-When I was a young boy I first heard Brown Sugar and I wanted to know more about the band who sang it. I did learn a bit more and subsequently I was playing some of their other classics. I dugg their sound and spirit and they became my band.

-In my teens and twenties I listened to their albums and took to the ones that made me feel good because They were The Stones and nobody had it like they did.

-In my late thirties now and it is with each passing year that one can appreciate The Stones more. As I age I realize more and more that their sound has an authenticity that none others have. Listening to their catalog of work they are unmatched in versatility and have thrived in so many era's of music. From Decembers Children ...to Their Satanic Majesties Request ...and Sticky fingers and Exile ...to Some Girls and Tattoo You ....to Bridges To Babylon etc. etc. The list goes on and on. So many era's and so many different type albums by them except they are all "Stonsey" in a sense and fitting to only them.


As you age you realize just how real and authentic and what a body of work and an incredible career they have had. Nobody even comes remotely close to their level in so many ways: Versatility, Long Jevity, Live performance, innovating rock and characterizing rock and roll, staying relevant, bouncing back and overcoming adversity that would of crumbled other acts, working the press, etc. etc.

It is with age and the growing number of pissy groups that you realize how much The Stones did and how much they are head and shoulders above the rest.

Even such heavy weights as Led Zeppelin or say Pink Floyd haven't come close to what The Stones have done, influenced, and endured. We are talking decade after decade they had real quality output and stunning tours. Every decade these guys were doin it and were around. As well they were visible, had the reputation and following, yet they never were 110% superstar or cheezy. In their most successful years they were the top dogs. while even in their not so prolific years they remained a relevant factor in music. They were brash, threatening, and in your face. Still they were also respected at the same time for the seriousness of their skills and intellect.

They were every bit as hardcore and wild as say ..Gun's and Roses. Yet they had the song writing and creative chops right there with Lennon and McCartney. No act in music history has had this mix of nastiness with gifted talent. Only The Rolling Stones.

Today you've got The Black Keys, Blink 182, Shine Down etc. etc. How ridiculous do these acts look next to The Stones? They do not even belong in the same paragraph (or page). Will Shine Down be around turning out classics and rolling with the times in even a mere decade?? Come on...

**With age, you appreciate more just how good the Stones were, how they have endured, how much they influenced, and how nobody comes close to having the career they have had.

Most importantly, when you listen to say Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed or maybe Tattoo You you realize just how special, unique, and unmatched their music was. There is a real timelessness to them. After all it is the music and material that matters. It is easier to ascertain as you get older by taking a listen once again to some of their older works (or newer releases on occasion) that their style and unique sound was were it's at all along and  their records were authentically a level above their peers. Their studio releases don't get more dated sounding as years or decades pass as with other acts. To contrary, their records sound more and more classic and authentically real for what it was as time goes on. That in itself is a tell tale characteristic besides their longevity, their ability to survive, roll with the times, and set trends

Ian

Yea great post but the Black Keys are the real deal.

Zack wrote on Nov 21^st, 2010 at 9:11am:


I agree, he does. I think he needs to expand his music beyond the college indie scene, but he does seek out stuff, and has a way of writing. I have my own ideas of writing about music, so I shouldn't judge to harsh, it isn't easy... the critics of the critics abound!

sweetcharmedlife wrote on Nov 21^st, 2010 at 11:06am:



I think Ian means they sound better as WE have aged (which is true). Not as the band themselves have aged, which would be a pretty bizarre claim.

Yes. I mean The Stones records "sound" better, as .."we".. age.. I meant no reference to comparing their output today versus other era's or comparing their live performance today verse other times.


You appreciate their authenticity and quality more as you get older was my point. When I listen to In through The Outdoor by Led Zeppelin or hear an older Beatles album... it just doesn't have that "realness". For Example: The subtle touches on the chords to a guitar, the unique snap and punch to Charlies drums, Jagger's perfect vocals for the song at hand etc. etc. It is just a more pure, and real sounding where as others just don't have that authentic signature.

Listening to other acts such as Led. Zep. in a sense they sound 10% cheezey or very seventies. The Stones just sound like The Stones even when doing songs in the stride of the day as them, Rolling with the times versus sounding from a particular era.

An example may be a cheeseburger (beleive it or not). You have had Burger King's Whopper. - Good stuff. Wendy's - Nice Burger. Hardee's Burger- not bad

Then, later in the week you stop over a friends and have an all organic big beef cheeseburger that was cooked on the grill with fresh organic vegetables.. tomato, onions, lettuce served on a nice organic textured bun etc. etc. You'd say ...yeah I was hungry yesterday and the Whopper was alright BUT now THIS is the real deal.


That is the difference. The Stones are the organic burger... just a sonic version..


Ian