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THE ROLLING STONES / FOREIGN TONGUES



Here at Back to Mono records, we’ve had an entire weekend to absorb and enjoy the 25th studio record by blues rock royalty, The Rolling Stones as they released the much anticipated and heavily promoted ‘Foreign Tongues’.


We’d been previously teased with a few previewed tracks, including opener, ‘Rough & Twisted’ and ‘In the Stars’ which famously featured a deep faked music video showing a much younger version of the Stones alongside actress Odessa A’zion. This was soon followed up with ‘Jealous Lover’ which showed that this was going to be an incredibly diverse album covering styles and genres covered and explored during the past 60+ years of the world's greatest band.


A bluesy opener, a catchy lead single to follow up and then a sexy, disco inspired revisit with Mick Jagger falsetto vocal, conjuring memories of Beast of Burden, Miss You or the Emotional Rescue phase of the 80's. Surely this album isn't going to be the work of art it’s currently looking like it could be? Is it?



Yes, it absolutely is. At an average age of 81, these three surviving music icons have managed to create an exciting, loud, unique and original album, momentarily shedding legend status and trading it in for the hottest act in modern music. How can a band that first began performing in 1962 still be creating the same magic they always have as well as developing their sound as much as they have here?


Other stand out tracks aside from the aforementioned previews include the obligatory Keith Richards led vocal of ‘Some of us’ where that unmistakable, gritty and weathered vocal is as enchanting as ever. The cover of ‘You know I’m no good’ by Amy Winehouse has us questioning whether the track always featured harmonica because, it really fits like it was always there. Stand out choruses like ‘Covered in you’ and ‘Side Effects’ don’t just call for attention within the context of this album. They stand out in the context of any music the Rolling Stones have released in the past 30+ years. Catchy, memorable and well crafted, it’s genius song writing. The subject matter is classic but also current, the musicianship is out of this wold and no two tracks really sound alike as they explore sounds and methods of playing. Mick's vocals are classically husky and loud but with precision and skill that a man 50 years younger would be proud of. A backing band of session musicians and collaborators are of course responsible for the quality of the record, and with collaborators like Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood and Robert Smith, there's slim chance of it not working out, but after several listens, its undeniable and an objective fact that over 60 years since taking over the world, The Rolling Stones remain one of the greatest bands of all time and they will forever be mentioned in that conversation for as long as music is still an art form.



You can find the vinyl LP at Back to Mono records on Guildhall street in Lincoln or stream Foreign Tongues on Spotify, NOW!


Article by Stuart Green

 
 
 

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