Once upon a time, I was your little rooster, but now I'm just one of your cocks...

Yeah, there'll be Cher, cockroaches, and Keith Richards after the apocalypse. And with A Bigger Bang, the Rolling Stones 25th studio album if i'm counting right (not counting compilations or live albums), Mick, Keith, et. al are getting the usual "this is the best album in years" hype that's been thrown to every over-50 artist that's churned out an album lately. (heck, over-40 if you count Morrissey). Given the Stones' longevity but scattershot output, does this set cut the mustard (or cut the cheese)? Well it depends on what you're looking for.

This set is definitely Keith's album, with guitar riff after guitar riff throughout the 16 songs on here, from the somewhat-familiar chug of "Rough Justice" to his second vocal lead on the album, the slinky "Infamy". In fact the first three songs are sparse, guitar-driven numbers that recall the Tattoo You album ("Justice", "Let Me Down Slow", and "It Won't Take Long"). Up next is "Rain Falls Down", a cock-funk number that would fit into the Some Girls era. Then "Streets Of Love" reminds me almost of Black And Blue era melancholy of songs like "Fool To Cry". "Back Of My Hand" bring back the blues even of Exile On Main Street. In fact most of the album seems like a tribute to the sounds of years gone past with only "She Saw Me Coming" the dud I guess representing the mid-eighties/late seventies period of "Shattered" and "Hot Stuff" and such. "Biggest Mistake" brings back a faster "Waiting on a Friend" vibe, and surprisingly Keith puts down the sweetest moment of the album, "This Place Is Empty", where his war-torn voice carries the song like no one can, and yes that includes Mick.

But from that moment we get kicked back into high gear with more riff-o-rama, with "Oh No, Not You Again" a rockin' bitchfest, and "Dangerous Beauty" slinking along. "Laughing Nearly Died" slow down the pace a little, before the "buzz track" of the album, "Sweet Neocon", a thinly if at all disguised slam on Bush/Rice/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the rest of the administration. It's refreshing for even the royalty of rock groups to chime in again this republican craziness. After a couple toss-off rockers, Keith comes back with the strangely paced closer "Infamy" (a pun title for "In For Me").

Musically this album is top-notch with then band and backup players in prime form. Though the lyrics are mostly catty cliches at times, and don't stay on the mind past play, I think the point is more the mood than the content. And for that the Stones' are on track. A Bigger Bang won't eclipse Let It Bleed or Aftermath in your collection, but will fit quite nicely beside Tattoo You and Some Girls.

Grade:B-
Best Cuts: "Sweet Neocon", "Oh No Not You Again"
Weakest Link: "She Saw Me Coming"

A Bigger Bang hit #3 pop albums and #2 in the UK.
"Rough Justice" hit #25 rock and #15 in the UK as a flipside to "Streets Of Love".
"Rain Falls Down" made #21 dance club and #33 in the UK.
"Streets Of Love" made #15 in the UK.
"Biggest Mistake" hit #51 in the UK.
"Oh No Not You Again" hit #34 rock.

You can pick up A Bigger Bang at sites like here and here.

To hear the Ashley Beedle Remix of "Rain Fall Down", click here to download (rightclick to bring in a new window).

And here's the video for the single "Streets Of Fire"...