Review: The Rolling Stones Return After 18 Years With The Superb ‘Hackney Diamonds’

Well it’s about time. Or maybe I should start with “good things come to those who wait…”

I keep a running list here in my desk at the B&V Labs of “upcoming albums,” some actually announced, some are purely from my wish list. Every year for as long as I can remember I’d write down “The Stones, new album 20xx.” Then I’d end up scratching out the year I wrote down and replacing it with the next year and then the next year. I can’t believe it’s been since 2005’s A Bigger Bang, which was a great Stones’ album by the way, since Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood have graced us with an album of original tunes. Alas, we lost drummer Charlie Watts in 2021. Granted they did release Blue And Lonesome, an exceptional album of blues covers but I longed for new music from the Stones. Sure, they’ve teased us over the last few decades… 2012’s Greatest Hits package GRRR! had two new tracks, “Gloom And Doom,” and “One More Shot.” And during the pandemic they released a great song, “Living In A Ghost Town,” but a new album always remained elusive.

It’s been rumored they’ve been working on an LP for years but just couldn’t pull it together. Spurred by the loss of Charlie, who they replaced with XPensive Wino drummer Steve Jordan (SNL, the Blues Brothers), last August Mick gave Keith a deadline to shoot for – February 14, 2023, Valentine’s Day – as the target date to have an album completed. As Keith has been quoted, “When the singer says he wants to do an album, you do an album.” From what I’ve read I’m not sure Keith had much new material so much of the album was written by Jagger. Keith says his role was to “shape the songs” with Mick. And I will admit, the first time I listened to this album it sounded like a really good Mick solo album. But the extremely eclectic group of songs on this album really started to reveal themselves to me with repeated listens and yes, this is a damn fine Stones’ album. In the almost universal acclaim this record has gotten it’s described as the “best album since Tattoo You.” Which most critics feel is the last great Stones LP. I really liked Steel Wheels… and Voodoo Lounge… and A Bigger Bang. So I won’t be saying anything like that. Hell, I liked the oft maligned Dirty Work, but hey, I’m a Stones fan. Nobody’s gonna tell me “One Hit To The Body” is a bad song.

To help on this new album, the Stones changed producers from Don Was who has worked with them since Voodoo Lounge (and I’m not sure Mick ever liked), and brought in wunderkind Andrew Watt. As long time readers know, I’m a big fan of Watt as a producer (he can also play any instrument, which is handy). He has a knack for bringing out the best in older acts. He’s recently produced LPs from Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Eddie Vedder, all of which I loved. He can get a “classic rock” act to sound… well, like they did in their classic period. He’s certainly given the band a jolt here. While it is a classic Stones-y album it feels modern, “of today,” if you will. There’s an urgency and passion in these songs that I haven’t heard in a while. Jagger sounds totally engaged and totally into it. His vocals on this album are extraordinary for a man of his age. He’s lost nothing. He even gives us some of his classic falsetto.

As mentioned, Steve Jordan mans the drums in place of Charlie Watts. However, they did use Charlie’s drums on two tracks – “Mess It Up” and “Live By The Sword” – which is as it should be. Longtime bassist Darryl Jones was out touring so Andrew Watt, Ronnie Wood and Keith take up duties on bass guitar. Although erstwhile bassist Bill Wyman returned for “Live By The Sword” as a tribute to Watts, which I just love. It’s a special thing to have the original Stones rhythm section on record together again. Paul McCartney also mans the bass on “Bite My Head Off,” which as a music geek I think is just f’ing cool. Longtime keyboard player Chuck Leavell is also AWOL on this record. However, the Stones aren’t short on guests on this record – Lady Gaga, Elton John, Benmont Tench and Stevie Wonder all show up – but the guests don’t overwhelm the band. They fit into the Stones’ sound quite nicely. While there are no Chuck Berry influenced rockers or “Out Of Tears” ballads, there are really great songs here. When I said to the Rock Chick, “Well, there’s no real weeper ballads on here like “Out Of Tears,”” she said, “That’s good…” Always a rocker, the Rock Chick.

Mick has said the material on this album is all around “failed relationships.” I can certainly hear that here… one has to wonder if he’s talking about his and Keith’s relationship… stormy indeed. Anyway, the album starts off with the first single, “Angry.” I’ve already commented on that song, but I will say, it has only grown in my estimation. The Rock Chick and I like to drive around town blaring that song. It’s a great album opener. They follow up with another riff rocker, “Get Close,” which features Elton John on piano. I really like Jordan’s drumming on this song, although I’ll admit that this one sounds almost like a Mick solo track. James King plays a sax solo that almost steals the show. “Depending On You” features Benmont Tench of Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers on keyboards and is an acoustic guitar driven ballad with a touch of country thrown in. It’s a favorite of mine. “Now I’m just a story you tell…” is a feeling I know too well. “Bite My Head” is a full on, meet me at the finish line, punk rock song with none other than Paul McCartney on a fuzz bass. He even plays a solo as Mick yells, “C’mon Paul let’s hear some bass,” which is admittedly cheesy but what a song! Ronnie throws in a great guitar solo to boot. This track made me think of “Shattered” in a round about way, another punk influenced Stones song.

“Whole Wide World” may be, other than “Angry,” my favorite song on the album. Mick has a full on cockney accent. It’s a full on, loping rocker. I love the riff and it’s got an arena sized chorus. I love when Mick sings, “When you think the party’s over and it’s only just begun…” While “Depending On You” hinted at the Stones’ country rock past, “Dreamy Skies” is a full on Stones country song. There’s a great acoustic slide guitar on this world weary track. It’s very stripped down and Mick adds a sensational harmonica. I love when Mick plays the blues harp. The next two tracks feature Charlie Watts and I’m so glad they had something of his to use on this album, their first since he passed. “Mess It Up” is a dance-able rocker in the vein of “Miss You.” It’s funky and Mick does the chorus in falsetto. Charlie is joined by Bill Wyman for “Live By The Sword” a hard rocker thing that boasts another fabulous guitar solo from Ronnie Wood. “Driving Me Too Hard” is another favorite. It’s a swinging rocker with just a touch of a country rock feel to it.

The three tracks that end this album are really sensational to me. Keith takes lead vocals on “Tell Me Straight” where he’s asking his lover for some truth. I always look for the Keith songs on every Stones album and this one does not disappoint. This song makes the album feel quintessentially Stonesy to me… it conjures a closing bar and a tumbler of rye. Next is the jaw dropping “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” with Stevie Wonder on keyboards and the incomparable Lady Gaga doing a Merry Clayton “Gimme Shelter” harmony/co lead vocal and it’s an astoundingly good Stones song. It’s the kind of song they used to knock out with ease on Sticky Fingers or Exile On Main Street but I didn’t think they were capable of anymore… blues, soul and gospel all rolled into one. Kudos to Andrew Watt for pulling in Stevie Wonder for the song. It’s shockingly good rock n roll. And finally, in another great move, Andrew Watt brilliantly sat Mick and Keith in a room with a harmonica and an acoustic and they go back to the beginning on a Muddy Waters cover, “Rolling Stones Blues.” They’d never covered the song that gave them their name until now. It’s a song that’s hard not to love but then I love the blues. I don’t know if the Stones will ever do another album – I certainly hope they do – but this would be a perfect track to end it all on.

With Jagger this excited about the new music and Andrew Watt on board to give these guys a jolt, there are rumors that the Stones are already half way done with another record. Let’s face it, they don’t have 18 years to wait again. If you’re a fan of the Stones you are going to like this album. It’s really astounding that this far down the road this band is capable of producing something this strong. The band just delivers. This album will be in high rotation here at B&V for the foreseeable future… I just wish my vinyl copy would show up!

Cheers!