A Bigger Bang

Infobox Album | Name = A Bigger Bang
Type = studio
Artist = The Rolling Stones


Released = 5 September 2005
Recorded = September 2004 – June 2005
Genre = Rock
Length = 64:23
Label = Virgin
Producer = Don Was and
The Glimmer Twins,
except "Streets of Love":
Don Was, Matt Clifford and
The Glimmer Twins
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g2kmikpdbb79~T1 link]
*"Blender" Rating|4|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=3564 Oct. 2005]
*Robert Christgau (A-) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=rolling+stone link]
* Music Box Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.musicbox-online.com/rs-bang.html link]
*musicOMH.com (positive) [http://www.musicomh.com/albums4/rolling-stones_0805.htm link]
*PopMatters (5/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/r/rollingstones-bigger2.shtml link]
*"Q" Rating|3|5 #231, Oct. 2005, pp. 110-11
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/7590942/review/7600360/abiggerbang link]
Last album = "Live Licks"
(2004)
This album = "A Bigger Bang"
(2005)
Next album = "Rarities 1971-2003"
(2005)

"A Bigger Bang" is the 22nd studio album by The Rolling Stones. It is a follow-up to their previous full-length studio album, 1997's "Bridges to Babylon", and like "Bridges to Babylon" and its 1994 predecessor "Voodoo Lounge", the album was again produced by Don Was and The Glimmer Twins.

History

"A Bigger Bang" was largely recorded in Mick Jagger's house in France, similar to the creation of "Exile on Main St." in Keith Richards' house in the same country in 1971. Jagger and Richards also worked on it in 2004 with producer Don Was at Jagger's residence in the Caribbean. Charlie Watts later attended the sessions and was reported to be in excellent health after being treated for throat cancer. Darryl Jones played bass, and four tracks again featured the piano work of Chuck Leavell.

The album features a more basic, stripped-down style reminiscent of "Some Girls", but with a harder, more contemporary edge. Many of these songs were recorded with just the core band of Richards, Jagger, and Watts. Ronnie Wood was absent from some of the sessions, playing on only ten of the sixteen tracks, with only very occasional contributions from outside musicians comprising the recording of the album.

Although initial reports stated that the Stones had "returned to their roots" with the record, the minimal instrumentation, rough mix, and tough blues and "garage" rock hybrid bear certain similarities to the aesthetic of contemporary artists like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, which would indicate that the Stones are still, as they have always been, in touch with modern trends in popular music.

Critical reaction was positive. "A Bigger Bang" was touted as the best Rolling Stones album since 1981's "Tattoo You" and found the band in a revitalized state. Nevertheless, all of the Stones albums since 1989's "Steel Wheels" had been similarly lauded, and many critics and fans felt that the Stones had yet to record a late-period album truly up to their high standards, though the rock-oriented nature of the record certainly appeased the Stones' loyal fanbase.

First single, "Streets of Love / Rough Justice" reached #15 in the UK singles chart, while "A Bigger Bang" entered the UK charts at #2 and #3 in the U.S. However, like all of The Rolling Stones' studio albums since "Tattoo You", its commercial performance was not enormous, as its singles failed to become major hits and the record made only a transient impact on the charts. Nevertheless, "A Bigger Bang" went platinum and sold about as well as its predecessor, "Bridges to Babylon" (perceived as a considerably more commercial record), indicative of the Stones' enshrinement as a ceaselessly popular rock band rather than immediate pop contenders, and of a commercial security derived from a huge, devoted fan base (which may have been one of the bands realizations in recording this less calculated, rawer, and fairly uncommercial record).

As of March 31, 2006 the album did sell over 2.4 million copies worldwide according to EMI [ [http://www.shareholder.com/visitors/dynamicdoc/document.cfm?CompanyID=EMIL&documentID=1232&PIN=569682107&resizeThree=no&NumOfPages=104&Scale=100&Page=3&interface=] . "EMI Annual Report". March 31, 2006 (accessed 16 Apr 2006).]

In August 2005 the Rolling Stones embarked on the A Bigger Bang Tour in support of the album. The 90 show phenomenon is the largest tour in North American history and was met with sold out tickets at every destination - usually within minutes of opening. The tour was extended into 2007, not because always of selling every ticket, but because Keith Richards fell out of a tree in Fiji. It concluded in August 2007 at the O2 Arena in London.

The album is the first on which Jagger also plays bass on some tracks. This is part and parcel with Ronnie Wood's lesser participation.

This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. It was ranked the second best album of the year by "Rolling Stone" magazine, behind rapper Kanye West's "Late Registration". [cite web
url = http://www.rollingstone.com/special/8952414/the_top_50_records_of_2005
title = The Top 50 Records of 2005
accessdate = 2007-05-06
work = Rolling Stone
publisher = Rolling Stone
quote = 2. The Rolling Stones, "A Bigger Bang"]

Even before the singles were released, "A Bigger Bang" was noted for having a key track critical of both President George W Bush and American politics. The track, which was called Sweet Neo Con caused much controversy. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8852125/site/newsweek/ "Satisfaction Guaranteed"] . "Newsweek". Aug 14, 2005 (accessed 29 May 2007).]

This latest album of The Rolling Stones published as a single album in audio CD, and as a double album in LP record.

Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

#"Rough Justice" – 3:13
#"Let Me Down Slow" – 4:15
#"It Won't Take Long" – 3:54
#"Rain Fall Down" – 4:54
#"Streets of Love" – 5:10
#"Back of My Hand" – 3:33
#"She Saw Me Coming" – 3:12
#"Biggest Mistake" – 4:06
#"This Place Is Empty" – 3:17
#"Oh No, Not You Again" – 3:47
#"Dangerous Beauty" – 3:48
#"Laugh, I Nearly Died" – 4:54
#"Sweet Neo Con" – 4:34
#"Look What the Cat Dragged In" – 3:58
#"Driving Too Fast" – 3:57
#"Infamy" – 3:48

Personnel

The Rolling Stones

*Mick Jagger – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
*Keith Richards – guitars, bass, piano, vocals
*Ronnie Wood – guitars
*Charlie Watts – drums

Additional musicians

*Darryl Jones – bass
*Chuck Leavell – keyboards
*Matt Clifford – keyboards, string arrangements, programming
*Don Was – piano
*Lenny Castro – percussion
*Blondie Chaplin – backing vocals

Charts

Album

References