I'm inclined to think there is something inherently wrong with any album that has to "grow on you". It should hit you right in the face the first time you hear it, and then, moment it's over, you should want to hear it again and again and again. You should not be able to get it out of your head. You should want to hear it over and over.

Sticky Fingers was like that. ABB is not. But then, neither was EOMS, at least, not at first.

yeah - but with EOMS first few listens you knew you were hearing something great - but it was so great that you didn't quite get it for awhile. that's clearly not the case with ABB - it's a pretty much what you hear is what you get thing. there's no "hidden" strength there I don't believe.

Of course albums grow on you, that's part of the experience. Something that might not be relevant to you musically or emotionally today might sneak up and get to you in a couple of years.

It's great when something gets to you the first time you experience it, but there is much value when your appreciation comes about due to your own growth and experiences.

Critics and fans complained about Exile in 1972, it was not very well received. It was missing a great single at first. 10-35 years later everybody talks about this masterpiece. More words to say?

T&A Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> yeah - but with EOMS first few listens you knew
> you were hearing something great - but it was so
> great that you didn't quite get it for awhile.
> that's clearly not the case with ABB - it's a
> pretty much what you hear is what you get thing.
> there's no "hidden" strength there I don't
> believe.

It's hard to believe, but When EOMS was first released, most fans were disappointed. No Brown Sugar. No slick production. Just 18 mediocre and badly produced songs. The Stones themselves knew it would take us a while to "get it". There was just too much material there to quickly absorb. And ABB, at 16 tracks, is nearly as long.

Interesting quote from The Rolling Stone Album Guide:

"Weakly echoing Some Girls, Emotional Rescue was the first Stones record that was absolutely bland, not even distinguished by the professionalism that came to stamp their later work. It was exactly that professionalism, however, that provoked the derision of their former fanatics--even though in other genres(blues, country, etc.), such honorable work is considered "carrying on the tradition."

Regardless of the art, it's either growing or it's diminishing; I'd prefer it to grow.



Hell, EoMS is still growing on me. Imagine that.

Ronnie would say "This little heart grows on you, but it shouldn't have to." ;-)

tatters Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm inclined to think there is something
> inherently wrong with any album that has to "grow
> on you". It should hit you right in the face the
> first time you hear it, and then, moment it's
> over, you should want to hear it again and again
> and again. You should not be able to get it out of
> your head. You should want to hear it over and
> over.
>
> Sticky Fingers was like that. ABB is not. But
> then, neither was EOMS, at least, not at first.


The problem really is that these albums are released with TOO MANY SONGS... I mean who thinks that even a great songwriting team is going to be able to put down more than about 10 or 12 ORIGINAL songs and have them all hit you in the face ???

And the 4 or 5 yawners they put on these CD's really detract from the great music.

I'm thinking of "By THe Way" by The Chili Peppers... with 7 or 8 STUPENDOUS songs and 4 or 5 ridiculous fillers that really detract...

We see it in artist after artist, and the reason is always the same: TOO MANY SONGS!

Of course any album will grow on you. Sure, some hit you right away and you love it. Warren Zevon "The Wind" is one of those. Loved it the first time I heard it.

Same with some movies. Napoleon Dynamyte is a prime example.

Easy come easy go.

I have liked this albumn from the first time I heard RJ AND it is growing on me!!!

I am inclined to agree with Tatters here. A good new album should "hit" you. When I think of things "growing" on you I think of moss or perhaps small mushrooms or other types of fungi you might find in cow dung. To say this album is amazing or great or as good as anything they have done is a joke. Why are we all perpetuatiing the lie? We should be ashamed of ourselves for this type of behavior. Nobody in their right minds would put this album up there with the first time they heard Tatoo You or Emotional Rescue or Some Girs. This is the truth. Anybody who say otherwsie is lying to themselves. Thanks for your honesty Tatters, buy yourself a drink!


"My heavy throbber is itching just to lay a solid rhythm down"

You're right..I would not put it up there with Emotional Rescue. ABB is ten times better than that load of mediocre stuff.

BBrownlie described it perfectly!

Two albums that I love today both had growing pains for me Goats Head and BTB.

sladog I think you got my point or understood what I was trying to say. ABB definitely has a purpose and I think for most of us that purpose is to shore up a short leg on the kitchen table. Let's be honest here.

"My heavy throbber is itching just to lay a solid rhythm down"

Every Stones album since Exile "has to grow on you." Jesus, "Exile'" got slammed for being a poorly recorded, incoherent mish-mash when it came out. By the time "Goats Head Soup rolled around 18 months later it "Exile'" had morphed into the masterpiece we know it as today.

BIGGER BANG HITS IN THE FACE,YOU CAN ROCK AND GROOVE TO IT AND IF YOU ARE IN
SAD MOOD OR COUNTRY YOU GET THAT TOO,CRITICS ARE NOT THE FANS THEY LISTEN AND
GIVE THEIR VIEW,ITS ONLY ONES VIEW. SOME OF THE SO CALLED FANS OF THE STONES ARE
THE BIGGEST JOKERS YOU COME ACROSS,THEY WANT STONES TO MAKE MUSIC TO THEIR TASTE
SO I DONT KNOW WHY THEY LISTEN TO THE STONES GO AND MAKE YOUR OWN TYPE OF MUSIC
AND LISTEN TO YOUR OWN CRAP,I LOVE THE STONES AND LET THEM ROCK AS THEY DO.
ITS ONLY ROCK-ROLL BUT I LIKE IT. SINCE 1968.
LONG LIVE THE STONES.
CAN YOU HEAR THE MUSIC?KISH.

kish-stoned: far left side of your keyboard, third row up - you should find a key labeled "caps lock" - hit that once for the love of gawd and for the sake of the IORR posting community.

"Nobody in their right minds would put this album up there with the first time they heard Tatoo You or Emotional Rescue or Some Girs. This is the truth."

Thank you, Master, for the Truth .

you are very welcome.

But I dont agree. This is as good as ER; Better than TY.
In my ears is far better than SG.

Grow, schmo, this is a great release. If you can't see that you need to learn to read the back of your own hand. (lol) I ain't, (used by choice), cutting no slack to these people slagging The Stones! Get off your arse and dance you mothers!

I ain't stupid, I'm just guitarded.

Love it and I'm quite sure I'm not lying to myself (why would I not have done it about BTB and Steel Wheels for instance, or Voodoo? As a matter of fact, the latter DID grow hugely on me!).

People who love ABB do not necessarily praise each and every Stones' release. It does not have to be a manic behaviour.

otonneau Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> People who love ABB do not necessarily praise each
> and every Stones' release. It does not have to be
> a manic behaviour.

...but it helps

T&A YOU ARE THINKING TOO MUCH,HAVE COLD SHOWER AND PLAY THE BIGGER BANG.
STONES ARE WAY OF LIFE FOREVER.KISH.

keep looking, kish_stoned - it's there - right there on your left....

This is a good album. I hated BTB when i heard it. I tried to let it grow on me, but it didn't. It doesn't rock. This album is very good. Hey T&A try cutting out RFD and SOL and you will be surprised how brilliant an album you have.

T&A - Hand on heart:
Have you, now, heard all tracks on ABB, the whole album?

But they do grow on you I even really dig Streets of Love in the context of the album now.

Keep on listening,keep it loud %^&* the neighbours!!