1 star  = bad
2 stars = poor
3 stars = sufficient
4 stars = good
5 stars = fantastic

My call: 2,5 stars.

In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4.

Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating.

As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it.

5

too early to tell..like the original I think these will grow on me.......I'm gonna "drop" these in sporadically with the 18 original remasters and see how a 28 song playlist sounds like and if these new ones actually blend in well.

am i not allowed into a private booth to cast my vote?

I listened to it from the next room while on the internet and having a beer - and, as Stones music, it was enjoyable, probably better than the four new tracks on Forty Licks.  I haven't stopped to pick apart the overdubs from the original, except where obvious, and they're not painfully obvious.

"Maybe the deal is," I said to myself, "that they should just make some more moody, sludgy stuff like this, or the Olympic tracks on Metamorphosis ("Family," etc.) instead of trying to reinvent the wheel with every flash album - because they've hardly been England's Oldest Hitmakers."

They could easily work sets of new stuff like this into a sideshow of the live act, maybe including seldom-played Exile tracks like "Sweet Black Angel,"  "Ventilator Blues," and "Let it Loose."  That sort of suite would be preferable to playing all of Exile live, as discussed.

It also crossed my mind that they've got Ronnie - once a past master at ingratiating acoustic and electric guitars into the same song, for Faces and solo Rod.  Why not prop him up and go in that direction, which would be a Ronnie-style step toward that Exile or Beggars Banquet vibe.

Really, these guys should listen to their own bootlegs - "Yellow Cab, "Fiji Jim," e. g. - and discover why people like this tossed-off-with-passion-and-error feel.  That feel worked for the Faces.  The Stones need to loosen up, not tighten up.

Was Exile - being locked in a Gestapo maison in sweaty, dangerous South-of-France - like being locked in that grotty kitchen by Andrew Oldham?  Maybe they need to be knifed in that dirty, filthy basement again.

I give it a 4 for its self-educational potential.

Gazza wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 6:10am:

In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4. Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating. As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it.

Gazza,has anybody else done something like this. Take old unfinished material and actually put new lyrics to it?

4 stars = good
;)

Gazza wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 6:10am:

As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it.

I felt the same way. I've just decided to embrace it and consider it the new Stones album of 2010, and I can honestly say it's their best work since Exile five stars

5 stars = fantastic

PMS is a monster.

If  4 = (just) GOOD and 5= FANTASTIC...

a few hairs above 4

I like that first verse on PMS where he goes- luuuuv game!

3.5.  mostly solid but no particular excellent tracks

The new vocals are pretty glaring -- couldn't they at least lower them in the mix?  especially on Following The River.  There's no mistaking Jagger then vs. now.  I like Plundered My Soul but it sounds more like about as authentically retro as Don't Stop did.  I guess they've tried to pass off old outtakes as new songs in the past, might as well try turning that formula around, right?

I like Pass the Wine, Dancing In The Light and So Divine best.  Keith's scratch vocal in Soul Survivor seems like the kind of scraping the bottom of the barrel that I'd expect out of a 4 disc box set, not a trim 10 tracks.  and Title 5 runs about a minute and a half longer than it takes to get the point across, and doesn't sound much like it fits with the others.  Not that Exile Blues is that much of a gem but I don't understand why they didn't throw it on here, would've been a better closer to the 2nd disc.

Wouldn't mind hearing Pass The Wine, PMS, So Divine or Signify live.  Not as good as Rough Justice or ONNYA, but better than Neocon and about half of ABB.  Following The River is just as crappy as Rain Fall Down.

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 10:04am:

Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 6:10am: In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4. Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating. As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it. Gazza,has anybody else done something like this. Take old unfinished material and actually put new lyrics to it?

Off the top of my head :  The Beatles - Free as a Bird (I think that Macca wrote the bridge as Lennon's orginal demo didnt have one)

I've seen it done the other way around, though - Billy Bragg & Wilco's two 'Mermaid Avenue' albums (which took lost Woody Guthrie lyrics and added music).  

Apparently, there is a plan to do something similar with some unpublished Hank Williams' lyrics, with Dylan having acquired the rights. The plan is that several artists will record them with newly composed music.

5
but where is Ronnie ?

:aimama

A pleasant suprise . If the alternate ADTL had been included .......a solid 4

sc uk

Gazza wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 3:15pm:

sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 10:04am: Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 6:10am: In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4. Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating. As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it. Gazza,has anybody else done something like this. Take old unfinished material and actually put new lyrics to it? Off the top of my head :  The Beatles - Free as a Bird (I think that Macca wrote the bridge as Lennon's orginal demo didnt have one) I've seen it done the other way around, though - Billy Bragg & Wilco's two 'Mermaid Avenue' albums (which took lost Woody Guthrie lyrics and added music).   Apparently, there is a plan to do something similar with some unpublished Hank Williams' lyrics, with Dylan having acquired the rights. The plan is that several artists will record them with newly composed music.

U2 did for some of the bonus material on the dlx releases they put out... i'm don't know the specifics... it may have just been Bono adding new vocals...

Jumping Jack wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 1:42pm:

Wouldn't mind hearing Pass The Wine, PMS, So Divine or Signify live.  Not as good as Rough Justice or ONNYA, but better than Neocon and about half of ABB.  Following The River is just as crappy as Rain Fall Down.

JJ, surely you can't be serious?

Dude, no new rockers.  Mick's new style crooning on ballads ain't a big turn on for me these days.

Now, Stones, drinking and making love make for a fine song nonetheless.  Please pass the wine cause I'm still alive and kickin', and after Obama I'm lucky to still have a pot to piss in, LOL!

Pdog wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 4:19pm:

Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 3:15pm: sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 10:04am: Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 6:10am: In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4. Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating. As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it. Gazza,has anybody else done something like this. Take old unfinished material and actually put new lyrics to it? Off the top of my head :  The Beatles - Free as a Bird (I think that Macca wrote the bridge as Lennon's orginal demo didnt have one) I've seen it done the other way around, though - Billy Bragg & Wilco's two 'Mermaid Avenue' albums (which took lost Woody Guthrie lyrics and added music).   Apparently, there is a plan to do something similar with some unpublished Hank Williams' lyrics, with Dylan having acquired the rights. The plan is that several artists will record them with newly composed music. U2 did for some of the bonus material on the dlx releases they put out... i'm don't know the specifics... it may have just been Bono adding new vocals...

Though not "unfinished", natalie Cole did the same thing as a duet w/ her father, Nat King with the song "UNFORGETTABLE"

Did Keith add some guitar to So Devine?

Paranoid Android wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 8:25pm:

Pdog wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 4:19pm: Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 3:15pm: sweetcharmedlife wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 10:04am: Gazza wrote on May 20th, 2010 at 6:10am: In terms of pure musical content - 3 1/2.  Maybe a 4. Unfair to judge what is supposed to be an album of leftovers in the same context as you would a bonafide studio album. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was, even if some of the songs did require a bit of sugar coating. As a concept, it kind of falls between two stools. Its neither an outtakes album nor is it a new release. Listening to it purely on its own musical merits though, I'm enjoying it. Gazza,has anybody else done something like this. Take old unfinished material and actually put new lyrics to it? Off the top of my head :  The Beatles - Free as a Bird (I think that Macca wrote the bridge as Lennon's orginal demo didnt have one) I've seen it done the other way around, though - Billy Bragg & Wilco's two 'Mermaid Avenue' albums (which took lost Woody Guthrie lyrics and added music).   Apparently, there is a plan to do something similar with some unpublished Hank Williams' lyrics, with Dylan having acquired the rights. The plan is that several artists will record them with newly composed music. U2 did for some of the bonus material on the dlx releases they put out... i'm don't know the specifics... it may have just been Bono adding new vocals... Though not "unfinished", natalie Cole did the same thing as a duet w/ her father, Nat King with the song "UNFORGETTABLE"

THERE'S A TEAR IN MY BEER, HANK JR AND DADDY HANK SR.

A solid 4 out of 5

Steel Wheels wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 9:30pm:

Did Keith add some guitar to So Devine?

Yes.

4, though PMS is excellent.

Kilroy wrote on May 20^th, 2010 at 11:15pm:

THERE'S A TEAR IN MY BEER, HANK JR AND DADDY HANK SR.

Brilliant video for that, too. Although, like that Natalie/Nat King Cole stuff, the original recordings werent 'unfinished'.

As for the original question about taking old unfinished material and putting new lyrics to it, the Stones themselves have done this before. Apart from some of the stuff on Tattoo You, they did it with songs like 'Too Tough' (the music for which bears a striking resemblance to the 'Cellophane Trousers' instrumental cut for Black and Blue 8 years earlier) although the whole song was re-done.

So which songs on the bonus disc are authentically "old" songs and which have been touched up/overdubbed?

I give it 4 1/2. Following The River is the only clunker... and even at that, as far as Jagger ballads go, it's not ball crushing.

PMS is more awesome

I'll give it 2,5

I like it better and better every listen.  Maybe time to go through the entire unreleased catalog for future "refinished" releases like this?

Erik_Snow wrote on Jun 30^th, 2010 at 12:30pm:

I'll give it 3 out of 6.

the OP used a 5 star rating... does this mean.. 2 1/2?

I can't put a number on it quite yet....
Apart from the actual outtakes (Good Time Women, Ain't Signifying etc...), the new vocals are pretty glaring. Specifically on Following the River, ouch, it hurts to listen, Jagger is so, so 2010. His new vocals ruin Pass the Wine for me and that's a shame because the music is great. The others, So Divine, Dancing in the Light, sound like outtakes. There is a reason why these songs didn't make it on the lp or subsequent lps.....as in most outtakes, there is always something missing, whether its a bridge or it might have a weak bridge...whatever - there is always something incomplete.
But PSM is outstanding, just outstanding and frankly, I find myself just listening to that one song. Jagger just couldn't muster the same passion on the others.
In fact, I would have been happy if PSM had been the only released outtake with new vocals - to promote the reissue.

4.5. I really dig it. It's great that they finally opened the vaults. And I appreciate the fact that they kicked the old stuff around for a bit. It's also fun to hear that they made the right decisions at the time when you listen to the alt takes. Great addition to the catalogue.

Pdog wrote on Jun 30^th, 2010 at 4:55pm:

Erik_Snow wrote on Jun 30th, 2010 at 12:30pm: I'll give it 3 out of 6. the OP used a 5 star rating... does this mean.. 2 1/2?

Yes, my bad - post edited. 2,5 it is.

5 out of 5 :smilemick