Near the end of the exultant B次元官网网址淪weet Sounds of Heaven,B次元官网网址� the penultimate track on The Rolling StonesB次元官网网址� terrific new album (yes, NEW), we hear what sounds like a vocal contest between two up-and-comers: one and one
B次元官网网址淥h yeah!B次元官网网址� they sing, with escalating urgency. B次元官网网址淐ome on!B次元官网网址� Are they tussling here? Actually, Jagger has confirmed there were competitive juices flowing
To which we say, let the games continue! The competition is emblematic of the joyous energy that infuses the StonesB次元官网网址� first collection of original music in 18 years, out Friday. ItB次元官网网址檚 their best new work in decades B次元官网网址� tight, focused, full of heart and swagger.
This all feels like a rather major development for lifelong Stones fans. For so long, it seems, thereB次元官网网址檚 been an unspoken contract between them and the band: You and we will come. YouB次元官网网址檒l play the hits, maybe dust off a few surprises to keep it fresh. ItB次元官网网址檚 enough, because, duh, youB次元官网网址檙e the Stones! Jagger will keep moving like, well, Jagger, technically age 80. a mere 79, will stay nimble and brilliant on guitar, along with the baby at 76. And weB次元官网网址檒l come until you stop B次元官网网址� which you wonB次元官网网址檛.
New music? That has not been part of the equation. (How well do you remember 2005B次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淎 Bigger BangB次元官网网址�?)
But now, on the track B次元官网网址淲hole Wide World,B次元官网网址� when Jagger sings, B次元官网网址淎nd you think the party is over,B次元官网网址� it feels like the whole album is one big answer: Um, nope!
And maybe, just maybe, we have a hint of possibility of shaking up the arena set list. A key candidate would be the aforementioned, gospel-tinged B次元官网网址淪weet Sounds of HeavenB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� Exhibit A of whatB次元官网网址檚 fun about the album, starting with the fact that when youB次元官网网址檙e the Stones, you can invite anybody to your party and theyB次元官网网址檒l show. Like Gaga and who joins the track on keyboards (B次元官网网址淧lay me something, Stevie,B次元官网网址� youB次元官网网址檒l hear). But the song also testifies to how vigorous JaggerB次元官网网址檚 voice remains.
Another party guest: doing piano duty on two tracks. In one, B次元官网网址淕et Close,B次元官网网址� Jagger croons: B次元官网网址淚 walk the city at midnight with the past strapped to my back.B次元官网网址� (Strapped, OK, but not constricting the blood flow.) The lyrics are not always this poetic, but when they are, itB次元官网网址檚 often a dialogue with the past. As when Richards sings in B次元官网网址淭ell Me Straight,B次元官网网址� his poignant lead vocal outing: B次元官网网址淚s my future all in the past? Just tell me straight.B次元官网网址�
In the furious B次元官网网址淏ite My Head Off,B次元官网网址� the bandB次元官网网址檚 guest is none other than their old friend B次元官网网址� yeah, the same guy who called them a B次元官网网址渂lues cover bandB次元官网网址� recently, amusing and perhaps annoying them. Here he is, just a Beatle on bass. No biggie.
The late, great , who appears posthumously on two of the 12 tracks. On one, B次元官网网址淟ive by the Sword,B次元官网网址� former bandmate joins on bass, making for an emotionally potent reunion. Steve Jordan, the successor Watts chose, takes the beloved drummerB次元官网网址檚 place on the rest of the album. Most tracks are penned by Jagger and Richards; theyB次元官网网址檙e joined on three by pop producer Andrew Watt (known for work with and ), who clearly exhibits a golden touch with this whole project.
Is this the last new album? Likely not. But if it were, the final words would be B次元官网网址渞olling stone,B次元官网网址� via a poignant cover, reminding us of the blues albums Mick was carrying that fateful day he connected with Keith at a train station.
B次元官网网址淪he said B次元官网网址業 got a boy child coming B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 gonna be a rolling stone,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� the last line goes.
You think the partyB次元官网网址檚 over? Ha.
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