well, well. it seems that a pattern has formed in which i procure (purchase) a new single off of The Rolling Stones, or if you like the Rolling Stones, for the seem to drop the "The" bit off their name a fair bit these days, look you see. for those interested this three year (or triannual) thing, here you go, some links. back in those interesting days of 2020 they released one, and then there was the 2023 release that the band, for some reason, elected not to sell in their very own shop in that there London (innit).
and now here we are in 2026, with a new Stones (of Rolling) album on the way, and a new single out too. with the merry news that it is an actual, physical format single, and not that "dropped" digital streaming nonsense. you have likely worked out from the title of this post (if you were not aware already) that it is indeed called In The Stars. making this release all the more decent is that it is not just a one track affair, you get a "b-side" too, in the form of Rough And Twisted. as it happens these are the first two songs on the imminent (July, i think) album, Foreign Tongues.
delighted, and if i am honest a bit surprised, to say that this is really, really good. how good? really very absolutely f*****g great, it is, to be sure. i would argue In The Stars has the best "hook", that which makes a song catchy, since if not Mixed Emotions then possibly Start Me Up. not that what they have done for the other 40 (!) or so years has been poor, just not really quite this grade a business. sure, on the record the "oooooooooo" backing vocal appears (sounds) less Sympathy For The Devil, more Bananarama, but you know what, f*** it, it sounds good.
easily one of the best features of this is the exceptional production work. all too often these days some tapes (discs) sound like they are the hideous, dull "optimised as in compressed and drained of soul" digital files intended for streaming services. this is loud, brash and has been produced to perfection. i strongly recommend this CD single for those who have forgotten just how vastly superior properly mastered compact discs are to streaming. even on my fairly basic (or at least fuss free) Sony this sounds a good deal more better than much i have played in the last few years.
very good news from the b-side, Rough And Twisted. it's a really "oh wow" proper rhythm and blues number, as in what the term was used to refer to before it got appropriated as "r&b" to label hideous, mostly sampled rubbish from the late 90s onwards. again this is a damned good song, and i am hard pressed to recall when, exactly, i heard a bunch of musicians clearly having so much fun making a record. sure, Keith Richards has made it known he is "not really up" to doing an extensive tour again, but in no way has his guitar skills diminished. turns out that Ronnie Wood is a dapper bass player.
most reassuring is that Mick Jagger (very much) sounds like Mick Jagger. this is not so with some recent things off other acts who have been around for a while. i mean, as good as the two (2) new U2 ep things have been (and proper CD copies, please), you do have to be told that's Bono. sadly i am finding it difficult to listen to the new Sir Paul McCartney one, he just sounds exhausted and like he is being propped up in a bed making a final confession.
other than it seeming to have the worst album cover of all time (not sure why they have not just gone with this single artwork instead) i am really looking forward to the whole Foreign Tongues album. clearly they haven't gone back to the studio for the sake of it, for on the basis of these two (2) songs they would appear to have come up with some most excellent new vibes, man.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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