The Rolling Stones' latest endeavor, A Bigger Bang, is a compelling album that catches the listener up in a oxy-moronic combination of despondency and animation bringing classic rock to the present day. The 16-song voyage can simply be described as unadulterated fun. Bang is the Stones' first album in nearly a decade and, with expectations high, the band delivers.
The album opens with what may be the disc's best song, \Rough Justice."" It has an intense blues-rock vibe that laces the song like a drug. With lyrics like ""Once upon a time I was your little rooster / am I just one of your cocks?"" and ""So put your lips to my hips baby and tell me what's on your mind"" the listener cannot help but shake their head in idolized wonder that the Stones are still the rock gods they were 40 years ago.
The Stones also explore many new dimensions on Bang that take their sound to a different place. ""Infamy"" stands out as being somewhat psychedelic and funky compared to the rest of the songs on the album and of the Stones' collection. The combination of acoustic and blues guitar along with electric harmonica gives the song an impudent and soulful vibe that just begs to be listened to on the highway, windows down and volume up.
Another strength of the album is the band's unvarying alignment between vocal and instrumental elements. ""Look What the Cat Dragged In"" features phenomenal drumming on the part of Charlie Watts, and Mick Jagger's vocals pound rhythmically in synch.
It goes without saying that Keith Richards far surpasses expectations on all of the album's songs, but his classic rock blues style is particularly strong on ""She Saw Me Coming,"" ""This Place is Empty,"" and ""Oh No, Not You Again."" His stellar jams carry the songs and compliment Mick's expressive singing.
The one fallacy of the album is the band's attempt at rock ballads-always a bad idea, and the few included on Bang are no exception.
The Rolling Stones experienced a lot of personal tragedy during the production of the new album. Charlie Webber battled throat cancer and Ron Wood's ex-wife committed suicide. If the power ballads were dedicated to these issues, they would be unobjectionable. Instead the listener is forced to endure four songs about how Mick Jagger is hung up on Jerry Hall.
Songs like ""Let Me Down Slow"" and ""Biggest Mistake"" are tolerable, and their only real error is slowing down the lively pace of the album. ""Streets of Love,"" however, is absolutely atrocious. The song has no instrumental quality whatsoever, and lyrics like ""I walk the streets of love and they're full of tears"" begs to be played in an elevator.
The sleep factor of these few songs, however, is not enough to drag the album down. Ladies and gentlemen, the Stones still have it. A Bigger Bang is a must-own album that is sure to satisfy the ears and soul, and can be added to the Stones' long list of successes.
