately to the memory of the Stone Roses - f*ck off and give the man a break. The Roses are DEAD. Period.) exactly what he thinks they would really like or expect and instaead throws them a curve ball to contend with. That's the beauty of his music - his constant evolution (nice 'Primate' link).
This album is no different. It doesn't push boundaries but it doesn't kiss the arse of the current "mainstream" either. I believe one of Ian Brown's favourite albums of all time is Marvin Gaye's seminal "What's Going on" and in my mind there is no doubt that "The World is Yours" is heavily influenced, to the point of plagiarising subject matter, by this album. I'd also imagine that many reviewers reactions (not necessarily on Amazon) to it's release were pretty similar to Berry Gordy's at Motown when Marvin Gaye explained the concept of "What's Going On" i.e "What the f*ck IS going on!
This is Ian Brown's contemporary take on Gaye's Motown classic, it also takes in a lot of '70's Blaxploitation Soul/Funk (Curtis Mayfield, Isaac Hayes, etc), the lush orchestral arrangements in particular (in fact other than Drums and Bass, other instruments are very sparsely used) which works perfectly from a historic perspective and the evolution of 'Black' music, when you consider the Hip Hop beats which underpin many of the songs.
This album will ultimately benefit from a retrospective perspective - time will show this to be one of the best, if not the best, Ian Brown album - in fact it could be argued that IS a retrospective perspective on an era of music that was underpinned by the album that inspired this album - "What's Going On."
Anyway just buy it. It's a great chill out record. Best Track for me "Some Folks are Hollow."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ian's Greatest Album!
Up until the release of 'The World Is Yours' Ian's albums tended to be very much hit and miss. This is the first time that he has made a whole album that fits together both... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Mr Ant
hmmm ...
The only Ian Brown album that I really just don't play. I love the man's music, and was excited to get this ... put it on, thought it might grow on me, tried to like it ... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by Coyote Skateboard Survivor - now favouring Sector 9 Bamboo Zen, n'est-ce pas?
The colourful genius
Whats not to like about Ian Brown. Never released a bad record i.m.h.o.
This is another solid title and long may he continue with new music to counteract the repeated releases... Read more
This is another solid title and long may he continue with new music to counteract the repeated releases... Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2009 by Elizabeth Kennedy
A VERY DISSAPOINTED FAN
AFTER YEARS OF FOLLOWING THE 'ROSES AND IAN BROWN SOLO, I THINK HE HAS GOT BETTER EVERY ALBUM. BUT.... Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2008 by Mr. M. J. Stroud
Album of the times
Illegal Attacks one of the best tracks on the Album. The lyrics are sound, Ian Brown doesn't normally do political songs but this one is straight to the point, accurate & honest... Read more
Published on 1 April 2008 by Mr. S. Ogrady
Monotonous!!
Love the Roses and most of his solo stuff but this album is poor by previous high standards. I know it's cool to like IB and I've really tried to get into this album but I keep... Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2008 by A. J. Fulton
Deep
Well listen to him getting all angst ridden & melodramatic!
Good though.
Good though.
Published on 24 Jan 2008 by T. Harrison
4 at a push
first of i love ian brown im a manc myself and he is a hero to us all manc or not but this album sum brilliant tunes but it all sounds so mass produced like rnb-ish all dun on... Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2007 by SwordSwingin
same masterly lyrics different beat!
ian brown has done it again!! he has come up with a quality new album no, not in the mould of his other stuff but this works!! Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2007 by bubba74
A worthy follow-up to Solarised
To me a new Ian Brown album is always an event and this latest from the monkey king doesn't disapoint. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2007 by R. Murray
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