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can ’ t get unified as to what to do . These people over here , like myself — I ’ m just really trying to be so good — but all that work is negated by this other half of the people , who are not following the advice of doctors and scientists , and don ’ t even think science is real , which is insane . I can ’ t believe it — you live in a little liberal bubble , but this has really exposed things . And we ’ re still deep in it . But now the end doesn ’ t look so bad . But I miss people , really – just hanging out with other people . I ’ ve just been alone a lot , and feeling kind of crazy .
IE : Have you found yourself looking up at the sky at night ? Constellation guide books are a big seller right now . BD : Yes . It ’ s forced you to hang out with nature , which is kind of cool . I have so many pictures of clouds on my phone right now ; it ’ s insane . There are just endless cloud formations on my phone right now . But I spend a lot of time out on my deck grilling . I grill almost every single meal — I have not touched a stovetop since March , or my oven . And I ’ m pretty fed up with quarantine — I ’ m good to go . But I couldn ’ t imagine being in New York City , confined to some tiny apartment . I have a very nice big house , and I have all the entertainment options . And I mean , our industry is gonna be the last to come back , and it is getting a little scary , money-wise . So I ’ ve had to tighten my belt and cut back on
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some stuff , and I ’ m having to watch it , figure some things out , and sell some stuff .
IE : What ’ s going on wite the new record ? Are you penning dark , Apocalyptic stuff , as befits our current situation ? Or is it conversely bright , uplifting stuff ? BD : I don ’ t think it ’ s possible to not have that seep in , for any artist . I don ’ t know how you could sidestep it . Like Donald Trump says , “ It is what it is .” One hundred thousand people are dead ? Hey — it is what it is — Whaddaya gonna do ? He ’ s like , “ Sorry !” So yeah , darkness is there . And not only with the coronavirus , but losing our manager Nick John to pancreatic cancer , who was like our best friend , and a lot of this is for him . So for me , just listening to this album so far ? It ’ s devastating .
I can ’ t give away any song titles yet , because we haven ’ t all agreed on them . But we will literally say — every time a riff sounds too happy — “ Get rid of it . That ’ s not what this is .” But our new album has to reflect this because every album that you make encompasses what we ’ re going through as human beings . And this record will reflect this COVID-19 time , the death of our longtime friend , and the countless other obstacles and struggles we ’ re dealing with within our lives . I can ’ t write something happy , and the majority of stuff that I ’ m singing , it ’ s taken me multiple takes to get through it because emotionally , I can ’ t even sing it . Because it ’ s that fucking sad .
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stand-in for Taylor , who was ill during the session . Charlie Watts ’ skipping rhythm carries a hint of New Orleans second-line drumming a la the Meters ’ “ Look-Ka-Py- Py .” “ Criss Cross ” has Richards ’ unmistakable riffing , Preston ’ s funky clavinet , an especially funky bass line from Wyman , and percussion by Jim Keltner reminiscent of the Beatles “ Everybody ’ s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey .” None of these are the type of Stones cuts you ’ d expect to remain buried for 50 years . The Super Deluxe set is made even more worthwhile by inclusion of The Brussels Affair . The live set captures the Stones ’ lineup as a well-oiled machine , with Taylor ’ s guitar adding a style of melodic counterpoint to Jagger and Richards that didn ’ t exist under Brian Jones . Taylor ’ s technically adept sound and sensibility with roots in southern rock , blues and jazz remain distinct from his successor Ronnie Wood ’ s style , which was honed in the hard-rocking Faces . The set list includes a hot stretch of the key Soup tracks already mentioned , plus lascivious Chuck Berry-styled rocker “ Star Star .” The remainder of the material is drawn from the golden stretch between Beggars and Exile , augmented by ageless non-album staples “ Honky Tonk Women ” and “ Jumpin ’ Jack Flash .” Taylor reacts to the push and pull created by drummer Charlie Watts and bassist Bill Wyman during a sprawling 13-minute version of “ Midnight Rambler ,” and trades space with Jagger ’ s wailing harmonica . Richards ’ guitar propels “ Street Fighting Man ” with furious
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pace and raw intensity . Jagger ’ s vocal is in feral force throughout the set , igniting even songs early in the set like “ Gimme Shelter ” and “ Tumbling Dice .” The Super Deluxe set features high-definition audio on Blu-ray , surround mixes in Dolby Atmos for an immersive experience , reproduction tour posters , and a 120-page book with artwork , photos from studio and stage , and essays and commentary with insight into the album ’ s origin , design and ensuing live work . Also present is a flier with a recipe for authentic Jamaican goat ’ s head soup .
The main album benefits from the type of remix treatment helmed by Giles Martin that has given extra clarity to recent Beatles anniversary reissues . Purists may see the revisionist work as sacrilege , but Martin honors the vision of the band and producer Jimmy Miller ( in his final foray producing the Stones ) while revealing details originally obscured by use of vintage studio technology . Compared to a 1994 master , a layer of low-level noise has been cleaned from “ Dancing with Mr . D .” Bill Wyman ’ s bass is more powerful and present during “ Silver Train ” and “ Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo ( Heartbreaker ).” Percussionist Anthony “ Rebop ” Kwaku Baah ’ s conga is livelier . The horns have added punch , and Jagger ’ s voice is vivid and present . The acoustic guitars and Nicky Hopkins ’ piano gain sparkle during “ Angie .” Charlie Watts ’ kick drum has more body and definition , even while an enhanced sense of space seems to allow hearing the air moving around his cymbals . It ’ s a faithful remix that simply allows listeners to hear more of the Stones and Goats Head Soup . ( rollingstones . com )
– Jeff Elbel
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