SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – HACKNEY DIAMONDS

THE ROLLING STONES
HACKNEY DIAMONDS
UNIVERSAL MUSIC

The peak that The Rolling Stones summitted in the early ‘70s remains unparalleled; something that should be coveted as among the greatest eras of not only rock ‘n’ roll, but popular music as a whole. Despite spending much of the ’80s, ‘90s, and 2000’s chasing the shadows of their previous work, it has always been unwise to count The Stones out, something best seen by their live performances and 2016’s Blue & Lonesome, a collection of blues covers and their most recent studio album until now. This notion is only furthered by Hackney Diamonds, their first album of new, original material since 2005’s A Bigger Bang. Produced by Andrew Watt (Ozzy Osbourne, Eddie Vedder, Iggy Pop), and featuring performances from late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, former Stones bassist Bill Wyman, along with Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and Elton John, Hackney Diamonds is an absolutely incredible musical experience.

Opening with a vaguely familiar, yet thrilling manner, the lead single, “Angry” kicks off with Steve Jordan’s drums, Mick Jagger from the background counting the rest of the band in, and a chordy riff, tuned to open G, something that has been imitated countlessly but could only be delivered with such conviction from Keith Richards. The song shines for its biting blues aggression and subtly; from the bass moving below the thick layers of guitars, the entrance of the keys, and the intertwined guitar lines between Richards and Ronnie Wood, the ancient art of weaving as Keith calls it, something this duo has perfected.  “Angry”, despite its upfront tone is a much deeper song than you’d realize upon first hearing. With a solo from Richards, nostalgic for the simple, rhythmic, and iconic style of “Sympathy For The Devil”, “Angry” feels like an instant classic.

Within the middle of the album is a pair of songs that will forever remain special for the legacy of the band. “Mess It Up” and “Live By The Sword” feature none other than Charlie Watts on the drums, with the latter seeing the return of founding bassist Bill Wyman making “Live By The Sword” the first studio track to feature this incarnation of The Stones since 1989. Watts’ drums are immediately recognizable, despite how simple and subtle his style is. The former of these tracks feels like the perfect synthesis of the band’s dance inspired rock of the ‘80s with their blues roots – something they surely hoped to achieve more consistently decades ago. “Live By The Sword”, in addition to hosting a Stones reunion, also features Elton John on piano, and is a pure ‘70s glam rocker in spectacular fashion. Between this and “Get Close” you’ll be wondering why it took six decades for The Stones and Elton John to collaborate.

The remaining songs with featured artists shine just as bright. “Bite My Head Off” sees McCartney deliver a fuzzed-out bass line on an absolute hard rocker that can stand beside some of their hardest and most frenetic tracks ever; this is not the pulse you’d expect from a band of octogenarians. The final collaborative track from in the shape of “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven”, a beautifully soulful gospel track accented by Stevie Wonder and Lady Gaga. Without a doubt, this is among their greatest ballads. Furthermore, you can hear the live energy and fun everyone was having in the studio as the song seemingly breaks off into an impromptu jam, led by Jordan, that swells into an overwhelming wave, bringing the song to a climactic close.

While there is something truly special to hear The Stones collaborate with their contemporaries, the band can hold their own on the remainder of Hackney Diamonds. In addition to “Angry”, the remaining six songs performed solely by The Stones are just as strong. From the country blues of “Dreamy Skies” to the driving “Whole Wide World”, Hackney Diamonds is a stellar record. The Richards-led ballad, “Tell Me Straight”, is a sobering reflection of life and legacy while contemplating one’s remaining time with his gravelly voice bringing a raw sense of honesty and a sense of mortality to rock’n’ roll’s greatest band of survivors. The integrity in this track is that of an elder statesman of the blues and makes a compelling case for the emotional centre of the record – after all, you need not look beyond Keef for the understated coolness and sense of soul that is both the heart and sense of danger at the core of The Stones.

Slang for broken glass, Hackney Diamonds is truly a defining moment for The Rolling Stones. Over 60 years into their career, the rock’n’roll originators have delivered what could very easily be their greatest album since 1978. Hackney Diamonds comes to a stunning close with “Rolling Stones Blues” – a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ Stone” – featuring just Jagger and Richards. Sounding as though it was recorded on a single mic at the opposite end of the room, giving the song an intimate energy, “Rolling Stones Blues” sounds like a blues track pulled from the murkiest depths of the Mississippi Delta with Richard strumming along to a clean electric guitar – with an absolutely dirty tone – and Jagger’s voice bellowing with a haunted sense of longing in between fills performed on the harmonica. This is the song which inspired the band’s name, bringing 61 years of music, creativity, and next level rockstar shit to a cathartic moment of coming full circle. If there was to be a bookend to their career, then I could not think of anything more fitting than “Rolling Stone Blues”.

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