|
Click on this link ... the bridge to the main Rolling Stones page ... Missiles to Babylon
Overall Album Score: 7.4 out of 10 ...This might be the last Rolling Stones album ever ...... Of course, they could very well be another just around the bend, but it's 2004 right now, and this album was released in 1997 ... That's been seven years without another album! ...... They're still together to be sure, but still ...... Anyway, I certainly do hope that The Stones would be able to put it together and make a really really great album just for our sake. They said a lot of stuff, artistically, during their long careers and it would be an absolute shame to end it with this lackluster record. While this doesn't fail ... there's not a bad song on here ... there's also not a *great* song on here. A few of these songs are nice'n'hard retro rock. Others embrace more modern tendencies (and the result of those are alright). Yet others are neither and really rather boring... None of these songs make me groan and shake my head in pity, but none of them incite any sort of spirit in me, either. This is probably better than most everything else ever put out onto the mainstream musical world at the time, but this isn't how I really want to remember the Stones. They're not pathetic, but they also fail to resurrect their wild and vivid past! ... I know I shouldn't expect them too, but ... all is my own dreaming! Clearly, this isn't an essential part of the Stones legacy. Overall Album Score: 7.4 out of 10 (The Stones still have quite a bit of spunk left in 'em, but overall this is a lackluster effort.) Average Song Score: 7.7 (Consistently lacking.) Album Tilt: 7.0 (Especially at the end, this album is booooooooooooring!) Artist Rating: 7.5 (The Stones sort of revisit their old days and embrace a few modern movements of rock at the same time. An intriguing idea, I guess, but it was not met with success.) Track Reviews Flip the Switch 8.5/10 This is a nicely done, aggressive hard rock song done by a bunch of wrinkly old dorks. I really think the rock arrangements here were done very well. They make the song enjoyable and *rock*. ... Good Stones retro rock. Anybody Seen My Baby? 8/10 This is a modern song that reminds me of the stuff that Madonna tried doing back in the 90s ... except this song is actually decent. ... It sounds like a reg'lar old pop song with a reg'lar old pop groove ... and there's even some rapping in the middle of this, if you can believe it! It's well done. Songs like this aren't typical by the Stones, but this is all too typical for the times. Low Down 7/10 This is a really kinda dull rock number. This is more typical of the Stones, but it's not that good. It lacks a driving force quite severely and the melody isn't that good. Already Over Me 8/10 A Stones ballad! ... A far cry from achieving the depth and resonance of the splendid olde "Wild Horses," but ... this is pretty good, I guess. Not tremendously memorable or anything, but Jagger's vocal performance has compassion. That's always a good thing. Gunface 7/10 I grow wary of this song. It has pretty good riffage and a convincing attitude, but I guess that always doesn't equal to total entertainment! ... I guess my biggest beef is that the primitive melody repeats way too much. Hmm. At the very very end, though, this song actually gets a little bit better. Its energy level increases. You Don't Have to Mean It 8/10 Goofy reggae! ... As a general rule, I dislike reggae. It's not my fault. I've known a few people who were really into reggae, and they were rather strange ... The 1997-era Stones trying to do reggae (and they've done it in the past ... I forgot where) is an okay deal. The tropico groove was done rather well, the tune is alright, and this is somewhat entertaining. Out of Control 8/10 A very low-key and kind of boring song ... but this isn't awful, either. It could have used improved arrangements and, I guess, a higher sense of purpose. This isn't a terrible song whatsoever, but I'm not really enjoying it, either. Saint of Me 7.5/10 Not awful, but ... arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm just not enjoying this! The melody, arrangements and performances are alright ... (frankly, this one is a bit too modern for the Stones) ... but it just doesn't make it. Might as Well Get Juiced 8/10 Wow! This is uber-modern! The rave synths and the mean vocals by Mick Jagger makes this an interesting song that I don't think anyone would have guessed would be penned by the Stones ... but ...... I WANT ROCK AND ROLL THE OLD WAY!!!!!!! Oh well ... might as well get juiced... Always Suffering 8/10 I don't think this is too awful, even though the ballad strikes me as being rather boring at times. The melody is okay, even though it's not particularly memorable. Again, I think the emotional level of this song was well done. Too Tight 8/10 This is another sort of empty harder song ... it's got the makings of a fine hard rock song, but ...... eh, there's no buts this time. I think this is alright. No complaints. Just glad they're not doing 80s pop. Thief in the Night 7/10 I can say with utmost confidence that even though this isn't a failed song, it is booooooooooooooooooooringggggggggggggggg!!!!!!!!! I yawn most extensively at this thief in the night. How Can I Stop 7/10 And the album sleeps to a stop with this lengthy gospel-like number. Not a bomb, fortunately, and this is listenable ... it's just unfathomable my mankind to ever get excited by this. The Babylon bridges would like you, one and all, to send me all your comments about this craaaaazy album Here. |
