Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 3/5 Released: September 6, 2005 Reviewer: Nathan Atnikov |
To say that A Bigger Bang is the Rolling Stones’ best release since 1981 isn’t saying much. Since Tattoo You, the Stones have continued to be one of the biggest live bands in the world, but largely on the strength of older material. On their first release of new music since 1997’s Bridges to Babylon, the Stones get back to basics in a big way. Much of the album sounds like the band in their prime from the 60’s and 70’s, which most people would take as a good thing. The problem is that it’s out of context. Mick and the boys are no longer the sex gods of rock ‘n roll they once were, so much of A Bigger Bang comes off sounding a little desperate.
Taken at face value, A Bigger Bang is a perfectly enjoyable listen, but the problem lies in the fact that the album doesn’t only rely on old styles, but literally on old songs – about four songs on the album, including lead single Rough Justice, sound like re-written versions of Black Sugar. The Rolling Stones are still a great live band, and are still icons for the first British invasion, perhaps the most important era in North American rock ‘n roll history. If A Bigger Bang is an excuse to keep these guys on the road, then it’s more than welcome.
