Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack | The Rolling Stones

Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack | The Rolling Stones | cole

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Shine a Light: Ori...

	Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack The Rolling Stones Interscope Records, 2008 average customer review:based on 66 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The Stones Live

The Rolling Stones seem to have recorded a score of live albums over time, some of which are terrific to listen to (think "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out" or the intriguing "Four Flicks") and others of which are merely adequate. This, the sound track from Martin Scorsese's concert film, "Shine a Light," is in the former category. It is hard to believe that the Stones are in their 60s. This CD shows them with great energy, although time's effects are apparent as, for instance, in hearing how limited Mick Jagger's vocal range has become. Nonetheless, this is a great amount of fun to listen to! 22 cuts (some not in the documentary, but added later on).

It begins with one of the great rock and roll riffs of all time, in "Jumping Jack Flash." And then it hits you--this song was a hit 40 years ago. How can guys as old as the Stones are still make this work? A great start to the CD. "Shattered" follows quickly. Again, the thought. This is a 30 year old song--and still performed with gusto and spirit.

On the first CD is a little treasure. Buddy Guy, legendary bluesman, joins the band in a Muddy Waters' song, "Champagne and Reefer." The first couple lines give one a sense of the song:

"Bring me champagne when I'm thirsty,
Bring me reefer when I want to get high."

Guy adds his great blues voice and some smoking guitar work. Jagger and Guy alternate singing the lines, and Guy's blues singing is a wonder to listen to. When all the guitars are playing, one almost gets a sense of a wall of sound from those guitars--with Charlie Watts' steady drumming providing a rock solid rhythm foundation.

The second CD provides some more rich music. This side begins with the creepy "Sympathy for the Devil," again well played and sung. A couple songs later, "Start Me Up." Another wall of guitar sound from Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards, underlain by the rhythm section, Watts and Darryl Jones. Watts' drumming is primal and creates a powerful base for vocals and guitars. The chunky guitar work of Wood and Richards is compelling. Then, "Brown Sugar." This was a hit well over 30 years ago, but it still has life as played by the band and its "friends," such as Bobby Keys. The audience sing along toward the end provides a sense of spontaneity. A classic Rolling Stones' moment. Then, the third in the trio of songs in this section of the concert--"Satisfaction." As soon as one hears the fuzz tone, the toes start tapping. Jagger's voice is not as agile as it used to be, but he nonetheless puts some life into this over 40 year old song.

Some rarities show up in this concert, songs not often played by the Stones on their tours over the past couple decades, such as "Shine a Light," "You Got the Silver," and "Loving Cup." And one song worth mentioning, since it is another golden oldie--"I'm Free." This goes back to the early days of the Rolling Stones (originally released in 1965). A terrific blues rock song.

"I'm free to sing my song,
Even though it's out of time."

Anyhow, one of their finest live recordings. Age has had some impact. Jagger's voice isn't as agile as it used to be. But, nonetheless, this works and works well as a concert CD.

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cole

if you like the stones you will be very happy all the songs are good except one but keith was on vocals, i had to still give it a 5 because of buddy guy making up for it on another.

They tried...and we got what we needed

Very few would have imagined such a thoughtful set list. Maybe Marty hanging around with a camera crew might have inspired this list. Maybe they've been such a vital rock n roll force in the past, something kind of clicked. They put All Down the Line in along with You Got the Silver, Live With Me, Shine a light, Some Girls alongside the revitalized warhorses found on virtually all of their live lists. It certainly has something for that casual rock fan and the Stones aficianados.

What's enjoyable this time around is Scorcese seems pretty easy to inspire a heartfelt performance and the Stones don't want to disappoint. Yes, things start off quickly, almost too quickly; four songs in and it's getting close to "vegas Medley" Mick certainly still has his chops, rhythm signatures and nuances but as with many of their subpar performances he starts running out of breath, pulling a Sinatra by ecomomizing the lyrics just to keep up. At the same time you marvel at the athleticism needed for a Stones performance and wonder if the still sleek and agile Jagger will collapse. You also yearn for them to get as slinky and heavy as they did on their best midtempo glory we got from their '69 shows. In fact they do, when Some Girls comes out as if Jagger waited thirty years to sing it again and Keef wanted to hit the chord dead solid perfect. It is a rare treat hearing these songs live, as most Stone fans know there is more to them than the 40 licks. It should hit your gut if you see the performance in theaters, and you'll think they're playing in your garage giving it one more college try.

Like Scorcese's 'Last Waltz' we get guest performances. Your obligatory "odd" guest Aguilera appropriating her over the top delivery in "Live with Me" which is just the right song for the job. You have Jack White's Jagger swagger in 'Lovin Cup' and the show stealer, Buddy Guy, their idol, tearing it up the same way Muddy Waters and Van Morrison did with the Band over 30 years ago.

Not many will be disappointed. There will be the occasional regret. I, for one, would have loved to see them bring in a guest guitar hero to jam with them on "Time Waits For No One". I'm sure if it was in Marty's sonar, he would have chomped at the bit to get them to do it. The other regret being the amount of times you go whoa, slow down, don't race, keep it tight, keep it funky, slinky, heavy. Make it dirty; make it just right. Even when drug addled depraved fans were getting clobbered, stabbed, drowned and run over at Altamont, the groove was still deep. The Stones were still a monster. Now at times they come close to it and that extra dash of heavyness makes this gig worth the revisit that Get Yer Ya Yas still gets.

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PROBABLY THE LAST STONES LIVE ALBUM

You'll still wish you were there. It's nice to know the band cares about some of these tracks-- although on 'Some Girls', Jagger leaves out the most risque line. It'd be good to know why. Have they decided it's too offensive, or do they just think it's stupid? The playing's inspired, but occasionally sloppy and out of tune--cases in point being the ragged 'All Down The Line', and the wayward horns on 'Loving Cup'. Keith's backing vocals are more off than ever before but the crowd loves it. He can barely sing 'Connection' but the crowd loves that too. Those who want a clean live recording with overdubs should go elsewhere. But of course, fans will need to buy this, and will probably love it. Until they unleash some quality archive material this is probably going to be the last Stones live album... ever!

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