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Lounge on the voodoo to the main Rolling Stones page... Doodoo Lounge
Overall Album Score: 7.7 out of 10 It's 1994 ... Grunge had been going full force by then ... people basically quit buying vinyl altogether and started buying compact discs ... the age of the Internet had just taken off ... Bill Clinton had just recently settled himself in the White House and started groping his very first interns. Really, of all the new things that were going on in 1994, who really gives a flip about The Rolling Stones? They're just a bunch of old rock stars! Sure, a lot of people appreciated their legacy, but most were wondering what they were still doing around. ... People were more amazed with the fact that members of the band could still walk and probably didn't pay a whole heck of a lot of attention to what kind of new music they were writing. Nevertheless, they did put out an album. It's not a very phenomenal album, but I'm sure that the Rolling Stones fan in their 40s in 1994 sure would have liked this one, because this is a genuine return to form! (Alotta people claim that Steel Wheels was the return to form, but it actually sucked. This album doesn't suck nearly as much.) I like the return-to-form! ... That's the best thing The Stones could have done at this point (short of dissolving). I do think, though, that the principle problem with Voo Doo Lounge is the Rolling Stones' age. They're old rock stars now, and it's hard to ignore that fact. There are a formidable handful of tough, confident rockers in here ... but there are at least twice the number of songs that just aren't! Oh well. Apart from Tattoo You, this album is tons better than that barrel-load of crap that they shoved in our directions in the 1980s, so I'm happy ...... and I hope you're happy, too. Overall Album Score: 7.7 out of 10 (The Stones waited until the post-Nirvana age to give us a real back-to-roots comeback. ... Oh well ... at least it happened, even if it isn't totally convincing all the time.) Average Song Score: 8.1 (Indeed, this is a very nice comeback for The Stones. They've gotten old and a bit stodgy -- even though they're still pretty raunchy! Even so, they finally seemed to acquire a bit of wisdom as well.) Album Tilt: 7.5 (Not all that impressive or enjoyable. There are a few good songs in here, but it's not an all-in-all wonderful album. Sorry!) Artist Rating: 7.5 (It's too long and doesn't say much important. Just the same, The Stones are still pretty awesome with their instruments! Wwa-waa!) Track Reviews Love is Strong 9/10 A sultry, sexy, confident song ... Hey! It's the freaking 1990s and the Stones were finally ready to come back! This is a good song! I like the riff (of course, it's not up to "Jumping Jack Flash," but ... well), and I like the melody, but most of all, I enjoy the attitude. The STONES ARE BACK, BABBBYY! You Got Me Rocking 9.5/10 Nice'n'trashy this song is ... just like the Rolling Stones used to be. It's a driving song that has a lot of commitment and energy. The groove is quite crunchy and ... hey! There's even a pretty good electric guitar solo in here! Yahoo! Sparks Will Fly 8.5/10 This still a really energetic and solid Stones number! ... But I think Mick's mother needs to come by and put some soap in his mouth, because he is a dirty, dirty man! ... He's a degradation to society, bloody dang it! Nevertheless, this is a pretty good song musically speaking. The Worst 8/10 Certainly, this song isn't "the worst," but it's a pretty solid raggae-ish type ballad. It's slow and the tune is pretty good. New Faces 8/10 Pretty good! ... This is another slow type ballad (taking its principle roots from classical music this time). It doesn't have enough conviction in it to have any sort of lasting impression, but it really isn't bad. Moon is Up 6.5/10 A tiny bit sloppy, but it's still listenable. The riff is okay ... but how the song is played and sung as a whole sounds like it was put together hastily! ... Double blah! Out of Tears 8.5/10 Awwwwwwww! This song is so saaaaaaaaaaad! It's another ballad (this one is piano led), and even though the lyrics deal with dreadful cliches, the chorus of the song actually chokes me up a bit. *gulp* I Go Wild 8/10 Another neat nu-Rolling Stones song! ... You know that it's gonna be done with strength and skill, so what's stopping you? ... Other than the Chinese government? ... It's an enjoyable if unremarkably mid-tempoed Stones song. Brand New Car 8.5/10 I like this one! It's done with a lot of conviction! The groove has a nice driving force behind it and it's certainly a fun one to listen to, but ... you can tell that these are bunch of old guys. Nothing does nothing to fool ya! Sweethearts Together 8.5/10 A pretty nice piece of nostalgia ... (this is an early-rock type of song The Stones might have done back in their England's Newest Hitmakers days except Jaggers and Richards actually wrote it). It's a very light, and pleasant poppy song. And, it's nicely done. Suck on the Jugular 7.5/10 I suppose this song is rather neat ... And, really, only The Stones in their more intelligible golden years could put together something as solid as this. ... But, they're not fooling anyone! Old freaking farts! (And what's with the language? ... I guess if you like hearing songs with this type of language sung by a troop of grandpas, this'll be up your alley.) This isn't really a bad song ... this just seems a bit more contrived than usual. Blinded By Rainbows 7.5/10 A ballad. It's not bad, but it's not good, either. (The chorus and the final minute or so are pretty good, though. Everything else is boring.) Y-a-w-n-o. Baby Break it Down 7/10 This album is too freaking long and has way too freaking many songs on it. ....... Oh, well. This is a generally well-performed and well-written song, but it doesn't have nearly enough energy to keep it interesting. I think The Stones must have been pretty bored with the length of the album, too. Thru and Thru 8/10 ...two tracks left to go...... Man! I have an interview for an article about me in Vanity Fair in fifteen minutes! ... Time doesn't grow on trees for Don Ignacio, you know! For Don Ignacio, time is money ....... And this bloody song is more than six bloody minutes long, bloody darn. All that said, this really isn't an awful song. Long winded, but it's not too bad. Mean Disposition 9/10 So, predictably, The Stones put a very entertaining, energetic, and all around awesome song at the end of this lengthy album so that we might be fooled into forgetting that a lot of the other songs were boring and filler. Eh, no matter! ... I didn't forget it, but I do appreciate that there was at least one, good, upbeat song to close this whole thing off with. So, let's celebrate! ... HURRAH! ...... Alright, time for the interview. You don't need to know voodoo to send me your thoughts about this album here! |
