Aftermath

Not their best, not their worst. Stones, innit.

There are some classic rock songs on this album - "Paint It, Black", "Under My Thumb", "Mother's Little Helper".

Many big Stones hits on this. Also arguably when they embraced some more creative elements and joined the '60s counter culture. Great variety. I actually like the lesser known songs better than the big hits.

Probably really good at face value, but it’s hard not to compare this to Revolver in 1966. The Brian Jones-era Stones were definitely talented, and this is a step forward, but their post-1968 put stuff like this to shame. Glad Paint It Black made the American version of the record. Fun tidbit, when looking for a title to Revolver, Ringo suggested they tease the Stones by naming their new album “After-Geography.”

Heard before: some This must be right about when they embraced being the heel. The first four tracks (plus Paint It Black on the US version) are undeniably great, and Mick is at his most dickish. It's tough to live up to those singles though; side two is a bit of a letdown. Even still, you can hear the ambition and the first blush of the seedy psychedelia to come. Top tracks: Mother's Little Helper, Under My Thumb, I Am Waiting

Ryan - Unexpected: Enjoyed "Going Home" [if long]. Enjoyed the Delta Blues -ish of "Doncha Bother Me"

Doe jezelf een plezier en zoek de US versie, want de UK versie mist de grootste hit. Zeker een aardig album, maar de Stones zijn zo'n band waarbij ik eigenlijk liever een compilatiealbum met hits hoor. Ze hebben genoeg leuke nummers, maar die zijn verspreid over iets van 300 albums. Bij dit album voelt de Side B dan ook als een haffel schuimpinda's die moesten zorgen dat de Side A zonder risico verscheept kon worden. Tussen de 3 en 4 sterren. Ik klik op 4, want vergeleken met de drek die je in deze lijst af en toe tegenkomt is dit eigenlijk toch wel een eenvoudig maar gezellig feestje.

8/10

Album 148 of 1001 Rolling Stones - Aftermath Rating : 5 / 5 Favorite Track : Paint It, Black I like the classic Stones. Their early years are my favorites. This is the first with all original tracks, including 2 of their bigger hits. Never go wrong with early Stones.

Not that interested in the Rolling Stones deeper cuts to be honest

Generally tuneful, but elementary compared to what the Beatles were doing at the same time…Aftermath is no Revolver. (I listened to the UK version, not sure how much of a difference that makes.)

one of the best stones album in my book with one of the greatest rock songs of all time! 4.5 imo

After hearing from Mother's Little Helper to Out of Time (both tracks I enjoyed) I decided to switch to the US version instead of the UK version because it seems insane to omit Paint It Black and the other tracks weren't doing much for me. Did the Brits only get PIB as a single? I am so confused. This doesn't rival what the Beatles were putting out around at the same time (Rubber Soul and Revolver are both much stronger overall) but it was still fairly enjoyable. Going Home was way too long - I don't think it did enough interesting things with its length to merit it. I'm surprised I didn't like it more but it might be a case of exposure - my parents didn't have this album growing up so I'm less familiar. Tattoo You, Sticky Fingers, Let it Bleed, Hot Rocks and Exile On Main Street were my records. This one felt more dated to my ear than other Stones albums, given its reputation.

Kind of mid tbh. I question if this would be in the list we’re it not a RS album. Not bad though. Under My Thumb is great.

A good earlier Stones album, but not at the level of what was to come. Still a step forward toward that with all original songs for the first time. very good, but not one of their essentials

I’ve never heard this album in full before, but there were lots of previews of what The Rolling Stones would be doing a few years later, so it feels like the album of a band in transition. “Doncha Bother Me”’s beginning sounds like “It’s only Rock and Roll”. “Going Home” feels like a preview of “Midnight Rambler”. The songs themselves were pretty good, but this band has 4 or 5 other 5 star albums and this is not one of them.

So... Which version should be rated here? The US album, with the iconic "Paint It Black"? Or the UK L.P., which doesn't have that hit single, yet harbors the equally iconic "Mother's Little Helper" and "Out Of Time"? Fortunately, both versions include the bittersweet melody of "Lady Jane", the long yet fascinating blues dirge of "Goin' Home" and the stellar hooks of "Under My Thumb". I guess I should probably take a star away from the LP because of the misogynistic lyrics of that latter song. Yet I always take the contentsof those lyrics content as the self-delusion of the immature male protagonist singing them. And so I refuse to take those words very seriously. Maybe I'm in the wrong here. And maybe it's because the album is so good musically speaking that I can't face the truth. In that case, I'm probably as self-deluded as the young man in that song. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5, then. Number of albums left to review: 463 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 254 (including this one). Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 125 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 160

cool

A bit Beatles-y, a bit punky, and features Under my Thumb. Very solid.

Aftermath is a pretty solid album. With its mix of catchy tunes and innovative sounds, it's a notable entry in their discography. The standout tracks, such as "Under My Thumb" and "Lady Jane," capture the essence of their era and demonstrate the Rolling Stones' ability to blend rock with a touch of sophistication. "Under My Thumb" is an undeniable highlight, boasting a memorable riff and Jagger's great vocals. The song's playful lyrics and infectious rhythm make it a quintessential track of the Rolling Stone. Similarly, "Lady Jane" exhibits the band's willingness to venture into new musical territories, featuring a bit of a folk inspired sound and showcasing Jagger's more delicate vocal delivery. However, Aftermath has its ups and downs. While the high points are undeniably strong, there are a few tracks that suffer from repetition and lack of depth. Songs like "Flight 505" and "I Am Waiting" have their moments, but tend to overstay their welcome with extended instrumental sections that don't contribute meaningfully to the overall listening of the album. This repetitiveness can make these tracks feel somewhat monotonous, detracting from the overall flow. Not unbearable in any way, but not as great as other tracks. Despite these shortcomings, Aftermath remains an solid album in the Rolling Stones' catalogue. It showcases the band's willingness to experiment with different musical styles while staying true to their rock roots. 7/10

I listened to the wrong version and it was mid af but I understand the importance of this band and the album to rock history so I’ll refrain from being a hater

8/10 great album, listened on a train and my audio was spotty. Internet went out and a ton of notes got deleted Solid album with a lot of great topics from addiction, fame and love. Such a solid album honestly. The album as a whole can get repetitive for me around tracks 4-8. Sometimes I couldn’t recognize a song had switched. Mothers little helper - crazy intro to an album, hope it sets the themes they’ll cover for the rest Stupid girl - I mean it’s funny, but I think by the end I was sick of hearing LOOK AT THAT STUUUUPID GIRLLLL. Lady Jane - feels like a very ancient poem, as a song I wouldn’t listen to much but this in the album is a cool change that keeps everything fresh. Under my thumb - eh, can’t explain why but this one bored me. Doncha bother me - I think this style of music just bores me

This is my first time really listening to Rolling Stones and I’m honestly amazed at how much I enjoyed it. Some of these larger than life bands disappoint after a lifetime of hearing about how amazing they are, but I loved this one.

недоебанные битлы

Мне кажется, что культ роллинг стоунз - тот культ, который мы пока так и не поняли с пацанами. Даже с Битлами мы уже более менее помирились, как и с другими чуваками из 60-х, но тут прям... мех

Líka mjög conflicted hérna. Það sem Brian gerir er mjög töff. Lögin eru sum ljómandi góð, en önnur svo sem síðri. Textarnir á köflum ágætir en öðrum stundum misogynísk skelfing. Þessi fer langt á nostalgíunni, en ekki alveg leið.

Very definitely rolling stones, not my cuppa

Identifying The Rolling Stones : it’s The Rolling Stones

This is from the era where the US and the UK versions of the same album not only had a different track order but an entirely different track listing. If it's different songs and a different album cover and released at a different time, is it even the same album? I assume based on our author that this list entry is the UK version. A good album! I've always liked the Stones without really getting why they were as big as they were. 60s rock! Great! Sounds like other 60s rock! Maybe people just like Mick Jagger because he looks like a human blow up doll

Better than I thought it’d be. I’ll come back to some of the songs.

Earliest Stones to sound like the Stones. Solid.

Classic stones - not the most dynamic recording but great songs nonetheless. 3.9/5

boring

Сначала было скучновато, Going Home лишь позабавила, но потом Rolling Stones разогнались, поймал волну, доставили небольшое удовольствие. Чувствуется напор и задористость в их песнях. 4 звезды.

Guess I just like paint it black

Not the best Stones album but good

Really didn't need that 11 minute song in the middle.

Not my favorite but still the stones

Wonderful album! I was raised on Beatles records, not Rolling Stones records, so it's great discovering an early Rolling Stones classic. I listened to the U.K. version as well.

Enjoyed the hits, played 40 Licks after, then played Biggest Mistake.

Earlier Stones albums apparently had a lot of different sounds going on with their songs, which was unexpected but pleasant to see. Flight 505 had some ragtime running through it, High and Dry had the vibe of a folky bar number you'd play off a jukebox, and Out of Time even incorporated a bit of a doo wop. As a record, I liked those aspects of it, and also liked more of the quieter numbers on the album which I thought showed the range of the band well. Songs like Under My Thumb had a groovy bluesy feel to it (although with a bit of eyebrow raising lyrics to it), while Lady Jane was a wonderful little acoustic number. I felt a lot of the second half started to blend together sonically, and I thought Going Home was much too long, it dragged on for more than half of the song's runtime. So I enjoyed a good part of this, but found it inconsistent.

3.75

Pretty good, if you don't listen to the lyrics.

Yeah its ok. Early bluesy RS but its difficult not to raise an eyebrow at lyrics of Stupid Girl and Under My Thumb.

Cool

Some interesting stuff in there. 'Under My Thumb' and that trippy freestyle section from 'Goin' Home' stood out for me.

🫡 7/10

I've never really liked the stones and this album did not change my mind about them.

It isn't Revolver or Pet Sounds. But it isn't terrible either, Under My Thumb is wonderful and stands out from everything else here

OK, so this is a bit funny. I had never heard of this album, and honestly, when I looked at the track listing, I thought it was some early greatest hits record. LOL! Now all that said, there are three totally classic tracks on this record, and the rest isn't anything special. There are MANY great Rolling Stones records. This one isn't bad, but I don't see how it is an album everyone should hear before they die... I mean, for sure Let It Bleed and Beggars Banquet are much better records than this one.

Attractive if slightly dull album soured by extreme woman-hatred.

De afspeellijst begon met Paint it Black, een heerlijk nummer. Maar daarna kon het me niet meer grijpen en werd het wat saai zelfs.

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah but compilation albums aren’t really my thing so I can’t rate this properly Favourite song: Track 4 - Under My Thumb

i like it

vasattı

There is like 3 songs missing on the UK version from the US version and it had to be the outro song of Full Metal Jacket (1987) 😢 7,5/10

It was literally just okay. Paint it Black was the only song I remember and enjoy.

Legendary album, wasn't sure if I should listen to the U.K. or U.S. version, so I listened to them both. A lot of the Stones' best known songs are on here, and the rest could be blues classics in their own right.

4.5/5 some good bangers.

Has a few good songs, but a lot of the songs are just dreary bluesy messes. 'Paint It Black' is definitely the best song here and the most off-piste compared to the rest of the album.

The songs mostly sound like a worse version of the Beatles with more questionable lyrics

A better selection of original stones songs. Some of them are still too rooted in other people's music.

The Stones definitely fall into that group of 60s/70s rock bands that I just can't for the life of me understand why they're still celebrated now. I'm sure at the time the music was groundbreaking and exciting, but it just doesn't hold up like some others from that time. Listened to the UK version and enjoyed the first track, but I'm struggling to recall anything interesting after that. I guess they just aren't for me.

Quería que me guste más.

We're spoiled by the Beatles. That's all I really have to say. Aftermath will always be an important album, it seems, for both cementing the LP as an album, a thing young people were interested in, and also giving the Stones excessive confidence to write their own songs, keep going. But... I don't like it. The closeness to Rubber Soul (and Revolver after it) make the Stones' attempt at songwriting and melody writing feels still nascent. This feels like: simple song (with crude lyrics and okay singing) + exotic or interesting instrument. That alone doesn't make me like this album. And the band doesn't sound tight in several songs. The instrumentation sounds a little lazy. I have to think that Aftermath has the biggest Beatles-adjacent lift of any album I can think of. Most of the classic, 1-degree-separated-from-Beatles albums around the same time have genuinely amazing songs, or have something about the performance that is captivating and remains timeless. There are so few good songs here. For all the stature of this album, there's just nothing memorable. I'll keep sticking to the stones, but this really isn't memorable. 2/5. Rounded up for its historical significance.

Pretty good! Some all-time classics on this one. I’m not picky when it comes to the Stones.

Okay, fine, I'll listen to the UK version. I'll sacrifice Paint it Black for what is... 50 minutes of mid. There's nothing essential about this album that you couldn't get from other Stones records besides its pure cynical reactionary take on 1960s counterculture. Under My Thumb is an unbelievably gross song that should be actively reevaluated as a classic, and the rest of the album isn't all that much better. Out of Time is okay, I guess. 2.5/5. Get out of my sight.

Preferred sticky fingers

It’s ok. Nothing standout. 3/5

Under my thumb probably my favourite track perhaps unsurprisingly, but the 11min Going Home was unexpected for the 60s good listen overall

Huh, this is an interesting one. So, the main difference between the UK release and the US release is only the addition of one the Stones' greatest and most popular tracks. That would have been my immediate favourite of the album, and through the power of streaming I could have chosen the US release to play. However I'm from the UK so I decided to listen to the UK release (Plus that is the earlier of the two releases, and they are a British band.) This was a nice adventure of rock, folk and blues from an instrumentation and riffs standpoint. Pleasant to listen to with a bit of everything. However, lyrics-wise, holy misogyny, Batman. I understand it's a 60s album but surely it wasn't all like this? I guess it helped affirm the Stones' "bad-boy" image in contrast to The Beatles. I thought the folk-rock style of Mother's Little Helper was great, providing a commentary about the popularity of prescribed tranquilisers to housewives, and the dangers of addiction and overdose that could come from it. Some nice thoughtful lyrics that were unfortunately completely overshadowed by most of the subject matter afterwards. That Eastern-flavoured 12-string electric guitar riff is so memorable though. An excellent song on a pretty great album. Favourite: Mother's Little Helper

It’s cool, I went us version as there’s paint it black which is definitely an essential, the first side was mostly great then side 2 was a bit non but nothing bad and going home is cool. 4/5

Not their best songwriting. Has some decent songs, but it all sounds a bit flat

It's ok but ther's some rolling stones I prefer over this

This was certainly one of the albums

Not their most outstanding

Listened to the UK release. Favourite song: Out of Time. Worse song: Goin Home. Most of the songs are too repetitive making them feel too long. Except goin' Home which is too long. A 4 minute song which lasts for over 11 minutes. Out of Time is s Classic and the obvious high point.

Classic

Tremendo disco de los Rolling que estuve escuchando mucho últimamente. No llega a ser top de ellos, pero tiene temas clave.

Cool album. Good tunes. Enjoyed the whole album.

If Mick Jagger has million number of haters i am one of them . if Mick Jagger has ten haters i am one of them. if Mick Jagger have only one hater and that is me . if Mick Jagger has no haters, that means i am no more on the earth . if world for the Mick Jagger, i am against the world. i hate #MickJagger till my last breath.. .. Die Hard hater of Mick Jagger . Hit Like If you Think Mick Jagger Worst singer & Dumb In the world

I subjected myself to less than half of this album. It's terrible. Stupid Girl especially is probably in my bottom 10 songs. The Rolling Stones have some good songs in their discography but it seems like they were mostly singles. The two albums I've heard from them on this list so far were some of the worst entries.

Two great songs, so two stars. The rest of it is basic or dated.

I’ve never really listened to early Stones before besides the hits. I have to say I find both versions more enjoyable than the likes of early Beatles. There is personality in spades. The UK version is a little long, suffers from not having paint it black but feels more like a thought out album starting in psychedelic territory and ending more traditional blues oriented. The American version is short, has Paint it Black but doesn’t really gel quite as well as an album. I agree that their later work is better and more important but this is a solid album which is slyly altering the sound of English Pop Blues.

I can't say that I really know that much about The Rolling Stones to be honest. I obviously know that Keith Richards sold his soul somewhere along the line and will never ever die, and that Charlie Watts was a great drummer. One of 'em was a bit dodgy and married someone who was very young? Ronnie Wood is in the band! He was in Faces! 'Paint It Black' was in that film about war... ...' Full Metal Jacket'! I only know one more song on this record. Outside their hits, there really isn't much to The Stones, is there? It's just second rate blues/rock/pop, isn't it?! The Beatles were definitely doing more interesting things than this lot. 1.5 / 5 stars.

A few amazing songs make this album. The rest wasn’t for me.

its somewhat odd since the first few songs are just pop-y songs that are catchy and more high tempo and then the rest of the album is just blue rock like music which is nice but it really makes the album a 2 parter

A couple of good good songs, but then the album goes downhill and you don’t know when it’s going to finish. I know this is one of the first Stones albums, but think they should have cut like 5 songs here. Again, the good songs here (Mother’s little helper, under my thumb, etc.) are really good, but the filler is massive, specially on the second half. Love the stones, but need to be fair with this record.

I have always had such a tough time connecting with The Rolling Stones and this album hasn’t changed that.

This is from the time when an album was the singles plus B-sides and other filler. As one would expect, it has a couple of great songs and lots of filler. Most of the filler is not too bad. Favorite song: Under My Thumb

This album is alright, I appreciate the instrumental diversity to liven up the sound but I didn’t find anything about the writing or performance too memorable. Possibly just a result of being a typesetter rock group, revolutionary in the moment but the ante has been upped since then and the elements that shocked audiences at the time don’t have the same impact.

Really interesting. You can almost hear the band coalescing around a sound to go forward with here. Lots of different styles and I enjoyed listening to it. It's unlikely to feature too regularly on my playlist but I'd certainly think about listening to it again. 3.5 but down to 3.

Mega!!!

Incredible album, I do feel as if the US version is stronger solely by the inclusion of Paint it Black. 4/5. Favorite track: Paint It Black

Decent

It's a good album, and definitely feels like the Stones coming into their own. It doesn't have the same level of impact as The Beatles or Beach Boys albums at the time, and lacks as many distinct hits as either band had. But overall enjoyable, and The Rolling Stones are clearly an important band.

If it weren't for Paint it Black, I would have probably given it a 1.

Lady Jane sparks the sounds of Boston, More Than a Feeling. Have to say, personally I was never a Tones fan, just the odd random track I liked... but this album actually surprised me, I liked it, I loved the acoustic, electric guitar arrangements. There are a few misses on the album, but overall, was a listenable album that you would actually choose to play.

Brilliant album, easy listening Stones right through

Stupid Girl has not aged well. Some bangers on here though.

listenable album, best song is missing in the UK version, otherwise nothing to write home about. 3/10

This album just didn't blow me away. I'm used to better from them.

Real good stuff

Can listen at any time. All great. All.

The algorithm has brought this not longer after ‘Let it Bleed’ and ‘Bring it all back home’, and has me thinking about what makes a record dated, like this one, and near-contemporaries, like the other two, not. It’s the difference between being planted into a past moment by a work, where it feels live, and looking back at that moment - it’s the distance. Forgive me; this doesn’t explain why I think ‘Aftermath’ is a relic, whereas ‘Let it bleed’ is resurrection on tape (sorry Ian Brown). Might be a materialist matter: this record contains novelty techniques that few would use now: stereo flourishes that do little other than call attention to themselves, dulcimer faux-baroque, recorded-in-an-oil-drum echoes, and unrelenting misogyny. The fuzz-bass on ‘Under My Thumb’ is brilliant, though! Still a great album. And once I start concentrating on Watts’ drumming, it’s happy trance time!

Some classics, pretty misogynistic in places!

Two of my favorite Stones songs are on this album. Under my thumb and mother's Little helper. I like the bluesy songs I like a bunch of these songs actually this is a good album.

The highs of Paint it black and under my thumb weighs up for some of the really crappy songs. A selection of pretty good tracks inbetween the highs and lows. It feels like Stones is one of the most uneven of the giant rock bands of yore. Tried both versions and prefer the American. It has paint it black and lacks the terrible “Take it or leave it”. First time I enjoyed a stones album. I’d previously listened to some of their first albums without finding anything worth returning to.

This was nice and relatively new to me. The Stones at their early brilliance, I’ve a new appreciation for Mother’s Little Helper, and Under My Thumb is still one of my favourites.

Pretty solid album. Really liked High and Dry.

Nice bit of harmonica, the lyrics are questionable. Perhaps most on the grooviest tune under my thumb

3 1/2, and I'm rounding down.

I liked it ok, I did learn some of the songs to play on my electric guitar many years ago. 3 stars

I think this is a great Stones album. Just starting to flex their independence and not yet pretentious. This and the years to follow are the sweet spot in the Rolling Stones catalogue.

Not really my thing but not bad

Ya me ha tocado escuchar otros álbumes de The Rolling stones y este es el que menos me gustó, no siento que haya algo que los distinga en este, suenan como cualquier cancion de los 60 y con letras misóginas, no creo que lo escucharía solo por gusto

3/5

A 5 for the UK version ("Mother's Little Helper" & "Out of Time") & a 5 for the US version ("Paint It Black.").

other than a few songs, i really didn’t care to much for this album. it was mostly filler, in my opinion. highlights: “paint it, black”, “under my thumb”, “think”.

Bryant: The Stones are a prolific band. They put out a lot of music and put out a lot of hits but they're not really consistent. They also have a lot of meh. Basically every hit of theirs, I like the cover better. Erica: Except Paint it Black. Bryant: yeah, that one is perfect. Erica: I was thinking about covers the other day. Usually when you make a hit song, it's because you tried something new and you create emotions around that song which makes it easier for the covers. They get the existing emotions and the ability to play with the song with more abandon. Bryant: Yeah, the songs where The Stones took chances and made something kinda new were the best ones. A lot of this album is not great borrowed sounds. Erica: It's like Jagger, who is super unfortunate looking, wrote a bunch of wishful thinking songs. "I have a face that looks like it was hit by a mallet and I sound like a goat but if I write some good songs and shake my hips I can get the ladies." Bryant: It worked. Erica: I'd give it 3 stars if it didn't have so many misogynistic lyrics, but I can't in good conscience give it a good rating. Bryant: if it didn't have PiB, it'd be an easy 2. Whatever, it's okay, but I won't listen to this album again.

The album opens up with one of the most classic examples of 60’s Stones with Paint It Black and a few songs later is another, Under My Thumb. Two of my favorite Stones’ songs ever. There are a few other fun songs but also some that didn’t really resonate that much with me. Nothing bad but not as many Must Listens, either besides the aforementioned PIB and UMT. The final song is called Going Home and I can hear Gloria by Them, some Doors, the Pixies’ Gigantic, and the Thong Song of all things in this track. I’m sure there’s more that we’re influenced in a way by this one but it was a bit too long and meandering for my tastes. Solid but not my favorite Stones’ album.

Standard Stones

Not every one of these songs slaps, but most of them do, and Keef and Mick are finding their songwriting chops and Brian is playing some weird instruments, and the psychedelia is just about creeping in and the blues is giving way to rock. A fun fun album.

I Am Waiting was pleasant but I really don't get the Rolling Stones hype

Repatative and boring. Maybe they should have stuck with the covers. And why is this so long? And how are the stones considered as big as the Beatles? This is all I thought about while listening to this creepy to underage girls snoozefest of a record.

I liked this album, and they’re obviously influential, but I think it’s far from their best work…. Controversially, I am starting to feel like this list should really restrict itself to one or two albums from each artist. And if more, they have to be notably different from each other and distinct in the influence they have had. This does not meet that criteria.

Wow, lyrics are light years ahead of the actual music, with a couple of exceptions. Somehow, I've heard all the songs but never actually listened to the whole album. When you compare this album to the competitors released the same year, it just sounds unimaginative, but the lyrics, good god.

aight

This swings and stings, and jukes quite a bit, too. There's a likable crispness and near professionalism to what they're doing here that elevates proceedings and points the way to greater achievements on the horizon (including those that would work out to be much artier but also more ragged and considerably less professional). "Stupid Girl" is silly and bubblegum-y, the dog of a pretty strong bunch. The blues are just valid enough, "Doncha Bother Me" the most so, though the juke-y "High and Dry" points to their future success with variations on basic country blues. "Lady Jane" is generally a successful experiment, but it's likely best that they didn't too much of this because braggart-swaggery Mick (see "Under My Thumb") is more convincing. "I Am Waiting" and "Out of Time" are also represenative of Stones' mid-tempo strength. Differences in UK and US versions aside (US being slightly preferred in that "Paint It Black" is a superior song to the crisp but somewhat obvious "Mother's Little Helper"), this is, net-net, awfully good though slightly sub-masterpiece.

already listened, but a good one

JP: Yeah I mean the first track works. Ok this isn't doing anything special for me. Its gonna be a light 4 like a 7.2. Fav Tracks: Paint it Black Under my thumb Least Fav: Overall: Nothing earth shattering, but some decent tracks. its a light 4 (7.2)

Kinda boring. Pick up the pace, Charlie!

I dont know its fine. Probably high 2s 3/5

Listened to the UK release, so not including Paint It Black. Dear God, this sounds so much like the 60s. It's their first album with only originals, and includes Going Home, which is not only the longest pop song at the time, but also is the first free jam recording song to make it onto an album. I'm starting to see why they got so big. Not as poppy as the Beatles, they were making more genuine musical waves. Nice

Legendary. The greatest band ever.

I like the new instruments used. “Under My Thumb”

Love most of the Stones music and this album has some greats for sure! The production of this recording has some fun stereo imaging emphasizing instrumental separation! Cool stuff!

Highlight: Going Home 3,5/5

Daj kamienia! No ale może nie konkretnie tego :(

Listened to the UK version, as I believe that was the intended album for this list. That means no Paint It Back, sadly. Overall, this was better than the other Rolling Stones album I got so far, but it definitely uses the best material early on, with it never really recovering from the needless eleven minute song. I could see why one would like this, but it still feels like it's set in its ways as to what rock was in the era, rather than evolving anything. I've gotta be missing something, I'm sure, but it does only confirm more for me that the Beatles vs. Rolling Stones argument makes no sense in a modern lense. Totally different things going on here, in my eyes.

Ignoring the nasty misogyny, there's some fantastic songs here. I wouldn't blame you if you turn off a couple of tracks in though

Not bad. Under My Thumb and Paint It, Black are of course bangers. A few other interesting tracks but a lot of filler IMO

besides the few hits on this record, my gosh this is repetitive, annoying, and full of unrelenting misogyny....no thank you i'll go listen to the later stones records

What a Drag it is to get old….. Classic. One of their best! BUT, I hate it when songs from UK and US versions are not the same. I considered both versions in my ratings. Listening to just one over the other would result in a lower rating. Standouts: Mother's Little Helper, Lady Jane, Under My Thumb, Out of Time, Paint it Black (U.S. Version of the Album) Others: Stupid Girl, Going Home 4.5/5

Great rockin album and very catchy

4/5

ok

Another sound Rolling Stones album. I hate that forty licks compilation, has taken away some of the enjoyment from these stones albums, skipping some songs because i've heard them so often. Proper enjoyed it from Doncha Bother Me onwards, all tracks i'd never heard and were decent.

Paint it Black - Could hear this everyday and it would never bore me. Classic and also my favourite Guitar Hero song to play back in the day. Stupid Girl - Organs to kick it off, great. Organs should be in all songs in some capacity. Weird fairground vibes with what should be an annoying chorus but it works. Lady Jane - nice change of pace. Is it about women or drugs? Under My Thumb - Another cracker. Is there a Xylophone? Sounds well. Doncha Bother Me - Now we are in the world of slide guitaring blues. Boss song. A nice treat with earphones. Think - Decent melody but the weakest song up to now which is a compliment to the tracks up to now. Flight 505 - This song makes me realise that I should just stay in on the weekend playing on the PS5 with a cuppa. No need to rash decisions to fly off somewhere because there's a good chance I'll end up fucking dead. High and Dry - More bluesy again. Harmonica making a nice appearance. A good ol' knee slapper. It's Not Easy - Okay song. One of the weakest I think on the album. I like to think the girl is a metaphor for Everton and supporting them is not easy. I Am Waiting - Folky number. Dunno what it's about but it picks up at the 2:00 mark and gets me good. Boss song Going Home - Ending on another bluesy sounding song. It was alright but one of the weakest. It did feel like a fitting end track however.

I always called myself a Rolling Stones not Beatles kinda person, but that based only on songs I’d heard on oldies and classic rock radio stations. Now that I’ve heard a whole Rolling Stones album I understand.

Classic album

Not quite prime Stones. Paint it Black slams. Going Home is a sign of things to come. A predecessor to Midnight Rambler. Still lots of filler. They won't hit their peak for a few years yet. Hot take. A Canadian band called Streetheart does a much superior version of Under My Thumb.

Some well known and good songs (albeit awfully misogynistic!): Mother's little helper, lady Jane, Under my thumb, out of time. A few blues influenced songs, but not quite dated. Some time to go before Let It Bleed etc.

Started strong, quickly fell off

No particular favorite song

Meh, not my vibe

i am yet to be blown away by the stones

Not great

A low 4

"Going Home" made me love the album. I can hear how the musicians feel the pleasure of playing the song. It's interesting to read about the history of the Aftermath. I didn't know that there were such big differences between UK and US markets.

Yeah, I like this, maybe if I’d grown up with my parents blasting it in the car (like The Beatles or Beach Boys) I might love it. But I was never much of a Stones fan…. It’s just not as good as Pet Sounds or Revolver is it?

Not my thing

Vinilo, sin duda.

Gran disco.

It's OK. Mostly just not into the style outside of a couple of songs

It's probably the best I've listened to from this time period. Which is still mid

better than i expected but still meh

Might listen to some again. It was fine.

Pretty boring (going home 😴) and some odd lyrics. Listened to Paint It, Black after and it’s funny how it so easily blows everything else out of the water

UK Version on Spotify what a drag it is getting old. "Mother's Little Helper" is a 10. Great song. "Stupid Girl" is not. It's like, a 2. "Sweet Lady Jane". Not their best. a 6, by Stones standards "Under My Thumb"-despite being sexist as fuck, it's a 10. Brian Jones and the marimba hook. Yes "Doncha Bother Me"-despite it's unoriginality, a winner. Great Elmore James inspired slide guitar hook. 7 "I'm Going Home"-i dont remember this song much, but it's fine. a 6. "Flight 505"-dont remember this either. mick's vocal is mixed low, but that's cool. This isn't anything groundbreaking...or memorable a chooglin track called "High and Dry". It rambles. I already forgot how it goes though. 6 "Out of Time". Now that's a song. One of their tastiest choruses. a 10 "It's Not Easy" does it's job. prpbably filler, but decent filler. 5 "I Am Waiting"-Rushmore soundtrack. That's how i came to this song. Maybe that is why I love it. fucking Wes Anderson. It is an 8 "Take It Or Leave It". sounds like they trying to write a Herman's Hermits pop song. "Think"-not the song Aretha does. It's fine. a 6 This album is a 6, though it contains 4 of their best songs, and one of their stupidest. 3 stars.

it's not bad

Couple of classics, paint it black is a great start, starting to sound a little bit dated in parts, but a good listen I wouldn't have played without this. Enjoyable yes, classic, not sure.

They had me in the beginning but lost me by the end. I didn't realize how grating Mick's voice can get after listening to it for an hour. Instrumentation got repetitive.

It was okay. Would not choose to relisten.

Paint it Black is pure brilliance, but the rest of the album is full of mediocre midtempo numbers with insipid lyrics and derivative blues rifts. There are a few exceptions of great storytelling (Mother's Little Helper), but also a few too many songs that overdose on their own misogyny (Stupid Girl and Under my Thumb are particularly bad in this regard).

Not great. Had some good ones like paint it black and under my thumb, but mostly blues and country sounding boringness.

What good enjoyed

Under my thumb - great, really the only song that I felt any connection with on this album. I’m a Beatles boy, what can I say?

Fantastic! 4/5 if you include Paint it Black….

Man under the thumb is so creepy, enjoyed most of the rest

Paar machtig goede nummers. UK versie heeft 4 andere nummers in plaats van Paint It Black

Hear the Stones when they were still lean and mean. It's a little overlong, and we probably could do without the casual misogyny, but it's refreshing to hear the sounds that later became cliche.

Nice

The album has one of the strongest openers of all time with "Paint It, Black" and one can certainly hear the slightly darker tone that the Stones had versus their Beatles contemporaries. Fair enough to say that if it were to come down between them, this reviewer would sway to the Rolling Stones. The remainder of the album matches energy fairly well, with performances by Mick Jagger having a live feel and sound, giving the album a spatial awareness while still featuring their vocals and instrumental prowess. Solid album, definitely one that anyone should hear at least once.

paint it black album

first truely great stones record

Really cool Stones album. Some of the best music I've heard from them. I was a little surprised at some of the musical directions they went in.

Paint it Black is one of their best songs hands down. The rest of album is decent bluesy rock that they are famous for. Very influential band.

This was good. Interesting that this was a big turning point for the Stones and the type of music they were recording.

Dat Paint It Black op de UK versie ontbreekt is een doodzonde, maar ik reken hem tot het album. Verder goed album, ga m nog wel eens luisteren.

Pleasant album! Weird fucking lyrics sometimes but melody wise good stuff. Saved tracks: Mother’s Little Helper, Under My Thumb, Out Of Time, It’a Not Easy, Take It Or Leave It

Somehow it hits the sweet spot of boring and misogynistic. I think only 2 of the songs are worth listening to and the rest of just so unnotable or straight up boring like the 11 minute (!!!) final track. 3/10

Eh i dont think its aged that well why does he hate women

Good old classic rock

For me great combination of their bluesy-music they started with and the later style as in Beggars' Banquet.

Some classic songs and pretty enjoyable. Paint it black is a classic.

Never listened to this one! Kinda reminds me of Spinal Tap - Gimme Some Money. Got that really goofy scrawny white guy singing exaggerated blues vibe. Honestly a bit cringy...

Paint it black obvs great. Was alright, bit outdated.

Classic rock album Starts strong but begins to wain Outside of paint it black, it's not their best work An average album in general

I'll start by saying that I do like the Rolling Stones, but I have a lot of bones to pick here. Aside from Mother's Little Helper, Under My Thumb, Out of Time and I Am Waiting, we're just left with generic bluesy songs I could find anywhere. The Stones still remain for me a band with some REALLY good songs, but their albums are weak and this album made me pissed at any Stones / Beatles comparison that has ever been made. The Beatles are perfection, the Stones are generic blues. Also is there any reason that Going Home needed to be over 10 minutes long? And maybe the girl isn't stupid Mick. Maybe you're the problem.

Excellent album! Paint it Black is obviously timeless, but so is Under My Thumb and others. Still great.

A more varied sound than I was expecting! I liked 'Lady Jane' but of course 'Paint It Black has to be the top pick.

Classic

I don't dislike Rollin stones, just haven't listened to them much. Opening song is good this looks like early stones cause I don't see any of the big hits Ahh so the UK version doesn't have paint it black wild cause that's their biggest song at least imo Solid album I'd listen again

Best Song: Paint It Black. Wow, does the kickoff really give you an inaccurate estimate of what the rest of this album will sound like. Worst Song: Stupid Girl. Goddamn did this song ever age horribly. Overall: Starts strong and ends extraordinarily weak, on an 11 minute bloated bumpkin song with a guitar melody that competes with the chorus to see who can be more annoying. They both win.

Yeah. Enjoyable. Paint it Black is an undeniable classic. Still don’t get the appeal of Mick Jagger but hey, I’m just one person.

Sounds like they put a bunch of cutting room floor garbage on this album.

I've never been a big Stones fan. This was an OK listen, I knew a fair amount of the songs already. I can see how they appeal to a lot of people; Jagger just doesn't have a type of non-melodic voice that I enjoy. Also, it's so extremely "male" that it puts me off.

Misogynistic lyrics on many songs made it difficult at times. BUT the unique instrumentation made it quite fun to listen to it.

The Stones were starting to hit their stride here. Always better as a rock and roll band than as the supposed torchbearers of blues music.

Paint it black - cool song, great lyrics, classic melody 8/10 Stupid girl - didnt like 3/10 Lady jane - cool idea, not my tea 5/10 Under my thumb - has cool parts otherwise not great, guitar interlude is sick, 5/10 Think - 5/10 Flight 505 - could imagine listening to it at a bar wasted, caught the vibe 7/10 I am waiting - good ending song to a movie chorus part 7/10 overall 6/10 rest of the tracks mid 5/10 most tracks are not to my taste but paint it black and flight 505 brought it up

Decent songs, some gritty lyrics. Have always preferred the Beatles, sorry D:

I listened to the US version, so at least it had "Paint It Black", which is obviously fantastic. Under My Thumb is a great song too, but the lyrics are downright horrible. I'd like to think that level of misogyny was unacceptable in 1966 too. Apart from those two and "Lady Jane", I thought this was mostly terrible.

o primeiro album que realmente é bom dos stones, começa a ter uma certa psicodelia e as musicas ficam mais pesadas.

I'm a big Stones fan but I prefer the material beginning from Beggar's Banquet on. This is probably the best record prior to that era, but in my opinion, it doesn't meet the quality of that amazing string of records from Beggar's to Tattoo You. The lyrical themes are somewhat cringe-worthy at times. "Stupid Girl", for example. "Under My Thumb" is great musically, but the lyrics are creepy. 3 stars.

i used to love the rolling stones so much now i don’t know a lot of this seems pretty weak

Listens: 2 Enjoyed: yeah A nice chilled listen but didn't really stand out for me. I wouldn't skip it in future but don't think I'll race back to queuing it up

While Paint it Black is such an outstanding song and the Stones always deliver with good music and great vibes, points definitely need to be deducted for how poorly this album's lyrics have aged and their misogynistic views on women

I'm a bit surprised by how much I didn't enjoy this. Everything felt really flat and there wasn't much variety from song to song. Wouldn't recommend this album to anyone

This album is all over the place. Paint it Black is one of their best, then they’re misogynists, then they write a love song. Such a roller coaster

Guitars sloppy and space. Everyone rides the bass.

Rock.

Pretty average for a Stone's album Prefer Sticky fingers

whatever.

Pleasantly surprised as not a fan but enjoyed this classic 60s sound.

I’m sure they were good in their day but they don’t do anything for me.

Solid Stones album.

At first listen I have enjoyed this album, despite never really being a fan of the band. Some brilliant repetitive Pop/Rock songs on the album and for that reason I will return to it for a second, third and maybe more plays.

This album further cements my feelings that the Stones write amazing singles that sit between filler. And a great single does not mean a great album

Pretty good. The hits are really good and the other songs are fine.

Classic stones

booooooooooo rolling stones boooooooooo

Only was able to listen to a few songs.

I liked Paint it Black very much the rest was kinda forgettable.

First time listening, was at a 3 until the last song. Entirely too long and made the album hard to finish.

Great!

"Aftermath" is the fourth British and sixth US studio album by The Rolling Stones. It was recorded in California and with their previous success allowed The Stones more recording time. It is also considered their artistic breakthrough with all original compositions credited to Jagger and Richards. Many think artistically influenced by what The Beatles were doing. Lots of background on this album. The music itself goes outside of their previous Chicago Blues and R&B styles into pop, folk, country, pyschedelic, baroque and Middle Eastern especially with Brian Jones' use of the sitar, dulcimer, Japanese koto and marimbas. Lyrically, Jones and Richard explore themes of love, sex, desire, power, dominance, hate obsession and modern society. Some of the lyrics, even at that time, were viewed as misogynistic. One of the reasons was the women with whom Jagger, Richards and Jones were involved with and included love triangles, bad relationships and drugs. There were two different versions of the album released; due the US market, the US version is shorter. It also contains the song "Paint It Black" which the UK version does not. This album was also a big commercial success both in the UK and US. Since the randomizer showed the UK album cover, I listened to that version. The album begins with "Mother's Little Helper" about a housewive's dependence on drugs to get her through the day. Needless to say not the last drug song The Stones would write. That Eastern guitar riff. Rolling bass. "Stupid Girl" is about a bad relationship Jagger had and some put in the misogynistic category. The organ and electric piano are prominent. The third song "Lady Jane" continues the change of styles with this one more baroque pop. Jones' dulicer and Richards' acoustic guitar at the forefront. Hey, a romantic courtship..something positive. And then we come to one of the more challenging drinking game-songs around in "Under My Thumb." One must take a drink of their cocktail of choice every time Under My Thumb is said, which is 14 times. No, I didn't do it today....yet. Great groove. Jones' marimbas. Jagger still seeking revenge from a bad relationship. The first two songs on the second side, "Flight 505" and "High and Dry" return The Stones to more of the blues form. Poor Mick as he continues his women misery in "Out of Time." Brian Jones also continues his brilliance with the use of marimbas and a vibraphone. Maybe my favorite song on the album. I don't know exactly what Jagger is singing about but "I Am Waiting" is another great example of The Stones going into different styles: folk, baroque pop of sorts. I don't remember hearing "I Think." I must have. It is probably their most simple and straight-forward rock-pop song on the album. Great song and actually charted in the UK. I once owned (the US version) this on cassette, long gone now. I need to own this again. I know I didn't appreciate it at the time but the change of styles and especially Brian Jones are both fantastic. A must listen.

Brittiska eller amerikanska? Lyssnade dock på båda. Skulle bli en fyra om man finge slå ihop dem. Men samtidigt, det avgör ju jag. Tar ett beslut imorgon.

A solid RS album. Paint It Black is a banger of an opener. Reminds me of Guitar Hero. The best song on Aftermath is definitely Under My Thumb. That one might be one of my top five Rolling Stones' song. The way Mick's voice stretches on the "my" when he says "under my thumb" is cool, and I love the random instrumentation and bounci-ness of that track.

A couple great ones I’d forgotten about. Enjoyed most others.

There isn't very much I can do any more about my core conviction – viz, that the The Rolling Stones are the the most celebrated singles band in history. I understand that this is their first album of solely self-penned material. The fact that the UK edition does not have the superlative Paint It Black aside, this really feels to me like when Big Fun broke free of the clutches of SAW.

This an early Stones' album. Apparently the UK version and the US version have different songs. The biggest difference is that the US version has Paint It Black and the UK version does not. The other well known song is Under My Thumb. The album as a whole does not come across as a typical Stones album or at least not in terms of the rock and roll music. I am only giving this album a 4 because of Paint It Black. Otherwise it would be a 3.

Paint it, Black - nice left right mixing, arabic like guitar works well with the drums, drums sound good. Singing is decent. 7.5/10 Stupid Girl - beginning fill 👌, classic older song, not piano idk what instrument the backing chords sound 😩, rest of the song seems average little repetitive. ooh little fill at like 2:00 raised it half. 4.5/10 Lady Jane - singing sounds below average but it really fits the instrumental so kinda peak, still not my kind of music, too slow. 1/10 Under My Thumb - Marimba, drum intro peak, singing 😩, sounds peak. ooo that guitar doing things to me, very groovy. 8/10 Doncha Bother Me - beginning feels like it’s building to something big, falls a little flat for me but it’s still alright ig. idk i get why someone may like it but not my kind of song. 3/10 Think - song is very groovy, beginning kinda went hard. very enjoyable and nice to listen to. 5.5/10 Flight 505 - love me a bit of piano, seems like a bar song, love it love it, guitar, some sort of bass being groovy, goes hardddd. 8.5/10 High and Dry - goofy ah instruments, kinda works tho 👀👀. bop along to song so far, not spectacular, harmonica solo +.5. 4/10 It’s Not Easy - another bop along song, a little better than high and dry tho, funky guitar, love that, solo kinda cold, ended abruptly i feel. 3.5/10 I Am Waiting - oh god, it sure is a song huh. where did this come from? 1:15 saving grace, actually a decent song tf, unfortunate the first minute is so dead. 3/10 Going Home - beginning sounds odd, 11 MINUTES???? does this song deserve that much time let’s find out. just the same thing so far for two minutes with a bit of pizzazz everyone once in a while. i mean the song is okay, maybe a 4 or a 5 but it’s like 12 minutes. still 2 minutes left, if it wasn’t 12 minutes maybe like a 6-7 actually, but like now it’s a 3.5/10

love that sixties sound. open, clean, great depth of recording. you can hear the twang and the delta influence but the sound remains theirs. crazy to think this was 1966 and they're still performing the same songs today.

Tranquilize yourself with music and escape the ennui of your safe, boring life. Lace up your boxing gloves and go three rounds in the perennial Battle of the Sexes. And when you’re weary of all that, indulge in a meandering, digressive meditation on what you’ve got and almost lost, and how desperately you want to go back home—a blues theme as old as the hills. As old as your desire. “Flight 505” is the groovy, wonderful fruition of that long pent-up need.

I guess we start this one with the question, "Which version, the one from the UK or the one from the US?" When it comes to the Beatles, the answer's easy: the UK version is gospel. But it appears that the US version takes precedence here, as it's the one on both Spotify and the Rolling Stones' YouTube channel. (Is this regional? No idea.) This means three fewer tracks, including the loss of "Mother's Little Helper," but we get "Paint It Black" in exchange, so that feels like a fair trade. Regardless of the version, this album has two all-time great Stones songs ("Under My Thumb" and "Paint It Black" or "Mother's Little Helper"), while the rest are decent but not particularly mind-blowing. This might get a 3.5-star rating if it were possible, but I can't give it a four, so three it is. (Also, we've been doing this for 158 days now, and this is the first Stones album? I know it's random, but dang, that's a long time. And I'm STILL waiting for AC/DC and Led Zeppelin to make an appearance. Gimme!)

Under My Thumb & Paint It Black are spectacular, but the rest of the album is okay. I do recognize that The Stones are masters at country-rock, and you can hear a little of that here. Solid album.

Always have time for some Rolling Stones

I prefer the later Stones albums, from Beggars Banquet/Let it bleed onwards - up to Tattoo You.(and missing out the awful Emotional Rescue, obvs). This is pretty good musically, but the subjects are dodgy, to say the least. I doubt it could be released now - it would be considered way too misogynistic and offensive.

Sounds very much of the era, still me standout tracks though

Good early Album with a few known songs

Great album from one of the all time great bands, with some absolute classic songs, paint it black, under my Thumb. But a hard one for me to rate, Some will see this as a masterpiece but I see it more as the point when the stones started to get to great, they would go on to make better albums, that unprecedented 4 album run from Beggars Banquet to Exile on Main Street, all of which top this album. Also in comparison to other masterpieces realised in 1966, pet sounds, revolver, blond on blond this album is just not quiet at that level. Maybe harsh if the stones didn’t have better albums and this wasn’t released in 1966 it might have got the full 5 stars.

Rolling Stonesi, bend čiji sam zadnji album slušao iz '73, a prije toga sam ih bome slušao. Zapravo čudno nekako, najviše sam slušao taj njihov poznati Blues Rock koji me najviše i naveo da ih slušam (Beggars Banquet - Let It Bleed), međutim i ovaj je bio u priči. Ne toliko, ali definitivno mislim da je ovo dobar album, prije koji tjedan sam si ga pustio ovako na poslu par puta dok sam radio. Prvi dio albuma, iliti prva strana albuma je bolja od druge.

Ça nasille du début à la fin, et ce n'est pas pour me déplaire. J'ai d'ailleurs beaucoup aimé cette fin d'album où l'on découvre Mick Jagger et David Bowie tout nus dans le même lit, nous affirmant à maintes reprises que ce n'est pas ce que nous croyons.

Les Rollign Stones sont surcôtés, mon ouvrage publié aux editions Demery, est toujours disponible dans toutes les librairies. Une réedition est d'ailleurs dans les tuyaux.

Uit de tijd dat het nog een stel jonge gasten met een boel branie waren. Het klinkt na meer dan 50 jaar nog altijd fris. Het heeft stijl, het rockt, het is creatief, het komt aan. Goed gedaan van de heren.

Zo! Met een opening als Mother's Little Helper zet je je album wel gelijk lekker stevig neer! Zowel muzikaal als wat betreft het onderwerp. We kunnen daarna weer op adem komen en het muzikale geweld van het eerste nummer wordt niet meer geëvenaard. Enerzijds jammer, anderzijds springen de bluesachtige nummers er ook wel lekker uit. Helaas moet ik mij ook af en toe door suffe opvullers als Take It Or Leave It heen bijten.

Je kan wel horen waar de Stones de mosterd hebben gehaald, maar je hoort ze hier ook zoeken naar een eigen identiteit. Op sommige nummers lukt dat en op andere wat minder. Er zitten ouderwetse eenvoudige blues nummers tussen (dan vind ik hun latere bluesy rock beter, zoals op Exile on Main St), er zitten simpele beatnummertjes tussen (laat dat lekker over aan de Beatles) en er staan een paar klassieke Stones nummers op. Die laatste zijn dan toch de beste nummers van de plaat.

Nothing terrible. Very UK classic rock feels before they became a mega band. Not much besides a song or two really stuck out.

The first four songs of this album (UK version) are a virtual tour of 60s musical tropes - sitars, harpsichords, songs of suburban drug dependency, stilted lyrics evoking courtly love; and, sigh, a striking degree of resentment and anger toward women. It’s kind of depressing, really, to listen with new ears to songs you’ve enjoyed for decades (though I suppose “Under My Thumb” was never very subtle about it). The rest of the album - new to me (my Stones’ fandom is wide but not deep) - is a collection of tepid or uninspiring blues numbers, plus some a few lesser-known, passable originals that bear the distinctive Rolling Stones sound. The hits - Mother’s Little Helper, Under My Thumb, Out of Time - carry the album and earn it the 3 stars. The rest for me is take or leave.

OK, nothing special, dad's music

Not a fan of this band.

Huge shout out to the crow that happened to be cawing overhead when Paint it Black came on. This is the kind of album I think about with them… there’s a good song and a lot of filler that feels incredibly blah. I skipped several songs halfway through.

Great album with hits and some lesser known great tunes.

It had to happen at some point. This is the fourth Rolling Stones album on the list for me, and it's a dud. I realize the importance of Jagger and Richards developing as songwriters, but this felt quite repetitive. 'I Am Waiting' is nice, and 'Paint It Black' is simply legendary. Too bad that the version listed in the book is the UK release which did not include it...

There are some really great tracks on this; let’s get that out of the way straight ahead. “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Lady Jane”, “Under My Thumb” and “I Am Waiting” especially! I appreciate that this is the first album containing only self-written material; but I can tell that they just aren’t capable of writing almost an hour of memorable music yet. How is most of this written at the same time as “Paint It Black”? And how is this the version NOT containing that absolute masterpiece? I live to wonder. I was contemplating giving this a 3 for a moment. But I think the Stones really suffered some sort of megalomania when they recorded the catastrophically long “Going Home”. I’m not a huge enough Rolling Stone or blues fan to enjoy that… Cause let’s face it: they are not exactly The Grateful Dead or Phish when it comes to improvisation.

Sofistikerad 60-tals rock. Skulle idag antagligen kategoriseras som pop, till viss del? Saknar djup på en del av låtarna. Micks röst är gnällig. Härligt ändå på något sätt.

Kind of sleeper, few things catchy but nothing stood out

2 fantastic songs (Paint it Black/Under My Thumb), backed up by some standard bluesy rock. if it wasn't for the 2 standout tracks this would rate so so so much lower. 3

3.25

The two smash hits are great. There is a decent amount of filler on this album though. Favorite track: Paint it Black

Cemented what I believed before which is that the Stones get one good melody or line in a song and just really coast on it for anywhere from 3 to 11 minutes. A couple great songs save this from being an absolute slog of a record.

Yes it was good, a bit oddly put together and going home was too long for sure. However pretty much every other tune worked and I loved the sound they went for here. A great record.

They have better stuff, which is why it only seems right to rate this a 4 and keep the 5 for their best work

It was good to listen to the album when the Stones stopped being a coverband and started making their own. Brian Jones definitely has a good influence on it, but not all songs are as strong as others. A good debut of their own songs, that's for sure

Perus rollareita ja kuullostaa aika pitkälti siltä miltä rollarit kuullostaa

The stones are awful when they’re bad and decent when good. I never want to hear a stones album again please and thank you. mick jagger and his mates made shit music and went “oi lets tribute this to all the fathers out there”

I have listened to some of these songs a few times, so there is a nice nostalgic feeling to this album.

Seemed like a lot of lady hate but still a solid album

This is the album the Stones really come into their own and begin to produce some really good records. Some of the stand-out tracks would become classics (Paint It Black, Under My Thumb...I listened to the US version) and it's a solid collection of songs, though there still a few throwaway tracks. I wouldn't consider it in their A+ classic albums, but definitely an A.

A snapshot of UK rock and pop in that pre-summer of love mid-sixties era. A very English album in places with the madrigal-lite rubbing shoulders with the Stones doing The Kinks on Mother's Little Helper. Still beholden to the blues, tho.

3/11, 27%

Such a killer record. Always worth coming back to this one.

Great flow. Love the early Stones.

Going between a 3 and 4 on this one. A couple of outstanding tracks and a bunch more average ones that I could take or leave. Under My Thumb was already great, and then I realized that I’d never caught the marimba…holy cow, incredible! I just need some more standout songs than this has.

This is the breakthrough Stones record. It contains some of my favourite songs of theirs, such as Out of Time, Mothers Little Helper, Under My Thumb, Lady Jane and my favourite on the album - I Am Waiting (love the scene from Rushmore!). However I don’t really care too much for the rest of the bluesy country tracks and never did. Also I absolutely hate the fact that there are two different versions and only the US one has one of the best songs of all time, Paint It Black. 4/5 for all the great tunes but not consistent enough for 5/5 for me

HL: “Lady Jane”, “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Out of Time” October 31, 2022 🎃

(Judging the original UK version here) I realize that this is somewhat early days of stereo recordings, but the panning is just awful to modern ears a lot of the time. That cymbal on High And Dry drives me insane. Large parts of this are also not that special songwriting-wise.

ehh

Okay this is by far my most controversial take (I think), but I didn't like this. I didn't dislike it but it felt very average. And the UK version doesn't even have Paint It, Black. I know that's the accessible pick but it's famous for a reason. 5/10

Great, the ending song "Going Home" made me give five star.

Good

73/100: Incredibly disappointed with this album. They should rename it to "Paint It Black and Assorted Sexist Songs." You can go ahead and call me a snowflake, but this album gets pretty egregious. Perhaps I'm missing the point of some songs, but "Stupid Girl" is heinous and "Under My Thumb" is arguably just as bad. I guess I shouldn't be surprised about the content of this album though. The Rolling Stones' bassist, Bill Wyman notoriously "dated" (read: raped) a 13 year old girl before he eventually married her. He was 47. Now, normally, for better or for worse—although I tend to dislike this trait of mine and consider it a bad quality—I can abide by the dismissive phrase "separate the art from the artist," but it's hard to do that when the content of their art is what you're trying to dismiss in the first place. "Paint it Black" is a great song, The Rolling Stones are a great band, but this album is apparently an uncomfortable look into their dysfunctional personas. I'd prefer to ignore this album if I'm going to try to continue to appreciate the music this band has produced.

I see why people like it, but not really my thing. Definitely old rock. I wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it, but I wouldn't be upset if someone was playing it.

Aftermath shows a much more mature Rolling Stones who have found their sound and are moving beyond their roots as a straight blues band. The songwriting is better, the playing is tighter, the music is more exploratory, and the album is incredibly cohesive. Even their long jams are better structured and more interesting.

there are moments - “paint it black,” “gimme shelter” - where the stones are of course transcendent but when i listen to their albums i mostly hear british guys playing pretty good versions of black and american music

The Stones have always been the bad boys against the Beatles loveable mop-tops image. I'm finding i'm steering more to the dark side now......... This album is full-force and full of powerful hits, sneering lyrics, cold dark imagery. All these years later it can still evoke anger and controversy. The album begins with the newer progressive works and then finishes with the older style blue/pop numbers they were known for. This was a turning point.

Good stones album some of my favorite stones songs

Solid. Good rock

Not as many highs as I'd expect, but the lows aren't very low. Paint It, Black and I Am Waiting are standouts that raise my opinion on the album. Also, Going Home is a good song to end an album. Overall pretty average.