Reviews (page 2 of 14)
My Fifth Stones album and the first one to get the full five stars. This was a brilliant album. Where the others I’ve had have taken time to get into, this had me hooked from start to finish. Top Track - Gimmie Shelter
five stars for gimme shelter and ycagwyw alone
9.0/10 Such a great album... Gimme Shelter is one of the best opening songs ever. I love their blues style on many of these tunes.
Second time listening to this record. I think this is the era of their music that I enjoy the most. The exploration of the the blues, country, and Americana is fantastic. Obviously the opening and closing tracks are fantastic, but there is so much more to dig into here. I’m feeling a 5 on this one.
Perhaps this caught me in a good mood cuz it currently sounds to me like Miley Cyrus sounds to divorced moms in their late 40’s. Only a couple songs I didn’t particularly like. Favourites: “Gimme Shelter”, “Live with me” and “ You can’t always get what you want”.
ᥫ᭡.ִֶָ𓂃 fav song prolly either 'love in vain' or 'you cant always get what you want' (country honks honestly goated as well) loved its length and rawness and simplicity album cover kinda giving modern art abstract banana on a wall iykyk all in all 9/10 would defo listen again 'short, simple and sweet'
Really great. I totally get what everyone has been on about
Opens with of my favourite tracks by the Rolling Stones, "Gimme Shelter", and closes with another great song, "You Can't Always Get What You Want". The third track, "Country Honk" is a country version of "Honky Tonk Women", and is supposedly the original concept for "Honky Tonk Women", but I prefer the Rock version. Album also includes "Midnight Rambler", which I liked, but apart from these tracks the rest of the album is just OK.
wow woow woooww
One thing about this record is that it feels totally mental that it was recorded in 1969. Sure, it's the modern archetype of bluesy stadium rock and roll, but their are qualities to the sound that listening to other music from the same era, you might be forgiven for assuming they struggled to achieve at the time. Which I guess tells you that even then, much of the "this was recorded on a potato and thats why it sounds so good" was an aesthetic choice / excuse. The other thing about this record, obviously, is that it is by The freaking Rolling Stones. It'd be pretty damn hard not to enjoy it. Plus it takes two of the best songs ever recorded, which I do not say lightly, and bookends the whole thing with them. Starting with Gimme Shelter (wow, obviously) and ending with You Can't Always Get What You Want. They're both masterstrokes of adding the right voices and textures to numbers that were already incredible. They didn't just rock out on Gimme Shelter, they pulled a backing singer from her bed and got her to lay down one of the most iconic vocal takes ever in her pyjamas and rollers. Tragically Merry Clayton was also pregnant when she performed this and miscarried when she returned home, which she attributed to the vocal strain of the performance. A devastating faustian exchange that leaves a pit in my stomach, responsible for one of the most electrifying performances of the century, as my mother would say - it doesn't bare thinking about. You Can't Always Get What You Want, on the the other hand, utilised a choice of freaking angels (presumably). It's a song where it feels like it always existed, because how could it not have? You can't always get what you want, and how else could humanity have expressed that clearly without this song? I won't go into too much detail, but Hank Moody in Californication being blown by a nun in a confession booth as this track made my soul ache, in a good way. It also bookends the main story of that show at the end of season 4, and by GOD it got me there too. It's the central premise of the show, and if it's not too trite (I already know I'll regret writing this), maybe it's the closest the west has come to a cohesive philosophy in the last 50 years. The rest of the album is also presumably amazing, but it's just not in quite the same way. There's vulnerable stripped back numbers, there are jam tracks, there are great vibes, there's even another absolutely iconic number sandwiched right in the middle in Let It Bleed. But honestly they're just dwarfed by the first and last tracks. So in spite of that it's a 5 star album, because you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you just might find you get what you need.
Just amazing. A brilliant band at their peak. Always a treat to listen to.
An all time favourite
One of the best if not the best album by the great Rock’n’Roll bands of all time.
Another absolute all time cover, and another album that made me go "Yessssss" when it came up. This is a close second to Exile in my personal Stones power ranking, and the four-album run with this, Exile, Beggars' Banquet, and Sticky Fingers is probably the best by anyone, ever. When I had most recently put this album on maybe two weeks ago or so, my wife commented on how odd it is that the Stones do all this countrified, bluesy music, and I suppose that's true to an extent. I think, though, that unlike a lot of the other bands of their era that play on Black American music, the Stones aren't merely derivative. Their admiration for their influences (your Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters) feels genuine in a way that it doesn't from, say, Zeppelin or Clapton. This album contains multitudes. It's fun, it occasionally rocks out, and it's a joy to listen to throughout. The weakest tracks ("Live With Me" "You Got the Silver") are still very, very good. "Gimme Shelter" might feel kind of tired, but it's an absolutely transcendent rock song. "Monkey Man", the title track, "Midnight Rambler" - all fun as hell. And cliched though it is, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is a bop. I'm speaking in general hyperbole here, hard to do anything else for an album like this one.
Excellent album from the Stones, just hitting their stride. A career highlight and definitely a desert island disc for me. 5
I figured we’d run into these guys eventually Gimme Shelter’s a great opener, great instrumentation with some dark and haunting lyrics. You Can’t Always Get What You Want is an even better finisher; I really do think it’s one of the best songs of all time, the way it builds give me goosebumps. I do generally like bluesy music, and although I don’t think it hits as hard as the more established artists at the time, it’s pretty decent (which is good since it’s vast majority of the album). The title track is also pretty catchy, definitely my favorite outside of the aforementioned big tracks. I don’t think Mick Jagger’s a great singer; you get used to it after a while but you can’t help but think how all that talent would sound with a different frontman. Sorta mentioned this before, but I do think there’s just a bit of a disconnect between the bands sound and the genre they’re trying to perform, but that’s not the end of the world as long as the music sounds good. This is my first time listening to a Stones album, so hadn’t really listened to most of their catalogue. I’ll say their good songs can stand up to pretty much any other artist’s hits in history, but the rest ain’t all that great. Would be hard pressed to give this one less than a 4 for the highs though
Classic little guy; know all the songs. Don't really like Mick Jagger's voice that much but too many bangers to complain all that much.
This is an album I've owned for years. Listened to it dozens of times, but this time I turned a critical ear to it. And was STILL blown away. Recorded in 1969, this album is an excellent and outstanding window into the times it was borne of. Gimme Shelter a fantastic song, and absolutely perfect Opening Track for this album. The backup vocals by Merry Clayton still can send a chill. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and the tumult of the end of the sixties, this is a stunner. But it doesn't stop there. Robert Johnson's Love In Vain appears here, played with the reverence it deserved. Country Honk one of my all-time faves, Live With Me solid, and Let It Bleed unique and soulful. And that's just side one! Midnight Rambler kicks off side 2, strong and full of dark imagery. Nothing like a song about a murderer to get your feet moving! You Got The Silver sung by Keith Richards, Monkey Man good. Album ends with You Can't Always Get What You Want, creative anthem considered I've of their best. This album comes in the midst of a string of great albums by the Stones. Heroin fueled creativity from 1968 to 1973, makes me wonder if Nancy Reagan knew what she was talking about. Solid top to bottom.
It's got Gimme Shelter – nuff said – though the rest of it is listenable too. In fact, I daresay the rest of it is excellent. Clayton's contributions to Gimme Shelter – first in the choruses, then in that stunning, earth-shattering display in the middle section – turn the song from fantastic to legendary. Wacky filter put onto the harmonica solo, giving it a kind of otherworldly feel that wouldn't be out of place on Led Zeppelin's When The Levee Breaks. (Which was, of course, released two years after Let It Bleed. The Stones pushed more boundaries than people give them credit for.) We move into the slow, proudly bluesy Love In Vain, which features a strong bassline, some weirdly spacious guitars, and a strong vocal. Country Honk follows. Because the single-version Honky Tonk Women exists, Country Honk comes across as a cheap knock-off, but I can't hate it. It's messy, warm, heartfelt. The album picks up the energy again with Live With Me, a song that, despite having an incredibly forgettable hook, is so rich with atmosphere and jammy goodness that you're smiling the whole time. Even as the next track starts playing and you've forgotten everything about the previous song. Let It Bleed and Midnight Rambler continue to lift the album to new heights.This is certainly the "groove" album of the Stones' discography. You don't feel the length of either of these tracks at all. The chorus of Let It Bleed manages to be comforting, rousing, and catchy all at once. Midnight Rambler switches tempo several times, ranging from danceable to frenetic to whatever the heck that slow second half with abrupt loud hits is supposed to be. As we approach the end of the record, You Got The Silver offers us a final taste of standard old-fashioned country rock before we get to the cream of the crop. Monkey Man. Dang, that riff. Distorted and clean, smooth and discordant. The vocals are cool here, but you could remove them and still have one of the finest songs the Stones ever released. The final song, You Can't Always Get What You Want, famously uses that choir as an intro to something indescribably uplifting. Despite the song title, the message really is just as heartwarming, comforting, motivational as the overall sound. Is this better than Sticky Fingers or Exile? Maybe. The three are extremely close. 5/5 Key tracks: Gimme Shelter, Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want
As much as I'll say they're never as good as the Beatles, this album is perfect
>>>>>>>>the Beatles
It's only a tiny exaggeration to say that after I heard this for the first time, the world looked different. It's not even my favorite Stones album, but c'mon, there just aren't a lot of songs anywhere that are better than Gimme Shelter.
Best Track - "Gimme Shelter"
One of my favourite albums!
Probably the best Stones album. The bookends here are the main selling points, but everything between them is quality material. Love the range of influences at play here. Had to write an essay in high school about You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Very important song for the understanding of AP Microeconomics.
Total classic. Several of their best songs are on this one.
5/5 fantastic. Gimme shelter. Why listen to 40 licks when the best songs all came from this album
Fem ++
It may not be the Stone's best (Exile) but it sure is damn good. From Gimme Shelter (one of the best rock songs and openers ever) to Satisfaction (one of the best rock songs ever) from Country Honk to Monkey Man - the Stones show their blues and country bonfides...why they are different than the other British rock band they are compared to and why they would go on to sing the blues for decades to come.
I was familiar with a lot of the Rolling Stones’ music, but I’d mostly heard it on compilations rather than the original albums. As for the latter, “Let It Bleed” is one of the best Stones releases, and that’s not so much because of the great songs—although “Gimme Shelter” is one of the best songs ever—but because of the interpretations by a band that, in their prime, could probably have turned even children’s songs into global hits. This unique combination of rock ’n’ roll, beat, rhythm and blues (the real R&B, of course), soul, folk, and various other influences, plus Keith Richards’ wild tunings, Mick Jagger’s distinctive voice, and a band that simply puts so much more feeling and emotion into every note than almost anyone else… Fantastic! Of course, this doesn’t apply to all Stones albums to the same extent, but it definitely does to “Let It Bleed.” Naturally, 5/5.
In my memory, Let It Bleed was kinda so-so and a bit overrated. I was wrong. This was a great listen. The Stones had impeccable musical instincts at this point. Every groove, every instrument, every vocal line is exactly right. For a bunch of British dudes playing American blues music, their sense of musical feel is astounding.
Great album, a classic
True good music.
It's funny that so far one of my biggest take aways from a year of listening to a new album every day, is that I really like the rolling stone. The stones are great, everyone knows that, but attentively listening to full albums, one at a time, with space between to digest, has breathed new life into one of the world's biggest bands for me. This album was great. Not sure if a rank it quite as high as Beggars Banquet, but if may be a close second so far.
This is the Rolling Stones at the height of their powers. Starting with the album before this, Beggars Banquet, then continuing with the next two albums, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street, they showed us how rock and roll was supposed to sound
It is honestly an amazing album! Every song on there was at least pretty good. The highlights were probably Gimme Shelter, You Got the Silver, and You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Overall, I would give it a 4.7/5!
Moves like Jagger
Hahahaaaaa this is GREAT. Such incredible bangers. Memorable and classic tunes.
What an excellent album this is, some stuff on here I’d never heard before, but great listening whilst walking on the Beach.
cute cover!
I have never liked Mick's voice, but this album is brilliant.
Loved it
Before they were exiled, the Stones let it bleed. Totally a precursor to Exile on Main Street, Let It Bleed was a gritty, seedy, underground album of exquisite production and virtuoso musicianship. Is there a better opening song than Gimme Shelter? Is there a better classic rock song than You Can’t Always Get What You Want? And everything in between is a sonic journey through a blues-soaked landscape that you’ll wish to never end. 5 stars
An all-time great album. Every song is well-written and performed. The recording itself has a bit of live edge to it, while sounding well-produced. Very warm-sounding. The opening track is incredible and it maintains a very high level from there. If there’s a better Stones album, I haven’t heard it yet.
The Stones’ best. Gimme Shelter & You Can’t Always Get What You Want - way to start and finish an album!
Great album by a great band
An explosive start to an album by the Rolling Stones I’ve listened to them before but never really listened to a whole album of theirs the first song is really good and the end of the album is a banger, a really enjoyable album that I would have no problem listening to again and again
Still hits a hard as it did 20 years ago. Classic.
This era of the Stones is about as good as it gets. This one's got some real bangers on it, bookended by two of the greatest rock songs of all time.
Awesome rock n roller
Well, wasn't this a nice surprise? Knew nothing of the Rolling Stones, to be honest, and decided to listen to it unpretentiously while painting my kitchen and I LOVE it!
Gimme Shelter build-up slow, propulsive, and then they blast into the song: "turn it up" as I've heard some southern rocker say. Song after song of nasty innuendo and a blast of rich rock n roll. Loud is the only way to listen to the Stones, who are just nasty, literally and figuratively. It's early morning here on the west coast, fuck it! Turn it up..... 5 near perfect rock n roll bleeding stars.
This is the album that (temporarily) knocked The Beatles' Abbey Road off the number one slot, and to be honest it's not that surprising when you listen to it. This is possibly one of the Stones' best albums. Harking back to their blues roots, this album has some outstanding tunes on it, and still sounds amazing over fifty years after its initial release. I'm definitely thinking this one deserves a full five.
все мои заметки стерлись(Я УБЬЮ МАТЬ СУКА ЭТОГО ЕБЛИВОГО НАХУЙ ПРОВАЙДЕРА, ЧТОБ ОН СГОРЕЛ) , но этот альбом сто процентная пятерка. АХАХАХАХХАХАХАХАХАХА ЧТО С ПОСЛЕДНЕЙ ПЕСНЕЙ АХАХАХХАХАХАХАА. АЛЬБОМ ПУШКА
3 songs really drive this album but he rest are still great as well. Gimme Shelter alone is iconic piece of work that’s immortalized in film as a track that says shit us about to get real
Opens and closes with two of the greatest, most distinctive, most iconic rock songs ever. In between, with the exception of the mediocre Midnight Rambler, are a bunch of good-to-great songs. "You Got the Silver" is an excellent slightly obscure one. The Merry Clayton vocal on Gimme Shelter is one of the best 30 seconds of listening you can find, and takes the song from great to all-time great. Jagger's "woo!" after her voice breaks is an excellent little contribution that I never noticed until it was pointed out to me a couple of years ago. And speaking of Merry, the documentary 20 Feet From Stardom is worth your time.
5/5 - From here to Exile is the sweet spot of the Rolling Stones for me. Gimme Shelter and the all-time backing vocal by Merry Clayton would be on my lifetime mix. Go find the naked vocal track on YouTube. Monkey Man, Let it Bleed, You Can't Always... -- great songs.
one of my favorite eras of the stones, loose but apocalyptic // this one feels especially personal as i discovered it when my mom was deployed for the second time, four years after 9/11. she was gone for a long while, and this one kept me company, one of those tapes i played to death that summer // musically: ragged, blues-drenched, end-of-the-60s exhaustion baked into it // gimme shelter is pure stormfront energy // you can’t always get what you want feels communal but lonely at the same time // country, gospel, and blues all bleeding into each other // sounds like a party only youre having while the world tilts // to me its tied to heat, absence, and learning how to sit with quiet // not just a classic rock record, but a time capsule of that summer
Country blues, i'm in
this album art is so damn good
My favorite album by The Stones is Some Girls but this still rates 5 stars. Love the blues and American country influences on this.
I loved it. Definitely will look more into the stones
Got already
I vant to suck your blood!
Terrific album top to bottom.
So freaky, so good Favs: “Let It Bleed,” Midnight Rambler,” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” which has my favorite music video of all time
I feel the energy that radiates from this album. Great music and voice, and the last song is a masterpiece.
Such a vibe front to back
The Rolling Stones are one of those bands I didn't really like when I was a kid. It was a great gift that the maturity of my ears brought me over time, and of course, everything they released between 1968 and 1981 is absolutely 5 stars.
Magnificently sleazy, louche and decadent
This is prime Rolling Stones. Ending the sixties with a banger
great album. a real marty scorsese classic. "monkey man" and "live with me" are killer "lesser" known stones tunes.
Peak Rolling Stones, hot off Beggar's Banquet. A very Americana album, blues, gospel and country entwined with the rock... Stand outs (non-singles): Live with Me, Midnight Rambler
It was good
It's easy to rate this high when it has one of my favorite songs of all time opening the album. And while it's hard to follow Gimme Shelter, the album does a great job, and it perfectly ends things with You Can't Always Get What You Want. Excellent album.
Great album
Another five-star masterpiece for The Rolling Stones. The 1969 release of Let It Bleed cemented their reputation as "The World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band". It marked a poignant transition: farewell to Brian Jones and hello to Mick Taylor.
The only grief I have with this album is that it is so short...
So good
Bookended by 2 of he greatest rock songs ever but Let It Bleed also has a lot else to love. Richards guitar playing is awesome on these tracks, bluesy, grimy and addictive. The title track, Midnight Rambler and Monkey Man are some of the other highlights. Classic!
Yea it’s like 21% country, deal with it
Nanette Newman's best album.
Classic stones, no notes
Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones is one of my favourite albums, full stop. It’s one of the records that properly locked them in as one of my favourite bands, so I went into this listen knowing it was going to be a good one. And it really is that good. Let It Bleed is an easy five-star album. Everything clicks: the mood, the songs, the sequencing. The cover is iconic, and Gimme Shelter and You Can’t Always Get What You Want alone would justify the album’s reputation. The whole thing sounds like the soundtrack to half of Martin Scorsese’s films — gritty, swaggering, dark, and brilliant. Favourite track: There are too many to choose from. Gimme Shelter is one of the most iconic songs of all time. Midnight Rambler is phenomenal, and you’ve also got stone-cold classics like Let It Bleed and You Can’t Always Get What You Want. It’s ridiculous how strong this album is. Least favourite track: Honestly, none. Every track earns its place — even the slightly cheesy Country Honk. Album artwork: An all-time classic. Instantly recognisable and perfectly suited to the music. This is the Stones at their absolute peak. An album I’ll never get bored of.
god i love this album. banger after banger.
I already knew I liked them, but still a fun album. On the more folky side of their stuff (twangy guitar, harmonica, etc), fun
It’s the Stones. It’s a 50/40 album for me. Some great tunes, some not so much.
Great album, I love rock n roll
One of the greatest albums by one of the greatest bands of all time. And on many days this is my favorite Stones album.
Monkey man Need a monkey woman Midnight Rambler Let it bleed
Solid from start to finish
Woo this has got some big ones on it. Gimme shelter ft Merry Clayton has to be one of the best songs of all time. I was blown away by love in vain as well and went straight to listen to the Robert Johnson version after i was done with this album. Love midnight rambler too, and of course the finish on can't always get what you want. What a banger.
i was surprised by the groove and bass lines of this record. my parents never put me on the rolling stones so i am discovering them later by myself, and i am witnessing the genius behind this album
4.56/5 Stars Top Songs: Gimme Shelter, Monkey Man, Live With ME
Amazing!
I enjoyed listening to this album
This is the second crown of the 4 albums that have changed the mood of music starting in 1967-68. They gave up on psychedelia and went back to their roots. The Stones got back to being in control and showing the world that musically they are and always will be the kings. It has such deep , edgy, music that it makes your skin crawl. It also kicks you in the head and makes you get up and shake you booty. Out of the 4 albums that are considered some of their best I believe this is the best.
Solid album - I've said before that "Gimme Shelter" is one of the best songs ever made, especially with the story behind singer Merry Clayton coming in to sing her part in the middle of the night, pregnant, in her PJs and hair curlers.
Brauch ich nicht hören. Ich liebe diese Platte. Ich kenn mich mit dem Werk der Stones nicht sonderlich gut aus, aber diese Platte ist ganz was besonderes für mich. Ist auch vor Print it black und satisfacrion etc. Love in Vain ist Liebe pur. Und alle anderen Lieder auch. Auch wenn es Cover sind. Wenn ich mich recht erinnere, sind das alles Cover Songs. War damals normal im London der 60er dass ein Haufen weiße Kids, alte Blues Sachen gecovert haben. Brauch ich nicht hören. Aber ich mach sie erstmal an. Mal wieder. Herz.
I am not sure I’ve ever consciously or intentionally listened to The Rolling Stones, but it is just… quality
Better than expected!
Outstanding. One of my all-time faves.
Cool album and i liked the monkey song
A classic album which is often discussed when contemplating the greatest of all time. It was in the middle of arguably one of the greatest runs of albums ever...
The Stones are great.
10
One of the key albums from the Stones. These guys were on fire back in late 60s and early 70s. I am not a honkey tonkey fan but songs like Gimme Shelter and You can’t always get what you want blow my mind every time I listen to them. 4.5/5
an album that opens w gimme shelter and ends w You can't always.. COME ON! for me Monkey Man alone gets the 5, one of my very favorites - this album is AWESOME
Can't really make em better than this.
I love The Rolling Stones. This is one of my 10/10 albums.
Awesome album, consistent with the Stones massive body of work.
Hot take: I think The Stones sound better in digital. Anyway, in considering how to classify The Rolling Stones and their importance to music — they probably have five five-star albums on this list, including this one — I think I’d say that no band read the room as well as they did. They were a well-established band before this album, and they really thrived in the post-Kennedy grit of a world marked by disillusion, excess and tension. The artists of the time really squeezed beauty in spots where it wasn’t supposed to be, and The Stones were right there. This album opens with maybe the most important rock song ever written and delivers emotional thups and downs throughout. As an exercise, I could probably write a book examining the artistic intricacies of their albums from Satanic to Tattoo You. Whatever. This is excellent.
Few albums change the course of music as much as LiB. Culture defining, genre blending, auditory ecstasy. A band finding their sound like no other.
Really can't give this one anything less than a 5.
Man patīk, especially "gimme shelter" un "you cant always get what you want" like tas sakums ir riktiga bumbaaa.
Great
Great Stones!!!
Gimme shelter best stones song ever. I am just a fan of The Rolling Stones I think. No complaints about anything on here, shelter, honk, and can’t always get what you want make it an easy 4 and the rest of it fills out to be right there at the 4/5 line. Tie breaker is if I saw this in a store I would definitely buy it, so we'll give it the 5. Midnight rambler might ramble a bit too long to be fair.
10/10 fav track - love in vain 12/16/25
Wonderful album. Such a mix of blues, rock, weird, just plain amazing. A lot of great covers, I can’t imagine listening to this album in 1969.
One of the all time classics
The Rolling Stones have done a lot of great stuff, and a lot of terrible stuff too, over the years. This album is definitely one of their most brilliant works.
Classic no notes
Playing during an elevated breakfast and Animal Crossing gaming session. I like the funky bluegrass influence on "Love In Vain." "Country Honk" starts and my first notice..."OH so this is a country album" 🤣 "Live With Me" definitely belongs on the Timeline Story playlist for The Martyr. And "Let It Bleed" feels like a good first song for the movie credits on the Timeline Story. Finally, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is very The Lost One coded. 🤣🤣 Is this a 5-star album? I really liked it. I found myself more drawn to paying attention to the album and less on wanting to make decisions in Animal Crossing. I really loved the funk, blues, and country influences of this album. I really like a multi-genre experience.
Album incredibile, dalla prima all’ultima traccia, e poi le tracce di apertura e di chiusura sono perfette.
Banger after banger after BANGER!
Muy bueno, me ha gustado un montón, lo volvería a escuchar
Love it.
A perfect album.
solid album, one hit
really good
Henry Hill's car screeches around the corner. He's paranoid, wired on coke, chauffeuring his family around, picking up guns and drugs, cooking pasta sauce, all while convinced a helicopter is following him. Playing over this scene, Mick Jagger screams "AMMA MONKEEEEEEY MAAAAN!" I became obsessed with that sequence of Goodfellas. And the main reason is the amazing medley of music that runs through it, one of the biggest highlights being "Monkey Man" from this album. I'm a big fan of all incarnations of the Stones. Early raucous 60s rock'n'roll Stones. Even psychedelic Stones. All of it great. But I particularly like this era of the Stones, when they concentrated on their blues roots, their biggest strength. I think this is my favourite of all the Stones albums. There's so much I love about this album. Merry Clayton's vocal crack in "Gimme Shelter". The slow burn of "Love in Vain". "Country Honk" being the better of the two honks. "Let it Bleed" with Jagger's inexplicable Southern twang. Keith Richards' guitar sounding somewhere halfway between rhythm and lead. The guitar tone and distorted harmonica of "Midnight Rambler", slowing down and building back up to the most epic part of the song - it's the ultimate blues jam. "You Got the Silver" showing Keef's singing chops and some great slide guitar too. Wyman's bass intro with those twinkly piano bits, before the drums and THAT guitar riff kicks in for the absolute tune of "Monkey Man". A proper groove. There's pure energy throughout this album. "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is the standout track in an album of standout tracks. The choir intro should feel ridiculous, but it actually works. The gentle acoustic build, the tambourine, the organ swell - the whole song gradually expands until it takes off. It's an absolute hero of a song. This is peak Stones. Blending blues, country, rock'n'roll and folk with lots of swagger and groove.
fuck i love the Brits
Classic one of the best Stones albums
Midnight rambler prob my fave track on this. Loving the bluesy, honky-tonkness of the whole thing. Then Monkey Man, completely different feel to it. And of course - House! Can't believe only 9 songs on this album!!
yes! blues rock britan best
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
I knew this was 5 stars before I started. This is my favorite Stones album.
The kind of album that spoils the Stones for you. It's really good. Gimme Shelter might be best in show when it comes to songs in general, and everything after (except Honky Tonk) slaps. You can cream on me.
One of my favorited from The Stones.
One of the greats. Not a huge Stones fan - I wouldn't list them among my favorite bands. But then I hear songs like these and I'm reminded that maybe they should be.
From banger to banger, even the fill songs like Midnight Rambler and Country Honk are enjoyable.
Best opener / closer combo ever? Definitely an argument for that. A little more honky tonk than I would have liked or expected, but it was really good honky tonk. Pretty great from start to finish. Easy 5.
When we started this list, Let it Bleed was what I had in my mind as an exemplary 5 star album. Love every song but monkey man is my sleeper pick fav stones song ever, Midnight Rambler is indulgent in all the best ways, and Gimme Shelter and Can't always get what you want are two of the best album openers/closers (respectively) you'll ever come across. It's also crazy how these British twinks are able to pull off the quintessential country western sound. One of the best albums ever, straight up.
Probably my personal favorite Stones album…has both a perfect opener (“Gimme Shelter”) and a perfect closer (“You Can’t Always Get What You Want”). I also love the title track and “Monkey Man”…this is the Stones at their peak: best lineup, most creative, starting to mix in country influence and anthemic songs that maintain the blues influence. No skips here, 5 stars
More harmonica than expected. Good album
i love this album sm
Really enjoyed. Didn't know "you can't allways get what you want" was from the rolling stones was on thsi album. Loved first track music as well.
Finally, a Stones album that you can almost listen to all the way through.
More jam band style than I expected from the stones. Heavy use of harmonica, 5/5
Starts and finishes with great classics and the rest is pretty good too. 5 stars or A.
Absolute classic. Starts off strong and just keeps on giving. You can't always get what you want might just be one of the best closers ever. Amazing album - 4.5 - already in the collection
This might be the perfect balance between the "old" more bluesy Stones and the rock band that came after. The sweet spot in my mind.
Great Stones album! So many good tracks on here. Highlights: "Gimme Shelter", "Midnight Rambler" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
4.5,janaakouw
Very good , whole album
The starting point in a truly legendary three album run. No disrespect to Beggars Banquet, which is also a great album, but each subsequent release until Exile on Main St brought the goods in more fulsome and complete ways. Let it Bleed opens with the iconic 60’s meltdown theme, Gimme Shelter, and ends with the uplifting, You Can’t Always Get What You Want. Stylistically, the two don’t have a lot in common, but they’re both phenomenal, and bookend the album to great effect. In between you have other setlist staples like Midnight Rambler and Richard’s’ You Got The Silver. Also Live With Me - a track I’ll always love from the Jagger/Aguilera duet on Scorsese’s Shine A Light. There’s just so much to love on this album. The only score I can give it is a 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌟
Excellent, love it. No notes.
Classic album, and one of my favs by the Stones. Mick's southern drawl always cracks me up, and the musical talent is on display throughout with the bluesy honky tonk sound. This one never gets old.
1st of an unparalleled 3-album run in rock history. Still holds up as fresh and exciting. Pales everything that tried to match it over the next 25 years.
Classic, amazing, love to see it
Some real bangers.
Stoner! c
This is a great Stones album. When I saw it come up I restrained myself from thinking it was an automatic 5 stars. 4 stars max, I can’t give it 5 stars just because it’s the Stones. Yes I can. Gripped from start to finish. When comparing it to other albums on this project it’s apparent on how good it is, from the social commentary to the slide guitar to the honkin harmonica. Not once did I feel the need to skip a track or see how much longer I had to suffer through a song. Aside from the usual hits, I really enjoy Monkey Man and You Got the Silver.
Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Tolles Album!
What can I say! One of the best albums by one of the best bands ever easy 5
Monster album, so many influential tracks.
Gimme Shelter is one of the greatest songs ever. The rest is a solid Stones album. 40 minutes of fun listening. And I always forget how great Monkey Man is.
niceeee
You can't always get what you want, men ni kan få en femma för detta album iaf!
Egentligen 6/5
Yea this is a classic. My favorite stones album next to exile on main street
So much better that Sticky Fingers
Absolutely no notes. ‘You can’t always get what you want’ will be played at my funeral
Absolute classic album! One of their best. Of course "Gimme Shelter" is the biggest hit of the album but I do like the blues-ish songs: "Love in Vain", "Country Honk" and "Live with Me". Btw, "Love in Vain" was written by Robert Johnson. The title song "Let It Bleed" is pretty good as well. The only weak song is "Monkey Man". "You Can't Always Get What You Want" closes the album in great style. A bit repetitive but nice song.
Classic.
TIL this is a no-skip for me.
Gostei muito, não esperava que fosse tão bom, salvei quase todas as faixas.
Classic Stone's honky tonk. Lots of classic hits. Best album yet on this list
Classic.
I think this is the album that the Stones begin to kick into gear. I really like their single output during the 60s. The late 60s stick fingers era is where the Stones find their album groove.
This is just a great album. Bookended by two of the Stones best songs, the middle half is a wonderful combination of blues, folk and country.
classic
Amazing album with well known songs obviously- never listened entirely through til now!
10/10 album, different genres throughout, enjoyed listening
Балдежный альбом. Как и Led Zeppelin II, для меня он был наполнен чистым кайфом. Отлично вписываются кантри мотивы, губная гармошка. Каким-то образом у британцев получился очень американский альбом. В общем, это база и слушать всем.
This album shows that the Stones, without Brian Jones, were still a potent force hits on all tracks, including the countified Country Honk.
What a great album. Love all the big hits and the country vibe throughout. This is definitely one of the defining albums for the stones
Good Songs: Gimme Shelter, Love In Vain, Live with Me, Let It Bleed, Midnight Rambler, You Got The Silver, Monkey Man, You Can't Always Get What You Want Mid Songs: Country Honk, Bad Songs:
Maybe not the Stones' album I've played the most but I'm gonna give each a fair shot at becoming my new favorite or seeing if Exile holds strong. Funny though how many times I've listened to "Love in Vain" and not known it was a Robert Johnson cover. I'll have to go back and listen to the original but the Stones really knock it out of the park. "Country Honk" is the song you would actually expect to be a cover and it sorta is considering they released the single "Honky Tonk Women" earlier in the year. "Live With Me" has killer sax; I always wonder what music broke Dylan's obstinance towards the instrument whether it could have been Bowie or the Stones. The title track is the most essential sounding to me. Not the best or my favorite but the one that defines this monolith that is The Rolling Stones. "Midnight Rambler" I mean, I have nothing against the mouth harp and this is a great execution it's essentially the lead instrument on the song nearly overtaking Jagger* in the mix. Keef always fools me, I thought his singing on "You Got the Silver" was Jagger doing a less exaggerated American accent than his usual Blues or Country singing. This song, however, along with "Monkey Man" bring side B down a bit in stature proving my Rule of Side A. God I've probably listened to "You Can't Always Get What You Want" over a hundred times, maybe mostly on classic rock radio in Florida but I've also played it plenty on purpose and at my first ever concert in 2005 with my pa, the Stones of course opened their encore with it before sending us off on that wonderful song about lusting after black women. That show was also the first time I ever smelled pot, but I would go on to smoke some not much later. This is an easy 4.5 so it's a mix up whether I want to give it a 4 or 5. I'll have to think on it. I think I like records that came before and after it more so I'll have to unfairly dub this a 4.** *Ah-ha! It's Jagger on the instrument himself. **Changed my rating to a 5 upon purchasing the record and listening again. From this I jumped over to Miles Davis' the Complete In a Silent Way Sessions from right around the same time that this record was put together. Wayne Shorter on the sax over here; beautiful stuff.
Smells like 1969's spirit. Unwashed. The band has become a single organism birthing fluid funk.
An unbelievably good record. Arguably (and I might argue for one other record) best first and last tracks in rock, and almost everything between is rich, bluesy, painful, beautiful: gospel, country, Delta. Energy and anger and resignation out of loss and wreckage.
The weekend pick provides. Sadly, I cannot say I have purposely listened to this all the way through, but man does this deliver. With only 9 tracks, each one delivers. No filler here. Love the more back porch version of Honky Tonk Women.
(92/100)
Magical. Can’t choose a favorite track until I listen a couple more times
i love this album!!!! one of my highschool teachers recommended it to me and ive been listening to it since. also i want to eat the album cover
live laugh love in vain
I think it’s pretty much been agreed that Gimme Shelter has the greatest intro of all time - in fact, there’s a strong case for it being one of the greatest singles of all time. Jagger is obviously outstanding but Keith Richards and ‘backing’ (co-lead, more like) vocalist Merry Clayton steal the show. Any album with this track on it gets an immediate 5 stars, but the rest is pretty great too. Love in Vain, Monkey Man, Midnight Rambler, You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Country Honk… wait, not that one… I think that one was included by mistake. But what an album.
Off the cuff remark: I've been waiting for a Stones album to appear on this list and wondering which it would be. This is a pretty damn fine one, some days it just might be my favourite, there are some immense tracks on it. Country Honk still seems strange to me, but enjoyable nevertheless. Standout track: title track is fabulous but hard to beat the truly wonderful You Can't Always Get What You Want. Revisit?: sometimes only the Stones will do and it may be this album that I will spin next time.
I mean c'mon it's the freakin Stones
It opens with Gimme Shelter. It closes with You Can’t Always Get What You Want. It’s got Monkey Man on it, and all the other songs are dirty blues/country blues bangers. Of course it’s a 5!
Absolutely classic Stones! One of their best.
Some great songs Gimme Shelter is in my opinion the Stones best song. Merrie Clayton is a songstress
Look, I'm a classic rock girlie and it's the stones. This album is such a ride. It starts and ends with two of their best songs, and the rest is a fun assortment of honkey tonk bullshit (affectionate).
Bangers from start to finish. Made me want to go through their whole discography
Five stars for Gimme Shelter alone…
I'll always say I'm a big Stones fan, but in truth what I mean is I adore their greatest hits. Before I listen to a Stones album I pre-judge it based on how many songs I already know. On that basis I wasn't overly excited about this one, but it actually blew me away. I think the magic of the Stones is with those musicians and those vocals they can really make any average song sound great, then when they hit you with a Gimme Shelter or You Can't Always Get What You Want it takes them next level. The 7:28 album version of You Can't Always Get What You Want is nothing short of thrilling, and one of the best album closers of all time.
This was a terrific album start to finish. I didn’t know how I’d feel about it, but it was great. Reminds me why I love Classic Rock.
I absolutely loved this, heard many of the tracks before but not all
Truly amazing album
Suena clásico pero no anticuado, es el tipo de album que escucharía en un road Trip. 2 de ella van a mi playlist regular. 10/10
Second album in the Stones’ perfect run. Pure perfect sleaze.
One of the best by the Stones, Amazing Opener and closing track plus a very solid middle filled with country/blues rock bangers
Great mix of Blues and 69’s British Rock & Roll. You can certainly hear the American Blues influences on the Stones in this record. Great background musicians and instruments including brass, harmonica, and percussion. A true delight to listen to. Makes me want to grab a Bourbon and some BBQ ribs. Never knew about the “Country Honk” version of Honky Tonk Women
Gimme shelter is timeless but the rest of the album is stolen. Still great though
personally not /as/ big of a fan as court of the crimson king, but i definitely like this more than king crimson's stuff that straight up just sounds like a medieval soundtrack. breezy listen, a lot of fun.
Very nice!
Listened to this one after a swim sauna and coffee whilst cleaning. The album channels chaos into catharsis, blending blues, gospel, and country with raw rock energy A.
From a fantastic intro to an all time great closing song a fantastic record
I liked every frickin song, it didn't miss at all
Lovely, the sound felt so beautiful- magic
This was a great album, very fun. I recognized most of the songs but weren't aware they were rolling stones songs!
I gotta be real: to this point, I don't feel like I've had much luck with The Rolling Stones. Sure, I haven't hated any of the albums of theirs my group has gotten so far, and I know they have a bunch of songs I like — heck, I know I love at least one of their albums, the American version of BETWEEN THE BUTTONS. But you gotta understand, I see the Stones a lot through their legacy. Y'know, as much as I wanna act like outside context like that is just a garnish and the music should stand on its own, sometimes context really can enhance a tune. And in the case of the Stones, well, their context to me is that they're the rival to The Beatles. That's the debate: Stones vs Beatles, which British band is better? And every time, I've always fallen down on the side of The Beatles. I mean, The Beatles have the legacy of being THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME EVER, and, y'know, I own all their albums, plus various compilations and deluxe editions. Meanwhile, with The Stones, I just... Haven't heard anything, even during the course of this list, that's put them on the same level as The Beatles. Hell to me, the debate isn't even "Stones vs Beatles"; it's "Beatles vs Beach Boys." That feels like the more fitting match-up to me, given their respective musical evolutions. The Rolling Stones... Well, in comparison, they're just a British blues band to me. How could they compete? I suppose there is **one** album... The one Stones album I was actively waiting to see pop up, because I was legit excited to finally give the whole thing a spin. In case you somehow couldn't tell, even with the other reviews surrounding this one: it's LET IT BLEED. I mean, come on — come on! It's LET IT BLEED! The one with "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want", without a doubt two of the greatest songs the Stones would ever make! One's a driving rocker with a hell of a gospel singer wailing on it; the other's straight-up a gospel epic, and maybe the closest the Stones have come to sounding like The Beatles (ignoring THEIR SATANIC MAJESTY'S REQUEST, of course). Not to mention, both can easily be read as being about the state of affairs at the end of the 60's: singing about "rape, murder — it's just a shout away" in one, and the admission that "you can't always get what you want" in the other. Lemme tell you, with those in its tracklist, how could this album possibly lose? So... Y'know, before now, I've talked about albums with a "title track" problem. Generally speaking, it's an album where the title track, often the first song, towers so high over the others that it can seem hard for the others to come out of its shadow. Rush's 2112, Funkadelic's MAGGOT BRAIN, Don McLean's AMERICAN PIE, and so on. LET IT BLEED has something similar to go on: the album is bookended by two songs that are such incredible peaks in their career that everything in-between can only feel like a valley, no matter how little of a drop there actually is. Now, don't let me be understood here: these are still great songs. This is the most I've liked a Stones album since STICKY FINGERS, and, in fact, this is probably my favorite Stones album, period. But I can't front, I can only think of most of these songs as being "good for Stones albums tracks," whereas the other two are "incredible for 60's rock in general." Doesn't help that they could have included "Honky Tonk Women" (another Stones great), but for some reason instead chose to have some country version that honestly sounds a little like a joke? Honestly. I think the issue here for me is that the rest of the songs on LET IT BLEED don't reach beyond the Stones' usual style like "Gimme Shelter" and "You Can't Always Get What You Want" do. Those songs find themselves taking heavily from gospel music, whereas the rest is more just straightforward Stones-y blues rock. And, y'know, I get why they are the way they are: this album **was** following on from BEGGARS BANQUET, after all. That record was a concentrated return to their roots after how far they'd lost the plot on stuff like THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES request. I can imagine that while they were comfortable stretching a little on a follow-up, they still didn't wanna go **too** far back outside their typical sound. They'd have their opener and closer take a big swing for gospel grandeur, but then everything else would be the Stones just as you like 'em. And, y'know, I don't know if the gospel influence would've been sustainable or not across multiple albums or not; it was maybe probably for the best that on STICKY FINGERS they chose to simply just refine their "return to roots" style. I mean, as far as their strictly "return to roots" albums go, STICKY FINGER **is** my favorite (EXILE ON MAIN ST. following just didn't have enough variety for my tastes). But I hear these big, gospel songs and I can't help but wonder what they could've done if they tried playing in this sound a bit more — y'know? But, ah well. I don't like to rate albums based on what we **could have** gotten instead of what we actually **did**. And for what we did get, even if the majority of the album can't really compare to its two highlights, I think it's really damn good. Again: finally hearing it in full, this is my new favorite Stones album. And if I can highlight any album cut in particular to prove that the "in-between" songs are actually pretty good, I think "Monkey Man" stands out. Maybe it's just because I remember it from its appearance in GOODFELLAS, but it is legit, honest. "Midnight Rambler" ain't too bad, either. So, do the Stones match up to The Beatles now? Eh, not really. Given the choice, I'd take LET IT BE a dozen times over LET IT BLEED. But just as well, I shouldn't be comparing them anyway. They're each their own band, doin' different things... And that's good enough, y'know? And even if I wouldn't pick it first, I'd still take LET IT BLEED second. It might not be as consistent as STICKY FINGERS would later be, but just for having a strong set of tracks bookended by two of the best things they'd ever make... Yeah, it ain't considered one of the Stones best for nothing. As the song says: "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find you get what you need."
Classic Stones, right here. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 5. Not *quite* as grand as “Exile on Main Street” to my ears, but it’s like comparing two sports cars against each other; they’re both extremely rich & they both get the job done. It's hard to complain about 42 minutes that sound that good, especially once I found that zen state for something as bombastic as “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. That little sneak preview we got from the George Michael album a while back did wonders here; the more the ending kept expanding, the more my brain just fully melted into itself. So, how about the rest of the album then? Honestly, just pure classic rock & roll with a bit of a country lean; about what I’ve expected out of the Rolling Stones, but there’s no need to shake anything up when it works as well as it does. “Gimme Shelter” is as good as advertised, and possibly a rare example to my ears of a track sounding better *without* headphones in, as the bassline & guitar got way more of a pop from my speakers, adding a bit more depth to the whole thing. Everything in between the start & finish is still very good, but it’s not as good as those two tracks are. That doesn’t make this a 2 track album, not by a long shot, but even on a first pass, I did find myself sort of bleeding tracks into each other. I might chalk that down to getting way too into the groove throughout the whole thing, though. I’ve got some light notes written down: the dueling guitars approach on “Love in Vain” works really nicely, “Live With Me” might be the most Beatles-y the Stones have ever sounded to my ears, “Let It Bleed” is horny as hell but the energy is great, the tempo shifts on “Midnight Rambler” are super effective, and “Monkey Man” is just a pure ball of energy by its outro. Clearly, I liked this whole thing, and if there’s not a bad track here, why am I not at a 10 with it? I guess it just never really hits that same overall technical showcase fever pitch that I felt on a multitude of tracks for “Exile on Main Street”, but I did feel it here – just not as often. Without that sense of being fully in sync (save for “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” & a lot of the outro for “Let It Bleed”), it just never hit that deep level of connection for me. Regardless, it’s an easy, easy 5. It’s a stellar Rolling Stones album, the second best one I think we’ve gotten so far, and a stellar album, period. This does end off that “classic” stretch for us, with the only other 2 Stones albums remaining being some of their earlier, pre-”Beggars Banquet” work. I can only hope they’re worth being on the list, but as far as this one goes, it’s an obvious recommendation. A stunner for 1969, and another big thumbs up for Mick, Keith & friends.
A Classic among Classics! This album has so many great songs that define a time. Gimme Shelter is sounds very full and loud and I love the guitar progression around the 2:20 mark. So good. And You Cant Always Get What You Want is a composition masterpiece. The weight of this album is impressive.
One of the best of the classics
Solid way of finding all the spaces you can rock on this album.
## ⚡ The Rolling Stones' *Let It Bleed*: An In-Depth Review (1969) Released in December 1969, *Let It Bleed* stands as a grim monument to the end of the 1960s. Recorded amid Brian Jones’s tragic decline, his subsequent firing, and death, and the chaotic Altamont concert, the album channels the era’s violence, disillusionment, and fractured idealism. Below is a focused analysis of its lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy. --- ### 📜 **Lyrics: Bleak Poetry for a Broken Decade** The lyrics are Jagger and Richards’s most unflinching work, rejecting flower-power optimism for visceral darkness: - **Apocalyptic Visions:** "Gimme Shelter" opens with rape, murder, and war "just a shot away," framing the Vietnam era as an encroaching storm . - **Nihilism & Cynicism:** "Midnight Rambler" mythologizes the Boston Strangler with predatory swagger, while "Live With Me" flaunts hedonistic decay ("*I got nasty habits*") . - **Resigned Wisdom:** "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" masks despair in irony, contrasting a protest’s futility with personal betrayal ("*In her glass was a bleeding man*") . - **Dark Humor:** The title track "Let It Bleed" pairs sexual innuendo ("*You can cream on me*") with drug references, reveling in self-destruction . --- ### 🎸 **Music: Gritty Blues, Gospel, and Country Alchemy** The album merges American roots music with rock’s decaying edge: - **Genre Fusion:** Gospel choirs ("You Can’t Always Get What You Want"), country fiddle ("Country Honk"), Chicago blues ("Midnight Rambler"), and Delta blues ("Love in Vain") collide . - **Instrumental Shifts:** Keith Richards dominates guitars (slide, acoustic, electric) due to Brian Jones’s absence. Jones’s final contributions are sparse (autoharp on "You Got the Silver," percussion on "Midnight Rambler") . - **Key Performances:** - Merry Clayton’s volcanic vocal solo on "Gimme Shelter" . - Richards’s first lead vocal on "You Got the Silver," radiating ragged sincerity . - The London Bach Choir’s ironic grandeur on "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" . --- ### 🎚️ **Production: Raw, Imperfect, and Unforgiving** Produced by Jimmy Miller, the sound prioritizes atmosphere over polish: - **Lo-Fi Grit:** Minimal overdubs preserve live energy. "Let It Bleed" (the track) features audible drag in Charlie Watts’s snare and a near-derailment at 2:03 . - **Spatial Dynamics:** "Gimme Shelter" layers rain-like percussion, distant guitars, and Clayton’s isolated wails to evoke dread . - **Flaws:** "Country Honk" suffers from muddy mixing and stiff rhythm , while the choir/orchestra clash on "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" feels disjointed to some . --- ### ⚫ **Themes: The Death of the ’60s Dream** The album is a eulogy for a turbulent decade: - **Collapse of Idealism:** Songs like "Gimme Shelter" and "Midnight Rambler" mirror Altamont’s violence and Manson-era paranoia . - **Personal vs. Political:** "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" links failed protests to intimate betrayals, underscoring universal compromise . - **Mortality & Transition:** Brian Jones’s ghost haunts the cover (his image on the cake) and sparse contributions, symbolizing the Stones’ rebirth . --- ### 🚀 **Influence: Blueprint for Rock’s Dark Turn** *Let It Bleed* reshaped rock’s trajectory: - **Genre Legacy:** Paved the way for 1970s hard rock (Led Zeppelin), punk (The Clash), and glam’s theatrical nihilism . - **Cultural Resonance:** "Gimme Shelter" remains shorthand for societal chaos, used in films like *The Departed* and *Goodfellas* . - **Stones Mythology:** Cemented the band as "rock’s greatest dark poets," influencing albums from *Exile on Main St.* to modern acts like The Black Keys . --- ### ⚖️ **Pros & Cons** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| | **✅ Apocalyptic cohesion** in theme and mood | **❌ "Country Honk"** feels redundant vs. "Honky Tonk Women" | | **✅ Keith Richards’s guitar mastery** (slide, rhythm) | **❌ Overindulgence** in "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" | | **✅ Landmark tracks** ("Gimme Shelter," "Midnight Rambler") | **❌ Brian Jones marginalized**, reducing creative diversity | | **✅ Raw production** enhances urgency | **❌ Inconsistent pacing** (e.g., "You Got the Silver" disrupts flow) | --- ### 🏁 **Verdict** *Let It Bleed* is the Rolling Stones’ definitive statement: a brutal, brilliant autopsy of the 1960s. While flawed by one filler track ("Country Honk") and occasional bloat, its lyrical audacity, musical innovation, and apocalyptic vision make it timeless. As Jagger noted, it’s an album where "violence [is] on the screens" – and in the grooves . Fifty years later, its darkness still feels unnervingly relevant. > 💡 **Key Takeaway**: A masterpiece not despite its chaos, but because of it.
A timeless album with great Stones music. Totally enjoyed this album again even though I know it well. Love it.
There is not world where "You can't always get what you want" isnt a masterwork and not in any realistic top 20 of all time rock and roll greatests songs ever list.
if there are songs other than gimme shelter on this album they benefit from the Cheerleader effect.
Flawless best stones album ever
So class!! No skips, a few really stand out but the others are very listenable and the record feels coherent and groovy.
Dope
Perfect choice for me. Listening now. The music of my youth (I am 77 years old). How can it get any better?
One of the best
Not a bad note in the whole thing.
What an album! Several greatest hits tracks on here. Part of the second great run of the Stones. Get amongst it
This is album number 45, and this is the second album from the Rolling Stones I am listening to. The first one was Beggar's Banquet. I understand that after BB, came Let it Bleed. I took the time to listen to the album from the beginning to its last song. This is the first time I have listened to this album, and really liked its bluesy feeling. I have heard "Gimme Shelter", "Honky Tonk Woman", and "You Can't Always Get What You Want-" all classic rock songs. I believe in all it was a really well made album. I liked it. 5
9/10 So it isn't all great, but Gimme Shelter and YCAGWYW are another level and I love Let it Bleed too
An absolutely blast from start to finish. Impossible to not want to jam out to each song, with fantastic blues riffs and driving drums. Some of Jagger's best lyrics and vocal performances really tie everything together. An all-time old school rock classic
One of if not the top Rolling Stones albums of all time and one of the best complete albums as well. From start to finish it’s hit after hit and the songs are still relevant after all these years.
5 estrelas
One of the 5 or 10 best albums of the 1960s, and one of the best rock'n'roll albums ever. Perfect album.
Gimme Shelter is a top five song of all time, the rest is great with a consistent feel throughout. You Can't Always Get What you Want is a perfect closer. I don't really like the Stones, but this one is undeniable.
One of the greates Bands ever and also great album
Good shit. First part is like American blues.
Classic album sandwiched by two of the best rock songs of all time
This might be the perfect rock and roll album.
This is one of those albums that you listen to and think "this band is just better than most bands". Gimme Shelter is such a good intro for the album. Interesting instrument choices, catchy riffs, good guitar work throughout, great vocals and lyrics. The whole album hits throughout. As good as Gimme Shelter is for an opener, You Can't Always Get What You Want is an even better closer. Incredible work in every stage and makes complete sense to be on the list
Just the opening track, Gimme Shelter and the closing track, You Can't Always Get What You Want alone elevate this album. There is a lot of the Stones on this list but this one belongs. As always, I'd like to point out how odd this British band sounding so American is. I enjoyed the tracks between the big two. Some cool blues sounds. Cohesive, dynamic album with two huge songs. The rest flew by, did at least 3 listens today.
Merry Clayton’s vocals on Gimme Shelter are so scorching, so era-defining, i could almost give this album a 5 without listening to the rest. But i wouldn’t do that … (The Stones are in peak form on this track too — after all these years, it’s stunning!). I’m more familiar with later versions of some of these songs. Country Honk is an early version of what becomes, Honkey Tonk Woman. — this slower version sprawls a little, but it’s really good. Mic’s vocals on Let it Bleed are initially too affected, as a man from the US south. Chill out Mic — people dig your voice even if you’re not originally from blues country. This take on Rambling Man rambles a little too much at times, but makes up for it other times. Monkey Man is an underrated banger. You Can’t Always Get What You Want seals the deal. Definitely hear the Joe Cocker influence here. (It’s interesting that the two strongest tracks on this album feature back up vocals prominently). This is a 5!
Stunning@
Timeless collection of some of the finest tracks the Stones recorded. Spans country, blues and their own unique brand of rock. Great performances by the band.
This album has possibly the greatest Rolling Stones songs on. Absolutely great album.
Gimme shelter is as essential, as there is. can't always get not far behind. But moving on from greatest hits the album, as a whole entity it's vibe., it's feel is essential rock dripping with the blues and Country, dipping into gospel and soul. The Stones as a real band not a brand, a circus. I have multiple copies, vinyl and cd, mono and stereo so yeah it's 5 Star for me.
En otras reseñas de álbumes de los Rolling Stones, dije que me parecía que, aparte de sus hits, la mayoría de sus temas no me parecen gran cosa más allá de ser un blues, soul y country muy bien tocados. Puede que los Rolling Stones sean de los pocos grupos que merecerían tener un "Grandes Éxitos" en esta lista en vez de álbumes individuales. Pero es que este álbum es casi, casi, un Grandes Éxitos: "Gimme Shelter" (solo este tema haría al álbum merecedor de tres estrellas), "Let It Bleed", "Midnight Rambler" y "You Can't Always Get What You Want" están todas aquí. Y, aunque es cierto que los demás temas siguen sin ser nada espectacular, puestos en el contexto de un álbum bastante corto y tan lleno de temas legendarios, hasta se agradecen. De momento, mi álbum favorito de los Rolling y digno merecedor de esta lista.
Tem minha música preferida dos Stones: you can’t always get what you want
Rape, Murder, What’s not to love…
Ugh, just the best.
Need to listen to more of the Stones.
Holy shit, this is why I signed on to this project. I've always liked the Stones, but I've never been enough of a fan to listen to albums in their entirety. WTF have I been thinking? Incredible music, of course. My whole family was commenting on the fact that we got a good one.
Great Stones album
Let It Bleed is a very bluesy album. With 9 songs the album still fills a good listening session, with two extended cuts: Midnight Rambler and You Can't Always Get What You Want.
Start to finish excellent. Maybe the best opening and closing tracks of an album
Amazing
All time great. Top 10 album of all time
This is great album! First time hearing all the way through. Monkey Man is fire!!! Midnight Rambler might be my favorite song in a live show. Of course it’s anchored by the 2 giant radio hits! Solid through and through!
Not my thing but still an awesome album!
# Album Name: let it bleed # Artist: The Rolling Stones # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Honestly, what a fucking album this is. Unreal the quality of the tunes and the band. Mick jagger, take a bow son. Banger after banger after banger. The stones smash this one out of the park. Simply one of THE best albums of all time for me. Plenty of good songs on this album to keep any listener entertained. This is the stones at their peak imo from an album perspective. It’s one of their complete albums. # Top Tunes: All of em # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Again, all time classic. Monkey man close to the best track.
I'm finishing strong. Down to the last 30 and in the last 3 days I've had my favourite Doors, an excellent Nine Inch Nails, and now my favourite Stones. Easy 5-stars.
I'm not the world's biggest Stones fan (back in the day I suppose I would've been team Beatles), but this is my favorite Stones album. It feels like this raw, bluesy mix that you'd see performed in some dive bar. But then there's also one otherworldly good song. Perhaps contender for the coolest rock song of all time. If you haven't ever heard Gimme Shelter boy are you in for a treat.
This album personifies the phrase "sex, drugs, and rock n roll". Every song is top tier. Love it!
One their three to definitely hear along with Exile and Sticky Fingers.
A classic - full of bangers, soul, and lovely melodies. Mick shooting lightning and Keith shooting heroin
This is my second or third favorite Rolling Stones album and has my favorite Stones song "Let it Bleed." My favorite is on this list but I will have to listen to "Some Girls" to see if it is still number 2. It is hard to not give this a full on 5, but if I quibble and deduct a quarter star it would be for the Keith song that sounds like a bad Bob Dylan ripoff (but with better singing). 4.75/5
Love the bluesy feel if this album. Classic. So good!!
Absolute all-timer from the Stones. Maybe not their apex, but a five-star album no doubt.
My favorite Stones album. Feels very cohesive and love the variety of styles.
They really become the Stones here. It's a real classic album
Yeah, no notes. All around good.
The introduction is everything!!! :)
Heel goed, classic early rock, lekker groovy
Classic
Some absolute classics. I think Sticky Fingers will always be my favorite Rolling Stones album, but this is #2.
Stone Cold Classic.
“Any questions?” - David S. Pumpkins
This is a classic for a reason. My favourite Stones record as of now. Easy 5 stars!
One of the best
Hørt mandag 5. mai. Kunne lett fått en plass i cd-hylla.
The Rolling Stones are very close to the Beatles in legend. They define rock-n-roll. They are above and beyond "classic" and enter that "timeless" space. They are quite simply one of the greatest musical groups of all time and there is really little to be argued otherwise. I won't even bother with their real-world (out of performing) antics and stories. Throw a dart at the wall and pick an album but it will be no different. This is canon and this is legend and this is "rock.n-roll."
This is one of my favorite Rolling Stones albums!! I love how they were experimenting with country music.
i like this album. very 1960s.
Great Album!
schön!!
five stars just for gimme shelter 😊
classic blues album from the Stones
Oh, another in the run of classic Stones albums from Beggar's Banquet to Exile On Main Street. Despite Jagger's peculiar Thames-blues singing accent, he's great throughout as it the rest of the band. The production and recording is excellent. Gimme Shelter's a standout, and cover (complete with a Delia Smith cake) is surreal.