Rolling Stones' 'Hackney Diamonds' Album Review - 8/10

The Rolling Stones' "Hackney Diamonds," diwanohkeun dina 20 Oktober 2023, via Polydor Records, nyaéta hiji ekspedisi 12 track nu ngabalukarkeun pangaruh jangka panjang bandna dina rock 'n' roll. Ieu proyék studio aslina kahiji saprak 2005 "A Bigger Bang," sarta éta dialogues jeung saterusna sambil ngaktipkeun masa lalampahan illustrious maranéhanana.

"Hackney Diamonds" tracklist nyaéta salaku ieu:

1. "Angry"
2. "Get Close" (Feat. Elton John)
3. Demi sasatoan anu dimaksud nyaéta sasatoan anu dimaksud nyaéta sasatoan anu dimaksud nyaéta sasatoan anu dimaksud.
4. "Bite My Head Off" (Feat. Paul McCartney)
5. "Whole Wide World"@
6. "Dreamy Skies"
7. "Mess It Up"
8. "Live by the Sword" (Feat. Bill Wyman, Charlie Watts & Elton John)
9. "Driving Me Too Hard"
10. "Tell Me Straight"
11. "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" (Feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder)
12. "Rolling Stone Blues"

The album commences with "Angry," a song that sets the stage with its untamed energy. Mick Jagger's vocals are both defiant and introspective, especially when he sings, "Voices keep echoing, calling out my name / Hear the rain keep beating on my window pane." It's a track that serves as a prologue to the album's emotional narrative.

Nurutkeun nyaéta "Get Close,"@@ disadiakeun ku Elton John, nu nawiskeun counterpoint leuwih lembut, leuwih melodious. Lirikna, "I jalan-jalan kota di tengah malam jeung saterusna diikat ka punggung kuring," dipangarungkeun kana tema identitas jeung nostalgia, konfirmasi kagiatan Stones pikeun nambahan lapangan emosi.

"Bite My Head Off," featuring Paul McCartney, mangrupakeun tribute ka era Invasi Britania. Ieu nyokot hiji campuran tina freshness jeung nostalgia, jeung lyrics kayaning "Yeah, lamun kuring éta anjing / Yeah, anjeun bakal kick me down," ngabalukarkeun rasa rebellion tanpa waktos.

"Whole Wide World" na "Dreamy Skies@" fungsi salaku anchors emosional tina album, nawiskeun wawasan kontemplatif kana psyche band. Lyrics kawas "Ketika sakabéh dunya anu ngalawan anjeun / Jeung anjeun aya di hujan," encapsulate kemampuan band pikeun ngartikeun perasaan universal.

Ieu track anu disimpen ku "Mess It Up" jeung "Driving Me Too Hard," nu ngabalukarkeun The Stones balik ka elemen blues dasar maranéhanana. Lyrics kawas "You steal my numbers, you stole my codes," from "Mess It Up," explore themes of betrayal and emotional fatigue.

"Live by the Sword," featuring Bill Wyman and the late Charlie Watts, serves as a poignant nod to the band's history. The song's lyrics, "If you live by the sword, gonna die by the sword," emphasize the irreplaceable roles of each member in the band's legacy.

The album concludes with "Rolling Stone Blues," a tribute to the Muddy Waters track that gave the band its name. The lyrics, "Well, I wish I was a catfish / Swimming in the deep blue sea," encapsulate their journey from blues enthusiasts to rock 'n' roll legends.

Keith Richards and Ron Wood's guitar craftsmanship is both detailed and expansive, delivering the iconic riffs that fans have come to expect from the Stones. The rhythm section, featuring the late Charlie Watts on select tracks and Steve Jordan as a stand-in, lays down a sturdy base that allows for musical exploration.

Guest contributions from Lady Gaga, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Paul McCartney amplify the album into a collective musical venture. Lady Gaga's input on "Sweet Sound of Heaven," with lyrics like "Everyone is asking questions, yeah / I got one or two," provides a modern juxtaposition to the Stones' classic aura.

"Hackney Diamonds" holds personal significance for the band, with tracks featuring the late Charlie Watts serving both as a tribute and a reminder of his irreplaceable contribution. Critics have lauded the album for its capacity to resonate with a diverse audience while preserving the Stones' iconic sound. This is an album that challenges musical and societal norms, affirming that the Stones are still a dynamic entity.

On a scale from 1 to 10, "Hackney Diamonds" confidently lands at 8 for us. The Rolling Stones demonstrate that they're not just enduring but are a thriving entity, continually pushing the envelope and cementing their nearly six-decade-long iconic status.