Top 50 Debut Albums (30-21)

30) The Sundays - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (1990)

Someone wrote a pisstake letter to Melody Maker thanking the Sundays for recording a bunch of Smiths songs in a different key so they could sing along. lol. 

Imagine if they did come back, though and Harriet didn't have that hairstyle. That wouldn't do.

29) Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle (1979)

One of the first albums I adored.

28) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (2008)

'Experimental electronica' is a nonsense phrase but kind of works for Crystal Castles. They were fabulous live. 

27) Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)

A lot of Oasis songs have been horrendous. All Beady Eye songs are horrendous. The brothers are often dicks. This leads to a lot of revisionism about early Oasis. I'm not having it. For the 2 years leading up to Knebworth in 1996, they were the most exciting band we had. 

Great memories of attending the shoot for this Rock N Roll Star video in Southend. 

26) R.E.M. - Murmur (1983)

It began here.

25) Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business (1998)

When the Stone Roses split I was convinced Squire was the star to follow going forward.  Then he gave me The Seahorses, and later his own awful solo albums which were even worse.  I bet on the wrong horse. 

When Brown released his solo debut, it pissed on The Seahorses in every conceivable way. 'My Star' remains one of my favourite ever Ian Brown related things, of which there are many.

24) Bruce Hornsby & The Range - The Way It Is (1986)

Because every list needs their 80s American Classic Rock. 

Billy Joel was the reason I started to love playing the piano. Bruce Hornsby is the reason I continued. The master.

23) Madness - One Step Beyond…(1979)

At school, this was the band everyone liked.

22) Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome (1984)

With it's bonkers concept, extra long mixes and an oddly out of place but surprisingly good Springsteen cover, this is far more rewarding 30 years on than it should be.

A marvellous, unique band.

21) The Wedding Present - George Best (1987)

The band I've seen live more than any other. There would be far better stuff to come but so much jangly of its time indieness to enjoy here.

Ian Brown - My Star (1998)

After the sheer horror that was John Squire's Seahorses, Ian Brown's solo debut was so brilliant, stylish, and inventive by comparison.

Stone Roses reunion rumour #5536

In today's Sun:

A source said: "Ian has been mulling over reaching out to John for a while now. A lot of water has gone under the bridge and everyone has grown up. Ian has just gone through a tough time with a divorce and then Mani's mum's funeral brought everyone back under the same roof.

"It was an emotional reunion. There were no harsh words. It was a heartwarming breaking of bread.

"They had a lot to catch up on and have been in regular contact since."

Squire and Brown have met and are on good terms = Stone Roses reform.

Hmm.

This Sun story has led to loads of others today with no fresh sources, aside from Clint Boon confirming the funeral story.  

Twitter's gone nuts too.

But we've been here before.   In 2002 and, again in the Sun in 2008, and memorably in 2009, when John Squire issued artwork on his website (image right) and then went on Newsnight to deny the rumours.  

The grave that Squire mentions has already been desecrated though. Ian Brown managed it in August 1996. Forward to 2:10 on this audio and prepare to hear how. The magic starts at 2:20.

A reformation now would put right the wrongs of that night at the Reading Festival (which Squire wasn't involved in).  For those of us who were there (who in truth were singing along at the front of the stage, oblivous to Brown's warbling, loving at the time) we need to have certain memories put right.  If Reni can't be persuaded, just make sure the drummer isn't a Robbie Maddix 'make some noise' cheerleader.  And although a Cressa will be tolerated please no dancing girls either.

The Stone Roses weren't just all about the one album, however great that was.  The EPs, the b-sides, the Fools Golds, and the Second Coming were all magnificent.  Exhibit A - Ten Storey Love Song:

Music video by The Stone Roses performing Ten Storey Love Song. (C) 1994 UMG Recordings, Inc.

I'll believe it when I see it though. The Sun story smacks of speculation based on two men meeting at a private event where they were showing their respects.

UPDATE 8pm:

Mani has spoken to the NME:

"I'm disgusted that my personal grief has been invaded and hijacked by these nonsensical stories," he said, referring to the fact that Brown and Squire met up at his mother's funeral.

He added: "Two old friends meeting up after 15 years to pay their respects to my mother does not constitute the reformation of The Stone Roses. Please fuck off and leave it alone. It isn't true and isn't happening."

Expect rumour #5537 sometime in the summer.

Alex Metric & Steve Angello - Open Your Eyes ft. Ian Brown (2011)

Download OPEN YOUR EYES now on iTunes: http://bit.ly/oye_yt The 7-track bundle includes remixes by Tim Mason, Third Party and Style of Eye. Watch the Original non-vocal version and listen to the remixes on Alex's channel: http://www.youtube.com/alexmetric Follow Alex: http://twitter.com/alexmetric http://www.alexmetric.com Follow Steve: http://twitter.com/steveangello http://www.sizerecords.com Music video by Alex Metric & Steve Angello performing Open Your Eyes.

Serafinowicz. Brown.

Gold.