...a 53% sales drop.
Next week #27 or so. Nothing can save it now.

So sad.

(Paul debuted at #6).

Atleast we had #3. Stones have never been one for the charts. Beatles seemed to dominate that but how many of really care about sappy pop tunes or rap music?

Didn't B2B go platinum?

Amazing that the musical landscape has gone to shit in 7 years. I don't fault the Stones, as ABB is quite good. It's just that no vintage rock act does well anymore. It's really a shame.

B2B also fell out of the top ten in it's second week.

Wel I'm not suprised the album needed a classic Stones track and sadly (yet again ) we didn't get one.

There is nothing on the album to make the public stand up and take notice. Compare rough justice to Start Me Up for example, there is no comparison. Unfortunately it appears they are not capable of laying down a killer track anymore. No wonder my listening preferences are from their classic back catalogue which remains in a class of it's own.

believe it or not, some of the fan base have turned into old fart who just don't rock and roll anymore. Combine that fact with fewer younger fans replacing lost fans and of course the sales are going to be lower than the heydays.

Between the cd and tour they'll make more dough than any other entertainment entity this year.

This CD is clearly not aiming for a huge commercial success or there'd be a video and they'd be playing SOL and a few more new ones at EVERY show (not a bad thing to me).

They did a new album to be a "functioning band" as Mick said.

Who gives a shit if people who don't understand their greatness don't buy the CD? And don't tell me it means they'll never release another or tour as a result. These things are unrelated!

mikesnaps Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wel I'm not suprised the album needed a classic
> Stones track and sadly (yet again ) we didn't get
> one.
>
> There is nothing on the album to make the public
> stand up and take notice. Compare rough justice to
> Start Me Up for example, there is no comparison.
> Unfortunately it appears they are not capable of
> laying down a killer track anymore. No wonder my
> listening preferences are from their classic back
> catalogue which remains in a class of it's own.


Hey dude, I see you pick and choose when you post (which is not very often), but honestly, rough justice would have been a killer in 1975-78, ONNYA same deal, and a couple more from this new album are some of the freshest (is that a word?) stuff the boys have laid down in years. This is not one person's opinion but many. I'm not saying you have to agree, but I think you need to be a little less prudish in your commentary and be somewhat realistic. Ratings aside, this album kicks and brother it ain't 1975, it's 2005 and Kayne, $0.50, and Green Day rule so that classic Stones lay down you're expecting is a bit unrealistic given the music times we live in! But honestly in this writer's opinion, ABB gets it done for me as a truly powerful body of work that speaks volumes to the greatness and longevity of my favorite band.

this lp rips hard,...and i don't care if it debuts at #376 and falls off the chart after 10 minutes...its the best damn set of music i've heard in a hell of a long time..period!

STONES JAM!! MICKEYS RULES!!! (burp) NADER IN 2016!!!!! GO GIANTS!!

Have to disagree with you there. Rough Justice might have made a decent B-side on Steel Wheels, but that's about it. ONNYA has a seventies feel to it and would probably be at home on an album like Goat's Head, but once again, it doesnt cross the threshold of being a marketable single.

Sure the musical landscape has changed, but I wouldnt base the Stones shortcomings on the charts (I'm shocked they didnt fall further in the 2nd week), as there are plenty of rock acts that can get up and move albums, even if the charts are now clearly the realm of Eminem and the like.

The opinions on the album aside (which I will stand by my previous thoughts that it is a pile of wayward rubbish), the core detail is there is no single. Not even an attempt. Even U2, arguably a band of similar stature to the Stones and in a period of decline from their heyday, was able to crank out "Beautiful Day," a track that got tremendous coverage on the radio and got the elusive under 25 market to snap up the albums.

The Stones have forgotten how to write a single and Keith has for the past several decades even admitted he wouldnt know how to approach writing a hit track anymore. The heart is gone; Mick Jagger wants an album for the sake of "legitimacy," rather than to actually sit down and write something timely, provocative, and could get some air-play.

ABB is truly the only Stones album I detest. They have fallen a far way since Voodoo, an album that yielded 2 grammies, a video that got repeated airplay on MTV, and a single that was swept up by high school and college students, a pretty remarkable feat in itself.

But do you think this market is going to buy an album where the feature track has corny references to farm animals? Get real. The Stones have gone from being a relevant recording act to the travelling Grand Old Opry. I'm just waiting for a bloody "with friends album" and an "all blues album." It's really too bad; the Stones used to rock in their recordings. Now they are just writing their way into the footnotes of rock history.

I wish Don Was had the spine to tell them what a load of bullocks this album is. But then again, it has been a long time (at least since 1994 or 1997) when it was actually about the music. It has been all about the money since Steel Wheels, but at least it wasn't so obvious as it is now.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-09-21 05:58 by JamesBurton.

mikesnaps Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wel I'm not suprised the album needed a classic
> Stones track and sadly (yet again ) we didn't get
> one.
>
> There is nothing on the album to make the public
> stand up and take notice. Compare rough justice to
> Start Me Up for example, there is no comparison.
> Unfortunately it appears they are not capable of
> laying down a killer track anymore. No wonder my
> listening preferences are from their classic back
> catalogue which remains in a class of it's own.

What? Rough Justice is a classic Stones track, and so are Back of My Hand and It Won't Take Long. #3 is pretty damn good, more than McCartney can manage. Face it, times have changed and rap rules the charts these days, but the Stones still beat everyone except a couple of rappers. In other words, they had the top rock debut that week. Pretty damn good.

Instead of bitching about how they no longer rule the charts, I bought ABB and have been giving away copies to people I know don't know the Stones and would never have heard or bought the new album. 4-5 of those people really love it now and have gone out and bought their own copies. Two of them are going to a show with me. Bottom line, it's still a great album no matter how many people hear or buy it. 30 years from now it will be ranked right up there with Some Girls and Tattoo You.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2005-09-21 06:06 by ohnonotyouagain.

ohnonotyouagain Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 30 from now it will be ranked right up
> there with Some Girls and Tattoo You.


not a chance in hell, in my opinion. not even close.

> 30 from now it will be ranked right up
> there with Some Girls and Tattoo You.


I would be conservative and guess somewhere behind Emotional Rescue, Dirty Work, and Satanic Majesties.

JamesBurton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have to disagree with you there. Rough Justice
> might have made a decent B-side on Steel Wheels,
> but that's about it. ONNYA has a seventies feel to
> it and would probably be at home on an album like
> Goat's Head, but once again, it doesnt cross the
> threshold of being a marketable single.
>

> Sure the musical landscape has changed, but I
> wouldnt base the Stones shortcomings on the charts
> (I'm shocked they didnt fall further in the 2nd
> week), as there are plenty of rock acts that can
> get up and move albums, even if the charts are now
> clearly the realm of Eminem and the like.
>
> The opinions on the album aside (which I will
> stand by my previous thoughts that it is a pile of
> wayward rubbish), the core detail is there is no
> single. Not even an attempt. Even U2, arguably a
> band of similar stature to the Stones and in a
> period of decline from their heyday, was able to
> crank out "Beautiful Day," a track that got
> tremendous coverage on the radio and got the
> elusive under 25 market to snap up the albums.
>
> The Stones have forgotten how to write a single
> and Keith has for the past several decades even
> admitted he wouldnt know how to approach writing a
> hit track anymore. The heart is gone; Mick Jagger
> wants an album for the sake of "legitimacy,"
> rather than to actually sit down and write
> something timely, provocative, and could get some
> air-play.
>
> ABB is truly the only Stones album I detest. They
> have fallen a far way since Voodoo, an album that
> yielded 2 grammies, a video that got repeated
> airplay on MTV, and a single that was swept up by
> high school and college students, a pretty
> remarkable feat in itself.

Wow, some harsh words there. I completely disagree with your assessment of ABB, but I respect your opinion.

And you are truly right about VL...I was 15, saw the Stones perform "Love Is Strong" and SMU, and I was blown away. Goddamn, these geezers @#$%& rock!!

I bought VL, loved it...and the rest is history. Stones fan for life...not to mention I sought out tons of other great rock and blues bands from the period.

That is a testament to their brilliance and longevity...to lure a teenager into their fanbase with NEW MATERIAL, when all my friends listened to the sound of the moment crap.

Not sure if ABB could have same effect on any teens, but if it does, and the Stones open some kids up to the beauty of rock'n'roll and blues...well, that's just damn cool.

JamesBurton Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Have to disagree with you there. Rough Justice
> might have made a decent B-side on Steel Wheels,
> but that's about it. ONNYA has a seventies feel to
> it and would probably be at home on an album like
> Goat's Head, but once again, it doesnt cross the
> threshold of being a marketable single.
>
> Sure the musical landscape has changed, but I
> wouldnt base the Stones shortcomings on the charts
> (I'm shocked they didnt fall further in the 2nd
> week), as there are plenty of rock acts that can
> get up and move albums, even if the charts are now
> clearly the realm of Eminem and the like.
>
> The opinions on the album aside (which I will
> stand by my previous thoughts that it is a pile of
> wayward rubbish), the core detail is there is no
> single. Not even an attempt. Even U2, arguably a
> band of similar stature to the Stones and in a
> period of decline from their heyday, was able to
> crank out "Beautiful Day," a track that got
> tremendous coverage on the radio and got the
> elusive under 25 market to snap up the albums.
>
> The Stones have forgotten how to write a single
> and Keith has for the past several decades even
> admitted he wouldnt know how to approach writing a
> hit track anymore. The heart is gone; Mick Jagger
> wants an album for the sake of "legitimacy,"
> rather than to actually sit down and write
> something timely, provocative, and could get some
> air-play.
>
> ABB is truly the only Stones album I detest. They
> have fallen a far way since Voodoo, an album that
> yielded 2 grammies, a video that got repeated
> airplay on MTV, and a single that was swept up by
> high school and college students, a pretty
> remarkable feat in itself.
>
> But do you think this market is going to buy an
> album where the feature track has corny references
> to farm animals? Get real. The Stones have gone
> from being a relevant recording act to the
> travelling Grand Old Opry. I'm just waiting for a
> bloody "with friends album" and an "all blues
> album." It's really too bad; the Stones used to
> rock in their recordings. Now they are just
> writing their way into the footnotes of rock
> history.
>
> I wish Don Was had the spine to tell them what a
> load of bullocks this album is. But then again, it
> has been a long time (at least since 1994 or 1997)
> when it was actually about the music. It has been
> all about the money since Steel Wheels, but at
> least it wasn't so obvious as it is now.
>
>
>
> Edited 1 times. Last edit at 09/21/05 05:58 by
> JamesBurton.

Rubbish, complete, total and utter rubbish. ABB is ten times better than the overproduced crap of Steel Wheels. A few good songs on Steel Wheels but that is it. It's better than anything since Some Girls. Most professional critics who have reviewed it agree with this assessment. If you like Steel Wheels so much, no wonder you don't like ABB, a back to the basics rocker that is light years better than the overpolished stuff on Steel Wheels. Come on, that album made the great Charlie Watts sound like the drummer from Duran freaking Duran, for God's sake.

mikesnaps Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wel I'm not suprised the album needed a classic
> Stones track and sadly (yet again ) we didn't get
> one.
>
> There is nothing on the album to make the public
> stand up and take notice. Compare rough justice to
> Start Me Up for example, there is no comparison.
> Unfortunately it appears they are not capable of
> laying down a killer track anymore. No wonder my
> listening preferences are from their classic back
> catalogue which remains in a class of it's own.


Do not agree... Am I the only one who has NEVER gotten the joke with Start Me Up?

The demograph of the music buying
public has changed over the years.
Classic rock bands no longer rule
the charts like they use to but
continue to sell very well over
time on a worldwide scale. ABB
will still, in these terms, do
quite well, even pull in a lot
of new fans. I think the Stones
realize that, and are touring/
marketing it accordingly.

As of monday, it was 2nd best sale at U.S. Virgin's.

[doctorstonesblog.blogspot.com]

[www.aftonbladet.se]

[www.aftonbladet.se]

can´t agree at all with james burton! i think ABB is a great album, one of their best efforts in last 2 decades! but time is not on their side, and i find it wonderful that men in their sixties still can write and produce such a powerfull album with almost only good to very good songs! i consider it illusionary that you expect youngsters of 15 or so to become stones fans - for them they are jsut too old!

People. We had a world-wide no. 1 seller by The Stones. Not that I give a hoot, but did you honsetly expect it to be on there as long as Dark Side Of The Moon??? Dream on. The record rocks. The important thing is that WE know that. The only sad part is the people who didn't buy it.

JumpingKentFlash

ABB sells very well worldwide, don't forget it.

keefriff99: "Didn't B2B go platinum?Amazing that the musical landscape has gone to shit in 7 years"

No big chart difference between the two albums. B2B #3 first week, #11 second week.

drake Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Atleast we had #3. Stones have never been one for
> the charts.

That's crap and simply not true. Fact is that the US and UK public doesn't estimate the finest rock'n'roll band in the world. Just have a look in the Swiss charts and you see what I mean:

Dirty work was #1 in 1986
Voodoo Lounge was #1 in 1994
A bigger bang is #1 in 2005

And I'm not talking about #2 and # 3 positions here. (unfortuantely there is only a Swiss album chart since 1983)

The same goes for German charts and I'm sure there are other countries which really do appreciate the Rolling Stones.

Switzerland might be a bid different. Speaking of 3 different languages (mind you even 4) and so many different people it is quite unique that in all parts the sales for the Stones are very good.
Ex Libris (Migros) even makes a spot on TV which is surely not cheap for them. And they have been given great reviews though most of the journalists in Switzerland do not like the Stones at all and give them a very bad time.

For the US I just think the home market is so huge that it is very complicated to be number one. I think you have to count on the long run. Who really did amke it on the long run and who remained? Even if the Stones don't make it number one they will be last band who maintained for so many decades.

jamesburton nailes it

StonesTod: no way I want to compare ABB with TY and SM. Those albums I listen to without skipping one song. In comparison to ABB where I skip at least half of the songs already after having the album for 3 wks.

Its disappointing but we have to be realists. Rock and Roll stopped being the predominant music for young people about a decade or so ago.

Young kids who make up the deciding factor in the music market could not give a rats behind about these old geezers and their vintage music...I've gotten over that a long time ago.

Given this, A Bigger Bang is just a so-so album by even the Stones standards. My first thought after listening to it was...."it took them 8 years to come up with that????!!!"

Its a good album, but no more than that. Plenty of the same filler, plus some near-single stuff. Nothing spectacular, but still better than that Kanye West crap.

#......Go ahead....Bite the Big Apple....Don't mind the Maggots.....Uh Huh...#

Like I've said - the album pretty much demonstrates that KR is washed up as a songwriter (or at least in a late period drought). Aside from his two vocals, I find very little evidence of his input on these songs - granted that's just an opinion, but one based on 30 years of active listening to this band. So what we have is a Mick Jagger solo album graced with the talents of a great drummer and a tasteful couple of guitarists (who don't have the chops the once owned, clearly). So, it's about one would/could expect - GITD-type songs with a better support cast. Nothing more or less. There are about 5 songs that I just CANNOT listen to - something that's only happened on ONE OTHER Stones album for me - DW.

btw Bridges did sell around 1.3 million in the US, & 40 Lix sold 2.6 mil. ABB could go platinum with a bit more airplay, whatever they're doing each week on the Football show, & the tour going into Dec & then Jan - March 06.

+++++++There are about 5 songs that I just CANNOT listen to - something that's only happened on ONE OTHER Stones album for me - DW.++++++++

Pretty good analogy. At least Dirty Work had some near-classic tunes on it. "Sleep Tonite" is a classic, as far as I'm concerned. I see nothing of that on A Bigger Bang......."Rough Justice", "It Won't Take Long", "Back of My Hand", "Streets of Love", and "Oh No Not You Again"...those are the 5 songs that I have taken a shine to....the rest, I just skip. Maybe some others will grow on me, but this album is as about as promising as Bridges to Babylon.

Lets hope they can sell a million in the states. They'll have to work alot harder than they ever did in the late 80's and 90's to make a dent. This tour is their best bet to make that if they keep it up well into next spring. Forget radio-play....it ain't gonna happen, sadly....