The Rolling Stones are a band that need little introduction. Debatably the biggest Rock-n-Roll band of all-time, over sixty years they have sustained themselves loudly and proudly. Emerging from England around the same time as The Beatles, what separated The Rolling Stones was their rougher Blues Rock sound and less clean image. Something that would follow them through the years, to name all of the band’s boldest moments would take a lifetime, but of course, early success would have to include 1965’s “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” “Get Off of My Cloud,” but also 1966’s “Paint It Black.”
Just a few of the tracks synonymous with the band and Rock-n-Roll, in most recent times The Stones have concentrated on touring. Doing so rather extensively, in the new millennium they have released new studio albums sparingly; this includes 2005’s A Bigger Bang, 2016’s Blues cover record Blue & Lonesome, and more recently, 2023’s Hackney Diamonds.
Released on October 20th through Polydor Records, Hackney Diamonds marks The Rolling Stones first all original studio album in eighteen long years. Their twenty-sixty overall studio record in the USA, it also their first without Charlie Watts on drums. Watts, who passed away at the age of eighty back in 2021, is sorely missed by the band and fans, but for those interested, he does in fact play on two new tracks – “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword.”
Knowing this, the album features the core of members (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood), but also features production from the Grammy-winning Andrew Watt, plus features a laundry list of epic guest musicians. Watt, who has worked with everyone from Post Malone to Ozzy Osborne, brings together a sound that is very much The Rolling Stones and not an overly modern, polished computerized mess. This means the tracks all sound live, raw, and real. True to what The Rolling Stones have always been, some might think at this stage, how much could the songwriting team of Jagger and Richards really have left to offer? Well, this is a very valid question, because oftentimes legacy acts put out new material which is flat and uninspired. However, the songs that make up Hackney Diamonds are really quite solid.
Twelve songs in total, including a cover of Muddy Waters’ “Rolling Stones Blues,” the record as a whole is pretty even. This means there are more high than low points and there is also a bit of diversity. Led by the single “Angry,” which is more of a rocker, followed by other tracks similar like “Get Close,” “Bite My Head Off” (featuring Paul McCartney), plus “Mess It Up” and “Live By The Sword” (including Elton John).”
All fun listens, what really makes this new album shine are the more mellow tunes like “Depending On You,” Country twang of “Dreamy Skies,” dark tone of “Tell Me Straight,” and bluesy “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.” The latter, the band’s latest single, includes Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder. Quite a combination, both are utilized in a way that does not overpower the song, but only adds to the emotional vibe.
So, how do The Rolling Stones fare with their new music? Honestly, really well, because these songs are very well written, delivered, and produced. That considered, if this were to be the final Rolling Stones studio album ever… it would be a pretty good way to bookend their legacy. That is why Cryptic Rock gives Hackney Diamonds 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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