F.E.A.R.

Trust me #123
F.E.A.R. by Ian Brown

When The Stone Roses broke up in 1996, things didn't exactly go quiet. By that time, the band had left a huge legacy through their music, art, personalities and style. Post 1996, there is plenty to discuss and debate around; drugs, guitars, vocals, Mani joining Primal Scream, Squire at Knebworth, Reni's brief flirtation with The Rub, the sad fact that Reni hasn't drummed on enough recorded and released music, Brown's solo work and collaborations (especially Be There with UNKLE), Squire's solo work, the band reforming - touring the world and releasing 2 new singles, Squire's album with Liam ...

I really loved Ian Brown's burst of solo output post Roses. Three albums and a steady stream of singles from 1998-2001 evidenced a creative energy that had been built up over the years and was now exploding into life with a huge sense of freedom. It was cool, different, but still Ian Brown. Check my 2024 blog on Ian's debut solo album, 1998's Unfinished Monkey Business. 

Thirty years ago, on 17th September 2001, Ian Brown released F.E.A.R. , an absolute gem. Unique and cool, drenched in cinematic strings and a lesson in lyrical architecture. 

Released as the lead single from his third solo album, Music of the Spheres, F.E.A.R. is, at least for me, the pinnacle of Brown’s solo output. Inspired by his reading of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, specifically the study of etymology and how language can be used to control or empower, Brown set out to reclaim the word "fear."

The result is a song where every single verse is an acrostic. It’s a brilliant piece of wordplay that manages to feel effortless. Although listening back, I do wonder how long Brown had to spend piecing them all together! The end result flows beautifully.

For each a road

For every man a religion

The production on F.E.A.R. is beautifully lush, a super cool trip-hop groove with gorgeous sweeping orchestral strings over the top. The video, directed by Ian himself, features Brown cycling backwards through the streets of Soho, London, in the rain, looking moody and cool. The Roses experimented with backwards tapes through their career, now Brown was doing it with film.

Forget everything and remember

For everything a reason

Brown hasn't released an album since 2019's Ripples, although he did release a single, Rules, in 2023. It's probably safe to say that the world isn't waiting for new Ian Brown material, but listening back to his early solo albums and looking at his singles discography, maybe it is time for a few live dates.

Of course Brown is perfectly entitled to just chill and is certainly able to do so on the back of the hugely successful Stone Roses reunion shows. This is an artist who once described the music business as the filthiest business in the universe. Whether he ever releases anything again or not, Brown has produced a beautifully eclectic discography.

F.E.A.R. is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE. Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels

55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized

56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds

57. Cannonball by The Breeders

58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane

60. Lucky by Radiohead

61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.

61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell

62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations

64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses

65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry

66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker

67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones

68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters

69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide

70. Stove by The Lemonheads

71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell

72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb

73. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift

74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s

75. Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura

76. Such Great Heights by The Postal Service

77. The Rat by The Walkmen

78. My God Has A Telephone by Aaron Frazer

79. Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack

80. Sweet and Tender Romance by The McKinleys

81. Hoppipolla by Sigur Ros

82. 69 Police by David Holmes

83. Hey Lisa by David Holmes

84. I Am A Rock by Simon & Garfunkel

85. Kung Fu by Ash

86. Kids by MGMT

87. Slight Return by The Bluetones

88. Give Peace A Chance by John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band

89. Cut Your Hair by Pavement

90. Race for the Prize by The Flaming Lips

91. Waitin' for a Superman by The Flaming Lips

92. Acquiesce by Oasis

93. This Is Music by The Verve

94. Lone Swordsman by Daniel Avery

95. Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub

96. Common People by Pulp

97. Let Our Love Grow Higher by Eula Cooper

98. Regret by New Order

99. Keep On Keepin' On by Nolan Porter

100. Sit Down by James (Live at G-Mex) by James

101. Never Lose Your Sense Of Wonder by Yeti

102. Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over by The Charlatans

103. Life Is Sweet by The Chemical Brothers 

104. How Can I Tell You (To Love Me More) by Brooke Coombe

105-107. Wigan Casino - Three Before Eight - Time Will Pass You By by Tobi Legend, Long After Tonight Is All Over by Jimmy Radcliffe, I'm On My Way by Dean Parrish

108. Cobra by Geese

109. All I Have To Do Is Dream by The Everly Brothers

110. Vapour Trail by Ride

111. Teardrop by Massive Attack

112. Since I Left You by The Avalanches

113. Good Dancers by The Sleepy Jackson

114. Kiss My Love Goodbye by Bettye Swann

115. What Difference Does It Make? by The Smiths

116. Get Out Of My Dream by The Clouds

117. Sundress by Ben Kweller

118. I Love You by Primal Scream

119. Calico Skies by Paul McCartney 

120. Lay This Burden Down by Mary Love

121. Primitive Painters by Felt w/ Elizabeth Fraser

122. Like A Motorway by Saint Etienne