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Showing reviews 26-30 of 68
 Oh, What a beautiful BUUUUUZZZZZZZZ!!! April 5, 2008
Christopher Gazzo (Long Island, NY)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
The Rolling Stones have released many live recordings throughout the years and none of them have ever been 'bad' but the problem has been that, other than YA YA'S, they haven't been 'great'. They range from being merely 'good' to 'very good' and never quite live up to the reality of actually being there. The large stadium atmosphere just never translated to CD very well. Before you say "OH NO, NOT ANOTHER LIVE ALBUM FROM THE STONES", it is important to note that 'Shine a Light' really seems to benefit from playing the smaller and much more intimate venue at the Beacon in NYC. The performances are tighter as the band was able to concentrate more on the construction of the songs as opposed to playing the crowd in those (too) large venues. It almost feels as if the band went back and listened to what originally made these songs so good to begin with and took it from there. This is definitely their best live recording, next to YA YA'S!!
The disc has a good combination of the old warhorses (Jumping Jack Flash, Start Me Up, Satisfaction..etc) and some not-so-often-performed songs (As Tears Go By, She Was Hot, Connection) and all of them catch the band playing at a latter day peak. The Stones still enjoy what they do and it is evident in this performance. The guest performances include Jack White on "Loving Cup" and he does a great job. However, the Buddy Guy appearance on "Champagne and Reefer" is pure blues heaven and Christina Aguilera actually rocks out on "Live With Me".
The one disappointment I did have was Keith's solo on "Sympathy" just wasn't up to snuff. I never considered him to be a great soloist anyway (his gift is rhythm) but he sounded as if he didn't know where he wanted to go with it. Other than that his playing is nothing but inspired. He lights up "JJF" with some vintage riffing, trades off solos beautifully with Wood on "She Was Hot", and does a stellar job on "Satisfaction." Other than those songs, the Stones burn through a heavy version of "Some Girls", smoke up "Shattered", tear through a stellar version of "All Down the Line" and break out a loose and limber "Tumbling Dice." Also, check out the amazing version of "You Got the Silver". The set also contains 4 bonus tracks, "Paint it Black", "Little T&A", "I'm Free", and "Shine a Light".
Charlie is exceptional as usual and no, Jagger isn't going to be nailing every note like when he was 25 but he and the entire band sounds as confident as ever. The old fire has been replaced by a certain maturity as these guys continue to bring rock and roll to places it has never seen. Like Keith Richards said in an interview, "It's not our job to compete on top 40 radio. We've been there and done that and taught them how to do it. Our job is to see where we can take this thing so if those other bands behind us are lucky enough to get this far, they will know where to go." Yes, the Stones get ragged on too often about their age but let's remember, they won't always be here so, for me, I'm glad they are still around. Of course there will come a day when they will no longer be able to put on a show but, judging from this performance, that day is not here yet.
If you're a fan of the Stones or rock and roll catch the movie. It gives you a closer look at what really goes on onstage (cues to the other musicians, in particular) while you're sitting out there in the nosebleeds.
 Ooops they've done it again April 14, 2008
Marcus Aurelius (PA USA)
3 out of 16 found this review helpful
There's a scene in The Great Gatsby when Nick tells Gatsby, "You can't repeat the past." Gatsby objects: "'Can't repeat the past? Why of course you can.' He looked around ... as if the past were lurking here in the shadow of his house."
Unfortunately after listening to this, you may just feel more like Nick than Gatsby. Yea, yea, yea there's a live version of You Got the Silver and the much ballyhooed Champagne and Reefer, but so much of the show is just the Stones' show. I believe Keef when he says, "It's good to see you; it's good to see anyone," but I'm not certain whether I feel the same way. The newest material is 30 years old and the oldest is closer to 40. That's a long time to wait for the boys to revisit As Tears Go By
since they did it on Ed Sullivan, and by now they're just pointing at shadows trying to drum up interest in material that's straining in a world that has changed. The green light went out a long time ago.
Heartbreaker April 18, 2008
Javarama (Washington DC)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Haven't seen the film, and I'm sure it's good, but the recording unfortunately doesn't work in audio form -- which is a crying shame because it could have been incredibly fantastic record. The only problem is that the vocals -- while terrific by both Mick & Keith (and guests) -- completely overwhelm the instruments. When Mick is singing, it sounds like the band is a couple blocks down the street. I know nothing about how a record is made or mixed (and maybe there were limitations because this recording was meant to be a film) but it would have been great if we could hear Charlie/Ronnie/Keith and the rest of the band a lot more. The Stones are the quintessential band for cranking up the volume to get your heart poundin' like a big bass drum. This isn't the record for that but it sure could have been if produced differently.
 stones: time to stop rolling already April 26, 2008
Robert I. Bloom (brooklyn, ny USA)
3 out of 18 found this review helpful
pathetic and sad, April 26, 2008
By Robert I. Bloom (brooklyn, ny USA) - See all my reviews
based on this it seems a good time to hang it up there boys--or um old geezers is more like it---they sound tired--- and its sad and pathetic really-the songs lumber along like they are covered in tar--since this whOle mess was recorded live it sounds all mushy and totally annoying-- lousy recording and the worst versions ever OF THESE OLD chestnuts-i never thought they should give it up till this-- ive even seen them the last time they played the garden-- and they rocked but i guess its just been too much since--- THEY SING OFF KEY--- ARRANGEMENTS ARE REALY DULLL --their whining voices which used to have a plaintive energy just sound like--well- old men whining and straining to do whatever it waS THEY USED TO DO -BUT that doesnt sound like it is NOT EVEN REMOTELY within REACH any more-----i`m afraid to see the movie !!!! -this whole enterprise seems ill conceived not to mention ill-timed-- like 30 years too laTE !! SKIP THIS shameful mess- & they even manage to make buddy guy sound bad !!!! and takes some doing !! and christina who`s a brilliant singer is wasted here all together too--- stoned is up to you guys-but stop rolling already!!! u made a grown man cry indeed !!!
Mediocre May 3, 2008
wm (...onward....thru the fog!)
3 out of 7 found this review helpful
The first rock n roll record I ever bought was "Let It Bleed". I was 11 years old at the time. I still have the cassette tape. It's been played literally hundreds and hundreds of times...many of those times on a single speaker cassette player that I had back then. I'd put it on my pillow, and fell asleep many times before it turned itself off at the end of side 1 or side 2, as the case may have been.
Since then, I've probably bought a dozen Stones records, but to this day, only "Let It Bleed" and "Beggars Banquet" have really stood the test of time.
Much has been written about "Exile..", but, that, and the rest of the Stones catalogue, just don't hold up to those other two.
I've seen them more than a half dozen times since the 80s. Sometimes, they've really been "ON". Other times, they've put in a half ass performance.
This, for all the hype, sadly falls in the latter category. I saw two shows just a couple of months apart during the 2005-2006 world tour. The first was just so-so, but during the second show, they blew the roof off the arena.
There are some highlights here. "Sympathy" being at the very top. Keith lays down one of his legendary leads. Another highlight is "Champagne and reefer" with Buddy Guy, during which the boys showcase their blues roots full blast.
I've never been a fan of Keith's solo stuff, or most of his songs written for the band, but he does a great version of "You got the silver" here.
The rest of the show is just plain uninspired. I'll defend the Stones as one of the all time best rock n roll bands, but the half ass effort displayed during much of this show gives my buddies who say they're past their prime some fresh ammunition.
I don't think they'll ever be past their prime, but, as I said at the beginning of this review, sometimes they're "ON", other times they're not. They weren't at the Beacon.
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