Between "Sticky Fingers" and "Exile on Main Street," you have two albums that absolutely define the Rolling Stones like no others.
But "Exile" went even further. The Stones took what they started on "Sticky Fingers" and expanded the brilliance on that album in "Exile," working the nuances of their music to an incredible height.
Now that it's out again, it's like the return of an old friend. It sounds sharper and clearer than ever before. The opener, "Rocks Off," is stone cold solid, while the second track, "Rip This Joint," is a party-all-night uninhibited wild ride.
The two tracks set the tone for one of the most well put-together albums of their career.
There's no point in reviewing the original album again, since Stones fans should be fully aware of it. But for the reissue, the Stones have pulled out 10 unreleased tracks out of their archives.
One of them, "Plundered By Love," was issued ahead of the reissue on a vinyl single for the recent Record Store Day. The CD mix is much cleaner than the vinyl and adds much more power to the song. It's a great song that would have fit in nicely with the original album had it been issued at the time.
Of the other outtakes, a couple have circulated among collectors in not the same versions. And "Title 5," which closes off the disc, is a odd guitar workout. Overall, though, there's nothing really embarrassing among them.
If you're going to get the new release, especially the unreleased tracks, there are a couple of variations you might want to know about. Best Buy's 2-disc deluxe version with the outtakes includes an exclusive interview disc. Running about 15 minutes, it features comments from all the Stones on the album, including Mick Taylor. Best Buy also has the more expensive edition with a full book, vinyl albums and CDs and "The Rolling Stones: Stones in Exile"
DVD, which will also be released separately.
Target has the outtake disc available separately as "Rarities: Special Edition." It also has a limited edition package featuring the Rarities disc, a t-shirt and a guitar pick.
And Ron Wood is nowhere in sight.
A footnote: If you get the reissue in a walk-in store, be sure to check it for discs before you get too far away. We heard a report of one instance at a Best Buy where the CDs were missing from the sealed package.
- Vintage Rock 'n' Roll Examiner: Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. If you like music, don't miss our Beatles Examiner and Paul McCartney Examiner columns. News you need to know. You can subscribe at the links.
- Give us subscription love: Beatles Examiner, Paul McCartney Examiner, Vintage Rock 'n' Roll Examiner, TV on DVD Examiner
Comments
Great review Steve! I was always a guy who loved both Beatles and Stones(in lesser doses) but I let my enthusiasm for the Stones severely slip 18 years ago for no good reason. The flame is relit and I have the great luck of really discovering "Exile On Main St." for the first time. That was an album I missed in my earlier Stones' phase.
LOL, I better open my c.d. now as I got the "deluxe" c.d. package from Best Buy. The big "Exile" box is beautiful but at $189.99, too steep and I have no need of the vinyl!
On balance, I like most of the bonus tracks. It's better than most new rock music being released today. It feels real. Most of today's rock-- with a few exceptions-- feels contrived, rehashed, overly produced. The Stones were great. Second best rock and roll band ever.
Looking forward to picking up the Remaster 2 CD "Exile". I was never much of a fan of this album as the sound was pretty awful for me, always sounded like it was recorded in the bottom of a well, the bass had a real rumble to it. I'm quite aware that the "rawness" of the sound was quite appealing to many, sadly not to me. I hear the sound has been much improved. I see other people weighing in on the Stones place in history. I'd say their singles output in the 60's was second (a very distant 2nd) only to the Beatles, but as far as their albums go, they's place behind The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin and the Doors for me. Still a great band by any standard.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!