Let it Bleed, But First Let Me Fill My Circulatory System With Alcohol

Overall Album Score: 10plus out of 10

I didn't really think that Beggar's Banquet was the greatest thing since sliced meats (...nothing ever is...), but here and now, I would like to proclaim to the entire world and all of the stupid idiots living within it that Let it Bleed by the Rolling Stones is among the greatest, most stupendous albums ever devised by funny looking men! ...Er... not only funny looking men, but this is among the greatest albums ever devised by any type of man! In fact, I'd venture to say that this is even better than anything that could be devised by a wombat, too ... and hedgehogs ... and opossums ... and lizards ... and 19th Century poets ... In fact, this is one mightily-spankin' album!

In fact, this album is so utterly great that I find that I have very little to say about it. As is my motto: If you don't have anything mean to say about something, then you had just might as well not say anything at all, because that makes for very boring album reviews.

To tell you the truth, I'm not absolutely positive that this was a particularly influential album ... although, I'd imagine that going-to-be 70s superstars listened to this album and though "Oi there, maaatey! This one is pretty darn spankin' good," those few who were not high on drugs all 365 days of 1969. And, it definitely set a good benchmark for these people to follow. This album is VERY solid, VERY well produced (...perhaps it helped convince that the polished-sound was much more pleasing than the sloppy-sound of the psychedelic era...), and in every single way ever, it kicks major rumpus.

This is actually the only Rolling Stones album that I have ever bought, and the first one that I ever listened to. I'm not exactly sure why, but I couldn't really appreciate it at first. I listen to it now and know that there is not one single weak track on here. NOT ONE! Two track, in fact, received 10pluses and only three got 9.5s. Everything else was a perfect 10! Stuffed full of classics, this is. Or perhaps the reason I didn't appreciate it then and really appreciate it now is because my tastes have matured severely. Back then, I was a big fan of Queen so ... that only goes to show ... (Although, I admit that I still am a bit of a Queen fan.)

So buy Let it Bleed if you don't got it, sit back and enjoy one of the finest albums that has ever graced this land... and, if I put it inside my pants, it would grace my underwear, too.

Overall Album Score: 10plus out of 10 (Oooh... I couldn't help it. This album gets a 10plus. It's perfection on a compact disc. Get it in your collection NOW!)

Average Song Score: 10 (Every one of these songs falls into one of two categories: classic and more-classic. They're all perfect. I found it difficult restraining awarding too many 10pluses! Ones that did make it were, of course, "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" ... what else?)

Album Tilt: 10plus (Oooooh! I think I've praised this album too much already.)

Artist Rating: 10 (This is one of the most distinguished achievements of rock-and-roll. Although, I'm not sure if it was an influential album on any sort of monumental level ... but the rock community was undoubtedly affected by it.)

Track Reviews

Gimme Shelter 10plus/10

Right away, The Stones give us one of their ultimate classics! GIMME SHELTER! Oh man ... I'm not even sure that I even have to describe it to you. It's so classic that ... that ... well, if you haven't heard this one yet, then you've got no time to lose! The 10plus rating here was very much a shoo-in. The melody is very good and catchy ... and the production, in particular, was done exceptionally well. The arranging was perfectly done ... oh man! Perfection!

Love in Vain 10/10

The Stones keep on rolling those classics in! This is a slower-type song and perhaps the greatest aspect of this is that Sir Mick gives an almost heart-shattering vocal performance. (No wonder the British Empire liked him!) The light acoustic guitar in the background gives it that nice touch. The rhythm section and the miscellaneous hillbilly instruments that show up later are, again, perfectly done. Yet another masterpiece. This is country rock that I want to listen to! Imagine that!

Country Honk 9.5/10

Hey! When I first listened to this album, I was driving in the car, and I really thought that there was somebody honking at me! Wow ... this is another virtually spotless song. I'm really only giving it a 9.5 just out of default! If this one were on the Stones' previous album, it would have gotten a 10 for sure. Nevertheless, this more country-bumpkin-ish sounding country rock song has perfect melody, of course, and the instrumentation is even fun! I'm almost thinking that the violin was mixed in a bit too loudly ... but I like listening to that violin anyway! This is a classic among bigger classics!

Live With Me 9.5/10

This is a more menacing song that sports some loud drums and Mick Jagger just spouting off them vocals! It's a more regular sounding rock song as opposed to being country-rock (which is good news for me, I guess) ... the instrumentation here was very inspired, most notably that wicked saxophone solo in the middle of this! Quite nice! Even though this is an excellent song, it might just be one of the more easily-overlooked songs in here. After all, it can be classified as simply 'plain rock.' I really like it, though.

Let it Bleed 10/10

Oh maaaaaan... I really want to give this a 10plus, but I can't give too many of those per album. The melody is especially solid on this one, sounding almost out-of-this-world. Slowly picking up dynamics as it goes, it gets even more enjoyable as it goes along. Um... even in my intentionally naïve mindset, I pick up sexual overtones with this one, but this is the Rolling Stones, aren't they? They were the best at doing that kind of stuff anyway. "Let it Bleed" is timeless.

Midnight Rambler 10/10

I also have almost severe reservations about not giving this a 10plus as well... Oh well! This is yet another classic Rolling Stones song that starts out as a very good country-rock number with a nice, rapid beat to it ... and then it starts to piddle! But the piddling is very interesting to listen to! Heck ... you know what this song does ... do I even have to mention it? Naah! I like it and you like it and we all like it! Yay! It's more Rolling Stones perfection ... it really can't get better than this.

You Got the Silver 9.5/10

Heeeeey! That ain't Mick Jagger! That's Keith Richards, the imposter! Well, we were already aware that Keith is/was a guitar-god ... but he also shows us that he also sports nice vocals. They're not as good as Mick's but ... Hey! This quiet song isn't as perfect as the previous songs, but it's still great! This is another one of those songs that I'm giving a 9.5 purely out of default!

Monkey Man 10/10

Oooooh maaaaaan ... On this album, the Rolling Stones show no mercy! NOOO MERCY! Here, the song is so strong that ... man! I'm being bombarded with such great tunes that I can barely describe them all! Whatta classic! The rock jam type thing at the end of this is just about the greatest of those I've ever heard. ANOTHER CLASSIC!

You Can't Always Get What You Want 10plus/10

And here's the classic to end all classics! This is an utterly gorgeous masterpiece that utilizes a boy choir and the arranging here is particularly lovely ... oh ... At seven minutes and twenty-eight seconds, it was worth the whole thing. It starts out slow and pretty, and then it slowly picks up dynamics as it runs out ... and I never want it to run out. This is one of the greatest songs of rock-and-roll, actually!

Are you just bleeding to tell me something about Let it Bleed or are you just going to let it bleed? E-mail me here!