2 of 3

Write now Article Tools

Tattoo You is an album of paradoxes by a paradoxical band. One side is one of the most consistent slabs of music the Stones had put out since "Let It Bleed", the second is mostly unfinished and unfocused R& B. Secondly, while it was hailed as return to form by old-school fans, it actually contained very little truly new music. Third, while it does rank as perhaps their strongest post-Some Girls, it represented the beginning of a creative decline and inter-band turmoil the band never quite recovered from.

"Start Me Up" is the quintessential Stones party and concert starter. Keith Richards and Ron Wood lay down a brutal two guitar attack, with Mick Jagger's feral vocals leading the way. "Hang Fire" follows it up beautifully. The third song "Slave" is a swamp blues jam that serves as a nice change of pace. All the way until "Neighbors", they really don't let up. They don't try to re-invent their sound a la the funk and disco flirtations of Some Girls and Emotional Rescue, nor do they explore any new ground in the songs. It's a dark, urgent rock and roll statement. Side Two was meant to be a contrast, which it was in more ways than they would've anticipated. More like a collection of ideas and demos than songs, it has moments of gospel and r&b beauty on "Worried About You", and some dreamy psychedlia on "Heaven", but non of the songs save the brilliant closer "Waiting on a Friend" never congeal into real songs. It comes off as unfocused and unfinished, nowehere hitting the true satisfaction of a completed song. While it is partially redeemed by "Waiting On A Friend", it is a long and ponderous ride to get there. Rarely before has one record started so strong yet ended so dissappointedly.

Another paradox was that "Tatoo You", both promoted as new music and hailed as a comeback of sorts, wasn't really even new music. It was a collection of out-takes from sessions ranging from 1976's Black and Blue" through 1979's Emotional Rescue. Many critics and fans hailed it as a"return to form", but it was really the Stones cleaning out their closet of admittedly strong tunes. Some Girls and Emotional Rescue breathed commercial and creative life into the band, adding disco and r & b touches to the band's trademark sound. Many Rolling Stones fans, while not disliking the new material, preferred the bluesy menace of Beggars Banquet or the druggy lasciviousness of Let it Bleed. Tattoo You, at least the first half came closer to their classic sound and demeanor. So

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Album reviews: Tattoo You, by The Rolling Stones?
We want to hear your view. Write now!