Hackney Diamonds (2023)


 


  1. Angry
  2. Get Close
  3. Depending on You
  4. Bite My Head Off
  5. Whole Wide World
  6. Dreamy Skies
  7. Mess it Up
  8. Live By the Sword
  9. Driving Me Too Hard
  10.Tell Me Straight
  11.Sweet Sounds of Heaven
  12.Rolling Stone Blues

 

When Hackney Diamonds arrived in 2023, the reaction from many longtime fans was probably the same as it had been when A Bigger Bang appeared nearly two decades earlier: "Well, surely this has to be the last one."

Of course, by now we should all know better.

The Rolling Stones have spent the better part of fifty years refusing to behave as conventional wisdom says they should. Every time someone predicts the end, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards simply wander back into a studio, record another album, and continue carrying on as though they're still twenty-five years old.

Granted, time has inevitably taken its toll. The band is now effectively a trio, following the passing of Charlie Watts. His absence is certainly felt emotionally, although whether the average listener could identify precisely where his influence is missing in the final product is another matter entirely. Charlie was always the least flashy member of the group, which ironically may have been one of the reasons he was so important.

Still, sentimentality only gets a band so far.

The real question everybody wanted answered was simple: is the album actually any good?

The answer, somewhat surprisingly, is yes.

Before proceeding, however, a reality check is necessary. Nothing the Rolling Stones release at this stage of their career is going to rival the astonishing run of albums they produced between 1968 and 1972. That's not criticism. That's simply acknowledging that very few artists in the history of popular music have ever matched that stretch of creativity. Comparing every new Stones album to those releases is a battle that no record could possibly win. Once those expectations are adjusted accordingly, Hackney Diamonds becomes a remarkably enjoyable surprise.

One of the Rolling Stones' greatest strengths has always been their refusal to stay in one musical lane for very long. Unlike many bands whose identities become rigidly defined, the Stones were always musical wanderers. Rock, blues, country, soul, gospel, funk, disco—if it interested them, they tried it. The opening stretch of this album serves as a reminder that they haven't lost that instinct.

Angry kicks things off with a snarling burst of rock and roll energy that immediately reassures listeners that the old boys still know how to make a racket. The follow-up, Get Close, slides effortlessly into a soulful groove, while Depending on You showcases the band's longstanding affection for country influences. By the time Bite My Head Off arrives, listeners are suddenly being dragged onto the dance floor whether they planned on it or not. It's a remarkably strong opening sequence and arguably the best portion of the album.

Unfortunately, the momentum doesn't entirely hold.

The middle section contains several respectable songs, but none quite reach the heights established by the opening quartet. Longtime fans will undoubtedly find favorites among them, and opinions will vary considerably depending upon individual tastes. The consensus, however, would probably place most of these tracks somewhere between "perfectly acceptable" and "quite good." There are no disasters lurking here, but neither are there many moments that demand repeated plays.

Fortunately, the album regains its footing as it approaches the finish line. Keith Richards delivers his obligatory contribution with Tell Me Straight, a tradition that has become almost as essential to a Rolling Stones album as Mick's vocals themselves. Then comes what is arguably the record's crowning achievement.Sweet Sounds of Heaven, featuring Lady Gaga, is simply magnificent. The song finds the Stones once again dipping into gospel territory, and the results are genuinely uplifting. Gaga proves an ideal partner, matching the band note for note while never overwhelming the performance. It's grand, soulful, emotional, and surprisingly moving. More importantly, it feels completely natural. This isn't a forced celebrity collaboration designed for headlines; it's simply a terrific song performed by people who understand exactly what the material requires.

Which, sadly, makes the album's final decision all the more puzzling. Rather than closing with Sweet Sounds of Heaven, which would have provided a perfect ending, the band instead tacks on a version of the Muddy Waters classic Rolling Stone Blues. One understands the symbolic gesture. After all, the song inspired the band's name and serves as a nod to their roots. The problem is that it simply doesn't belong here. Nothing against Muddy Waters, of course. The man is a giant of American music. But following the emotional climax of Sweet Sounds of Heaven with a brief historical footnote feels oddly anticlimactic. The album had already found its natural ending. Someone apparently decided that one more reminder of where the band got its name was necessary.

Rumors continue to circulate that another album may already be waiting in the wings. Given the band's history, dismissing such talk would be foolish.


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