ABB does indeed stink. I've been saying that since last year.

Yôu aint got no nose!!!!

Gazza Wrote:
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> nope...the term 'classic' (whether its the
> adjective or the noun) can be used instantly.
> Newness has nothing to do with it.


I think that's pretty debateable. You don't see anything that's coming out today that's held as high as Exile, Sgt. Pepper or The Velvet Underground and Nico. I mean: We do see them at times, but when a year or two has passed, it's always put in the scrap book. Nothing comes close to the classic status of the 60s and 70s CDs.

JumpingKentFlash

considering something as worthy of the term 'classic' is personal taste. Read a lot of critics polls today and youre getting albums by Radiohead, Nirvana etc rated as the best albums of all time. No accounting for taste, but there is stuff that IS regarded that highly by some.

besides..Sgt Pepper WAS held as a ground breaking classic up on its release - as was stuff like Like A Rolling Stone, Revolver, Jumpin Jack Flash etc

Everybody mentions Exile as an example of something that wasnt appeciated for years, but thats the exception rather than the rule - even for Stones records

Gazza Wrote:
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> considering something as worthy of the term
> 'classic' is personal taste. Read a lot of critics
> polls today and youre getting albums by Radiohead,
> Nirvana etc rated as the best albums of all time.
> No accounting for taste, but there is stuff that
> IS regarded that highly by some.


You know that these polls doesn't hold up right? When Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes came out I was mad about it. If I was to participate in a poll at that time, I would've picked that song as one of my all time faves. I wouldn't do that anymore. These polls should have a rule saying that you can't pick tracks or albums that's less than 10 years old.

JumpingKentFlash

If you have a wishy-woshy taste, you shouldn't take part of any poll, Kent.

JumpingKentFlash Wrote:
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> When Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes came
> out I was mad about it. If I was to participate in
> a poll at that time, I would've picked that song
> as one of my all time faves.


Wow, seriously?
I actually find it quite easy to see right off the bat if a song is gonna be something I like for years or if it is something that's gonna get old fast, even if I enjoy it at the start.

I find it funny that people on this board go from one extreme to the other so much-- and maybe if some of you didnt listen to ABB like crazy when it came out you wouldnt think it sucks now. Even Exile has an overkill point.

Wow........Stones fans really do think alike. I was just listening to Bridges on the way to work and I can't believe how much better it sounds after really trying to get into ABB. The author is quite right boys and girls. It does stink, by Stones standards. Listen to Thief in the Night, the most underated Richards tune, ever. It is almost magical, I was drifting away listening to it this morning, the continuous ssssssssshhhhhhhhhh of ride cymbals, the outstanding keyboards, it's just a great great tune, and hardly noticed.
In a way I think the Stones themselves are aware that ABB is just something to use as Road promo, but give them credit for still trying.
I love them like no one else, but how the critics could pan exile??
at the time it was probably too far ahead for the critics. Let it Bleed is the masterpiece, along with the other 3, you know what they are........oh well, bless their hearts

ABB is actually a near miracle considering the state of the band right now.

Gazza Wrote:
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> ........
> Everybody mentions Exile as an example of
> something that wasnt appeciated for years, but
> thats the exception rather than the rule - even
> for Stones records


I don't agree with " everybody". Please " everybody", read back critics from NME, Melody Maker for UK, Rock & Folk for France to take a few examples ( I don't have on hands what Rolling Stone wrote ). Exile was highly applauded. This album topped the charts at that time. For sure it was not a universal success to the level artists like Abba or M.Jackson can achieved, but for rock audience this album was marble when issued. My english is poor but we have an idiom in France that says : " il faut tordre le cou à cette rumeur ".

Good "refresh" on perspectives, phd!

Vive la liberté !

forligan Wrote:
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> Wow........Stones fans really do think alike. I
> was just listening to Bridges on the way to work
> and I can't believe how much better it sounds
> after really trying to get into ABB. The author is
> quite right boys and girls.


LOL-- if the Stones ever come up with a new album after ABB, you'll be saying the exact same thing about ABB. And Thief in the Night is what sucks, "boys and girls."

I first heard, ever in its entirety, BtB a mere few weeks before I bought aBB, and I immediately thought it was superior to what I had been told (and under the impression I was also about the horrible front cover and the fact that you could find it by the dozens in the used CD racks). And the reason I find it being a lot more interesting, creative and versatile than aBB is Richards presence and input, regardless that his tracks are rejects from previous solo sessions or not. He is THERE anyway, and not riffing on auto pilot.

Just a POV.

forligan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow........Stones fans really do think alike. I
> was just listening to Bridges on the way to work
> and I can't believe how much better it sounds
> after really trying to get into ABB. The author is
> quite right boys and girls. It does stink, by
> Stones standards. Listen to Thief in the Night,
> the most underated Richards tune, ever.

agreed. it's his best since Little T & A!!

although slipping away is close . . .

The only thing that stinks here is my dirty laundry. There is nothing wrong with ABB. They say music critics are failed musicians.If you don't like it then don't play it. Simple.

jagger50 Wrote:
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They say
> music critics are failed musicians.

"they" are idiots.

Of course I don't play it if I don't like it after all.

If you happen to like it, aren't you allowed to express it? And that's what forums are for.

...Even if music critics >are< failed musicians... They need to have 1) experience as music listeners and appreciators, and 2) be qualified as writers or communicators... If they >are< failed musicians on top, hey, that's a plus! Not all people can make a living out of playing music, regardless of talent.

Freedom of speech!

(Hey, if you don't like "ABB STINKS" posts, don't read 'em!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-07-04 21:32 by Odd-beat.

I don't know who of you were/are into music mags but it all depends on what you read. I consider the USA Rolling Stone mag in the 60's and 70's to have been the best written mag ever. At a similar time the UK NME and MM were well written to a point. But IMO contempery mags fall way short of the mark. Q has gone downhill. But although Record Collector IMO is the world's leading music mag in general, unfortunately it seems to have become slightly anti-Stones. Uncut I believe is decent as with Mojo. If any old farts here like me kept mint very old Rolling Stone mags, your looking at £50 a copy.

Free speech indeed. And you just had mine.

its agood album compared to anything that is out today

I like the smell of ABB.

Well, I don't know does it stink or not but I listen the album very rarely, and everytime I listen it I sem to listen it for sort of duty and I need to speak myself to do it: "that's the latest Stones album - I should listen to it". Perhaps one day - in 20 years time? - I will listen it as 'naturally' as I listen to Black & Blue or Emotional Rescue now - the albums I once upon time didn't care very much but I love to listen nowadays.

But still, isn't ABB more like a pastisse than a real Stones original? Their own attitude towards the album speaks volumes. They are not really touring behind it nor trying to promote it, but released it more like from a duty (as the way I seem to listen to it), and after done that - with minimal energy and time wasted, thereby having convinced or not someone (us, themselves, critics, record deal?) of breathing and creative band - they more or less seemed to forget it and let it sink.

- Doxa



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2006-07-05 02:36 by Doxa.

curtisdavis Wrote:
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> its agood album compared to anything that is out
> today

Totally agreed.

rooster Wrote:
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> I like the smell of ABB. <

me too, alot actually

I tried it again and still STINKO.

don't give me that ole one two, one two three four

We get the point.You don't like it.God bless you.There's no need to let us know each time you listen to it,if nothing changes for you.

sometimes smells like caviar, pop the hood on occasion for yourself..

I think Doxa makes a very good point and ultimately addresses the real problem.

ABB is the Stones playing the Stones and if you're a fan of the classic Stones sound (in particular Sticky Fingers, Exile) ABB sounds in places like a good replication of those albums (Rough Justice, Oh No Not You Again, Driving Too Fast etc). Unfortunately though these songs after initial listens sound like pure parody having very little real substance or lasting merit.

I think it's easy to get carried after initial listens by the fact that the Stones haven't tried too hard to incorporate the latest sounds or recorded with an overproduced sound but ultimately in a way this seems only to heighten the disappointment. Fans will always have a take it or leave it approach to an album like Bridges To Babylon because its musical values are plain to see. ABB is very different because for the average fan it (on initial listens) promises so much but ultimately really fails to deliver. This is why there's such a marked contast of views by many of the fans - elation by some and bitter disappointment by others.

huh? Driving Too Fast is pure caveman idiocy - it sounds nothing like anything off of SF or Exile.