| January 10th, 2006 04:31 AM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
Still got it?: The case against the Rolling Stones
The Montreal Gazette
Berhard Perusse
Published: Saturday, January 07, 2006
When the Rolling Stones take the stage Tuesday and Keith Richards leans into the opening chords of - let me go out on a limb here - Start Me Up, the devoted and the merely curious will have paid - in some cases - the equivalent of a weekly paycheque for a chance to aim their binoculars at the rock legends.
Every time the Stones go out on the road, complicit media gleefully jump on the bandwagon, messengers of the myth that the bad boys of rock 'n' roll are about to take your town by storm again. This time around, the hype is slightly worse, because many critics have pronounced the group's latest disc, A Bigger Bang, worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as their best work. The implied conclusion: the Stones are back in fighting trim.
But the premise is flawed. Like most Stones albums in the last 30-plus years, A Bigger Bang is basically a handful of solid tracks propping up a lot of second-rate filler. Who out there will play it right after Let It Bleed and seriously argue the case for a favourable comparison?
So what's behind all this praise going into overdrive? Perhaps many critics so desperately want the Stones to record a classic in their twilight years - as Bob Dylan did with Love and Theft - that they've projected this wish on a woefully unworthy product. Or maybe it's just easier and safer to feed the public-relations bandwagon.
That's not necessarily difficult to understand: the band's lure, as a concept, is hard to resist. I never tire of reading interviews with Richards, a man who has become a caricature, but whose passion for rock 'n' roll comes through in every word he speaks and whose heart always seems to be in the right place. I also respect Sir Mick Jagger's consummate professionalism.
Most of all, I'm crazy about almost every track the Stones recorded up to the early '70s. The adrenaline-filled British blues of 12 X 5, the white-boy soul of Out of Our Heads and, especially, the vertigo-inducing visionary swagger of Beggar's Banquet and Let It Bleed still quicken my pulse - as does a 1965 clip of them doing She Said Yeah and Get Off of My Cloud on the TV show Hullabaloo, which I have on DVD. Few people who have been in my house have escaped watching it.
When that '60s-era material was finally remastered and rereleased in 2002, I excitedly bought every disc up to Get Yer Ya-Yas Out!, their brilliant live album from 1970. When it comes to loving the Stones in their greatness, I take a back seat to no one. I won't even seriously contest Sticky Fingers or Exile on Main Street, bringing us up to 1972 - although I believe both those overrated discs were the beginning of the end.
From the 1973 album Goat's Head Soup on, it was pretty much over. With irrational hope, I plunked down my cash for every release, only to hear three or four worthy songs - at best. As songwriters, Jagger and Richards were on a downward spiral. As recording artists, the Stones bookended the '80s with the virtually worthless albums Emotional Rescue and Steel Wheels - and the 1990s were even worse.
That leaves only the band's legend as a live act. There are plenty out there who'll tell you a Stones show is worth every penny. It certainly was when I saw them at the Forum in 1965 and 1972, but I was underwhelmed by their 1989 show at the cavernous Olympic Stadium and their 1998 show at the Molson Centre, which was slick, professional and, ultimately, uninspiring. When they last played here three years ago, I just stayed home.
It's hard to shake the suspicion that many are mostly in love with the idea of seeing the Stones. Who doesn't want to be telling co-workers on Wednesday that you saw the World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band last night?
But that weighty title is self-proclaimed, supported only by reputation and conventional wisdom. Fact is, the music stopped resonating long ago.
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| January 10th, 2006 05:11 AM |
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| Altamont |
quote:
Ten Thousand Motels wrote:
When it comes to loving the Stones in their greatness, I take a back seat to no one. I won't even seriously contest Sticky Fingers or Exile on Main Street, bringing us up to 1972 - although I believe both those overrated discs were the beginning of the end.
What a moron. Anyone who could consider Sticky Fingers as the beginning of the end is an idiot, point blank. |
| January 10th, 2006 06:24 AM |
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| corgi37 |
Just another cranky old prick. Pissed off cause he hasnt seen his cock in 15 years, let alone run around and sing for 2 hours - And still get the pussy, like Jagger.
He has some valid points, but if he cant respect SF or Exile for what they are, then gimme a break.
The guy sounds to me like the disenchanted 1st wave of fans. Like my sister. She actually doesnt like anything after 68. She's also a Beatles nut, so there is a 1/2 way explanation for her views. This guy didnt get the 70's at all. He's Canadian for Christ sake! Not a bit of soul in him at all.
Sure he stayed home 3 years ago. His free press ticket didnt come through.
Either that, or his "roids" were playing up. |
| January 10th, 2006 09:17 AM |
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| gimmekeef |
This guy is so Montreal.....always consider themselves above it all...trying to be chic.....The article is not totally off base but one would at least hope he'd write it tomorrow..after actually seeing his first Stones show in about 15 years! |
| January 10th, 2006 09:28 AM |
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| Jumping Jack |
His brain must have frost bite |
| January 10th, 2006 09:46 AM |
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| Egbert |
quote:
gimmekeef wrote:
This guy is so Montreal.....always consider themselves above it all...trying to be chic.....The article is not totally off base but one would at least hope he'd write it tomorrow..after actually seeing his first Stones show in about 15 years!
Yeah - a typical reaction to the fact that the Stones have shown Toronto much more love through the years. |
| January 10th, 2006 10:26 AM |
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| jb |
The guy makes some good points as well...not one fucking hit since 81(although he seems to go back to early 70's which is nonsense). |
| January 10th, 2006 10:31 AM |
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| CraigP |
He's obviously full of it. |
| January 10th, 2006 12:36 PM |
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| BILL PERKS |
ANOTHER FROG ASSHOLE |
| January 10th, 2006 12:51 PM |
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| jb |
quote:
BILL PERKS wrote:
ANOTHER FROG ASSHOLE
Been to Hollywood Beach, Fla this time of year? About 2 miles due east of my office....................
[Edited by jb] |
| January 10th, 2006 01:04 PM |
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| Angiegirl |
Oh come on, we all know he's right, be it '72 or '83.
That's why I'm still going to 2 of their shows next summer  |
| January 10th, 2006 01:05 PM |
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| Maxlugar |
[quote]jb wrote:
The guy makes some good points as well...not one fucking hit since 81(although he seems to go back to early 70's which is nonsense).
Yes, I believe he has valid points. We all know Mick Taylor took away with him a huge portion of the live grit when he left. Bill Wyman brought on the noise and brought on the funk too. Gone. The young-and-trying-to-prove-himself Ron Wood is dead too.
It is a tribute to their greatness that even though the ship has taken on so much water, they are still the best live act out there.
He made some glaring mistakes regarding albums too. some Girls, Tattoo You and Voodoo Lounge are various degrees of genius.
But I see where this dude is coming from.... |
| January 10th, 2006 01:31 PM |
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| BILL PERKS |
quote:
jb wrote:
Been to Hollywood Beach, Fla this time of year? About 2 miles due east of my office....................
[Edited by jb]
WHAT TOWN YOUR OFFICE IN?DAVIE? I'VE BEEN TO THE HOLLYWOOD MALL ,SITE OF THE INFAMOUS ADAM WALSH ABDUCTION IN 1981. |
| January 10th, 2006 01:43 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
[But I see where this dude is coming from....
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| January 10th, 2006 01:52 PM |
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| Maxlugar |
[quote]Joey wrote:
Lydia Cornell still looks good.
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| January 10th, 2006 01:59 PM |
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| BILL PERKS |
KELLY LEBROCK LOOKS HORRIBLE |
| January 10th, 2006 02:13 PM |
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| Child of the Moon |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
[quote]jb wrote:
The guy makes some good points as well...not one fucking hit since 81(although he seems to go back to early 70's which is nonsense).
Yes, I believe he has valid points. We all know Mick Taylor took away with him a huge portion of the live grit when he left. Bill Wyman brought on the noise and brought on the funk too. Gone. The young-and-trying-to-prove-himself Ron Wood is dead too.
It is a tribute to their greatness that even though the ship has taken on so much water, they are still the best live act out there.
He made some glaring mistakes regarding albums too. some Girls, Tattoo You and Voodoo Lounge are various degrees of genius.
But I see where this dude is coming from....
You forgot Dirty Work. A last gasp of true genius! |
| January 10th, 2006 02:45 PM |
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| Maxlugar |
[quote]Child of the Moon wrote:
You forgot Dirty Work. A last gasp of true genius!
Oh sure WE know that...
I was basically talking about the masses. The masses should know it as fact that Some Girls, Tatto You and Voodoo Lounge are great albums. Sales alone tell us this.
Dirty Work is a true masterpiece for the TRUE FAN.
Like you and me, old pal.
MAXY!
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| January 10th, 2006 02:51 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
Maxlugar wrote:
[quote]Joey wrote:
Lydia Cornell still looks good.
Yeah , I forgot about her .................
Damn Good !!!!
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| January 10th, 2006 02:56 PM |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
Joey wrote:
Yeah , I forgot about her .................
Damn Good !!!!
come to the pug! |
| January 10th, 2006 03:33 PM |
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| the good |
Anyone who knows anything about the Stones knows that their career began to decilne with the release of Beggar's Banquet... |
| January 10th, 2006 03:35 PM |
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| voodoopug |
quote:
the good wrote:
Anyone who knows anything about the Stones knows that their career began to decilne with the release of Beggar's Banquet...
It is refreshing to see a fan of the Brian Jones era...sadly, this era is often forgotten for the Taylor era |
| January 10th, 2006 09:21 PM |
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| texile |
he had me until that line about exile and sticky fingers....
all credibility was lost. |
| January 10th, 2006 10:37 PM |
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| speedfreakjive |
quote:
texile wrote:
he had me until that line about exile and sticky fingers....
all credibility was lost.
indeed, wtf? lack of knowledge is embarassingly apparent |
| January 11th, 2006 01:07 AM |
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| IanBillen |
Yeah, Exile and Sticky Fingers.....truly a downward step....(WTF)
"Steel Wheels was underwelming"!>>>>What the Fuck
Steel Wheels was underwelming huh?...now I thought that after the comments at the beggining he couldn't be considered any more uncredible and ridiculous but that Steel Wheels comment took the cake.
Fuck man,
*I never thought I would hear anyone remotely consider the monsterous, Steel Wheels ensomble underwhelming..... Now, I have heard every naysayer idiot comment that could be said. That one takes the top spot on the list.
Ian |
| January 11th, 2006 01:08 AM |
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| speedfreakjive |
Steel Wheels is a bag of shite |
| January 11th, 2006 06:45 AM |
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| IzzyStradlin |
This article is right on the money. |
| January 11th, 2006 07:06 AM |
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| corgi37 |
Fuck you!
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| January 11th, 2006 08:21 AM |
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| Gazza |
For the most part, the sort of predictable "theyre not as good as they used to be" stuff
But how could they be? When youve made music THAT great and timeless, you have more to live up to than anyone else
The Stones even in 2006 may not be better than the Stones of 1969 but theyre still better than pretty much near everyone else in 2006, which is something all too often overlooked, and something worthy of respect.
Despite some valid points, I cant take seriously any music critic who considers Sticky Fingers and Exile the beginning of a decline and who can disregard a masterpiece like Some Girls entirely.
Some Girls gets ignored because it disproves entirely the standard, cliched first lesson that is taught in the School for Hack Journalists that the Stones were washed up and spent after 1972. Had it been released in 1968-69 instead of the middle of the punk era when the band were considered uncool the same journalists would have jerked themselves silly over it. |
| January 11th, 2006 10:46 PM |
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| gypsymofo60 |
Berhard Perusse of The Montreal Gazette sounds like any of a thousand rock critics over the world every time The Stones release a new disc, or hit the road, largely having us believe that these are his thoughts when he is so obviously quoting verbatim those many predecessors.
What a load of old fanny! He was probably reporting on cute little kitty and puppy rescues in the local area until recently. As soon as one of these wankers starts his, "The Stones lost it from Goats Head Soup" onwards horseshit I've got him sussed. You've been found out tosser! Stones fans have heard it all before, funny how we keep buying these "inferior discs" and straining to see these "rock gods" through our binoculous. I never have owned a pair of these war relics, don't know about him?
Punk day dissing of The Stones ended in 1978 you dick!
Do us all a favour you so called rock critics, GET AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT! |
