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Silver DaggerQuote
DoxaQuote
Silver Dagger
The best Stones single since Undercover Of The Night. And what makes it so special is the menace inherent in that creeping, relentless beat.
This is certainly a tale from the south side of the city. It's what happens when uptown goes downtown, looking for cheap thrills perhaps with a gal from the other side of the tracks.
But equally it could also be the tale of someone off to score - you know those accounts of Keith going off to some New York brownstone to get his medicine especially the lines 'it got me hooked','my mind is ripped' 'it's more than just a dream'. Make of it what you want but it just sends out a message of sleaze and illicit activity.
While the lyrics conjure up a twilight world with potential danger in every shadow and footstep there's the wonderfully raw guitars that, for me at least, summon up that impending evil vibe found on Let It Bleed tracks such as Gimme Shelter and Midnight Rambler.
And then, when we're drawn into a 60s Stones vibe comes the absolute pay-off in Jagger's fantastic harmonica solo, straight out of Chess Studios. It's a killer cut.
Damn, I wish the track had been as great as this review!
The difference in perception is while I wholeheartedly follow the paths you wonderfully describe here, to me it leaves a certain thin impression. That's to me is just "surface", but not really having the "substance", the real artistic drive to say something. So to me it sounds a bit 'fake', like the Stones trying to sound like the classic Stones used to be, giving that kind of 'retro' impression, but not really coming from their heart. More like a piece of craftwork than that of art.
- Doxa
Thanks Doxa. That's praise indeed coming from the master of Stones' analysis. I know what you mean and it's an emotion I also feel too often these days when listening to Stones songs - that the real feeling is gone and that they're only going through the motions of songwriting.
Perhaps too much bad water has passed under the bridge to take them for real anymore? Interestingly, how did you feel about Back Of My Hand? Authentic or not?
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
Silver DaggerQuote
DoxaQuote
Silver Dagger
The best Stones single since Undercover Of The Night. And what makes it so special is the menace inherent in that creeping, relentless beat.
This is certainly a tale from the south side of the city. It's what happens when uptown goes downtown, looking for cheap thrills perhaps with a gal from the other side of the tracks.
But equally it could also be the tale of someone off to score - you know those accounts of Keith going off to some New York brownstone to get his medicine especially the lines 'it got me hooked','my mind is ripped' 'it's more than just a dream'. Make of it what you want but it just sends out a message of sleaze and illicit activity.
While the lyrics conjure up a twilight world with potential danger in every shadow and footstep there's the wonderfully raw guitars that, for me at least, summon up that impending evil vibe found on Let It Bleed tracks such as Gimme Shelter and Midnight Rambler.
And then, when we're drawn into a 60s Stones vibe comes the absolute pay-off in Jagger's fantastic harmonica solo, straight out of Chess Studios. It's a killer cut.
Damn, I wish the track had been as great as this review!
The difference in perception is while I wholeheartedly follow the paths you wonderfully describe here, to me it leaves a certain thin impression. That's to me is just "surface", but not really having the "substance", the real artistic drive to say something. So to me it sounds a bit 'fake', like the Stones trying to sound like the classic Stones used to be, giving that kind of 'retro' impression, but not really coming from their heart. More like a piece of craftwork than that of art.
- Doxa
Thanks Doxa. That's praise indeed coming from the master of Stones' analysis. I know what you mean and it's an emotion I also feel too often these days when listening to Stones songs - that the real feeling is gone and that they're only going through the motions of songwriting.
Perhaps too much bad water has passed under the bridge to take them for real anymore? Interestingly, how did you feel about Back Of My Hand? Authentic or not?
Sometimes you can write and record something that by first listen seem to be "just another boring blues", like Back Of My Hand.
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
drewmasterQuote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
DoxaQuote
Silver Dagger
The best Stones single since Undercover Of The Night. And what makes it so special is the menace inherent in that creeping, relentless beat.
This is certainly a tale from the south side of the city. It's what happens when uptown goes downtown, looking for cheap thrills perhaps with a gal from the other side of the tracks.
But equally it could also be the tale of someone off to score - you know those accounts of Keith going off to some New York brownstone to get his medicine especially the lines 'it got me hooked','my mind is ripped' 'it's more than just a dream'. Make of it what you want but it just sends out a message of sleaze and illicit activity.
While the lyrics conjure up a twilight world with potential danger in every shadow and footstep there's the wonderfully raw guitars that, for me at least, summon up that impending evil vibe found on Let It Bleed tracks such as Gimme Shelter and Midnight Rambler.
And then, when we're drawn into a 60s Stones vibe comes the absolute pay-off in Jagger's fantastic harmonica solo, straight out of Chess Studios. It's a killer cut.
Damn, I wish the track had been as great as this review!
The difference in perception is while I wholeheartedly follow the paths you wonderfully describe here, to me it leaves a certain thin impression. That's to me is just "surface", but not really having the "substance", the real artistic drive to say something. So to me it sounds a bit 'fake', like the Stones trying to sound like the classic Stones used to be, giving that kind of 'retro' impression, but not really coming from their heart. More like a piece of craftwork than that of art.
- Doxa
It is!
Yep, you nailed it, Doxa. It sounds thin and a bit fake -- it's craft, not art. But a great review by Silver Dagger nonetheless.
Drew
Why is it fake?
Is Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly or Robert Johnson the only genuine acts that were around?
It's impossible for the Stones to invent the wheel every time they're out with a new record. With LIS they simply made a great rock record, imo. That should be enough. It was way better than anything since Undercover anyway.
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Silver DaggerQuote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
Silver DaggerQuote
DoxaQuote
Silver Dagger
The best Stones single since Undercover Of The Night. And what makes it so special is the menace inherent in that creeping, relentless beat.
This is certainly a tale from the south side of the city. It's what happens when uptown goes downtown, looking for cheap thrills perhaps with a gal from the other side of the tracks.
But equally it could also be the tale of someone off to score - you know those accounts of Keith going off to some New York brownstone to get his medicine especially the lines 'it got me hooked','my mind is ripped' 'it's more than just a dream'. Make of it what you want but it just sends out a message of sleaze and illicit activity.
While the lyrics conjure up a twilight world with potential danger in every shadow and footstep there's the wonderfully raw guitars that, for me at least, summon up that impending evil vibe found on Let It Bleed tracks such as Gimme Shelter and Midnight Rambler.
And then, when we're drawn into a 60s Stones vibe comes the absolute pay-off in Jagger's fantastic harmonica solo, straight out of Chess Studios. It's a killer cut.
Damn, I wish the track had been as great as this review!
The difference in perception is while I wholeheartedly follow the paths you wonderfully describe here, to me it leaves a certain thin impression. That's to me is just "surface", but not really having the "substance", the real artistic drive to say something. So to me it sounds a bit 'fake', like the Stones trying to sound like the classic Stones used to be, giving that kind of 'retro' impression, but not really coming from their heart. More like a piece of craftwork than that of art.
- Doxa
Thanks Doxa. That's praise indeed coming from the master of Stones' analysis. I know what you mean and it's an emotion I also feel too often these days when listening to Stones songs - that the real feeling is gone and that they're only going through the motions of songwriting.
Perhaps too much bad water has passed under the bridge to take them for real anymore? Interestingly, how did you feel about Back Of My Hand? Authentic or not?
Sometimes you can write and record something that by first listen seem to be "just another boring blues", like Back Of My Hand.
For me Dandy, they don't do enough "boring old blues"!
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marcovandereijk
Mick and Keith wrote this one together, with an impressive result. I love how this song
opens the Voodoo Lounge album. The "dark" feel of the song really fits the album art work.
Mick should play his harmonica more often.
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WeLoveToPlayTheBlues
From my understanding, and I can not remember where I read this or if I heard it, but Keith and Ronnie had several amps going at once, hence all the different tones, plus overdubs. It sounds like there 6 or 9 guitar tracks on this song, which there could be, but most of them are from the live take.
Still not as good as what it was ripped off from, as wicked as that seems...
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
WeLoveToPlayTheBlues
From my understanding, and I can not remember where I read this or if I heard it, but Keith and Ronnie had several amps going at once, hence all the different tones, plus overdubs. It sounds like there 6 or 9 guitar tracks on this song, which there could be, but most of them are from the live take.
Still not as good as what it was ripped off from, as wicked as that seems...
Where do you hear Ronnie in there on the studio version?
Quote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
Silver DaggerQuote
DoxaQuote
Silver Dagger
The best Stones single since Undercover Of The Night. And what makes it so special is the menace inherent in that creeping, relentless beat.
This is certainly a tale from the south side of the city. It's what happens when uptown goes downtown, looking for cheap thrills perhaps with a gal from the other side of the tracks.
But equally it could also be the tale of someone off to score - you know those accounts of Keith going off to some New York brownstone to get his medicine especially the lines 'it got me hooked','my mind is ripped' 'it's more than just a dream'. Make of it what you want but it just sends out a message of sleaze and illicit activity.
While the lyrics conjure up a twilight world with potential danger in every shadow and footstep there's the wonderfully raw guitars that, for me at least, summon up that impending evil vibe found on Let It Bleed tracks such as Gimme Shelter and Midnight Rambler.
And then, when we're drawn into a 60s Stones vibe comes the absolute pay-off in Jagger's fantastic harmonica solo, straight out of Chess Studios. It's a killer cut.
Damn, I wish the track had been as great as this review!
The difference in perception is while I wholeheartedly follow the paths you wonderfully describe here, to me it leaves a certain thin impression. That's to me is just "surface", but not really having the "substance", the real artistic drive to say something. So to me it sounds a bit 'fake', like the Stones trying to sound like the classic Stones used to be, giving that kind of 'retro' impression, but not really coming from their heart. More like a piece of craftwork than that of art.
- Doxa
Thanks Doxa. That's praise indeed coming from the master of Stones' analysis. I know what you mean and it's an emotion I also feel too often these days when listening to Stones songs - that the real feeling is gone and that they're only going through the motions of songwriting.
Perhaps too much bad water has passed under the bridge to take them for real anymore? Interestingly, how did you feel about Back Of My Hand? Authentic or not?
Sometimes you can write and record something that by first listen seem to be "just another boring blues", like Back Of My Hand.
IMO, BOMH is one of the best latter day recordings by the Stones. It's not sensational, it's not original, nor authentic - however, it shines thru that they are doing what they love - playing the blues!
That's enough for me, and I get the same feeling when listening to LIS, as well.
However, I'm not getting that feeling with Sparks Will Fly, I Go Wild, Suck On The Jugular or Blinded By Rainbows - so credit where credit's due, imo.
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WeLoveToPlayTheBlues
Doxa, those blues songs Cook Cook, Fancy, The Storm and Back Of My Hand are perfect examples of the Stones "going through the motions" of warming up etc. yet being FANTASTIC. I love all of those tracks. Fancyman has excellent guitar in it. Spider And The Fly/Honest I Do from Stripped are the same thing - awesome killer Stones. I love it when they play blues songs.
I wish they'd do more.
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24FPS
Really? Think how good it would be if he'd learn how to edit.
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WeLoveToPlayTheBluesQuote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
WeLoveToPlayTheBlues
From my understanding, and I can not remember where I read this or if I heard it, but Keith and Ronnie had several amps going at once, hence all the different tones, plus overdubs. It sounds like there 6 or 9 guitar tracks on this song, which there could be, but most of them are from the live take.
Still not as good as what it was ripped off from, as wicked as that seems...
Where do you hear Ronnie in there on the studio version?
The curly notes. The real clean tones.
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DoxaQuote
24FPS
Really? Think how good it would be if he'd learn how to edit.
hahaha.. and I swear I tried to be short-worded here, I really did, but those guys get me going...(not that I need much push..><)
- Doxa
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Doxa
The issue with the 'latter day blues' has puzzled me for some time. A kind of dilemma. In a way them doing blues goes below any of their own artistic standards - I mean: I take them thinking that way: it is so 'easy' for them to do, not a 'challlange' or something (commerciality?) and they mostly see the blues as sort of 'warming up the band' material, suitable for B-sides of singles at most. But then - this is my own account - I think "Fancy Man Blues", "Storm" and "Back of My Hand" are actually the most enjoyable stuff I can find from STEEL WHEELS, VOODOO LOUNGE and A BIGGER BANG.
I don't know what it is. Is it when they don't really try anything, they sound most natural and convincing? They just play the music they first learned to play, and which consitutes their original musical vocabulary?
I think Jagger is the key factor here: I think he somehow resists the fact what a phenomenal blues singer and interpreter he naturally is. And when he very rarely lets himself to do 'just blues', he just does it from his instincts, and just lets himself to go.
- Doxa
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Doxa
?
I think Jagger is the key factor here: I think he somehow resists the fact what a phenomenal blues singer and interpreter he naturally is. And when he very rarely lets himself to do 'just blues', he just does it from his instincts, and just lets himself to go. I think "Blue" is another example of that, and I think of those performances in SNL, "Presidential Election Blues" (or whatever that was called) is his strongest one. In the latter he didn't try to 'move like Jagger', or try to give an impression of this (cliche-full) eternal youthful figure, of almost a freak of nature with mannoured vocals, but just be Mick Jagger, totally command in his delivery and performance. Damn strong and self-secure. (One can think his work with Beck in Obama's party as well).
So I would say that there is that 'authentic' touch to the blues Jagger (and the Stones) have, but it could be also that since they play 'real' blues so rarely, for that reason they might sound more focused and interest ('just for a change'). They sound enjoying playing. Like inspired kids again.
I think the difference to 'standard' Stones latter day stuff, especially presented in VOODOO LOUNGE, "Love Is Strong" being a 'perfect' example, is that when they play the blues they don't copy themselves (of how they once played, say, the blues), but the inspiration derives directly from the original source (like it did when they started). Not from "Jumping Jack Flash", nor from EXILE or "Start Me Up", but from Muddy, Robert Johnson, etc. Could that explain something?
A side point: Bob Dylan needed to re-study the original source of his inspiration (those folk albums during the 90's) in order to find his muse again (TIME OUT OF MIND). Should the Stones have done something like that as well in order to find the real inspiration again? (In a way they did actually when finding the focus and point again in BEGGARS BANQUET and SOME GIRLS).
- Doxa
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DandelionPowdermanQuote
WeLoveToPlayTheBluesQuote
DandelionPowdermanQuote
WeLoveToPlayTheBlues
From my understanding, and I can not remember where I read this or if I heard it, but Keith and Ronnie had several amps going at once, hence all the different tones, plus overdubs. It sounds like there 6 or 9 guitar tracks on this song, which there could be, but most of them are from the live take.
Still not as good as what it was ripped off from, as wicked as that seems...
Where do you hear Ronnie in there on the studio version?
The curly notes. The real clean tones.
That's a Keith overdub
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MileHigh
Doxa rules.
The first time you hear the song it sounds really impressive, like the Rolling Stones circa 1994 are BACK!
But the 10th listen sounds thin.
The 25th listen and you aren't even listening to it anymore, your thoughts are elsewhere.
What sounded so cool and blusey and edgy at first, ends up being a very low-calorie serving of music. And then there are the songs you can listen to thousands of times, like Little Queenie from Ya Ya's as an example.