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Schuine Hondsbossche
Here's HEILOOBAAS's review on exile
Rocks Off Good drums, bass, vocals go nowhere & say nothing. Nothing more than a
below standard opener to an important album. Best live version 2/26/73 Perth
Rip This Joint The band's onstage and it's one of those nights. Mick sounds like
he's screaming & running & Keith is just barely able to keep up w/him. The guitars
chug away like the Altamont Commuter Express. One of Charlie's best drum
performances in studio, punching in fills & then running back to the beat. This
should have been the single for Exile.
Hip Shake This "phoned in" track entirely annihilates the momentum of the spirit of
the first two tracks. It's like aborting take off on a fully loaded KLM 747-400 at
SXM! Was "Criss Cross Mind" composed at this time? It would have added to a
scintillating first lp side for years to come!
Casino Boogie follows. This track always provides me w/a clear view from Nellcotte's
front steps to the harbour of Villefranche. The track's tempo gives the listener an
idea of the langourness lazy days & starry nights of summer on the French Riviera.
Tumbling Dice is the other side of le Cote D'Azur. The excitement of brightly lit
casino nights, fast moving, beautifully bronzed couples & their entourages, ancient,
exiled royalties ready to be offered the odd line, the odd Magnum of vintage
champagne, the front seats at the best tables.... Exuberant vocals all around &
including Keith's best solo on the album.
Sweet Virginia, whilst rec'd enthusiastically, is just not the masterpiece off the
Monday Morning Masturbators claim it is. Compared to anything on "Beggar's Banquet"
or "Let It Bleed", this track takes the piss & nothing more. Compare "Satanic
Majesties" "2000 Man" 's verve & drive & focus & tension w/Sweet Virginia's
luded-out sidewalk busking & I think you'll see how far Mick & Keith's standard for
really hard, blood coursing music had fallen by 1972.
Torn & Frayed is a minor Stones masterpiece. The mix is ne plus ultra, the guitars
weave & interaction brilliantly. Listening to it is like taking a hit of calming &
gentle acid & studying a beautifully worked medival tapestry.
Sweet Black Angel
A missed masterpiece. The mix is perfect, the marimba is just perfect there in the
background, the vocal is perfect, the lyric is absolutely Mick at his best. Best
live performance 6/24/72
Loving Cup
An absolutely hit. A tune kept away in a cupboard, Mick & Keith dusted this one off
& kicked the shit out of it for Exile. Nicky's piano keeps it going, Mick & Keith's
vocals wash the underdraft.
Happy
A tailor made single that shows what Mick & Keith could get up to when they put
their minds to it. Snappy vocals, searing guitar, backing vocals to die for. This
song was a big hit on the 1972 Summer Tour.
Turd On the Run
Bootleg shite; not even worth dignifying with a comment.
Ventilator Blues
Something the Stones would have worked on and/or discarded but would never have put
onto LP in this unfinished stage. Once again, an example of Mick & Keith "churning
it out" & letting the side down.
Just Want to See His Face
An abortion. They should be ashamed to have released this just to fill up a side.
Let It Loose
A wonderful example of the band moving into a new form of music and doing it
perfectly.
All Down the Line
Formula, an acoustic track from 1970 that they morphed into a power blues
rocker. Not all that & a bag of crisps.
Stop Breaking Down
Ho hum... a harp/blues slide practice track. Not for release on a major Stones album.
Shine a Light
Another brilliant track that shows Mick was
capable of creating Beatles-like soul music.
Soul Survivor
A wonderfully vibrant song, full of hope & exhiliration & searing guitars. Lovely
Stones in their 70's incarnation.
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Schuine Hondsbossche
Torn & Frayed is a minor Stones masterpiece. The mix is ne plus ultra, the guitars
weave & interaction brilliantly. Listening to it is like taking a hit of calming &
gentle acid & studying a beautifully worked medival tapestry.
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HEILOOBAAS
Awww... I love the band & I love Exile. But it's OK once in a while to really deconstruct an album. But thanks for all the comments, I enjoy it when people break out of their politesse & actually react to something! BTW, I love Rocks Off, it's just that in the scheme of the their brilliant material it ain't much. They were just too loaded on drugs for this one and it shows.
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HEILOOBAAS
Your opinion is noted, and disagreed with. Great that you don't have the final say!
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HEILOOBAAS
Your opinion is noted, and disagreed with. Great that you don't have the final say!