Whatever one thinks of the new Rolling Stones album, Foreign Tongues, depends on one’s expectations. If one nostalgically still thinks of them as “The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band”, one is bound to be disappointed. The Stones themselves have never proclaimed this and have denied the publicist’s hype. However, if one misses the Stones’ trademark sound: Mick Jagger’s sneering blues vocals and Keith Richards’ gnarly guitar rhythms, there are plenty of riffs here to enjoy.
As the lyrics to their aptly titled 1968 classic “No Expectations” put it, “Our love is like our music / It’s here, and then it’s gone.” The 14 tracks on the latest release reveal their songs and talents are not what they used to be. Whatever special songwriting and performance sparks they had once vanished. The album is not bad. It is not good either.
That should not be a total surprise. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are in their 80s; guitarist Ronnie Wood is 79. The rest of the original band have died or retired. Aging does not necessarily mean getting worse. There are many notable exceptions: the 93-year-old Willie Nelson, 85-year-old Bob Dylan, and 84-year-old Swamp Dogg are still putting out some of the best records of their enduring careers, but the Rolling Stones peaked long ago. Fans and critics may argue about when their decline began, but no one could clearly consider any song from their new record to be in the rock pantheon where many of their preeminent songs belong.
The best cuts on Foreign Tongues are the blues-based ones. The opener, “Rough and Twisted”, features Jagger howling over Richards and Woods’ guitar hooks and squeals. The slow blues of “Back in Your Life” allows the singer to stretch out his vowels and the instrumentalists to decorate the melody with pleasant filigrees. These tunes remind one of the Stones’ early work, but something is lacking in the current output. The urgency is missing.
The other songs offer a range of styles. Several relate to timely topics such as global authoritarianism (“Covered in You”), America’s decline (“Ringing Hollow”) and trillionaire Elon Musk (“Mr. Charm”). They each have their moments, but there is no satisfaction to be had (metaphorically or literally). Their hearts and minds may be in the right place. The lyrics seem emotionally and intellectually meaningful, but there is a so what to the whole thing. The passion is missing and the faux-feelings clumsy; “The Statue of Liberty is wearing a frown” doesn’t come close to conveying one’s horror at the current state of things.
The two covers (Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah” and Amy Winehouse’s “You Know I’m No Good”) showcase both the strengths and weaknesses of the new album. His 1958 hit was famously performed by the Stones and other British Invasion groups during the early 1960s. Its energetic bounce made it a staple of live performances as well. This acoustic version has some nice touches; Jagger ad-libs some of the lyrics, the guitarists improvise the backing riffs. Yet there is something too by-the-numbers here. This rendition is lethargic.
The same is true of the Amy Winehouse tune. She was only 27 years old when she died. The song was full of piss and vinegar, self-loathing, and rage when she recorded it. The Stones make a demonstrative presentation. There is something show-offish, rather than soul-stirring, going on. The arrangement is uninspired. Jagger never sounds committed to his confessions of sin.
Foreign Tongues may please some Rolling Stones fans, as the individual members share inspired moments. One can hear their earnestness and desire to please. However, it is doubtful this album will attract new fans.