The opener, "Rough Justice", rocks as hard and smart as anything they've done since "Respectable". So good to hear Keith and Ronnie's guitars grinding against each other. Halfway into the chorus and you'll be twistin' that volume knob.
There's lots more grinding to be had here including the swaggering "She Saw Me Coming", "Oh No, Not You Again" (imagine that, Mick's got lady troubles!), "Driving Too Fast", "Dangerous Beauty" and the blistering "Look What The Cat Dragged In".
A Bigger Bang closes with the loping funk of "Infamy". This is the kind of song that the Stones used to own. It lives in that slide area between rock, funk and soul. Mick ties the sway together with some taunting harmonica play. Moving back through the record, there are a few related tunes including the sleazy "Rain Fall Down" and the dark & moody "Laugh, I Nearly Died".
Ballads? Would this be a Stones records without one? A Bigger Bang has two: Mick's "Streets Of Love" and Keith's "This Place Is Empty". It's nice to see the guys drop the macho front and display their thoughtful side. Does the world need more love songs? Right about now, I'd say "yes".
Much has been said about the tune "Sweet Neo Con". Is it about George Bush? Neocons in general? I'd say it's probably a little of both. Personally, I think that too much has been made of this since the true centerpiece of the whole pile turns out to be "Back Of My Hand". It's a steamin' blues rendered by the trio of Mick, Keith and Charlie. Mick plays some sweet slide guitar that conjures a nice back porch feel.
Can old dinosaurs learn new tricks? Do they even have to? On A Bigger Bang, the Rolling Stones surely revisit some old musical stomping grounds...but so what? They're playing with the passion and conviction of bands half of their age. There's no ulterior motives here, just some good old rock and roll. Gray hair and craggy faces don't diminish what this stuff is all about.
Article comments
1 - Bruce
I start off by saying I'm a huge Stones fan, but this is by far the best right on piece I have heard about the new album, everyone seems to love it, but needs trash some aspect of it. This album is a great listen start to finish and will be in my car CD player for some time.
Kieth and Mick finally got the magic together one futher time.
2 - Mark Saleski
thanks....also: good to know that i'm not the only one who has trouble spelling "Keith"!
3 - Vern Halen
Loved your line, "Can old dinosaurs learn new tricks? Do they have to?" That pretty muich summed up the Stones' as they reach their old age. The new album is decent, and I hope they continue to do whatever the hell they want until they call it quits or die of natural causes (even though I suppose Keef shoulda died a long time ago of unnatural causes).
4 - DJRadiohead
Mark, your review reads much like the one I still plan to write. I think you summed it up well- especially "Infamy." You are so right on there.
"Look What the Cat Dragged In" is not one of my favorites on the album but I do like it.
Overall, I think this is some of Jagger's best vocal work ever. He sounds much less self-conscious. This is a really good album and an excellent review.
5 - Mark Saleski
yea, i did notice that about Jagger's voice. pretty good for an old guy. he even sounds great on the slower material.
and hey, thanks for the kind words.
6 - Matt
This has been syndicated to Advance.net, a place affiliated with about 10 newspapers around the country.
Also please let your contact know, if you had one, that this article, is published at another place.
Thank you.
Matt Freelove
7 - godoggo
Not interested, but I would like to hear sometime what people think are the best Stones covers by people who can, like, sing and stuff.
8 - sammykins
the stones could record an argument at a rehearsal and it would be more "real" than all the green day/alicia keys songs put together-----great sounding recording too------very different from the effect laden [which i still like } Bridges to Babylon --- --- ---
9 - Temple Stark
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