I Wanna Be Adored

Not just the album-track opener to one of the best British LPs of all time, "I Wanna Be Adored" is a sublime storm of a track that introduced mainstream audiences to the Stone Roses' classicist revolution, an update of '60s psychedelia completely in keeping with the acid house era. The song begins with 30 seconds of atmospheric feedback -- reminiscent of a ghost train pulling into the station -- before a nimble bass line from Gary Mounfield starts it off. Soon, John Squire is echoing the bass line with his equally sublime guitar, and drummer Reni enters in turn a few bars later with punchy, echo-laden drumwork. Almost a full two minutes in, Ian Brown finally opens his mouth and begins a yearning vocal performance with the enigmatic lyric, "I don't have to sell my soul/He's already in me." Brown and Squire soar over the rhythm section, weaving voice and guitar into a mildly dizzying froth before the band reaches a restrained climax of sorts. Brown casually floats back into the song, gradually letting go to repeat the title again and again with more energy until singer and band peak at the same time, just a few seconds before the end of the song.