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RollingFreak
I'll never understand why everyone hates it, but I think this is a killer song. Not joking, I think its their best rock song since Tattoo You. I can only say that I'm biased because I'm young and this was the first (and only) studio album they put out while I was actually conscious of who the Stones were, and I remember putting on that new CD and this flying out of the speakers. I did, and still do, think it is kick ass. I remember hearing it and thinking "this is the Rolling @#$%& Stones!" Double entrees, great riff thats reminiscent of classic Stones, fast rocker. Everything I want in new stuff by them. Great track and I will always love it. I'd love to hear something new from them like that instead of Doom and Gloom or One More Shot.
But I know I'm in the minority.
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billwebster
It's a good song, one of my favourites from ABB. The lyrics are fun. It should have been the 1st single from this album worldwide, not just in the US. Yet, there is this awful "digital sizzling" heard in the recording which comes from over-compression: something clearly has gone wrong there at some stage in the production process.
Did they fix that with the Universal reissue of ABB?
Another song I don't understand why everyone hates. I love it.Quote
Denny
I also like Streets Of Love, which I think is one of the better ballads by the latter-day Stones, so for me this was a nice little "double A-sided" single!
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liddas
Too bad they didn't have the balls to put it in the warhorses final run of the ABB set lists.
C
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liddas
Too bad they didn't have the balls to put it in the warhorses final run of the ABB set lists.
C
True, after "Start Me Up" they haven't got balls to uplift the songs into that territory. Of course, that section of songs is rather crowded, but still... Sounds like they themselves don't believe too much on their own new songs. Jagger, my favourite chicken, don't be so afraid of us...
- Doxa
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laertisflash
Great rocker, indeed... But i think "Doom and Gloom" is slightly better...
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RollingFreak
I'll never understand why everyone hates it, but I think this is a killer song. Not joking, I think its their best rock song since Tattoo You. I can only say that I'm biased because I'm young and this was the first (and only) studio album they put out while I was actually conscious of who the Stones were, and I remember putting on that new CD and this flying out of the speakers. I did, and still do, think it is kick ass. I remember hearing it and thinking "this is the Rolling @#$%& Stones!" Double entrees, great riff thats reminiscent of classic Stones, fast rocker. Everything I want in new stuff by them. Great track and I will always love it. I'd love to hear something new from them like that instead of Doom and Gloom or One More Shot.
But I know I'm in the minority.
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DandelionPowderman
A few exceptions, of course, but I agree about the rockers.
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liddas
Too bad they didn't have the balls to put it in the warhorses final run of the ABB set lists.
C
True, after "Start Me Up" they haven't got balls to uplift the songs into that territory. Of course, that section of songs is rather crowded, but still... Sounds like they themselves don't believe too much on their own new songs. Jagger, my favourite chicken, don't be so afraid of us...
- Doxa
Its possible that thats the case. Although I will say, most of the post Tattoo You rockers sound much better in the studio than live. They just can't seem to play them with the same power and speed as they can in the studio, which then can make them sound pretty lacking live. It is songs like that that enhance the image of how old they are. Not a big deal as it happens to all the best bands as they get older, but its possible thats the reason too. If they feel they don't have to and it might be embarrassing, you have your answer right there.
I thought even Doom And Gloom sounded slower live and thus resulted in it having less power.
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Doxa
Huh, it's been 9 years... time flies...
I need to admit that I haven't really listened the song for years. I have occasionally put A BIGGER BANG ON, but somehow I haven't paid much attention to it, so quick number that it is over before my ears are open, and leave no much impact... If I wouldn't have listened the song now, I would just wrote here "a typical late-day Stones-by-numbers song"..
But I re-listened it, actually three times, and I felt like it was 9 years ago, ears fresh and open...
Yeah, it is a "late day Stones-by-numbers", The Stones in the very deep of their own home vocabulary, the vocabulary once created by such numbers as "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Brown Sugar", but the point is that if one loves The Rolling Stones, one cannot but help to love that vocabulary. I once hooked into that vocabulary by "Start Me Up", and what RollingFreak said above of "Rough Justice" is basically the same effect "Start Me Up" once did for me. There is a function of later-day Stones music to give like an up-dated introduction - or reminder - of the classic Rolling Stones sound to charm new audiences, or resurrect the love of the old fans.
So "Rough Justice" belongs to the league of radio-aimed songs like "She Was Hot", "Mixed Emotions", "Rock & A Hard Place", "Highwire", "Love Is Strong", "You Got Me Rocking", "Don't Stop" probably not adding anything substantial to their catalogue, but relying on their the most classical gestures. And I think it does rather well in that company. The elements are bigger than the over-all outcome or the song itself - it really is "singer not the song". The classical features - the intro, guitars, drums, vocals, a bit controversial but wit lyrics - are served almost like a textbook for beginners of the traditional Stones sound. The song itself is very very simple and one-dimensional - but so is "Jumpin' Jack Flash", even though this is more a cousin of "Fight", "You Got Me Rocking" or "Silver Train". Someone mentioned about the problems of the digital sound and compression, which might also explain why the track sounds a bit too busy to 'swing' or "roll" - or at least "breathe" - in a best way possible, but, anyway, it rocks and "works like a train loo" (as is a saying in Finnish).
So, over all I think it is an okay tune by its own terms. It serves well its function. But honestly, if this is best they can do when they hit studio once or twice in a decade, it says something of their artistic drive and ambition (that is: the lack of it). Last week we were talking about "Rocks Off" - there one can find the very they are using here in total flames, when they are inspired and driven by a muse. The difference in effect is a huge one.
- Doxa
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liddas
Too bad they didn't have the balls to put it in the warhorses final run of the ABB set lists.
C
True, after "Start Me Up" they haven't got balls to uplift the songs into that territory. Of course, that section of songs is rather crowded, but still... Sounds like they themselves don't believe too much on their own new songs. Jagger, my favourite chicken, don't be so afraid of us...
- Doxa