Review by Phil Rozier for MPM
Some music can be pretty divisive. Really heavy, as in, death metal heavy for instance, when only the keen vinyl inner sleeve reader can decipher the words, could be described as ‘unpleasant’ or ‘not for me’. Equally, some music, that started as good old fashioned hard rock, then evolves into being very parent friendly rock n roll. This could be described as ‘selling out’ or ‘too soft’. And our friends of the pop rock persuasion also can get put in a corner. Just like so many accepted modern lifestyles, things love a label. Music is no different, and a label allows for objective opinions to be targeted.
But, in all that, and in all my 46 years, I’ve never once heard anyone say a bad word about the The Rolling Stones. Nor have they ever been pigeonholed into a genre, label, or category. They have survived longer than most people, and the evolution of state, status, labels, landscapes and climate, does not stop them from still belting out great music.
And on this peaceful Tuesday evening, I totally welcome the absolute gift of music, and the fortunate position I’ve been allowed to have; listening to the newly released tracks, ‘Rough and Twisted’ and ‘In The Stars’ written and recorded by The Rolling Stones.
I don’t think I need to be over detailed in my approach. The first track from the newly announced album, ‘Foreign Tongues’, released later in July, is just a wonderful blues inspired thumping little ditty. I say blues inspired, I should probably just say ‘it’s a blues track’. It’s probably more blues than most blues tracks are. Without even meaning to be. It sounds like its just music the boys wanted to play. It has everything from steady beats, thumping drums, Keith’s classical blues riffage on the guitar, a mouth organ kicks in, and Ronnie is just steady keeping it rolling along.
Oh, and here comes the slide guitar, the keys, and the thumping resumes. Light me a cigarette and dim the lights. The overdrive increases as does the pace. What a ‘freeing’ track. You just put it on, play it, listen to it, and enjoy it. That’s it. It doesn’t require anything else.
‘In The Stars’ follows as track 2 from the new record. Kicking in at a similar length, somewhere over 4 minutes, the track starts slower but doesn’t take long to kick in giving that recognisable Stones vibe. You don’t need to be told it’s a Stones track, its immediately recognisable. Jaggers tones, remarkably unchanged in over 60 years, allow that instant comfort you’re in safe hands. The chord structure sounds like it looks. Played somewhere around the 10th fret I’d say, and probably in classic open G tuning. I’ve got no idea whether that’s right, and I’d happily stand corrected if I’ve ballsed up my assumption. I can see Keith swaggering on stage, his fretting hand fighting for board space with his loosely draped scarf and open jacket.
I last saw The Stones in Hyde Park, and this track instantly takes me back to the setting sun, dusky sky, and reflective sequin jacket that Jagger wore, reflecting light into the crowd like a human glitter ball. Both these new tracks create a feeling. They create images in your mind of what life should be like. Relaxed, enjoyed, and free. Without any real reason to be, as long as you are just comfortable in being. That’s enough.
This unlabelled group of rock n roll veterans continue to inspire music and culture around the world, some 64 yrs after they were created. In the time the Rolling Stones have been together, entire empires have collapsed, technologies have been invented and abandoned, and whole musical genres have risen and died. The Stones, and their music, has practically outlasted history. And you’re lucky enough to have experienced them.
LISTEN TO ‘IN THE STARS’ HERE
PRE-ORDER FOREIGN TONGUES HERE
