Rolling Stones/ Foreign Tongues

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Rolling Stones/ Foreign Tongues 

Genre: Rock

Label: Promotone/ Universal

Rating: ****

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger will turn 83 next weekend. In the studio, his voice sounds like he's 43. On stage, he moves like a 23-year-old. As for guitarist Keith Richards, we stopped counting a few decades ago.

The two stalwarts, along with regular guitarist Ronnie Wood, are at the helm of the band's 25th British and 27th American album Foreign Tongues. It's a typical Stones record, maintaining the class of its 2023 predecessor Hackney Diamonds and a string of older records. There's lots of rock n' roll, lots of blues, gallons on guitar licks, a couple of intense power ballads, a few twangy harmonica spells, tonnes of Jagger swagger. 

One disclaimer, to begin with. The PR handouts talk of a long line of celebrity guests. Truth is that some make only fleeting appearances. Paul McCartney plays bass on one track, and Bruno Mars guests on cowbell on one song. So does Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, who brings his bass drum on one number. There are moderate inputs from Robert Smith of the Cure and Benmomt Tench of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. The real solid contribution is from the genius Steve Winwood, who plays organ, Rhodes and piano on 10 of the 14 tracks. Maybe they should have said 'Rolling Stones feat. Steve Winwood'.

The first two songs have the band's trademark sound. On 'Rough & Twisted', Jagger sings, "Yeah, why don't you drive me down that rough and twisted road, why don't you guide me 'cause I don't know which way to go?" He's on great nick on the first single 'In The Stars', which has the words, "(Ooh) mm, it's in the stars, it's our destiny, (ooh) it's in the stars, written you and me, (ooh) it's in the stars, it's no mystery, (ooh), it's in the stars, written you and me".

On 'Jealous Lover', Jagger tries a Bee Geesy squeak, but resorts to his natural style on 'Divine Intervention', 'Side Effects', 'Mr Charm', 'Never Wanna Lose You' and 'Hit Me In The Head' - the last song being recorded by late drummer Charlie Watts. Richards does his vocal bit on 'Some Of Us'. Elsewhere, Steve Jordan chips in on drums, James King plays saxophone, Ron Blake blows trumpet and concert regular Darryl Jones is on bass.  Production is by Andrew Watt, who plays a variety of instruments too.

Most songs are written by the Jagger-Richards combine, though producer Watt and pianist Matt Clifford add inputs on a couple of tunes. There are two well-rendered covers. While Chuck Berry's 'Beautiful Delilah' seems like a natural choice with its rock n' roll stomp and dazzling acoustic guitar, one is surprised to see the Stones pick the Amy Winehouse number 'You Know I'm No Good', and do a great job.

No Stones album is complete without a few ballads. Jagger delivers 'Ringing Hollow' in his quintessential style, singing, "Well, I fell in love with you before we ever met, I saw all your movies, I smoked your cigarettes" as a reference to the band's earlier love affair with America. On 'Back In Your Life', the group pays tribute to Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Sly Stone, with Jagger singing, "It took quite a while, to figure out your style. talking to you on the phone", and Wood following with a masterly guitar solo.

The music is consistently good, and the two  octogenarians Jagger and Richards and 79-year-old Wood are in supreme form. The only letdown is Nathaniel Mary Quinn's artwork, which tries to combine the faces of the three members. It tries to he a pastiche but ends up being quite a waste-iche. Maybe the Stones wanted to take the term 'distortion' too literally.




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