21 years since Second Coming, and Stone Roses have released their first new single "All For One" this week.
While a new album hasn't been set in stone (roses) just yet, we can probably safely assume that it isn't too far off. And while the two decades plus wait has been something of a source of agonizing pain for their fans, they haven't been the only ones in the history of music who have had to wait a long time for their favourite artists to return to the recording studio.
KATE BUSH
Previous Album: The Red Shoes
Next Album: Aerial
Gap Between Albums: 12 years
Worth The Wait?: In all honest, 1993's The Red Shoes doesn't rank anywhere near Bush's best, but her double-album comeback is seen in retrospect as a massive return to form. Despite only having one official single from the release, it still appeared near the top of several Best Of 2005 listicles.
GUNS 'N' ROSES
Previous Album: "The Spagetti Incident?"
Next Album: Chinese Democracy
Gap Between Albums: 15 years
Worth The Wait?: The admittedly overly busy production worked for some, while others have referred to it as "the worst rock album ever made". So while the album definitely has some fans and more than a few haters, it certainly doesn't feel like it was worthy of a decade and a half of built up anticipation.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE
Previous Album: Loveless
Next Album: mbv
Gap Between Albums: 21 years
Worth The Wait?: 1991's Loveless still goes down in recent history as one of the best alternative rock albums ever, not just Irish rock. Following it up was always going to be an issue, and when it finally dropped in early 2013, everyone was pretty happy that mbv was as good, if not even better, than it's predecessor.
THE EAGLES
Previous Album: The Long Run
Next Album: Long Road Out Of Eden
Gap Between Albums: 27 years
Worth The Wait?: Truth be told, 1979's The Long Run was a bit of a disappointment compared to their previous LP, Hotel California. So if you're comparing their 2007 comeback to that, then yes, it is actually pretty good. But if you're comparing it to their heyday, then no, it doesn't come off well in the comparison.
THE STOOGES
Previous Album: Raw Power
Next Album: The Weirdness
Gap Between Albums: 34 years
Worth The Wait?: Co-produced by David Bowie and named by Kurt Cobain as his favourite album of all time, 1973's Raw Power is incomparable. All that Iggy Pop and co. could hope for would be that their 2007 return to the spotlight wouldn't pale too badly next to it. Unfortunately, it does, as The Weirdness is just plain bad. Thanfully, the 2013 album Ready To Die did represent a step in the right direciton.
VASHTI BUTYAN
Previous Album: Just Another Diamond Day
Next Album: Lookaftering
Gap Between Albums: 35 years
Worth The Wait?: Don't worry if you've never heard of her, because some of your favourite artists have. When her initially one and only album was released in 1970 and sold only a few hundred copies, Butyan just retired immediately. However, the interviening years have retrospectively labelled Just Another Diamond Day as a classic, and coupled with the likes of Animal Collective and Devendra Banhart saying her work was a major inspiration on their own, it compelled Butyan to return in 2005, with another very well recieved project.
