Rolling Stones: New Tunes To 'Start Me Up!'

The Rolling Stones may have reached a peak while struggling with what an octogenarian rock band should sound like. The Rolling Stones delivered their most dynamic list of musical work in 40 years with ‘Hackney Diamonds’. At their age, this might be The Last Time album.

Welcome to That's Life, I Swear.  This podcast is about life's happenings in this world that conjure up such words as intriguing, frightening, life-changing, inspiring, and more. I'm Rick Barron your host. 

That said, here's the rest of this story  

On Christmas Day in 2023, I eagerly unwrapped the presents beneath our beautifully decorated tree. One gift immediately caught my eye, decorated with shimmering red wrapping and resting on one of the tree's branches. As I tore open the wrapping, my heart leaped with exuberance. It was the latest masterpiece from the Rolling Stones, "Hackney Diamonds."

Rolling Stones new album, Hackney Diamonds. Courtesy of Amazon

Without wasting a moment, I switched off the Christmas music and cranked up the volume to savor this musical gem. Thought I’d share with my enthusiastic thoughts on what I experienced while rocking out with the legendary Stones. 

For some of those very young, allow me to provide a little history about these guys first before diving into my critique. 

Listening to the Rolling Stones has been part of my life for quite some time. The Rolling Stones rock band started in London in 1962. The Stones have been active across seven decades, and they are one without question, one of the most popular and enduring bands of the rock era. In the early 1960s, the band pioneered the gritty, rhythmically driven sound that came to define hard rock. 

The band played their first show billed as "the Rollin' Stones" on July 12,1962; at the Marquee Club in London. At the time, the band consisted of Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ian Stewart, and Dick Taylor.

The Marquee Club in London. Courtesy of Waymarking

They quickly rose to fame in the 1960s as part of the British Invasion, challenging a fellow British band for rock supremacy, The Beatles.

The band's early hits like "Satisfaction" and "Paint It Black" showcased their bluesy rock sound and rebellious image. Over the years, they produced classic albums, that included such hits as  "Exile on Main St." and "Sticky Fingers."

The Rolling Stones have weathered numerous lineup changes and personal challenges, with the core duo of Jagger and Richards remaining at the heart of the band. They've embarked on extensive world tours, becoming known for their electrifying live performances.

Enough history. Let’s talk about the album.

Over the past 18 years, the Rolling Stones have navigated the music terrain that legendary rock bands are typically expected to traverse. The Stones have raked in substantial sums of money by embarking on tours and belting out their classic hits, all while releasing archival collections that dive into the depths of their musical legacy. 

The great Charlie Watts. Courtesy of The Guardian

This journey hasn't been without its share of age-related challenges, including a health scare for their iconic frontman, Mick Jagger, who faced a heart issue in 2019. Furthermore, they had to confront the sorrowful loss of their longtime drummer, Charlie Watts, who passed away at the age of 80 in 2021. 

However, on top of dealing with all this, one thing the Rolling Stones refrained from doing during this period was releasing a fresh album of brand-new songs. When they last presented an original studio album, "A Bigger Bang," to the public in 2005, Olivia Rodrigo was a mere 2 years old.

This situation can be likened to the "U2 Problem," a challenge that many bands face as they age. It's a period marked by uncertainty about what new messages or expressions they can deliver to the world, leading to self-doubt. 

The creative process, which once flowed effortlessly, now demands a significant amount of effort. Fearing embarrassment and the inability to meet the high standards set by their past achievements, these bands often resort to playing it safe, shying away from creating new songs. 

Prior Stones albums like "Voodoo Lounge" (1994), "Bridges to Babylon" (1997), and "A Bigger Bang" did contain a handful of decent tracks. However, if you put your ear closer to the speaker, one could hear the traces of strain and exertion, as if the band was struggling to mold fragments of melodies into memorable compositions. Now, there's a noticeable shift. To the astonishment of many, the Rolling Stones declared the arrival of a new album, "Hackney Diamonds" (Polydor). The album, was released on October 29, 2023 effortlessly stands out as a triumph.

It was the first album of original material by the Rolling Stones since 2005's A Bigger Bang and their first since the 2021 death of drummer Charlie Watts, who contributed to some tracks in 2019. 

Listening to the album I heard guest contributions from, shall it be said, legends of music,  Elton John, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, and former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.
They all smashed it on this album!

For over a decade, Jagger and Richards, the pillars of the band, had been accumulating incomplete song fragments. In the past year, with the aspiration of assembling these musical puzzle pieces into a cohesive album, the band found an ally in Andrew Watt, a 32-year-old producer with a diverse track record, having worked with contemporary stars like Post Malone, Justin Bieber, and Miley Cyrus, as well as seasoned rockers like Ozzy Osbourne. 

Watt introduced a degree of discipline, that was missing, into the creative process and also contributed musical ideas in addition to his production duties. He's credited as a co-writer on the first three tracks of the album, and each of them stands out as the record's highlights. 

The opening track, "Angry," which was released as a single when the album was announced, boasts a characteristic riff from Keith Richards, paired with a relaxed, well-worn melody from Mick Jagger. "Get Close," an outstanding addition to the album, features an even more catchy hook from Richards and a welcome saxophone solo towards the song's conclusion. The addition of the saxophone is sweet!

There's also a hint of Elton John's piano playing in the mix. "Depending on You," a rootsy ballad, captivates with its heartfelt delivery by Mr. Jagger, feeling as familiar and comfortable as one's favorite old shoes. Telling you, you got to get this CD.

While this opening trio of songs showcases impressive musicality, what truly sets "Hackney Diamonds" apart from its forerunners is its overall sonic character. In the classic Rolling Stones records of the late '60s and early '70s, Mick Jagger's vocals were relatively understated in the mix, portraying them as one of many pivotal elements. 

However, over time, particularly starting in the '80s, his singing took a more prominent role. By the '90s albums, it was occasionally necessary to move beyond his vocals to uncover the intricate guitar work. 

In contrast, "Hackney Diamonds" returns to a more balanced approach. Though Jagger's singing may be relatively less pronounced, his voice remains in astonishing form. In terms of range, power, and phrasing, it has retained remarkable consistency over the past four decades.

With no aspiration to conform to contemporary trends or outshine other bands on the rock music scene, the Stones find themselves free to revel in their true essence in this new album. This freedom leads to some surprises, such as the involvement of Paul McCartney in the track "Bite My Head Off." 

One of my favorites of the album I must say.

Encouraged by Jagger's rallying cry, "Come on Paul, let's hear some bass!" McCartney adds a clever, fuzz-infused bass fill to the bridge, injecting a fresh dynamic into the song. 

The band also maintains a straightforward lyrical approach, as evidenced by the titles of most tracks, including "Live by the Sword," "Driving Me Too Hard," and "Tell Me Straight." In an interview, Mick Jagger hinted at the existence of another dozen or so unfinished songs, some of which might explore "social commentary."

As is often the case, a few tracks in the middle section of the album, like "Mess It Up" and "Whole Wide World," are fairly decent, evoking memories of the well-crafted yet forgettable material from their recent studio releases. Nevertheless, these songs are uplifted by the band's easygoing swagger in their arrangements and Jagger's spirited vocal delivery. 

The album concludes on an exceptionally high note, leaving the listener with the impression that it's even better than it initially appears. "Sweet Sounds of Heaven," a breathtaking seven-minute gospel rocker, stands as the very best track on the CD, featuring Stevie Wonder on keyboards and background vocals from Lady Gaga. The latter's performance seems to channel the spirit of Merry Clayton from the Rolling Stones' iconic 1969 track, "Gimme Shelter." While not quite reaching those illustrious heights, it's a commendable rendition.

Finally, "Hackney Diamonds" wraps up with a stripped-down rendition of Muddy Water's "Rolling Stone Blues," performed solely by Jagger and Richards, with just voice, harmonica, and guitar. For a while, it appeared that the Rolling Stones' 2016 release, "Blue & Lonesome," an album of blues covers, might be their final musical offering. 

The "Rolling Stone Blues" song comes at the end of the band's most potent album in a considerable amount of time. It was a beautiful way to end it.

The Rolling Stones today. Courtesy of The Guardian

Not sure how much gas the Rolling Stones have left in the tank. They are getting up there in age. Mick Jagger is 80, Keith Richards is 79, and Ronnie Woods [the baby of the group] is 76.

If this were indeed their final offering, which remains uncertain, the Rolling Stones would undoubtedly conclude their illustrious career on a high note. 

What can we learn from this story? What's the takeaway?

On their first album in 18 years, the Rolling Stones prove that age ain’t nothing but a number. 'Hackney Diamonds' is a vital-sounding return-to-form which channels the anger, lust, and vigor of their rock 'n' roll heyday.

The Rolling Stones have long been in uncharted territory, and relish that position. Keeping a band going for longer than anyone ever imagined possible is somewhat unbelievable. There’s simply no blueprint for being a rock n' roll group for sixty years. They insist that this isn’t their last album, that they already have most of the next record finished. I hope so. We can all use a little more satisfaction. 

Well, there you go, my friends; that's life, I swear

For further information regarding the material covered in this episode, I invite you to visit my website, which you can find on either Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Google Podcasts, for show notes calling out key pieces of content mentioned and the episode transcript.

As always, I thank you for listening and your interest. 

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