The Stone Roses

The initial hype suggested that Manchester's Stone Roses represented nothing less than the new Beatles. Hyperbole, to be sure, but the fact that the group's 1989 debut record turned out to be brilliant, timeless, and influential certainly counts as some kind of miracle. Beginning with the anthemic opener, "I Wanna Be Adored," the self-titled debut LP touched on a variety of song styles, with brilliant guitar playing and an incredible sense of assuredness that influenced a generation of Britpoppers. Mired for years in a contractual and logistic nightmare, the band's second album failed to live up to expectations, and the group disbanded in 1996.

• rock
• pop
• alternative/indie