Stones challenge Paul?

[B]

Rolling Stones release new single, reviews mixed

music.yahoo.com/news/rolling-stones-release-single-reviews-mixed-132509808--sector.html

"LONDON (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones released new single "Doom and Gloom"
on Thursday, their first new song in over six years, and early reviews were mixed.

Celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, the British rock veterans behind
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Honky Tonk Women" have gone back to their
roots in a fast-tempo, blues track described variously as "gritty", "dirty" and "swampy".

Doom and Gloom is one of two new songs on their upcoming greatest hits album "GRRR!",
which hits shelves on November 12, and there was a sense of relief among critics
that the track sounded like the Stones of old.

"Received music industry wisdom has it that new Rolling Stones material exists purely
to flog compilation albums or tour tickets," wrote Dan Silver in the Mirror tabloid.
"It's with some relief that we report it's actually rather good," he added in a three-out-of-five star review.

Neil McCormick of the Daily Telegraph also gave Doom and Gloom three stars,
saying it was "business as usual" for the band and drawing comparisons between the song
and the "basement rock" of their acclaimed 1972 album "Exile on Main Street".
Both critics argued that the song's weakest point was lead singer Mick Jagger's vocals.
(What?!)

"The best bit is when he stops singing and starts blowing," said McCormick
of the harmonica interlude.

Silver praised the "nicotine-stained chords" of Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards on guitars
and Charlie Watts's "customary magic" on the drums, but added:

"If there's a weak link here then it's actually Jagger,
who honks and caterwauls over the track like one of
his own tribute artists. His extended enunciation is
excruciating - almost to the point of parody in places."

Music magazine NME called Doom and Gloom a "'Gimme Shelter' for Generation Wii.

"The ... new Stones song ... is a revitalising reminder of what made them great in the first place,
a tune that will sit seamlessly amongst their classics.
Are you listening, Macca?" it concluded, in a challenge to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.

Doom and Gloom and GRRR! are part of a series of events to celebrate half a century
of the Stones, one of the world's most successful and influential rock and roll bands
who started out on July 12, 1962 at the Marquee Club in London's Oxford Street.

The rockers walk the red carpet at the London film festival next week for the premiere of
a documentary called "Crossfire Hurricane" and they also published a photograph album in July.

The Museum of Modern Art in New York stages a film retrospective opening on
November 15 and the Stones are even helping to decorate London's famous
Carnaby Street this Christmas.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)"

The Rolling Stones -- Doom And Gloom (Lyric Video)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPFGWVKXxm0

[ericnapster]

B wrote:
The Rolling Stones released new single "Doom and Gloom"
on Thursday, their first new song in over six years, and early reviews were mixed.

I haven't heard the song yet, I will but it's not a priority. Why? Because it's been my experience that my favourite musical artists were best when they were young, then their music starts decline to the point that it starts to...well...suck. I realise that they come to a point in their careers where they no longer need to make music that sells, and then are free to express themselves. But their musical skills really do seem to decline.
Why is this? Is it the drugs? Does the satanic spell wear off? What is it?
Visual artists on the other hand produce their best work an their latter years. Which seems logical as they have honed their skills for all those years. Why doesn't this seem to hold true in music?

[linus]

"Visual artists on the other hand produce their best work an their latter years. Which seems logical as they have honed their skills for all those years. Why doesn't this seem to hold true in music?"

I agree w/everything you said, Eric.
Though I think the music thing is mostly only true in the pop/rock genre. Most classical musicians and even jazz musicians wrote their best stuff in their later years, much like visual artists. I think that is mostly due to the sense that rock is a youth thing. When the rebellious edge fades away, and you don't have to fight the man - you are the man, there's not really much fire in the belly, and later work will pale in comparison to earlier work.