For information about how to use this forum please check out forum help and policies.
Quote
stewedandkeefed
The generally negative view of ABB on this board has always mystified me. Of the records that the Stones made since 1989, it is the only one I truly enjoy. For me, it is a good record because it's actually about something. It's a break-up album and probably reflects Mick's break-up with Jerry Hall. Generally I can't think of songs more meaningless than Flip The Switch or You Got Me Rocking. At least ABB has a theme.
Quote
71TeleQuote
stewedandkeefed
The generally negative view of ABB on this board has always mystified me. Of the records that the Stones made since 1989, it is the only one I truly enjoy. For me, it is a good record because it's actually about something. It's a break-up album and probably reflects Mick's break-up with Jerry Hall. Generally I can't think of songs more meaningless than Flip The Switch or You Got Me Rocking. At least ABB has a theme.
It shouldn't be mystifying that people who grew up with Brown Sugar, Tumblin' Dice, and Coming Down Again would not want to settle for Sweet Neocon, Laugh I Nearly Died and Infamy.
Quote
skipstone
I listened to A Bigger Bang while doing A LOT of driving after Katrina since everything was in doubt and I had no idea what I had to return to. The album came out right after the storm hit after I had done a lot of travelling just to get somewhere to be for a little while and find a new vehicle. I didn't get it for another month when I wound up in Alabama. I listened to it in my truck, exclusively, and played it A LOT when I was going between Louisiana and Alabama through all kinds of destruction and seeing boats in places they shouldn't be to get what I could of my life back together.
So it became a good driving record. So it's one of those albums for me. It has an unfortunate history within my life but it was one of the few things or moments or whatever one wants to call 'it' that cheered me up. That and finding Abita Amber in Fairhope, AL was about it. So maybe I have some kind of strange attachment to the album. I dunno. It helped me through it all.
And I still like it.
Quote
71TeleQuote
stewedandkeefed
The generally negative view of ABB on this board has always mystified me. Of the records that the Stones made since 1989, it is the only one I truly enjoy. For me, it is a good record because it's actually about something. It's a break-up album and probably reflects Mick's break-up with Jerry Hall. Generally I can't think of songs more meaningless than Flip The Switch or You Got Me Rocking. At least ABB has a theme.
It shouldn't be mystifying that people who grew up with Brown Sugar, Tumblin' Dice, and Coming Down Again would not want to settle for Sweet Neocon, Laugh I Nearly Died and Infamy.
You must be confusing it with Goddess in the Doorway. Which, by the way, is an album I do like.Quote
stewedandkeefed
It's a break-up album and probably reflects Mick's break-up with Jerry Hall.
Quote
Shezeboss
Don't care of those sad people. ABB is as fantastic as exile or sticky. Don't pay attention to all these guys who have the UNIK THOUGHT. Let them with ac//dc or bruce springsteen. A bigger bang or bridges are MUSIC and not only cliches...
They always try to tell you what's beautifull...
Quote
skipstone
I listened to A Bigger Bang while doing A LOT of driving after Katrina since everything was in doubt and I had no idea what I had to return to. The album came out right after the storm hit after I had done a lot of travelling just to get somewhere to be for a little while and find a new vehicle. I didn't get it for another month when I wound up in Alabama. I listened to it in my truck, exclusively, and played it A LOT when I was going between Louisiana and Alabama through all kinds of destruction and seeing boats in places they shouldn't be to get what I could of my life back together.
So it became a good driving record. So it's one of those albums for me. It has an unfortunate history within my life but it was one of the few things or moments or whatever one wants to call 'it' that cheered me up. That and finding Abita Amber in Fairhope, AL was about it. So maybe I have some kind of strange attachment to the album. I dunno. It helped me through it all.
And I still like it.
Quote
71Tele
A bigger point is whether one still accepts the post-89 band as even the same artist as the pre-89. I generally stay out of discussions of any songs/albums after Steel Wheels (meaning after Wyman left) because I (and I know this will be controversial) do not even consider the two the same artist. What changed that makes me say such a seemingly preposterous thing? Two things: First, Wyman left, and the rhythm section was forever altered. Instead of the Rolling Stones, it was the Ling Stones (as someone pointed out above). The "roll" was gone.
Second: Albums became gimmicks or necessary components for promoting tours (remember, groups used to tour "behind" a record). The Stones had basically stopped competing on the charts (which made their brief forays into rap, Chemical Bros., Babyface, etc. all the more painful). The songs became fairly random affairs. The producers crafted the songs rather than the songs dictating the production. There was very little inspiration from which these middle-aged millionaires could draw upon to bring about compelling music. I am not saying that despite this there weren't some perfectly listenable, well-executed songs - there were - but the magic was gone. Professionalism - of the suffocating show-biz variety, became the norm, as far as their recording and stage career went.
I don't mean to begrudge the many here who came to Stones fandom from this period their enjoyment. I just think these are two different artists, who happen to share the same key personnel and history, but who lost that special alchemy that made them, well - special. Just like when The Who lost Keith Moon and made the mistake (they themselves later said) of trying to replace him with Kenney Jones. Sure, you were still looking at and hearing something very Who-like, it just wasn't THEM.
So...it's not just a matter of comparing everything newer against the glory days of before and finding the new stuff wanting (as some of us here are constantly being accused of doing). It's recognizing that the magic of the band had something to do with a particular combination of people (I would say at least four, others would say five, but certainly just the three aren't enough).
While the Stones were certainly capable of clunkers before 1989, they were the exceptions. Later on, a great new track that exceeded formula and mediocrity became the exception. And yet, this year we got "Plundered My Soul" which thankfully reminded a lot of us of that other Rolling Stones. The one that made us fans in the first place. My only hope for the future (as far as records go) is to be able to experience a few more of those moments.
Quote
DandelionPowderman
There were many, many great songs where Wyman was missing in action in the "golden" period as well. Did they lose the roll? Definitely not, imo.