Rev. Robert W. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> "Rough Justice"--easy to say it's the
> "Stones-By-Numbers," but it really does rip and
> it's actually pretty funny. It's a mistake to
> compare it to "Gimme Shelter"--instead, try all
> the basic rockers: "Hand Of Fate," "Silver Train,"
> "Sparks Will Fly," Summer Romance," "Hang Fire"
> and so on. It certainly surpasses anything in that
> class and I'd actually go further--"Rough Justice"
> can easily stand aside, say, "All Down The Line"
> as a Stones rock'n roll number. Set the "Exile"
> mystique aside and think about that...
>
> "Back Of My Hand"--It's a blues. It's not about
> musical innovation, it's about feeling and
> performance. And this is an excellent performance
> with excellent lyrics. It's timely and utterly
> timeless all at once. I'm relieved that Jagger can
> still sound this invested in anything, frankly. It
> might not be "No Expectations" or "Love In Vain,"
> but it's a hell of a lot more important than "You
> Gotta Move" or "Down In The Hole" or "Black Limo"
> (all of which I love, actually.)
>
> "Let Me Down Slow"--I appreciate the "Between The
> Buttons" reference above. This tune reminds me of
> "Let's Spend The Night Together"--except with way
> better guitars and way funnier/sadder lyics. An
> easy-to-overlook gem.
>
> "A Bigger Bang" has a few great moments. They's be
> easier to appreciate if they weren't surrounded by
> a whole lot of filler..


Absolutely spot on Rev. These 3 are the best on ABB (though I have a weakness for SSMC).

LIND, Neocon, and LWTCDI are the worst for lyrics that don't work well and musically feel unfinished/unfulfilling.

Ironic that so many refuse to accept it as a very good release, YET the variety of songs that are liked by so many different people show just how wide the appeal of it truly is.

Pie1 Wrote:
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> People need to tell me what they hear in She Saw
> Me Coming, because all I hear is one cheesy riff
> played over and over and over again. For three
> minutes. With terrible lyrics. I can barely listen
> to the whole song.

That's pretty much the way I feel about the whole album. I agree it has its moments - and there are only very few songs that I flatly dislike. But on the whole it sounds to me like a pretty lazy effort. That's too bad, because Keith's guitar and Mick's voice sound amazing throughout. It's just that the material they chose to go with isn't so great. Don't get me wrong - I often do listen to Rough Justice, Oh No..., and the other rockers when I am brushing my teeth or doing house chores, but classics they are not. They are, as Gazza said, pretty straightforward, I'd say even unimaginative songs. In my view (for what it's worth, coming from a Dave Matthews fan), not only is it preposterous to say they belong in the same category as All Down the Line; they are not even nearly as good as Don't Stop, Flip the Switch, Too Tight, You Got Me Rocking, or Sad Sad Sad. And, trust me, I have tried my best to like them.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-17 08:16 by Raoul Duke.

I don't like ONNYA live. Did Keith ever learn the cords to this song? Every live version I have heard it seems to me like he is always "searching" for the right notes. On the studio version his solo never sits right with me. It seems akward and just sort of ends?? Come to think of it his live solo's on this song aren't great either. Don't hate this song but I don't like it much. Now Charlie's drumming both live and the studio version are worth listening to.

Don't Stop had much more classical potential than any song from ABB, it sounds great on record and in concert worked very well. It's their best song "a la Rolling Stones" since Start Me Up.
They should performed it again with a slow tempo, just like the Palais version.

I agree Don't Stop is a nice addition to the Stones catalog. I never understood the bad rap it got from so many. Heck, it was practically written in the 70's. Listen to "Never Stop" - the early version of "Start me Up". It sounds as much like DS as it does SMU.

In no particular order, "It Won't Take Long","Driving Too Fast" "Back of My Hand" and "Laugh, I Nearly Died" all terrific Stones tunes (sorry that's 4, too bad!). If permitted 2 more I'd add "Look What the Cat Dragged In" and "Rough Justice"........

sweetcharmedlife Wrote:
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> She saw me coming,is the best song on ABB.


and to think that some folk think SCL and I don't agree on things....

Let me down r Slow.....is pure magic
Look what the Cat.....
Rough
ONNYA...start your divorce and you will like it
SOL hated but i love it
LIAD what a great soul tune!!
TPIE wonderful Keith ballad
IT WONT TAKE LONG...one of the best Stones tunes of the last 27 years
Ahhh this is just a mighty fine album...i remember the yoy i had when i heard it..it really is better than VL and BTB...time will tell...it could be better...but it was rushed.

rooster..I love your little side quips. I have to agree...I loved it the first time I heard...with the exception of sweet neo con. As opposed to Prairie Wind
by Neil...which I had to listen to over and over, before I developed a fondness for any of them.
Is it my imagination, or is Infamy rarely mentioned...haven't read the entire thread.

button_your_lip Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rooster..I love your little side quips. I have to
> agree...I loved it the first time I heard...with
> the exception of sweet neo con. As opposed to
> Prairie Wind
> by Neil...which I had to listen to over and over,
> before I developed a fondness for any of them.
> Is it my imagination, or is Infamy rarely
> mentioned...haven't read the entire thread.

I know Miss Soul loves Infamy....I like it to...but it is not one of the best wich shows how good this album really is!

agree...thanks rooster.

I'll go with,
Driving Too Fast
Laugh I Nearly Died
Look What The Cat Dragged In

Runners up'
Dangerous Beauty
Rough Justice

Funny three of my favorite Stones songs since Tattoo You weren't on albums
Jump On Top Of Me
Don't Stop (not a full new studio album)
Under The Radar

Some other favorites since 81 Out Of Control, Saint Of Me, Too Tight, Moon Is Up, She Was Hot, One Hit, All The Way Down, You Got Me Rocking.............

button_your_lip


I love "Infamy". I think it's a cool song and a perfect album closer. Not a great song mind you, but just one of those cool "creations" the Stones throw out sometimes, like "Slave".

I think it says more about the people posting than it does the album.

It's a so-so effort, heralded as a return to their 'raw guitar' sound.
If you ask me, it has little variety and the songs sound half-written.


oldkr,

You're right, the Stones aren't Bob Dylan and never have been. One thing that theire old lyrics were, though, was MEMORABLE. Pretty much every song on ABB can be described as - forgettable. ie - not all that interesting.

The melodies (in the song which actually have one) are recycled, as many of the songs on ABB sound like other Stones songs.

Does ABB suck?

Well, the production values and 'return to guitar rawness' on paper say that no, it doesn't 'suck'. In fact, umch of the initial hype surrounding this album focused on the Stones' "return to form" - whatever that means.

It certainly wasn't a return to form as far as songwriting and insane creativity goes.

Is it a Classic Stones Album worthy of standing next to the Big Four?
Any true fan of their music who has a firm understanding of a) musicianship and b) what the Rolling Stones were all about would give a resounding "No".

It fills up the bargain bins for a reason. It's a return to form in a "wow, these songs have guitars driving them" sort of way, yes.

But embracing the songs and prasing them takes a hell of a lot more work than it should.

The over-all sound is good, and the playing is pretty good.
The songs, though, are kind of boring, and the whole thing lacks the spark, danger and fun of their reall body of work.

They haven't done a record that has felt 'real' since Undercover, and they haven't had a truly 'good' album since Tattoo You. They haven't had an 'excellent' record since Some Girls, and we are now on the 35th anniversary of their last, TRUE, genius 'classic' album.

"They haven't done a record that has felt 'real' since Undercover, and they haven't had a truly 'good' album since Tattoo You. They haven't had an 'excellent' record since Some Girls, and we are now on the 35th anniversary of their last, TRUE, genius 'classic' album."

I basically agree with this assessment. That said however, I don't begrudge them for a second for not dropping another 'Sticky Fingers' or 'Some Girls' on us. I mean, why be greedy? Geez, they have given the world countless times some of the finest rock ever recorded. I don't expect another classic after all these years. I'll settle for a good album that's worth repeat listening (which ABB is to me).


Back to the songs, here's one that I am still considering. I sort of liked "Biggest Mistake" at first. A couple of months later I decided I couldn't stand it - thought it sounded like a Jagger solo outtake from the Alfie soundtrack or something. Well, then I listened to it on the Bigger Bang outtakes boot and rethought my position. It kind of has that light, uncomplicated musical and lyrical feel of some of those old, old pop ballads they did like "Sitting On A Fence" or "Congratulations". I am always so concerned with them reaching back to recapture that mojo from Exile or Beggar's that I never stop to think it would be nice for them to reach even further back and give us something that could have been on 12x5.(not that Biggest Mistake sounds like something from that record necessarily, but hopefully you all get my drift)

Oh and JaggerFan, one more thing regarding saying they haven't had a truly good album since Tattoo. While I respect your opinion, to me if you shave off a 3 or 4 of the filler tracks from Voodoo Lounge ("Suck on the Jugular", anyone?), then you've got a pretty darn good album that's a nice balance of classic and contemporary (unlike Bridges, which to me sounds like a bunch of old guys trying to sound 'modern' but it's really just a very rich band with a huge budget to work with and no sense of direction)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-18 01:16 by theimposter.

theimposter...what a great title for an album or song..lol

No Sense of Direction




ROCK...if you come along and tell me its already been done, gonna smack ya!!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-18 03:31 by button_your_lip.

Ha, maybe they could use it for an odds and ends collection, button_your_lip.

By the way, while I was being critical of the record, I wasn't trying to bash it. We all know it has fine moments: Saint, Out of Control, How Can I Stop, Already Over Me (could've been much better if Mick's singing wasn't so overwrought).

I was just implying that songs like Gunface and Juiced sound more clunky than cutting edge (the latter being what they were trying to convey) and, while I know it has its fans, myself I will never deem Anybody Seen My Baby to be anything more than lame.

But anyway, this isn't a B2B thread, so I will quit getting off topic.

NP__didn't take it that way. I tend to get a little confused, which isn't a difficult state of mind for me, when posters try to make a point about lyrics.
I think theres some terrific lyrics in ABB...but then I am NOT a Stones expert, far from it.

AAAAhhhhh do I get the cat arrrrr nine tails....only give me 5 lashes...AHHHH...

CLIMAX Blues Band - Sense of Direction





ROCKMAN

hahaha....how bout batted lashes. is that a double entendre?

My 3 favourites

Look What The Cat Dragged In
She Saw Me Coming
Let Me Down Real Slow or Under The Radar if I can take that one



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-02-18 04:03 by Erik_Snow.

Took enough lashes in my pirate dazeeeeee....



ROCKMAN

Pulled this one from the IORR vaults but still stands firm.....

Rough Justice.....

Keith’s intro jumped started straight from the ole devil’s Cadillac, fiddlin’ scratchin’ arcin' tryin’ to get a connection...Then WHAMO!! Ignition as Charlie pours a half gallon of BOOM BOOM juice straight down the throat of the carbie…Micky Jagger jumps behind the wheel, flips the digits of his age to 16 and careers off down the road ah screamin’ & yellin' out the window like a crazy kid....But you know I’ll never break yourrrr heartttttttt....while Mr Ronnie’s crouched in the back AK assault weapon slide covering their every move...


Power House over load in 3.13........PLAY LOUD



ROCKMAN

My 3 ABB favourites are

Driving Too Fast
She Saw Me Coming
This Place is Empty

When I state that there are minimum 3 classic Rolling Stones songs on ABB I mean that these numbers reach the class of the classic Stones niveau.
Rogh Justice:
the same class as If You Can't Rock Me or Bitch or Dancing With Mr.D or even All Down The Line
Oh No Not You Again:
the same class as for example Crazy Mama or Dance Little Sister or even Shake Your Hip
Back Off Of My Hand:
the same class for me as Stop Breaking Down or You Gotta Move or Spider And The Fly or King Bee
Try to mix with these together and listen.
Just pure great classic Rolling Stones stuff!

Laugh I nearly Died
Infamy
Back of My Hand

Are the best on BB IMO. RJ is a good straigh ahead uptemp rocker but not on par with classics mentioned above.

Has anyone noted the vocal style of Under the Radar is a nod to CHild of the Moon style vocals. I don't know if I'd put UTR in the top 3 but the vocals give it a kind of Pschedelic sound.

I can't understand why people rate "She Saw Me Coming" so high. It's only a groove with nothing else to it than that. Mediocre song with so-so lyrics...

StonesTod Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sweetcharmedlife Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > She saw me coming,is the best song on ABB.
>
>
> and to think that some folk think SCL and I don't
> agree on things....


Yeah Tod their might be hope for you yet. Maybe you can be saved. Ya live in the bay area.......you can't be all bad.



As for BYL. Not to suck up to you.lol. But I love Infamy. I think it's much better than the other Keith song on ABB. I thought it sounded good live. I actually stayed in my seat when I heard that one. Instead of going to the bathroom like most people do.

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"