Quote
kleermaker
Read the reviews from back then and you'll get a totally other impression: 3/5 at best

You right of course, but do you think the cult status accounts for the huge difference between those reviews and the current ones? Maybe it's a small factor but in my opinion it's the result of record growing on people after repeated listens....and perhaps the fact that not much else has come out in the subsequent 40+ years that compares.

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
kleermaker
Read the reviews from back then and you'll get a totally other impression: 3/5 at best

You right of course, but do you think the cult status accounts for the huge difference between those reviews and the current ones? Maybe it's a small factor but in my opinion it's the result of record growing on people after repeated listens....and perhaps the fact that not much else has come out in the subsequent 40+ years that compares.

I thought everything since SW was their "best album since Exile"...

Quote
Havo
i Know, somebody will disagree! Its a great album --for sure. but---where is a song like "Midnight Rambler" Or "Sympathie"?.. Casino boogie--"turd on the run--i just seen his face---soul survivour--are "fillers" --I mentioned "Beggars" and "Bleed"-but what i like most is "Aftermath" and "out of our heads".

Hah. "Casino Boogie" would seem to be the ultimate "filler", with nonsense lyrics just cobbled together from news headlines and scraps of paper. But, it's got Keith's bassline and Charlie's casual shuffle, Bobby's nasty two-note sax solo, and lines like "Dietrich movies, close up boogies, Kissing @#$%& in Cannes" and it's suddenly a great track. The stars just happened to line up for the band on Exile.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-06-30 22:18 by drbryant.

Quote
drbryant

Quote
Havo
i Know, somebody will disagree! Its a great album --for sure. but---where is a song like "Midnight Rambler" Or "Sympathie"?.. Casino boogie--"turd on the run--i just seen his face---soul survivour--are "fillers" --I mentioned "Beggars" and "Bleed"-but what i like most is "Aftermath" and "out of our heads".

Hah. "Casino Boogie" would seem to be the ultimate "filler", with nonsense lyrics just cobbled together from news headlines and scraps of paper. But, it's got Keith's bassline and Charlie's casual shuffle, Bobby's nasty two-note sax solo, and lines like "Dietrich movies, close up boogies, Kissing @#$%& in Cannes" and it's suddenly a great track. The stars just happened to line up for the band on Exile.

Not to forget the great ending of Casino Boogie, that is much too short and makes one longing for more and more.

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
kleermaker
Read the reviews from back then and you'll get a totally other impression: 3/5 at best

You right of course, but do you think the cult status accounts for the huge difference between those reviews and the current ones? Maybe it's a small factor but in my opinion it's the result of record growing on people after repeated listens....and perhaps the fact that not much else has come out in the subsequent 40+ years that compares.

I was overwhelmed the first time I heard Exile (18 years old), yes some songs had to grow on me.......but I understand that some of us find it overrated because they got stuck in '66 with Aftermath..............

__________________________

EXILE, the best album of the 20th Century by far! End of story!

Quote
1969Fan

Quote
keefriffhards
i wonder, is it possible for the stones to re create the basement at Nellcote and record the next album in it. try to replicate all the recording equipment.
could it be possible ???

You can't go home again. IMHO Exile is a masterpiece and what made it so cannot be duplicated.

i just feel that modern production techniques have not done the stones any favours. its too polished and synthetic, takes the guts out of it.
between steel wheels and a bigger bang when the stones used to play their latest released album tracks live, like flip the switch, out of control, i go wild or saint of me. the tracks always came to life when played live. the original production seemed lacking to me, compared to live. that tells us something.

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet
But... it is a double album and no band has ever had a flawless double album...

Not sure about that. Exile is one, for me. The others I mentioned, White Album and Quadophenia as well. Ones I haven't mentioned ... Clash, London Calling -- No flaws on that one. U2, Rattle & Hum.

If you were realistic about the content of EXILE... THE BEATLES has shite on it as well. RATTLE AND HUM? HA HA! That's hilairous. Perhaps if ACHTUNG had had everything they recorded for it released it would've been a better double LP than R&H...

As I said, NO double album is flawless. It's not possible. If one chooses to be deaf to the truth, fine, but realistically, it's not possible. Even the Stones admit that.

I was realistic on Exile's content ... and read thru the thread, it's backed up by many a listener. White Album is similar to me, the songs some think are filler are actually brilliant in their own way. Rattle is quite amazing, laugh all you want. Also, you didn't point out any flaws in either Quadrophenia or London Calling. No flaws to be found - the comment that "no double album is flawless" proves untrue.

That's such bullspeak if I've ever read it. That's as accurate as a newspaper poll.

If you've ever read it? Have you read anything on those? Go check some reviews, both old and new, see what you find out. It's NOT just MY opinion here.

Album reviews are one thing. From a fan aspect, which means being objective, even the best albums have 3 and 4 star rated tunes. Does that make them suck? No. But EXILE has a couple that are clunkers. People tend to gloss over things in their reviews on Amazon etc about an album yet alone music critics that write reviews. If Stones fans took critic reviews of STEEL WHEELS or other LPs that have been siad to of been "their best since (EXILE, SOME GIRLS, TATTOO YOU) then... all that means is, at that time, it's pretty damn good. EXILE has aged much better than quite a few of their albums.

It's purely bizarre how some Stones fans can not find one thing yet alone a few things wrong with whatever Stones album. EXILE is awesome. But LET IT BLEED and STICKY FINGERS are better, if not their best.

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
skipstone
The only true filler on the album is I Just Want To See His Face and maybe, just maybe, Let It Loose.

However, it is not their greatest album to me. It is a great record, absolutely. But there are others that are better.

Blasphemy!

One of the things that make Exile so great, imo, is that it seems to hold up and just get better after many many listens. I'm one of those who was not impressed when I first heard it, it didn't have much of an impact but many years later it's one of the records I not only love, but never get tired of. It's like there is no upper limit to the enjoyment factor of Exile. Always something new to catch my ear and delight me after hundreds of listens.

Ha ha. Nice name change.

If you remove X amount of tracks and go with more up tunes, Let It Loose is one of a few that could be missed off. IJWTSF is absolutely filler.

That is the context. Does Let It Loose suck? No. I love EXILE. I listen to it often. And I like Let It Loose. But there are songs I tend to tune out. Sometimes I don't. It's a 5 star LP but there are times when, in context to LIB and SF, it's not. And sometimes even good songs that are not upbeat or in a certain vibe could be thought of as being left off. There's nothing wrong with that. But for some people... objectivity seems to be missing. That doesn't lessen EXILE.

Great album. One of their best. Indeed. And an absolute must have.

Exile on Main Street overrated my ass.

We played the entire 8 track album on our way to see the first Fort Worth show in June 1972.

Incredible show.

Quote
keefriffhards

Quote
1969Fan

Quote
keefriffhards
i wonder, is it possible for the stones to re create the basement at Nellcote and record the next album in it. try to replicate all the recording equipment.
could it be possible ???

You can't go home again. IMHO Exile is a masterpiece and what made it so cannot be duplicated.

i just feel that modern production techniques have not done the stones any favours. its too polished and synthetic, takes the guts out of it.
between steel wheels and a bigger bang when the stones used to play their latest released album tracks live, like flip the switch, out of control, i go wild or saint of me. the tracks always came to life when played live. the original production seemed lacking to me, compared to live. that tells us something.

keefriffhards...I agree 100% with what you said about modern recording technology. Part of what makes the Stones so great is that they are sloppy and they make no apologies for it. Especially Exile. IORR posters have commented on the fluffs the Stones are making during the current tour. These miscues don't seem to diminish the great time people are having at the shows. The Stones' most recent live recordings sound like they're done in a studio. Compare them to Ya Ya's or Brussels 1973. I'll take the sound of the earlier recordings any day. No, the old stuff is not as clean, detailed, and precise as the recent digital recordings. Sticky Fingers was recorded on an 8-track analog tape recorder, a 10-input Universal Audio console with rotary knobs, not linear faders, and very little EQ or limiting. Listen to how great that album sounds. Keith wrote at length about how less is better for rock & roll. He feels the room should be part of the sound and claims it gets lost with multiple close-in mics. . Yeah...I agree with him and with you. Less is more.

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet
But... it is a double album and no band has ever had a flawless double album...

Not sure about that. Exile is one, for me. The others I mentioned, White Album and Quadophenia as well. Ones I haven't mentioned ... Clash, London Calling -- No flaws on that one. U2, Rattle & Hum.

If you were realistic about the content of EXILE... THE BEATLES has shite on it as well. RATTLE AND HUM? HA HA! That's hilairous. Perhaps if ACHTUNG had had everything they recorded for it released it would've been a better double LP than R&H...

As I said, NO double album is flawless. It's not possible. If one chooses to be deaf to the truth, fine, but realistically, it's not possible. Even the Stones admit that.

I was realistic on Exile's content ... and read thru the thread, it's backed up by many a listener. White Album is similar to me, the songs some think are filler are actually brilliant in their own way. Rattle is quite amazing, laugh all you want. Also, you didn't point out any flaws in either Quadrophenia or London Calling. No flaws to be found - the comment that "no double album is flawless" proves untrue.

That's such bullspeak if I've ever read it. That's as accurate as a newspaper poll.

If you've ever read it? Have you read anything on those? Go check some reviews, both old and new, see what you find out. It's NOT just MY opinion here.

Album reviews are one thing. From a fan aspect, which means being objective, even the best albums have 3 and 4 star rated tunes. Does that make them suck? No. But EXILE has a couple that are clunkers. People tend to gloss over things in their reviews on Amazon etc about an album yet alone music critics that write reviews. If Stones fans took critic reviews of STEEL WHEELS or other LPs that have been siad to of been "their best since (EXILE, SOME GIRLS, TATTOO YOU) then... all that means is, at that time, it's pretty damn good. EXILE has aged much better than quite a few of their albums.

It's purely bizarre how some Stones fans can not find one thing yet alone a few things wrong with whatever Stones album. EXILE is awesome. But LET IT BLEED and STICKY FINGERS are better, if not their best.

Well thanks, but we moved away from Exile. I was not talking about Amazon reviews -- i am talking about professional reviews of the albums Quadrophenia and London Calling, in that there are no flaws in those albums, as a general consensus. You might find 'flaws' in regards to your own personal taste but they are considered flawless double albums, as part of rock history. Not your opinion, nor mine, but rock fact.

Well I've said before that I'm a Beatles, Zeppelin and even a Who guy too. I was heavy into them all before I was the Stones. Some may remember me as only being hardcore Stones for a few months now. Even on this thread I initially didn't rate EOMS that high. Well, times have been changing rapidly and I honestly think it may be the greatest Rock n Roll album ever. Trust me that's a bold statement because I'm a fan of bands who have recorded many of the best albums ever.

Quote
pricepittsburgh
Well I've said before that I'm a Beatles, Zeppelin and even a Who guy too. I was heavy into them all before I was the Stones. Some may remember me as only being hardcore Stones for a few months now. Even on this thread I initially didn't rate EOMS that high. Well, times have been changing rapidly and I honestly think it may be the greatest Rock n Roll album ever. Trust me that's a bold statement because I'm a fan of bands who have recorded many of the best albums ever.

I'm with you. To me it is a flawless album as well. But since I have read some negatives, I was dismissing that in my argument. The other 2 I mentioned, London Calling and Quadrophenia, I am almost sure I never read a negative review on those (although I don't really read reviews anymore, at one point I was obsessed with them).

Quote
kleermaker

Quote
HearMeKnockin

Quote
drbryant
Well, one thing for sure - it definitely isn't underrated. (from Wikipedia)

Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 100/100

Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 5/5 stars
The A.V. Club A
Robert Christgau A+
Entertainment Weekly A+
NME 10/10
Pitchfork Media 10/10
Q 5/5 stars
Rolling Stone 5/5 stars
The Rolling Stone Album Guide 5/5 stars
Uncut 5/5 stars

I'd say it's rated exactly where it oughta be.

Read the reviews from back then and you'll get a totally other impression: 3/5 at best

Exactly right. The critics initially were lukewarm, but I and everyone else I can remember always loved it from day one. So often, fans are influenced by critics calling an album a "masterpiece" or a "classic". With Exile, you had the exact opposite - the fans just "got it" immediately - and eventually, it seems that that media just did as well. Rolling Stone, having done a complete about face, now gives it 5/5 stars, and ranks it among the top 10 in their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time (the highest ranking Stones album). Mick himself was often quoted as saying he didn't understand why the fans like the album so much, but around the time of the reissue, he seemed to have finally given up. Even then, he was still saying how he might mix it differently, so his vocals were clearer. That, of course, would have been a travesty. I thought that was hilarious - he still doesn't "get it."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-01 05:04 by drbryant.

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
skipstone
The only true filler on the album is I Just Want To See His Face and maybe, just maybe, Let It Loose.

However, it is not their greatest album to me. It is a great record, absolutely. But there are others that are better.

Blasphemy!

One of the things that make Exile so great, imo, is that it seems to hold up and just get better after many many listens. I'm one of those who was not impressed when I first heard it, it didn't have much of an impact but many years later it's one of the records I not only love, but never get tired of. It's like there is no upper limit to the enjoyment factor of Exile. Always something new to catch my ear and delight me after hundreds of listens.

Ha ha. Nice name change.

If you remove X amount of tracks and go with more up tunes, Let It Loose is one of a few that could be missed off. IJWTSF is absolutely filler.

That is the context. Does Let It Loose suck? No. I love EXILE. I listen to it often. And I like Let It Loose. But there are songs I tend to tune out. Sometimes I don't. It's a 5 star LP but there are times when, in context to LIB and SF, it's not. And sometimes even good songs that are not upbeat or in a certain vibe could be thought of as being left off. There's nothing wrong with that. But for some people... objectivity seems to be missing. That doesn't lessen EXILE.

Great album. One of their best. Indeed. And an absolute must have.

The thing about Exile is that people don't agree on what the "filler" is, and every cut has these amazing moments that you just remember. I mentioned "Casino Boogie", and "Let it Loose" is no different - Keith's Leslie'd guitar riff, Nicky's piano runs, Mick filling the spaces with wordless vocals (who's that woman on you ar-um ooh ooh), the unconventional song structure, the washed-out horns, and that girl repeating "let it loose, let all come down" in the fade. Damn, what an album.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-01 05:15 by drbryant.

I agree, Let it Loose is not filler. It would be the best, or second best, cut on many of their other albums.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-01 09:15 by Turner68.

Quote
1969Fan

Quote
keefriffhards

Quote
1969Fan

Quote
keefriffhards
i wonder, is it possible for the stones to re create the basement at Nellcote and record the next album in it. try to replicate all the recording equipment.
could it be possible ???

You can't go home again. IMHO Exile is a masterpiece and what made it so cannot be duplicated.

i just feel that modern production techniques have not done the stones any favours. its too polished and synthetic, takes the guts out of it.
between steel wheels and a bigger bang when the stones used to play their latest released album tracks live, like flip the switch, out of control, i go wild or saint of me. the tracks always came to life when played live. the original production seemed lacking to me, compared to live. that tells us something.

keefriffhards...I agree 100% with what you said about modern recording technology. Part of what makes the Stones so great is that they are sloppy and they make no apologies for it. Especially Exile. IORR posters have commented on the fluffs the Stones are making during the current tour. These miscues don't seem to diminish the great time people are having at the shows. The Stones' most recent live recordings sound like they're done in a studio. Compare them to Ya Ya's or Brussels 1973. I'll take the sound of the earlier recordings any day. No, the old stuff is not as clean, detailed, and precise as the recent digital recordings. Sticky Fingers was recorded on an 8-track analog tape recorder, a 10-input Universal Audio console with rotary knobs, not linear faders, and very little EQ or limiting. Listen to how great that album sounds. Keith wrote at length about how less is better for rock & roll. He feels the room should be part of the sound and claims it gets lost with multiple close-in mics. . Yeah...I agree with him and with you. Less is more. E

.

That's right. Roller69fan . Oh well some one agrees with me.
The stones are not about train spotting. They are raw edgy powerful beautiful accidents waiting to happen ,then happening, then turning into something new. Cheers



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-02 12:04 by keefriffhards.

Granted, SF may be tighter and more focused BUT..what I love about Exile is that looseness! That's the Stones I love!

As double album, it works remarkably well and has stood the test of time. For sure, it does not have the instant love-a-bility that hits you when you first listen to LIB or SF but it's definitely a grower that you come to treasure, despite its little flaws.

Quote
Turner68
I agree, Let it Loose is not filler. It would be the best, or second best, cut on many of their other albums.

Certainly, the album has no fillers. Songs like Casino Boogie or Just Wanna See His Face are just as critical to Exile as songs like Tumbling Dice or Rocks Off.

I was listening to Exile tonight in honor of this thread, and was reminded of one question I've always had. One complaint you often read about Exile is that the mix is "murky". However, as many of us know, the various tracks on the album are mixed very differently. Some are indeed very narrow stereo, nearly mono, and could sound a bit "murky" for those not accustomed to that type of mix. Others however, are in traditional wide stereo, with the guitars clearly placed in left and right channels and other instruments and voices audible in distinct places in the soundscape (for those with properly placed stereo speakers). They don't sound "murky" at all.

Does anyone know the reason for this? Were the "narrow stereo" tracks recorded or mixed at a different location or by different people? Here's the breakdown:

Wide Stereo: Rocks Off, Casino Boogie, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Happy, Turd on the Run, Ventilator Blues, Stop Breaking Down.

Narrow stereo: Rip this Joint, Shake Your Hips, Torn & Frayed, Sweet Black Angel, I Just Wanna See His Face, Let it Loose, All Down the Line, Shine a Light, Soul Survivor

I could look all this up, of course, but I'm lazy and I figure someone knows.

By the way, how great is that last chorus of "Sweet Virginia" with Keith just wailing away? What an album.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-01 22:38 by drbryant.

Quote
kleermaker

Quote
drbryant

Quote
Havo
i Know, somebody will disagree! Its a great album --for sure. but---where is a song like "Midnight Rambler" Or "Sympathie"?.. Casino boogie--"turd on the run--i just seen his face---soul survivour--are "fillers" --I mentioned "Beggars" and "Bleed"-but what i like most is "Aftermath" and "out of our heads".

Hah. "Casino Boogie" would seem uto be the ultimate "filler", with nonsense lyrics just cobbled together from news headlines and scraps of paper. But, it's got Keith's bassline and Charlie's casual shuffle, Bobby's nasty two-note sax solo, and lines like "Dietrich movies, close up boogies, Kissing @#$%& in Cannes" and it's suddenly a great track. The stars just happened to line up for the band on Exile.

Not to forget the great ending of Casino Boogie, that is much too short and makes one longing for more and more.

. There is absolutely zero filler on Exile. The reason for this is because every song that sounds like filler when you play it by itself, actually blends perfectly into the album as a whole. Sure there are certain songs that if you were to seek them out individually, might sound like a filler. However when exile is played in its entirety those songs fit the jam session vibe, or the feeling of just having a great time listening to a band on a stage in a bar. Once you get used to the album as a whole, then those individual songs can be played out of context, because you know the original context in your mind. But regardless of that, I don't think any of the songs listed as possible filler are even close the filler, because the band is clearly attempting to cover multiple genres in a certain type of atmosphere. The intent on none of those songs is to be filler. Filler is just a song you throw together for the sake of literally filling up space. But in the feel of this album it wasn't about filling up space, or they would have just made it a single album and kept the most traditional stuff on there. They wanted to create a longer album with the running feel or mood.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-02 04:01 by pricepittsburgh.

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet
But... it is a double album and no band has ever had a flawless double album...

Not sure about that. Exile is one, for me. The others I mentioned, White Album and Quadophenia as well. Ones I haven't mentioned ... Clash, London Calling -- No flaws on that one. U2, Rattle & Hum.

If you were realistic about the content of EXILE... THE BEATLES has shite on it as well. RATTLE AND HUM? HA HA! That's hilairous. Perhaps if ACHTUNG had had everything they recorded for it released it would've been a better double LP than R&H...

As I said, NO double album is flawless. It's not possible. If one chooses to be deaf to the truth, fine, but realistically, it's not possible. Even the Stones admit that.

I was realistic on Exile's content ... and read thru the thread, it's backed up by many a listener. White Album is similar to me, the songs some think are filler are actually brilliant in their own way. Rattle is quite amazing, laugh all you want. Also, you didn't point out any flaws in either Quadrophenia or London Calling. No flaws to be found - the comment that "no double album is flawless" proves untrue.

That's such bullspeak if I've ever read it. That's as accurate as a newspaper poll.

If you've ever read it? Have you read anything on those? Go check some reviews, both old and new, see what you find out. It's NOT just MY opinion here.

Album reviews are one thing. From a fan aspect, which means being objective, even the best albums have 3 and 4 star rated tunes. Does that make them suck? No. But EXILE has a couple that are clunkers. People tend to gloss over things in their reviews on Amazon etc about an album yet alone music critics that write reviews. If Stones fans took critic reviews of STEEL WHEELS or other LPs that have been siad to of been "their best since (EXILE, SOME GIRLS, TATTOO YOU) then... all that means is, at that time, it's pretty damn good. EXILE has aged much better than quite a few of their albums.

It's purely bizarre how some Stones fans can not find one thing yet alone a few things wrong with whatever Stones album. EXILE is awesome. But LET IT BLEED and STICKY FINGERS are better, if not their best.

Well thanks, but we moved away from Exile. I was not talking about Amazon reviews -- i am talking about professional reviews of the albums Quadrophenia and London Calling, in that there are no flaws in those albums, as a general consensus. You might find 'flaws' in regards to your own personal taste but they are considered flawless double albums, as part of rock history. Not your opinion, nor mine, but rock fact.

They do tend to overlook things - and on double albums that are of substantial quality, it's easy to do.

Quote
drbryant

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
skipstone
The only true filler on the album is I Just Want To See His Face and maybe, just maybe, Let It Loose.

However, it is not their greatest album to me. It is a great record, absolutely. But there are others that are better.

Blasphemy!

One of the things that make Exile so great, imo, is that it seems to hold up and just get better after many many listens. I'm one of those who was not impressed when I first heard it, it didn't have much of an impact but many years later it's one of the records I not only love, but never get tired of. It's like there is no upper limit to the enjoyment factor of Exile. Always something new to catch my ear and delight me after hundreds of listens.

Ha ha. Nice name change.

If you remove X amount of tracks and go with more up tunes, Let It Loose is one of a few that could be missed off. IJWTSF is absolutely filler.

That is the context. Does Let It Loose suck? No. I love EXILE. I listen to it often. And I like Let It Loose. But there are songs I tend to tune out. Sometimes I don't. It's a 5 star LP but there are times when, in context to LIB and SF, it's not. And sometimes even good songs that are not upbeat or in a certain vibe could be thought of as being left off. There's nothing wrong with that. But for some people... objectivity seems to be missing. That doesn't lessen EXILE.

Great album. One of their best. Indeed. And an absolute must have.

The thing about Exile is that people don't agree on what the "filler" is, and every cut has these amazing moments that you just remember. I mentioned "Casino Boogie", and "Let it Loose" is no different - Keith's Leslie'd guitar riff, Nicky's piano runs, Mick filling the spaces with wordless vocals (who's that woman on you ar-um ooh ooh), the unconventional song structure, the washed-out horns, and that girl repeating "let it loose, let all come down" in the fade. Damn, what an album.

I was using Let It Loose in context with the more up beat tunes if making EOMS into a single album... I wouldn't qualify Let It Loose as filler like Sweet Black Angel and I Just Want To See His Face are. The filler on EOMS is still miles above anything on DIRTY WORK onward, with exception to How Can I Stop.

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
drbryant

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
skipstone
The only true filler on the album is I Just Want To See His Face and maybe, just maybe, Let It Loose.

However, it is not their greatest album to me. It is a great record, absolutely. But there are others that are better.

Blasphemy!

One of the things that make Exile so great, imo, is that it seems to hold up and just get better after many many listens. I'm one of those who was not impressed when I first heard it, it didn't have much of an impact but many years later it's one of the records I not only love, but never get tired of. It's like there is no upper limit to the enjoyment factor of Exile. Always something new to catch my ear and delight me after hundreds of listens.

Ha ha. Nice name change.

If you remove X amount of tracks and go with more up tunes, Let It Loose is one of a few that could be missed off. IJWTSF is absolutely filler.

That is the context. Does Let It Loose suck? No. I love EXILE. I listen to it often. And I like Let It Loose. But there are songs I tend to tune out. Sometimes I don't. It's a 5 star LP but there are times when, in context to LIB and SF, it's not. And sometimes even good songs that are not upbeat or in a certain vibe could be thought of as being left off. There's nothing wrong with that. But for some people... objectivity seems to be missing. That doesn't lessen EXILE.

Great album. One of their best. Indeed. And an absolute must have.

The thing about Exile is that people don't agree on what the "filler" is, and every cut has these amazing moments that you just remember. I mentioned "Casino Boogie", and "Let it Loose" is no different - Keith's Leslie'd guitar riff, Nicky's piano runs, Mick filling the spaces with wordless vocals (who's that woman on you ar-um ooh ooh), the unconventional song structure, the washed-out horns, and that girl repeating "let it loose, let all come down" in the fade. Damn, what an album.

I was using Let It Loose in context with the more up beat tunes if making EOMS into a single album... I wouldn't qualify Let It Loose as filler like Sweet Black Angel and I Just Want To See His Face are. The filler on EOMS is still miles above anything on DIRTY WORK onward, with exception to How Can I Stop.

I was already listening to Stones albums when Exile was released. The most important reviewer of one of Holland's most important quality papers and a specialist on pop/rock music considered Sweet Black Angel as the best song of the whole album. That's what I recall very well because I found it remarkable. Still, I don't think that song is filler at all, but neither "the best song of Exile".

Quote
GasLightStreet

But... it is a double album and no band has ever had a flawless double album...

Your argument is fundamentally flawed.

You make two errors:


1) You erroneously assume the length of an album enjoys correlation to an unverifiable measure of 'flawless[ness].'

A double album is no more or less likely to achieve 'flawless[ness]' than a single one.


2) You employ an unverifiable means by which to judge the value of an album.

Can any album by the Stones be characterised as 'flawless'?

Can a single song?

Can a single note?

No.

.....

Olly.

Quote
kleermaker

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
drbryant

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
Naturalust

Quote
skipstone
The only true filler on the album is I Just Want To See His Face and maybe, just maybe, Let It Loose.

However, it is not their greatest album to me. It is a great record, absolutely. But there are others that are better.

Blasphemy!

One of the things that make Exile so great, imo, is that it seems to hold up and just get better after many many listens. I'm one of those who was not impressed when I first heard it, it didn't have much of an impact but many years later it's one of the records I not only love, but never get tired of. It's like there is no upper limit to the enjoyment factor of Exile. Always something new to catch my ear and delight me after hundreds of listens.

Ha ha. Nice name change.

If you remove X amount of tracks and go with more up tunes, Let It Loose is one of a few that could be missed off. IJWTSF is absolutely filler.

That is the context. Does Let It Loose suck? No. I love EXILE. I listen to it often. And I like Let It Loose. But there are songs I tend to tune out. Sometimes I don't. It's a 5 star LP but there are times when, in context to LIB and SF, it's not. And sometimes even good songs that are not upbeat or in a certain vibe could be thought of as being left off. There's nothing wrong with that. But for some people... objectivity seems to be missing. That doesn't lessen EXILE.

Great album. One of their best. Indeed. And an absolute must have.

The thing about Exile is that people don't agree on what the "filler" is, and every cut has these amazing moments that you just remember. I mentioned "Casino Boogie", and "Let it Loose" is no different - Keith's Leslie'd guitar riff, Nicky's piano runs, Mick filling the spaces with wordless vocals (who's that woman on you ar-um ooh ooh), the unconventional song structure, the washed-out horns, and that girl repeating "let it loose, let all come down" in the fade. Damn, what an album.

I was using Let It Loose in context with the more up beat tunes if making EOMS into a single album... I wouldn't qualify Let It Loose as filler like Sweet Black Angel and I Just Want To See His Face are. The filler on EOMS is still miles above anything on DIRTY WORK onward, with exception to How Can I Stop.

I was already listening to Stones albums when Exile was released. The most important reviewer of one of Holland's most important quality papers and a specialist on pop/rock music considered Sweet Black Angel as the best song of the whole album. That's what I recall very well because I found it remarkable. Still, I don't think that song is filler at all, but neither "the best song of Exile".

"I Just Want to See His Face" is often mentioned as filler. It sounds like a jam recorded on a hand held recorder on the spur of the moment, and Mick has been quoted as saying he remembers it as a jam, with vocals made up on the spot. But, the presence of the background vocalists and the organ overdub indicate that a lot of time was put into the track, and that closeted sound must have been intentional. But maybe Mick didn't feel that the did a good enough job in the genre (gospel blues, a place where white English boys don't tread too often), and preferred to release it that way so it sounded more casual/informal. He shouldn't have worried - it was good enough to be covered by the Blind Boys of Alabama.

Wikipedia quotes Bill Janovich, who wrote that 33 1/3 book on Exile: "'I Just Want to See His Face' has the band exploring the music of America, specifically the country, blues, folk, and soul of the South... [it] sounds ancient and from another planet; a swampy, stompy gospel song that was recorded to intentionally sound as if it is a field recording document of a long-ago church basement revival meeting."

That sounds right to me.







Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2015-07-02 21:08 by drbryant.

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet

Quote
LeonidP

Quote
GasLightStreet
But... it is a double album and no band has ever had a flawless double album...

Not sure about that. Exile is one, for me. The others I mentioned, White Album and Quadophenia as well. Ones I haven't mentioned ... Clash, London Calling -- No flaws on that one. U2, Rattle & Hum.

If you were realistic about the content of EXILE... THE BEATLES has shite on it as well. RATTLE AND HUM? HA HA! That's hilairous. Perhaps if ACHTUNG had had everything they recorded for it released it would've been a better double LP than R&H...

As I said, NO double album is flawless. It's not possible. If one chooses to be deaf to the truth, fine, but realistically, it's not possible. Even the Stones admit that.

I was realistic on Exile's content ... and read thru the thread, it's backed up by many a listener. White Album is similar to me, the songs some think are filler are actually brilliant in their own way. Rattle is quite amazing, laugh all you want. Also, you didn't point out any flaws in either Quadrophenia or London Calling. No flaws to be found - the comment that "no double album is flawless" proves untrue.

That's such bullspeak if I've ever read it. That's as accurate as a newspaper poll.

If you've ever read it? Have you read anything on those? Go check some reviews, both old and new, see what you find out. It's NOT just MY opinion here.

Album reviews are one thing. From a fan aspect, which means being objective, even the best albums have 3 and 4 star rated tunes. Does that make them suck? No. But EXILE has a couple that are clunkers. People tend to gloss over things in their reviews on Amazon etc about an album yet alone music critics that write reviews. If Stones fans took critic reviews of STEEL WHEELS or other LPs that have been siad to of been "their best since (EXILE, SOME GIRLS, TATTOO YOU) then... all that means is, at that time, it's pretty damn good. EXILE has aged much better than quite a few of their albums.

It's purely bizarre how some Stones fans can not find one thing yet alone a few things wrong with whatever Stones album. EXILE is awesome. But LET IT BLEED and STICKY FINGERS are better, if not their best.

Well thanks, but we moved away from Exile. I was not talking about Amazon reviews -- i am talking about professional reviews of the albums Quadrophenia and London Calling, in that there are no flaws in those albums, as a general consensus. You might find 'flaws' in regards to your own personal taste but they are considered flawless double albums, as part of rock history. Not your opinion, nor mine, but rock fact.

They do tend to overlook things - and on double albums that are of substantial quality, it's easy to do.

Possibly. And listeners tend to make generalizations and assumptions about things too, and then try to pass them off as facts.

Quote
LeonidP

Well thanks, but we moved away from Exile. I was not talking about Amazon reviews -- i am talking about professional reviews of the albums Quadrophenia and London Calling, in that there are no flaws in those albums, as a general consensus. You might find 'flaws' in regards to your own personal taste but they are considered flawless double albums, as part of rock history. Not your opinion, nor mine, but rock fact.

I'm enjoying this discussion, but are we not in dangerous territory here, semantically speaking?

Please see above my post regarding GasLightStreet's argument based on flawlessness.

.....

Olly.