I’m always all about the Stones. But in the last ten years, I’ve realized their best song-writing years may be far, far behind the Glimmer Twins. Today, The Stones released one of their two new tracks (likely to fish out commentary on whether it’s worth more studio time…or not.
Well, I’ve listened to it and I have to say, I’m vastly underwhelmed. It comes off like a track written on the fly because well, “we have a ‘best of’ in the works’ and it could use the heft.
Honestly, guys, you could just leave well enough alone, or put some quality time into it like The Cars did with their last (and recently released) effort after several decades. Even Stevie Nicks put out a memorable album, as did the most recent Little Feat album.
The short take is that I don’t like the song. I may never like the song. But here it is for you to decide if it was worth the studio time that it took to record it.
It’s a bit busy. They are definitely trying to sound modern. I guess it’s better than no new Stones music at all, but I agree though that they could have given it a little more effort. It’s a bit of a throw away for the Greatest Hits that is coming, as you said.
Ha, ha. You are JUST realizing their best song-writing years may be far, far behind.
I’ve know that for 25 years.
This new song isn’t bad but I’d file it under “generic Stones”. It’s still better than the majority of crap being played on the radio. Most likely a song they had laying around that they dusted off and polished up. It certainly isn’t good enough to tip the scales if I was on the fence about buying the new greatest hits package.
I once thought that about “Angie”, but it’s lightyears ahead of this one.
I like it far more than anything on A Bigger Bang and I have been playing a lot…its a fun song to sing along to.
As hard as I try, A Bigger Bang doesn’t do well for me either.
For me, the Stones last great album was “Tattoo You” released way back in 1981 and that was mostly outtakes they had laying around from the previous 10 years. I also thought “Steel Wheels” from 1989 was ok.
I don’t expect much groundbreaking material to be produced from a band that has been around for 50 years. They bring more dirt up from the well than water these days, but so do nearly every other band that has been around since the ’60s or ’70s like Aerosmith, Rush and Yes. They all have some good new music, but nothing on par with their early days.
The Stones could likely come up with something decent if they put in the effort, but something that would be considered a classic is probably a bit wishful.
I agree with Ken. Except for 1 or 2 songs from later albums, the last really rocking album (that I go back every so often to turn up and enjoy) is “Tattoo You”. While I have most everything before that, I don’t own anything else afterwards by the Stones. Disappointing.
Here’s the thing….every Stones album in my record buying lifetime has been trashed as a pale imitation of the Stones greatness. Go back and listen to them. They ALL are better than you remember. Even Dirty Work
The track listing for Grrrr is now posted on the Amazon UK site under the cheapest version of the CD set in case anyone is interested.
Where’s the guitar solo? Ronnie not make it to the studio that day? Ah well… not a bad song, but if you ask me, when Wyman left in ’94 he took the heart of the group with him.
It has always been my opinion that Ronnie has been shackled by his involvement with The Stones. While I like him there, I miss his Faces days terribly!
He was much more involved and creative with Faces, but I’m certain his bank statement would show that he is in the right place :)
Ken, you should read his autobiography then. He’s a bit of the proverbial “mess”, financially.
Anyone else shooting for ‘Stones tickets at the Prudential in Newark, NJ this Friday? Its a longshot but I’ll try.