Album Of The Week: Hackney Diamonds by The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are back. Almost 60 years after their first album, and 18 years since their last one, we’ve been gifted with more music. How Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are still alive after the amount of drugs and alcohol consumed is a medical mystery. But how they still sound good and can put on a good show- is mind-blowing. As always, Hackney Diamonds received mixed reviews, because no, the Stones aren’t as good as when they were at their prime in the 60s. Come on- they’re the Stones, they’ve earned the right for us to be in awe of anything they do in their 80s. Sadly, their drummer Charlie Watts passed away a couple of years ago, but they still managed to include him in the album.

Starting off with a bang, ‘Angry’ was released as a single to promote the album back in September. A sharp drum rhythm takes the lead all the way through, with Richard’s guitar playing adding a fun kick to it. The song is fun and a good kick-start to the album. It’s like a reassurance that the band hasn’t changed. Especially when Jagger drawls “I’m still taking those pills and I’m off to Brazil”. The music video features actress Sydney Sweeney as she lip-syncs to the song in the back of a convertible driving through Hollywood. Dressed in leather like the ultimate rock-star girlfriend, it’s a very Aerosmith like music video and I’m all for it. I haven’t stopped listening to this song since it came out. It’s just got so much energy and a fun sense of Rolling Stones carelessness about it.

In ‘Whole Wide World’, the idea behind the album name comes through. In the catchy song, in which none other than Paul McCartney is on bass, Jagger tells you to pick yourself up and get on with life despite the situation you’re in. Good times are to come, as well as more of the bad but that’s the way life goes. But obviously in a way less cheesy way than I’ve just put it. That’s my interpretation of most of the songs on Hackney Diamonds anyway. Because although “Hackney Diamonds” refers to shards of window glass from a robbery for example, their anonymous ad hinting at the album, was a fake glass repair company advert. In case you didn’t hear about it, loads of posters were put up around Hackney, advertising a fake repair company. The only trace of the Rolling Stones in it was a couple of obvious song titles fitted into the slogan. If you call the phone number on the advert, you’re brought to an automatic answering machine that hints at the release date whilst still feigning the alibi of the repair company. So either I’m reading into a reference to their song ‘Shattered’ way too much, or they are following the theme of finding beauty in what looks rough and broken. Their image has always about making the “dark side of things” artistic. Starting with their unconventional look back in the 60s, to decades of maintaining their “bad” reputations until it was what they were adored for. I suppose the best way to describe them would be “Hackney Diamonds”.

‘Live By The Sword’ is a punchy song that feels very Rolling Stones in its melody and chorus. It also benefits from Elton John’s lively piano playing. He isn’t the only guest appearance on the song though. In fact, one of the Stones’ founding members Bill Wyman readopted his role as bass player for the song. They also included late material from Charlie Watts’ drumming so that he could be a part of the song. Keith Richards’ guitar solo just reminds us that he is unstoppable. He mentioned that his arthritis has affected how he moves his hand on the guitar. But this doesn’t put him off. So far, he feels he’s just discovered new sounds or abilities he hadn’t done before. I think part of the reason why the Rolling Stones have managed to avoid fading out as a band is thanks to their flexibility and ability to adapt. Through being the band that the UK didn’t know it wanted in the early 60s to pursuing fame in the US when they knew they’d benefit from the music scene over there, they’ve always managed run away from being outdated.

‘Sweet Sounds of Heaven’ is seemingly the ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ meets ‘Gimme Shelter’ song of Hackney Diamonds. There’s so much going on. The gospel song features none other than Stevie Wonder on the piano. Mick Jagger’s voice sounds better than ever in the track. Not polished, sharpened. In the second chorus, his voice is echoed by Lady Gaga’s (who could have guessed this collaboration?). Their voices work beautifully together at the forefront of an already powerful instrumental set. Somehow their singing doesn’t overpower Wonder’s piano playing, the drums, trumpet, and Keith’s guitar work. The song builds up almost subtly, because before you know it, you’re five minutes in and you feel like you’re in the heart of a set, with every musical element of the song being blared at you. It feels like a dramatic dragged-out finale of a musical (in a good way though). But just as the music starts to fade away, they crank it right back up and Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga right back in there with their insane vocals. Listening to the song on full blast feels like an experience. And a very good one at that.

They wrap up the album with the song that inspired their name. A cover of Muddy Water’s ‘Rolling Stone Blues’. Not only do they owe their name to it, but Keith Richards and Mick Jagger reconnected in the 60s by bonding over blues records like Muddy Waters’. And without having bumped into each other holding those vinyl’s, the band would never have become the sensation they are today. Jagger’s bluesy drawl, harmonica playing, and the heavy bass guitar bring the band back to its roots as a blues cover band. The song was rich to begin with, but they really managed to make it their own. If this were the last of their music to be released, this song would have brought them full circle.

By Alice Charlton