The Rolling Stones: Hackney Diamonds

For their 26th studio album (here in the US anyway), The Rolling Stones have paired up with producer Andrew Watts, who has worked with Ozzy Osbourne on his last two albums, to deliver Hackney Diamonds, featuring a dozen songs that will take you back to all eras of the Stones, past and present. I'd arguably say that Hackney Diamonds is their most fun and easy listening album since Some Girls, which of course goes all the way back to the close of the 1970's. Despite a lot of strong albums between that one and this one, Hackney Diamonds has something extra special which grabs you from the opening notes of "Angry" and doesn't let up till the last bluesy strains of Muddy Waters' "Rolling Stones Blues". While not every song is perfect, just about every track here is packed with lively musical arrangements, and most important, choruses that are instantly memorable and stick with you long after the album stops playing. "Get Close"....great chorus, fun song, "Depending On You"...heartfelt lyrics, great chorus..."Bite My Head Off"...raucous, hard rocking, slashing guitars, guest Paul McCartney fuzz bass solo, great chorus...get the picture? Mick Jagger is a revelation here, sounding 40 instead of 80, and also sounding like he is having the time of his life singing these vibrant new songs, and the guitar duo of Keith Richards & Ron Woods are doing what they do best, dropping in lots of dirty licks and slashing solos. And while the late Charlie Watts isn't here in full, he does appear on two tracks, filled in by Steve Jordan on the rest of the album, with a cast of musicians including ex-bassist Bill Wyman, Benmont Tench, Matt Clifford, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and more appearing on various tracks. Other highlights include my personal favorite "Whole Wide World", the funky "Mess It Up", the snarling blues rocker "Live By the Sword", the soaring "Driving Me Too Hard", and the near gospel duet between Mick and Lady Gaga on "Sweet Sounds of Heaven".

What doesn't work so well? "Dreamy Skies" kind of meanders, Keith's vocal piece "Tell Me Straight" is really laid back, and the Muddy Waters cover seems like it would have been better off including on their last album Blue and Lonesome. Not back songs by any means, but they lack the snap of the rest of the album. All in all, a welcome return from The Rolling Stones, and if this is the last studio album we get from them, it's one they, and the fans, can be very proud of.

Track Listing

1. "Angry" (Jagger�"Richards, Andrew Watt) �" 3:46
2. "Get Close" (Jagger�"Richards, Watt) �" 4:10
3. "Depending On You" (Jagger�"Richards, Watt) �" 4:03
4. "Bite My Head Off" �" 3:31
5. "Whole Wide World" �" 3:58
6. "Dreamy Skies" �" 4:38
7. "Mess It Up" �" 4:03
8. "Live by the Sword" �" 3:59
9. "Driving Me Too Hard" �" 3:16
10. "Tell Me Straight" �" 2:56
11. "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" �" 7:22
12. "Rolling Stone Blues" (Muddy Waters) �" 2:41

Added: November 4th 2023
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
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Language: english

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