Stones Unfiltered: Ranking the Rolling Stones Albums of the Past 40 Years
Image credit, Joe Daly
In the dizzying techno-carnival of the past thirty years, The Rolling Stones have swaggered, strode and occasionally stumbled through the ensuing trends, personnel changes and yes, the deaths.. Keith Richards used some of that time to unleash a hefty and stupidly-absorbing biography that painted Mick Jagger as a craven, money-driven egomaniac. Mick responded with a his own biography — a hellaciously undercooked serving of kneejerk denials and occasionally interesting insights into the band’s creative synergies. And yet, while lesser bands burn out, fade away and repair to the state fair circuit, the Stones continue to tour the planet and to make new music. In an era when other well-established bands publicly discard members on social media and bloated seniors with frail, stringy coifs dyed coal black wheeze through schlocky performances that make kindergarten plays look like a Rammstein show, it’s no small feat that the Stones remain a vital, working band. With the announcement that they will again hit the road in 2024, I thought it might be a good time to look at their more recent output — which, for a band that came up in the 60s, still covers a lot of ground. Here are their ten most notable releases of the past 40 years, ranked:
10. Dirty Work (1986)
In the turbulent wake of solo ventures and simmering tensions, Dirty Work emerged as a raucous, unbridled effort to reclaim the band’s rock 'n' roll throne. Marred by internal discord, the album paradoxically shines in its raw, unpolished energy. And despite a production that screams mid-'80s, tracks like One Hit (To the Body) pulsate with the seedy, untamed spirit reminiscent of their early days. Jagger, perhaps focused more on his own solo projects at the time, lands a few jabs with Winning Ugly and Had It With You, but there’s a reason you rarely hear these tracks on classic rock radio stations. They just don’t measure up.
9. No Security (1998)
No Security, another in a long and patchy parade of live albums, captured their 1997-1998 Bridges to Babylon tour. It was a savvy business move, each track a calculated, commercial step in their relentless march through the waves of time. With 11 songs never before released live, including sleaze-powered bangers like Gimme Shelter and Sister Morphine, it's a decent, albeit somewhat unexceptional addition to their catalogue. Guest spots from Taj Mahal and Dave Matthews add flavor — the latter tasty, the former not so much — but don't quite elevate the album beyond its function as a grand spectacle's soundtrack. Enjoyable, yes, but not an indispensable chapter in the Stones' sprawling saga. In the grand scheme of things, it's a competent, yet not superior example of the Stones' legendary live spectacle.
8. Voodoo Lounge (1994)
You’d be wrong to call this album an attempt at a comeback. It was, more accurately, an excuse to tour. Five long years after Steel Wheels, this album is an unqualified misfire, a shadow of the band's former rebellious glory. Helmed by neo-classic rock producer Don Was, alongside the fabled “Glimmer Twins,” the Stones revert to their meat-and-potatoes blues rock basics but something vital is missing – the wild, ragged heart and soul of their early days. Thru and Thru reveals a fleeting glimpse of their old menace, but overall, the album fails to ignite the explosive magic of the Stones. It's a lesser spectacle in their modern catalog, a diluted brew in a sea of stronger concoctions, lost in the excess of the CD era's bloated tracklists. Voodoo Lounge, while not without its moments, ultimately falls short of tapping into the band's legendary greatness.
7. Bridges to Babylon (1997)
Bridges to Babylon stands as a rough-edged monument to The Rolling Stones' uneasy tryst with modernity. Jagger, in a feverish bid to drag the band into the '90s, enlisted hip collaborators like the Dust Brothers and Danny Saber, injecting a siege of drum loops and samples into the Stones' venerable bloodstream. The result? A curious beast that rumbles and growls but never truly roars. Tracks like Anybody Seen My Baby? and Gunface flirt with contemporary flair, yet the album, as a whole, feels like a half-hearted gambit. Bridges to Babylon, despite its tight, energetic performances and competent songwriting, ultimately fails to tap into the Stones' raw, untamed greatness. It's a testament to their legendary status that even their missteps are noteworthy, but this time, the Stones' gamble with modern sounds results in a stumble rather than a triumphant stride forward.
6. Blue & Lonesome (2016)
With Blue & Lonesome, the Rolling Stones plunged back into their origins, a raw dive into the musty annals of blues, the genre that first sparked their fire. Recorded in Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios, the album emerged from a casual jamming session, morphing into a feverish, full-blown tribute to Chicago blues. This isn't an album of flashy showmanship; even Eric Clapton's solos meld seamlessly into the gritty tapestry. And to be fair, that’s pretty much the best thing one can say about Eric Clapton’s solos. But it's Mick Jagger who steals the show, his voice and harmonica work injecting soul into each track. The Stones haven't moved this fast since the '60s, and the spontaneity pays off, capturing a band in sync, not just with each other, but with their musical heartbeat. Yet, despite its authenticity and the palpable joy in its creation, Blue & Lonesome stands as a respectable, though not groundbreaking, addition to the Stones' recent catalog, a comfortable journey through familiar territory rather than a daring new expedition.
5. Live Licks (2004)
In the whiskey-soaked, smoke-filled haze of Live Licks, the Rolling Stones unleash a raw, unbridled force, capturing the essence of their 2002 tour with a ferocious energy. This double-album is a chaotic symphony of the familiar and the obscure, the first disc a parade of anthems etched into the soul of rock, the second a wild dive into lesser-known tracks and covers, with surprising gems like Beast of Burden making a debut. Backed by a seasoned ensemble of musicians, the band transform arena rock into something intimate, a gritty performance in an imaginary packed bar. Despite its compelling allure and testament to the band's enduring vitality, Live Licks doesn't quite reach the zenith of their live album legacy. It's an electrifying snapshot, a thrilling document of their sprawling legacy, but not the definitive live Stones experience.
4. Steel Wheels (1989)
Fueled by the rekindled fire between Jagger and Richards, the Stones embark on a fresh odyssey to recapture their former glory. The album, a mosaic of Tattoo You-esque rockers, soulful ballads like Fool to Cry and a dash of daring in Continental Drift, are quite obviously composed with their core audience in mind. While lacking the raw edge of their earlier work, Steel Wheels nonetheless showcases their seasoned artistry, which at times sounds deceptively simple, but the Stones themselves prove, time and again, just how difficult it is to bottle the lightning of their once-in-a-lifetime synergy. Standout tracks like Sad Sad Sad and Mixed Emotions offer a glimpse of their enduring prowess, though some cuts like Hold on to Your Hat immediately drop from one’s consciousness as soon as the track ends. With its slick production, this outing might miss the visceral punch of their heyday, but it's compensated by poignant ballads like Almost Hear You Sigh and Slipping Away. Steel Wheels may not rank as their finest hour, but it stands as a decent testament to the Stones' ability to craft new music even after decades on the scene, marking a significant comeback.
3. Stripped (1995)
Amid the endless stream of contractual-obligation-fulfilling live albums, Stripped emerges as a phoenix from the ashes of predictability. Patched together from rehearsals and live gigs in Paris and Amsterdam, it's a wild ride back to raw, unfiltered roots. Stripping away the bombast of stadium shows, it delves into a gritty, acoustic world. Yet, this isn't your typical unplugged fare; it's a rebellious reinvention, a defiant stand against the tedium of the expected. The album's live essence reinvigorates forgotten gems, breathing new life into them. Forget the spongy keyboards and the faithful but uninspired Dylan cover. Instead, revel in the visceral renditions of classics like I'm Free and Let It Bleed, or the all-time best live version of Dead Flowers. Richards' Slipping Away might wobble but the album as a whole stands tall. Against all odds, it's not just a solid live album – it's the band's best, a triumphant testament to their enduring prowess.
2. A Bigger Bang (2005)
In a ferocious, unrelenting blast, this surging 2004 outing is a full-blown resurgence, nearly their most electrifying escapade in four decades — a savage rebellion, eight years in the making. Rough Justice blows away the rafters – a frenzied, raucous anthem, dripping with the Stones' raw, unadulterated essence. Jagger and Richards, the eternal rock alchemists, concoct a venomous mix of riffs and lyrics that reclaim the soulful, swaggering edge. From the bluesy grit of Back of My Hand to the disco-infused Rain Fall Down, the album is a kaleidoscopic journey through their storied legacy. This record isn't about recapturing lost youth; it's a triumphant declaration of their timeless rebellion. With swaggering defiance the Stones prove age is a mere footnote in their saga. A Bigger Bang isn't just a comeback; it's a thunderous reaffirmation of their throne in the pantheon of rock, a searing testament to their undying, ferocious spirit.
1. Hackney Diamonds (2023)
In an otherwise dry year for thrilling new rock releases, Hackney Diamonds erupts as The Rolling Stones' ferocious comeback, a gritty testament to their undying rock spirit. Post-Charlie Watts' passing, Jagger, with a wild glint, set a Valentine's Day 2023 deadline for Richards to wrap up this long-overdue project. The result? A blistering collection — their first in 18 years — infused with the raw energy of tracks like Live by the Sword, featuring the posthumous tempos of Watts and former Stone Bill Wyman's bass after a 30-year absence. This album is unapologetically Stones – from the bizarre neo-new wave of Whole Wide World with Jagger's exaggerated cockney twang to the rugged country of Dreamy Skies and the reverential drawl of Rolling Stone Blues. Elsewhere, Sweet Sounds of Heaven, featuring Lady Gaga, burns slowly into brilliance, like a latter-day Beast of Burden. With superstar cameos from Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Paul McCartney melting seamlessly into its fabric, Hackney Diamonds is a stealthy giant. It doesn't bludgeon you with grandiosity; it's the Stones, pure and uncut, delivering a raw, no-frills rock 'n' roll spectacle. A minor miracle? Perhaps. But it's unmistakably the best collection of new Stones music in the last 30 years – a savage reminder of their indomitable legacy.