It’s easy enough to see, or rather to hear, why the latest offering from the Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang, has been so well received by the critics. Before we come to this, spare me arguments about the Stones canon. Long ago Lester Bangs declared Black and Blue the first insignificant Stones album, and celebrated the fact. A Bigger Bang is merely the latest meaningless Stones album, and it’s a beauty. The reason?
The thing hangs together because it is just a Stones album; no frills, no extra pretensions - and, as it happens, getting down to the core amounts to more. Indeed, for three tracks we only hear the three real Stones: Mick, Keith and Charlie, with Mick picking up bass and second guitar. Apart from the lavish production of the stately “Streets of Love”, at its furthest extension, the full band comprises barely more than the three founders with Ronnie Wood and Daryl Jones, plus Chuck Leavell in the traditional keyboards spot and Blondie Chaplin doing back-up vocal duties.
The charm lies in the album approaching the attitude the Stones have long taken to live performances, which is to do nothing more than relax in their oeuvre. The band is in superb form. If you know these guys well, Keith’s opening signature, “Rough Justice”, will make you smile; and after the rock must come the roll: “Let Me Down Slow” features Charlie swinging the time in the first of many gems.
“Streets of Love” and “Laugh I Nearly Died” are perhaps the only bids for serious new songs, both finding Jagger in wonderful voice. It’s as though we got to know Mick, and then got to know the Mick who knew he was Mick, and then the Mick who knew we knew he knew he was Mick, and now we have finally arrived at post-parody Mick: Charlie’s vocalist, and a damned fine one.
I’ll pass on the track by track, although I guess I should say that, as a song, the much publicised “Sweet Neo-Con” is rescued from some terrible rhymes by its reggae flavour, and this goes to my all round view. The pleasure in the album lies not in this or that song, but in the marvellous, supremely confident, guitar-weaving, tough, dirty, tidy-arsed band that is the Rolling Stones.
Don’t believe me? As exhibit A, have a good listen to the exquisite “Biggest Mistake”, loud. You want alt.country? Eat your heart out Son Volt.
Hey, I have a question. I haven’t seen the lyrics. In Streets of Love does Mick sing “Across the street a banjo plays a wedding march” ?? Because that would be WAY COOL.
Who wants to marry me just so I can have that at the wedding?
I’ll marry you, Amanda.
Thanks Kim but … I’m a bit concerned The Hotness like yourself would upstage the banjo.
It’s all about the banjo.
That’s ok, Amanda. I understand about the Banjo!
Heh. It does sound like he’s singing banjo, doesn’t it? I’m therefore mightily relieved to report that Mick actually sings “band is”. This banjo thing will always be between us Amanda, and Kim too it seems. Pop trivia: have the Stones ever employed the banjo? I have a happy feeling that the answer is a big zero.
have the Stones ever employed the banjo?
Probably not. Perhaps if they’d bludged horse off a real country musician instead of Gram Parsons things might have been so different ….
Grrr, now them’s fighting words.
Do you think that after 31 years, Ronnie gets to be called a “real Stone”? If Mick has allowed him a percentage, I think we can.
I suppose the cances of a Perth gig over the next couple of years is remote. If I have to fly east where should I fly to?
I think Ronnie is a pixie. I spose he’s a real Stone, ever since Mick finally agreed to take him off wages. Still, while he’s a survivor, he’s not a founder, which is a helluva credential. After three decades, apparently he’s still called “the new boy”, and for this reason has to write the track-list up on Charlie’s kit before each gig.
I dunno about Melbourne or anywhere else James, but the band has always been right in the slot in Sydney - especially of late, but also back in the summer of 72-73, despite whatever the deluded Mr Paxton burbles on about.
HEYYYYYY
i didnt even know they had a new cd/album..
kewl ~ well its being touted as their best since etc.
i havent heard it yet probably buy it tonight
(ok now the spam) i have a band i hope sounds like the stones if not even moreso.. well its only demo/outtakes up now at myspace but tell me what u think were working on better http://www.myspace.com/nethaeleth
Excuse me, CS, but Ron is in fact a real stone (It just wasn’t fully confirmed). In 1975, Ron was subbing for Mick Edwards, who later that year, quit. Charlie liked him, keith wanted him to stay, and mick was cool with it. I’m just glad Charlie watts is felling better after his surgery (Doctors found out he had throat cancer in 2004). Wouldn’t have been a real concert without his drum solos.
Fair call.