When The Stones Met Georgia's Beat
Six decades and the Stones are still rolling. It all began when fate aligned a seemingly trivial event at a train station. There stood Jagger, vinyl clutched in hand—a Muddy Waters record. The melody? A rendition of “Rollin’ Stone”, drawn from the very roots of the Mississippi blues classic, “Catfish Blues”. The universe nudged, and ‘The Rolling Stones’ came into existence. And now, in a poetic nod to their inception, that very tune finds its place in their latest album. It’s as if destiny came full circle.
But, here’s the kicker – The Stones, as iconic as they’ve become, have missed a beat on the world stage. They’ve never rocked the vibrant cities of Tbilisi or Batumi. Trust me, the Georgian crowd knows how to rock, and they’ve been waiting. After bar-hopping through Tbilisi’s electric nightlife, one thing’s evident: “Paint it Black” is the anthem that resonates in every pulsating rock bar. The Georgian rock scene revels in the beats of Queen, the rhythm of System of a Down, the raw energy of Limp Bizkit, the symphonies of Muse, and the fiery performances of Scorpions and Rammstein. But among these legends, the Stones have a special pedestal. Their aura overshadows even the Beatles, who, though often covered by bands, find rare play in Georgian bars.
Stay tuned, as we dive deeper into this rock odyssey.
The Rolling Stones' long-awaited new album, "Hackney Diamonds," is out.
The beauty of the Stones? They never seem to fade. Here we are, presented with the crystalline “Hackney Diamonds.” Everything about it reeks of rock history. Dive into it, and you’ll be drenched in blues, smitten with rock – all of which could have effortlessly graced the 1980s without any modern touch-ups. The tracks oscillate between delicate arrangements and bold, extravagant compositions. The riffs? Punchy. The choruses? Infectious. The spirit? Almost always palpable. Their single, “Angry,” might just get lodged in your brain for days. Will any track from this album stand the test of time like “Gimme Shelter” did? Only the sands of time will tell. Jagger, however, exudes that classic British understatement, saying they were “quite pleased with it.”
The somber note: this is their maiden album after the heart-wrenching demise of their longtime drummer, Charlie Watts, in 2021.
Let’s talk collaborations – Paul McCartney thrums the bass in “Bite My Head Off,” reigniting the 60s camaraderie between the Stones and the Beatles. Another circle of collaboration completes with “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” where Lady Gaga’s vocals intertwine with Jagger’s. Rewind to 2012, and you’ll find them belting out the Stones classic “Gimme Shelter” – captured in the concert film “Grrr Live!” Brace yourself for an electrifying performance around 1:27 in this clip.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
One curious track is “Live By the Sword” from this 24th studio album. While the lyrics might seem a tad repetitive, focusing on the titular maxim, the music is an explosive reunion of the Stones’ golden era from the mid-70s to the early 90s. Watts’ drums, recorded during his final sessions, meld with Bill Wyman’s bass, and Elton John’s electrifying keyboard recalls the sideman role of the late Ian Stewart. It’s reminiscent of the late 70s, with Jagger’s voice brimming with energy, quite a contrast to the sometimes lackluster performances of the 80s and 90s.
With “Hackney Diamonds,” the Rolling Stones prove that they still possess the charisma to make history. Dive into the legacy, and let it rock your world.
International Echo: The World Hails "Hackney Diamonds"
As the latest gem from the Rolling Stones rolls out, the global press is electrified. Here’s a roundup of what some of the leading publications have to say about “Hackney Diamonds”:
From the halls of The Daily Telegraph: “The best rock ’n’ roll album of the past four decades at least.”
The fervor is echoed by The Times which claims: “Hackney Diamonds is a joy from beginning to end.”
Rolling Stone, our very own, gushes: “They haven’t sounded this on top of their game in about half a century.”
Over at The Independent, the accolades continue: “Their best since the Seventies.”
Daily Mail resoundingly agrees, heralding it as: “A late-career masterpiece.”
Classic Rock gets nostalgic, saying: “Hackney Diamonds is the Rolling Stones’ most quintessentially Stonesy album.”
Uncut simplifies the overwhelming emotions, stating: “The whole thing is brilliant.”
And from the streets of London, Evening Standard puts it succinctly: “This is rock ’n’ roll done right.”
From the sounds of it, “Hackney Diamonds” has not just met but exceeded expectations. With endorsements from such esteemed publications, it’s evident that this album is a global sensation. If you haven’t tuned in yet, what are you waiting for?
Rolling Stones Forever
There’s a raw, unyielding energy that emanates from the very soul of the Rolling Stones, and even as time rolls on, they aren’t showing signs of stopping. Sure, “Hackney Diamonds” could stand as a befitting musical testament, should the Rolling Stones ever decide to take a bow. But don’t place your bets on that just yet. If the current trajectory is anything to go by, this isn’t their final encore. During the creation of “Hackney Diamonds,” the Stones managed to lay down enough tracks to fill a considerable chunk of another album. Their legendary stamina never fails to impress.
When quizzed about a grand tour during the spectacularly orchestrated album launch on Jimmy Fallon, Jagger’s response was a hopeful, “Hopefully.” The energy surrounding that event was a testament to the age-defying vitality of rock ‘n’ roll. Anyone who’s survived their wild, youthful days and witnessed the Stones in action can attest to rock’s rejuvenating essence. They looked radiant, fit, and more than ready to indulge in playful antics. Their vocal-clap jam session with Fallon was nothing short of epic, and online glimpses of Jagger’s gym sessions could make any man, of any age, turn green with envy. The man is as limber as an eel, with the stamina of a marathon runner.
The band Rolling stones can be left only in a coffin
Aging? Just a meme for the legendary Keith Richards, affectionately regarded as the indestructible force of rock. A recent humorous meme circulating online jests, “We need to start worrying about what kind of world we are going to leave for Keith Richards.” True to his legendary status, Richards himself is pretty nonchalant about growing old. His visibly arthritic fingers might pose a challenge to some, but not to Keith. Instead of dwelling on certain guitar chords that elude him, he’s channeling his energy into innovating an entirely new playing style
Forever is a long time, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s never to doubt the timelessness of the Rolling Stones. Cheer`s to more years of iconic rock ‘n’ roll!
Last but not least, we must not give up hope to see the Rolling Stones in Georgia one day!
