Earth’s population is really lucky. One of the best songwriting couples of all time, Mick Jagger/Keith Richards, is still not retired. They have, with The Rolling Stones, miraculously survived 61 years as a band. That’s why there’s still quite a stir when a group aged 75-80 releases their first record in 18 years. Escaping the pitfalls The fall is great when old legends release new material – history is full of bands and artists who have not known how to give themselves the best, and who have sullied their heritage with nitrite moths. It is a pleasure to note that The Rolling Stones are not included in that category. One can be forgiven for fearing that the Rolling Stones in new guise may have been soiled in a convulsive youthfulness, a bit like a grandfather with his cap backwards. FAST DELIVERY: The Rolling Stones have not given their fans a particularly long wait: The new album was announced on 4 September. A month and a half later, “Hackney Diamonds” is ready for the world. From left Ron Wood, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Photo: Hogan Media/Shutterstock Dressy nostalgia The opening track “Angry” quells that fear immediately, with a dressy nostalgic approach to modern rock. The Rolling Stones have always been melodic, and here Mick Jagger is in great form. His vocals add an ever-so-small pinch of cumin to the melody, so that it has an extended lifespan throughout the song. It’s a classic happy rock song where the snare drum has been given an 80s sound and the chorus sounds like something Tom Cruise could have played behind the bar in the classic “Cocktail” from 1988. This bodes well for “Hackney Diamonds”, which after all represents the modernization of a 60-year-old band. It is essential for such a band not to move too far forward in the zeitgeist, and to place itself in a fluid place between 1980 and 2000 is a stroke of genius. Old greatness in a not-too-new outfit On track number two, “Get Close”, space has also been found for a saxophone solo, an instrument that, outside the orchestra pits, is best known from 90s sitcom vignettes and 80s tacky pop songs. Here, by the way, Elton John himself is a guest artist on the piano! In addition, Paul McCartney plays bass on “Bite My Head Off”, which feels like another nod to a safe and good placement of this record in time. On a couple of songs, for example “Dreamy Skies”, it is more or less only the production and the slightly simple chorus that separate the Stones in 2023 from the Stones on the record “Sticky Fingers” from 1971. Not free from mistakes What, however, is far from “Sticky Fingers”, is the text work. At “Hackney Diamonds”, you haven’t managed particularly many rounds in the writing room. It’s mostly about partying and lost love, something Jagger knows a lot about after eight children with five different women. It is not exclusively negative that the lyrics are uncomplicated and sometimes simple, it suits the sound well, but it would have been great to see what the 80-year-olds Jagger/Richards think after a long life. It was already interesting when they were 30, so you can imagine what it could be now. Watch the music video for the first single “Angry”: Cheap and lazy riffs There are also some slivers of joy in the song selection. For example, in “Whole Wide World”, the guitar riffs taste a bit cheap, almost lazy. Keith Richards has always been among the world’s most innovative guitarists, so the standard he has set for himself is sky high. Maybe he’s out of fancy, or it’s me who has trouble hearing a 70’s rock guitarist perform modernized riffs. However, it is a transient and only occasional problem. Brilliant combo of new and old On “Mess It Up” he is back in good, old Stones style. This song is also the one that best shows the meeting between vintage and modern Stones. The chorus feels like something they would never let go of in those hard days, while the choruses and riffs are typical of the recipe that made them one of the world’s biggest bands. Here is also the drum track by the now deceased drummer Charlie Watts, as it is also on “Live By the Sword” – where another former member, Bill Wyman, contributes on bass. Dressy update The Rolling Stones in 2023 manage to combine Jagger/Richards with everything from Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga (vocals on “Sweet Sound of Heaven”) in an impressive way – without appearing desperate to capture a young target audience. This record isn’t going to disappoint fans, even if it jokes about appealing to the younger generation. This is clearly a record that is aimed at an audience that knows The Rolling Stones from before, and that can tolerate a minimal modernization of an iconic sound. Regardless, the fact is that “Hackney Diamonds” has most of what the fans loved in the 60s and 70s in a very dressy and updated edition. news reviews Photo: Polydor Artist: The Rolling Stones Title: “Hackney Diamonds” Record label: Polydor/Universal Release date: 20 October 2023
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“Hackney Diamonds” by The Rolling Stones – Reviews and recommendations
