Exile On Main Street

Apparently this is the most revered Rolling Stones album, near the top of lots of lists of all-time albums. I've always liked the Rolling Stones, but that's mostly based on singles. It's possible the only album I've listened to is Blue & Lonesome from 2016. Anyhow, this album is...fine. I like this kind of music, the style is very consistent, and nothing here is bad. Unfortunately it bored me. Where are the hits? Where are the hooks? Why are people calling this one of the greatest rock albums of all time? I don't get it. It's long, but it slipped into the background almost immediately so I hardly noticed the length. Exile me if you must, but I think I'd rather relisten to their 2016 album. This supposed masterpiece is simply a-okay. My review might seem harsher than my rating, but that's because it's the Rolling Stones and I was expecting to have my socks blown off. At least I can report that no Stuarts were involved in the making of this album. Favorite tracks: Shake Your Hips, Let it Loose, Shine a Light. Album art: I recognized it immediately, but it's not very interesting. Every time I try to look at the individual pictures and see if any are cool, I look away within five seconds, "I couldn't care less." Fits the album I suppose. 3/5

Will this be the album where I finally get the hype around The Rolling Stones...?? Nope. 18 tracks and none of them really excited me. Shine a Light at a push. It's all fine, if you fancy an hour of competent bluesy rock & roll, but 'competent' alone will only get you 2.5 stars, tops.

Exile On Fart Street lol

What always blows me away about this album is how American it sounds. Sure, the Stones had long been riffing off the blues but a song like Rip this Joint expands that into some New Orleans sounds and Sweet Virginia sounds like it was recorded in Nashville. Just an amazing sublimation of influences while transmogrifying them into something not new but altogether transporting.

Without a doubt one of the best rock albums of all time. Now, I've been known to give Rolling Stones albums 5 stars before, so what makes this one stand out as king? It's hard to hear an album more coherent and intertwined with crazy strong tracks. Note that this double album isn't full of radio hits like prior the prior album Sticky Fingers, but these songs work one after another and nothing sounds out of place. It represents everything that the Rolling Stones had stood for, and their massive influence on rock music, from their solid incorporation blues to gospel to psychedelia to country. "Rocks Off" is the perfect intro. It's one of the most melodic tracks, representing their psychedelic days. Every instrument is out of sync and vocals come and disappear almost randomly. The brass hits you like a truck but is a masterful display. The next track "Rip This Joint" is a homage to rockabilly, and although I don't recall them starting out with rockabilly (I don't listen to their first albums much and I thought they were heavy blues), it's another rocking fast-paced album that reflects the evolution that the Rolling Stones took music in the prior decade. Next we have a lofi blues cover that I believe pays homage to their origins in the early production age of relying on blues covers. Two songs later we get the lead single "Tumbling Dice" which is probably the only song out of this album that's a radio staple. But I assure you this is not a song you can forget. Nothing about this song is predictable. The structure of the melody and lyrics keeps varying so much to keep you interested. It is also a testament as the zenith of the Rolling Stones' work since Beggars Banquet, with a heavy gospel chorus and strong blues rock heavier and more melodic than any other song except maybe Rocks Off. The second side is dedicated to their impact on country rock, and this best reflects the coherency of this album. The segway from the hard rock first side to the country second side is still inherently Rolling Stones but changes the perspective to focus on a more folklike side of rock, demonstrating the range that Rolling Stones had touched the music industry. I just want to talk about the first track of these which is one of my favorites, "Sweet Virginia." I've never been a fan of country, but oh sweet virginia, from the lofi vocals, Jagger's harmonica in the background, and that amazing sax solo, it makes me feel nostalgic for a place I've never actually experienced. Third side we go back to classic rock n roll with another strong pop rock song, "Happy." The next two tracks are hard and loud songs that follow seamlessly, until we suddenly get a strange transition from "Ventilator Blues" to the lofi gospel track "I Just Want to See His Face." Despite the quiet outro, it is not the end of the side. The final track is an epic ballad of more than 5 minutes, this time paying homage to all the kind of music of the black community that Rolling Stones took inspiration from over the years. Their most soulful track, it is heavy in both blues and gospel. The final side starts off once again with another strong pop rock track "All Down the Line," which is melodic and rocks but yet for some reason did not chart. The last track I wanted to talk about is "Shine the Light" which I believe has the strongest lyrics. The pace keeps changing, starting off slow, picking up speed, and retaining the momentum all throughout. One of the best displays of their masterful craft of combining rock and gospel. Usually with double albums they're so long I lose attention from time to time until I song I like comes up. Not with this album. It doesn't stick to one theme for long. Skipping any track makes the experience feel incomplete. And after so many listens, you'll find there are no tracks to skip. No other album in history except maybe the White Album is able to show such diversity in talent while still sticking true to their character and influence on the music industry. I'm really happy this album exists, and I doubt a year will go by in my life without at least half a dozen listens.

I’m starting to feel like Debbie downer on my reviews,since again a strong band name, did not impress. I was excited when I saw the tile & band. I was expecting an explosion of fun but didn’t even get a fizzle from this production. I have so many favorite Jagger songs and Rolling Stone Albums but this is one I will not recommend to others. I like Happy and Tumbling Dice but not impressed by the over all sound.... “Can’t get no Satisfaction (M.J.)

In which the Stones return to their 60's peak, take another look at the summit, then surpass it the only way a torn and frayed band knows how: by jumping head-first down the other side and dragging us with them. What else is the audio murk but dust and grit in the microphones? Why is Jagger garbling his words but he's got a gob full of rocks? In its ass-backwards way, Exile may pivot on its two most attenuated songs: I Just Want To See His Face--a barely decipherable religious plaint that sounds like a discarded 78 from four decades earlier--is a potash of manufactured and organic matter--Jagger's Black America vocals, the gospel backing, and washboard rhythms--and Sweet Black Angel-- an undercover protest song for the imprisoned Angela Davis. Also sung in Jagger's morally ambiguous Deep South imitation and containing the N word, its potentially offensive features are in fact a complex comment on the retrograde treatment of Black people filtered through a century of Black music. In other words, Exile is rich beyond belief, feeding and fed by the entire tradition of popular music. Its treasures may never be unearthed or understood. But like the very best art, the joy is in experiencing it, not interpreting it.

The Stones isolated themselves to come up with this double album and jamming out tunes using their unused riffs and songs plus adding completely new songs. The style is a combination of blues, rock, gospel, r&b, jazz and country, yet with so many genres and tracks, the music still manages to sound the same and get stale by the end. The Stones have done much better than this.

What a joy to find my favourite Stones album in the inbox today. I'm not even half was through the 1st tune and already three classic lines: 1) "The Sunshine bores the daylights out of me." (I use that one all the time) 2) "I come every time that she pirouettes on me." (I always think of that line when I meet a dancer but I wisely don't let it move from the brain to the tounge.) 3) and of course the line that I'm sure is also your favourite: "Plug in, flush out, and fight and fuck and feed." Then we move to the 2nd song which contains the classic line: "Dick and Pat down in old DC, they're gonna hold some shit for me." I could go on like this for every song. My ability to understand Mick's slur is no better than anyone else's but I bought the Japanese press of this album which included a loot bag of extras including a lyric sheet. In those pre-Google days this meant I was the only kid in town who knew the words. I remember an interview with Charlie where he said he didn't like being in the South of France for so long since he couldn't find Branston Pickles. Yeah that's the same reason I've never been to the south of France. lol This is the album, when Keith started playing his guitar with Open G tuning and only 5 strings - tossing the low E string (most bass string). This made it tough on the bar bands since they couldn't get the riffs to sound right on most Stones songs that followed. Side 2 is my favourite side. One hit and the rest is excellent jamming with all instruments on fire and really good harmonies, especially considering none of them knows how to sing. Tumbling Dice is an excellent example of how an opening riff can make a song. This was Keith's specialty. Torn and Frayed is a good example of Charlie's drumming prowess (RIP). Also Bobby Keys is at his best with Sweet Virginia being his highlight. I will never find too many live versions of this song from concerts in the Bobby days. (RIP). If you're a Bobby Keys fan check out the G rated version of Sweet Virginia on You Tube. It's an afternoon concert in front of the Nashville library (I think). Since there are lots of kids running around within earshot he changes the words to " Got to scrape the 'stuff' right off your shoe." Sweet Virginia is one of the few songs played with regular guitar tuning and all six strings so the guitar hacks can play something from this double LP. Although it really doesn't sound that good without the sax and harp solos. Side 3 is also very good starting with Happy, the best known song that Keith sings. When I saw him play it he couldn't remember the words which was hilarious given he only sings lead on one song. Oh well, at least he took his guitar playing seriously which is the main thing. Fabulous album!

Would you believe me if I told you I've never listened to a Rolling Stones album before, nor have I even attempted to? Why not? Let me tell you a story: I returned to my primary school a couple of years after leaving, with a few friends. We wanted to say hi to old teachers, revisit the old stomping ground. Our old music and RE teacher, Mr Watts, marched past. An eccentric man. We tried to stop him and say hi, but he simply said "Too tall, too tall," and marched on. That was the last ever interaction I had with him. He's dead now. Point being, the Stones (and Dylan, and Bowie, and Nick Cave..., but especially the Stones) were always "too tall" for me. I couldn't bear to face up to the sheer volume of music I'd avoided. Better to march on blindly, and not engage. Well, just as I think Mr Watts was completely wrong on that fateful day 20 or so years ago, I am pleased to report I too was completely wrong. Not only are the individual songs vibrant, catchy, fun and booty-shaking - the album as a whole feels like a real celebration of a band at the peak of their powers. It has an unerring sense of utter self-confidence that is completely intoxicating. So. Why not 5 stars? Because I can't help feeling like a fraud of a Stones-listener; giving it 5 stars implies I've unpacked everything, and digested its meaning. Truth is, I got my groove on, found it so much more accessible than I'd ever have dreamed and am primed for this to grow into a 5 star. I just don't feel like I've earned it yet. After all, they are just too tall to take in on one listen.

hopefully mick donated to the NAACP after making this album

You want their "hits"? You want their radio-friendly songs? Then go buy their "Best of..." albums. This album is them showing their blues roots, and paying homage to all the blues greats, without whom there would be no Rolling Stones. If you don't recognize what makes this a watershed album for this band, then you don't deserve to understand this album. How's that for a bit of rock snobbery?

Exile on Main St, in all its ragged, full-on, rock'n'roll swagger, is all a young man needs. In places, this record does indeed sound, in the best possible way, like an album made by a bunch of drunks and junkies who were somehow firing on all engines. The Stones would never sound so sexy, so raucous and abandoned,ever again. Fave Stones album, by far.

This was a very 'soulful' type of rock and roll album. I enjoyed it quite a lot! Felt like the perfect mix between New Orleans and London.

unlistenable

What is the best Stones album and why is it Exile On Main Street? For starters, it's their White Album: Disjointed yet epic; Complicated but ultimately rewarding. It has Sweet Virginia, Tumbling Dice, Loving Cup, and Let It Loose. It allows a strung out Keith Richards to sing lead on a song. The joyful Billy Preston plays both the piano and organ on "Shine A Light". And it all adds up to the closest I'll ever get to the feeling of a heroin and cocaine Speedball.

Album defines rock in the early 70's, drugged out, drunkin sleazy mess. Sure the songs are all over the place and disconnected but this album is an absolute masterpiece.

I think it's difficult to realize just how amazing it is for any band to sound this good and play this well together. Every single part of the instrumentation sounds magnificent - both in isolation and in the interaction with the rest. The runtime is daunting, but Exile On Main Street is packed to the brim with top-notch tracks: 'Tumbling Dice', 'Let It Loose' and 'Shine a Light' just to mention a few. "I know I play a bad guitar" Jagger confesses on 'Living Cup', but luckily Keith Richard sure doesn't play a bad guitar on this record - perhaps the greatest collection of rock and roll tracks ever.

You can’t get more from this. It’s rock n roll the way the Stones mastered it, bringing in country, blues, gospel, and the attitude that makes them the best. RIP Charlie.

Excellent album; some classics among some great blues songs. Has most of my favorite Stones songs on it. Highlights: -Sweet Virginia -Tumbling Dice -Loving Cup -Happy -Shine a Light

This is the fourth and last in what I consider to be the Rolling Stones peak period of creativity, from 1968 to 1972. An amazing rock album with a lot of gospel and swing references and great songs like Rocks Off, Tumbling Dice (my favourite Stones tune), Sweet Virginia and Shine a Light.

If Sticky Fingers is the Stones' "Rubber Soul", this is their "Abbey Road." This is by and far the greatest record they have every put out. It's a left turn that veers into an Americana-gospel inspired record while maintaining a quality rock n' roll sound that pulls emotion from every corner of the room. There are some songs that could have been cut for precision sake...but that would detract from the wholesome experience afforded by Exile. Even when certain moments feel out of place, like "Shake Your Hips" or "Turd On The Run", you'll be able to reflect on the bigger picture crafted by Jagger, Richards and the gang and get swallowed back into an experience few records have been able to give in the past 50 years. Favorite Songs: Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Shine A Light, Soul Survivor Least Favorite: Turd On The Run

'Exile On Main Street' is earnestly performed and brilliantly made, making it one of the best albums of the 1970s namely in the field of rock and roll. The many riffs and chord arrangements residing in the spacious bars sound familiar because The Rolling Stones were their early adopters, popularizing it and leaving an everlasting mark. Tempo and pacing done right, this record features an attractive rock 'retro' quality to it - which combined with soulful performances from the members, creates a piece of work that will remain fundamentally influential.

I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that this was a “heroin-fueled” album, which I interpreted as meaning the drugs enabled them to hit a creative Zenith. Stuff I have read or watched since says the main effect of the heroin was that the recording sessions took longer because Keith Richards kept falling asleep. I keep thinking of them half-asleep or high, playing this sloppy mess of rock n’ roll, blues, gospel, country and soul. There is some great piano-playing throughout and (go-figure) Mick is a pretty hot harmonica player. If I were the cherry-pick my 10 favorite songs (I would include the blues covers) it would be quite an album.

I’m surprised that I’m giving this such a low rating, but even though I liked the style, there wasn’t really anything that grabbed me.

While I respect what these guys have done over the last half plus of a century, I just don't really vibe them. You can hear a variety of styles on this album, and that's really their strength, their musical versatility. Jagger's voice just ruins it for me. I would listen to a music only version. Loving Cup is a favorite on here. I like the brass and piano.

I have always respected this Stones album with it's diverse rock-n-roll, blues, and country flavours. There are some phenomenal songs on this record, especially the "non-hits" and slower tempo like Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, Sweet Black Angel, Loving Cup, Let It Loose, and Shine A Light. HOWEVER, I am just not a Stones guy. Jagger's voice has always made me want to slap him. In the end, my respect for EOMS still doesn't translate to pleasing to my ears overall.

I was wondering when we would see a Rolling Stones album come up since everyone loves them so much. I do include myself slightly in that “everyone” but when it came to rock, I had many other bands I liked more so I’ve never listened to a full stones album. I like the album cover, very scrapbooky but they also use duplicate photos so there is a touch of laziness to it but it was the 70’s. This is another band where I struggle to hear what Mick is saying but don’t mind too much because I love his voice and the music is really good. I’m noticing that right off the bat on Rocks Off. Rip this Joint is also really fun. I’m hopefully sensing a theme for this album with these easy to dance to type songs you’d hear in a tavern with the pianos and brass. Woah, Shake Your Hips sounds a lot like La Grange from ZZ Top, who made it first? Uh oh, La Grange came out in 1973…and it sounds better than this song. Casino Boogie! For some reason I really like that song title. Wish I liked the song, doesn’t feel like the kind of Casino Boogie I was expecting. Despite me not being a huge stones fan, I’m really learning to appreciate them with this listen. Hearing the sound they are creating on this album really does feel like they could have been an old timey saloon band. I wonder when exactly they shifted to the more stadium rock they are known for now. Kudos for Turd On the Run, that’s an all timer of a title. I’ve been just cruising through these songs like they are on the soundtrack of Red Dead Redemption. After listening to the whole album, I really enjoyed it. My favorite songs were Tumbling Dice and Torn and Frayed.

Nr. 52/1001 Rocks Off 3/5 Rio This Joint 3/5 Shake Your Hips 3/5 Casino Boogie 3/5 Tumbling Dice 4/5 Sweet Virginia 3/5 Torn And Frayed 4/5 Sweet Black Angel 4/5 Loving Cup 4/5 Happy 4/5 Turd On The Run 3/5 Ventilator Blues 3/5 I Just Want To See His Face 2/5 Let It Loose 3/5 All Down The Line 3/5 Stop Breaking Down 3/5 Shine A Light 4/5 Soul Survivor 4/5 Average: 3,33 I can understand and appreciate why a lot of critics regard this as the best Stones album. But for me a lot of the songs fehlt too convoluted and overladen.

2.5 never really got the hype around the stones. Sure they have some great hits, but I’ve never listened to a whole album so I assumed I was just missing something. This album didn’t do much to change my opinion, in fact it probably hurt more than helped. This album wasn’t bad but it was boring. 90% sounded the exact same throughout and there wasn’t a single song that stood out. How people can say they’re even in the same conversation as the Beatles still blows my mind

Start off very slow but gets better towards the back end, Don't see what makes this remarkable at all, I had actively stopping myself from skipping songs at points.

And here it is. Probably one of many that will be on this list. I'm probably going to take some heat from big Stones fans on this one. I am not a big Stones fan myself. I know they are legendary rock royalty and everything, it's just that Mick's voice to me is just not that special. I feel like as far as the whole British invasion deal, the Stones and the Beatles got a lot comparison. The Beatles to me are so much more interesting and creative. It's not that I find the Stones to be terrible, although some of the songs I really don't care for its just that I find them kind of meh. If someone were to give me tickets to a Stones show I feel like I would go moreso out of historical factors rather than loving the music. Probably my two favorite Stones songs are Paint It Black and 19th Nervous Breakdown. This particular album was ok for me. A very bluesy rock album. I could see how something like this would influence other artists in the future. It seemed like a celebration of whatever southern blues musicians they listened to growing up.

This was longgggg. Longer than it needed to be? Possibly. Did we need the last 5 tracks? I’d argue not but maybe I was just ready for it to be over by then. I didn’t mind it too much up until that point. I think if you’d played me this without telling me who it was, I wouldn’t have guessed the Stones. Probably says more about me than it does this record! Mid but docked a point for its unnecessary length

The Rolling Stones' "Exile On Main Street" has long been hailed as a classic rock album, but upon closer examination, it falls short of the lofty praise it often receives. Released in 1972, this double LP is often revered for its raw energy and supposed authenticity, but unfortunately, it fails to deliver a cohesive and memorable listening experience. One of the major drawbacks of "Exile On Main Street" is its lack of focus. With 18 tracks spanning various genres such as rock, blues, country, and gospel, the album feels disjointed and unfocused. While variety can be a strength, in this case, it becomes a weakness as the songs struggle to form a coherent whole. The lack of a clear direction or thematic consistency leaves the listener feeling disconnected and unsure of what the album is trying to achieve. Additionally, the production quality of "Exile On Main Street" has often been praised for its rawness and lo-fi aesthetic. However, the poor production values only serve to undermine the potential impact of the songs. The muddy mix and overall lack of clarity detract from the musicianship and make it difficult to fully appreciate the intricate details and nuances of the performances. It feels like a missed opportunity to fully showcase the talents of the band. While there are a few standout tracks like "Rocks Off" and "Tumbling Dice," much of the album falls into a repetitive and uninspired pattern. The songwriting often lacks depth and originality, resulting in forgettable melodies and generic lyrics. Even Mick Jagger's usually charismatic vocals seem lackluster and uninspired throughout much of the record. Furthermore, "Exile On Main Street" suffers from pacing issues. The length of the album, combined with the lack of strong hooks and memorable moments, makes it feel like a slog to get through. Tracks blend together in a monotonous haze, and the album becomes a background noise rather than a captivating musical experience. It fails to hold the listener's attention and lacks the dynamic shifts and surprises that make a great album truly engaging. In conclusion, while "Exile On Main Street" may have achieved iconic status within the rock music canon, it ultimately falls short of its reputation. The lack of focus, poor production quality, and repetitive nature of the songs make it a forgettable and uninspiring listening experience. While it may hold nostalgic value for die-hard Rolling Stones fans, it fails to stand the test of time and does not live up to the grandiose claims made about its greatness. It is a mediocre effort from a band capable of so much more.

Extremely consistent rock record filled with typical Stones' blues-country-ish infusion. I will admit I am a fan of this sound and this album gives you over one hour of it and Mick's vocals don't even get annoying despite this length. Throughout listening to this came a few moments where I thought "yes, this is all very good, but right now it just starts to melt together and lacks some variety and a proper distinct hit" and then the strong distinct hit came along as the very next song. I just keep wondering if I should even get to the point of wonder, even when satisfaction came in the end each time. Wonder if this wound function better as shorted album. 4 stars seems low because it is a masterpiece, 5 stars seems a bit high because it is not flawless. But 5 it is.

THE Rolling Stones album!

I enjoyed it, I saved a couple songs to add to my own personal playlist for 2021. 😄

Stones when they are past their pop phase, getting some great rock & roll, country, and blues grooves. Absolute classic!

This might be in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. Absolute fucking heat from start to finish.

Muddy. Dig it.

Now this is a classic album. Heroin/coked up tax exiles record a double album of swampy rock and blues with a splash of country in an old chateau. What's not to love? Best Tracks: Rocks Off; Tumbling Dice; Sweet Virginia

Stones at their finest... the best expression of rock and roll ever conceived

Definitely one of their good album

un grande entre los grandes

My favorite Rolling Stones album and a top ten rock album for me. A terrific collection of songs across a range of blues and country styles. Song after song, they sound like they’re having an absolute blast in the studio. There’s an abundance of joy and exuberance that they captured in the recording. The album makes me happy every time I play it.

One of my favorite albums

Love it, it’s so vibey

Didn't listen this time but it's a classic, probably their best, most consistently great album.

This is by far my favorite Rolling Stones album. I am not a huge RS fan, but this album has their most innovative work with a perfect blend of rock, blues and country.

Oh que c’est couillu oh que ça cogne sec, même les « moins connues » (mettons « Ventilator Blues ») font paf paf bien comme il faut. On entend des idées que plein d'artistes développeront plus tard.

very good sound. I liked it and would like to listen more.

5 stars for the stoners. thanks for the 4/20 rec 😎

holy shit that’s fucking good sorry, last album I heard from them was Aftermath and it was just… eh I mean Paint it Black is great but both the UK and US were pretty much just blues covers with a good song here and there and it’s not that I don’t like blues, check my reviews I fucking love it, that album was just kind of lame but this one, seriously, good golly The Rolling Stones were late bloomers, really late bloomers but when they actually started doing good shit did they really show just how great they are honestly, I wasn’t expecting much out of this album but nearly every song blew me away it was a hard choice for my favorite song but the one that made me stop everything and listen to it a few times on repeat was Ventilator Blues like it blew my mind how it slapped that fucking hard in the early 70s anyway, this is a really, really good album I gotta listen to more Rolling Stones but from what I’ve heard, this album feels like their White Album / Blonde on Blonde 10/10

The best.

So much fun

Loved it.

It’s the stones

5.0 + unmatched for its loose swagger. This recording sounds like a rollicking weekend bender and I wish I could jump in and join.

Probably my 3rd or 4th favorite Stones album but a 5 nonetheless. A love letter to their influences, Exile gives us great blues, country, spill, and old fashioned rock and roll songs but it’s still the Stones and these guys are not messing around. My personal favorites are Shine A Light, Tumbling Dice, All down the Line and Sweet Virginia.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

My favorite RS album. It covers the full range of their music -- raunchy, rockin', rough, rude, bluesy and soulful. A few great covers tossed in with Mick/Keith classics. Maybe a filler or two, but who cares. The rest of it is so good it makes up for it. An essential album to own! Easy 5.

10/10

One of the greatest Rolling Stones albums and one of the greatest albums of all time; a perfect showcase of the brilliance behind the Stones' blues and country influenced songwriting. 10/10 Best Tracks: "Rocks Off" "Casino Boogie" "Tumbling Dice" "Sweet Virginia" "Torn and Frayed" "Sweet Black Angel" "Loving Cup" "Happy" "Ventilator Blues" "Let It Loose" "All Down the Line" "Shine a Light" "Soul Survivor"

sempre um prazer curtir rolling stones

Some albums require more than five stars. Yes, the muddy mix is not for everyone, but this is great music by a great band at the end of a magnificent run.

Holy hell is this amazing. I thought Sticky Fingers was THE Stones album, but...I think it's this one now. The band's recklessness and powerful sound is on full display. Some of Mick's best vocals are on here, and Happy is a stunner for Richards. This album merges all the Stones' influences into one perfect album, blues, rock, horns! This is a fun one!

Maybe more deserving of 4 stars, but I'm biased—this is my favorite album by one of my all time favorite bands, the energy and pacing of it is intoxicating and unlike any other album, INCLUDING any other Stones album! Sometimes tax evasion makes your album sound better, it's scientifically proven

One of my favorites ever

This album is much, MUCH better than Let it Bleed. Like, leagues better; there are simply no skips. And it's not that Let it Bleed is BAD--but rather, this was just simply so much better. LIB was a collection of one S-tier song and the rest were Bs and Cs; this was S-tiers and A-tiers only IMO. It's all aged beautifully: The vocals work, the instruments sound as layered and sophisticated as they did when this album first came out (I assume; it predates me). I'd be remiss to pick any fave track other than "Tumbling Dice," especially considering the cool history. Keith Richards got the idea for the track when he rolled out of bed one morning feeling uninspired and then tuned up his guitar. And out "tumbled"--heh, heh--the full melody of this song. Even for those of us who don't have Keith Richards's musical mind, it's easy to recognize a stellar track when you hear one. And this is IT.

Perfect alvum

Really enjoyed this.

Pretty good. Jaunty.

The Stones are great and this album is no exception. It's a fantastic record to put on while going for a drive, or prepping for a party, or having a BBQ, or doing anything that is fun. I love the energy in it and while I've heard many of these songs many times I don't feel sick of them at all- it's just a timeless sound.

This might be one of the first times that I'm really "Listening" to Exile, which I know sounds crazy when you know the rest of the stuff I love (which includes most Rolling Stones material from about The Last Time through literally right up to this album, and listening to Exile in Guyville a hundred times or so, since I bought that and OK Computer at the same Capital Records bargin sticker special display at the Woodfield Mall Sam Goody...in 2003 or so and I might have already have bought Hail to The Thief), or at least really sat down with it. I've obviously cherry picked the hits from it before. I think those are all still the highlights, but the runs on the full b-sides of each LP are so in line with the stuff I love that I picked up some new favorites like Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, and a new appreciation for All Down The Line (where I hadn't picked up the Be My Baby vocal riff towards the end beofre) that all have that cosmic country vibe that I keep trying to lock in on the definition of (which usually does come back to "trying to sound like the bands Gram Parsons played with or the groups he wanted to be." The whole thing flows so good. I don't think I appreciated that until listening to it on this Vinyl Fetish app I found the other day that gives you a visual (and side based) vinyl experience. I've never really cared that much about vinyl and I'm not going to start buying real records for myself probably ever, but it is a fun little way to listen to high res streaming classics the way they were originally. Side 3, other than a real outlier in Happy, is just the heaviest feeling Stones stuff (or maybe junk), there is a weight to the sound that they're dragging around. It's a party that should have already ended, but the remaining members still think they're having a good time. Even the gospel songs that start still sound haunted. Stop Breaking Down is a little too white boy blues band for me, but the rest is so good, that it is easy to forgive, especially with the two resilient concluding songs. Giving this a good listen tonight makes me want to do a track by track comparison with Exile in Guyville.

Can this be given 6 x stars?

Very good throughout

Fantastic how much energy and nerve The Stones manager to get out of a very laid back period, in the south of France, creating songs from spontaneous jam sessions. A masterpiece within the Rolling Stones catalogue, nothing less.

Pre marking this. Like the songs so far, need to get this more embedded

Great album - debating a four or a five. Would love to have seen them live during this era. Rounding up.

I Are Bort is not going to enjoy this.

The Stones are a consistently good band, and this album is the perfect representation of that statement. Even though it's almost 2h long, they've managed to do it without a single bad track. Sub-optimal, maybe, but none of them were less enjoyable enough to make me even consider skipping (which I tend to do a bit too often with songs I don't care that much). Overall, a great album, has some classic in it, like Tumbling Dice and Shine a Light. Probably a 4.2~4.5

Great chilled rock n roll!

It's probably too long, but it's got everything you could want from a Stones album. Maybe my favorite of theirs. Best track: Tumbling Dice

Nostálgico. Gostei das melodias de jazz e blues

Awesome

Had me tapping my foot for the entire 1hr 48min. Perfectly executed blues with just the right amount of horns scattered throughout, fair bit of Big Sax even. Plenty of shred from the master himself as well. A great album.

Truly one of the greatest albums of all time. So soulful and bluesy. Songs like Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Let It Loose, Shine a Light are just incredible. There's enough variation in pacing and sound that this album just does not get old. Incredible and an automatic 5.

Rolando as preda

The Rolling Stones are a huge band of course, and I like most of their music, but to say I'm a fan would be an exaggeration. However, I thought the band sounded really good on this album, supported by an array of great musicians. I particularly liked the soul/gospel accents (brass, backing vocals), elevating the blues/rock tunes. During the first listen the album felt quite long: into the second half my attention was starting to fade and I even got slightly irritated by Jagger's vocals toward the end. However, the second time around this was no longer an issue and I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Such a good blues rock album. Love an upbeat first track. So many good good songs in the record. The guitar work is so subtle but really adds so much to each song.

Always love the Stones and this was a double album too!

Together with Beggars Banquet, which is presumably on the list as well, my favourite Rolling Stones album - a clear top 10-ever album.

This album was almost a new one for me! It’s woven genres is really cool. I’ll give this an RS 4.9

Great album. Classic,

slap after slap after slap. awesome album. shine the light is an incredible tune, the guitar lick at then end completely shreds

One of the greatest bands the British music industry has ever produced, this is a snapshot of them at the height of there powers

Obvious banger no? Rolling stones BEEN having it

Love this album so much. Tons of variety and the playing is on point. This is about as good as rock n roll gets

Perfect album. Nothing to complain about at all.

I would regard this as one of the best albums from the Rolling Stones, probably in my top 3, at least. A sprawling double-album, Exile allows the Stones to explore different music different styles and it highlights the band at it's career height, both creatively and musically. This has to be considered one of the greatest double albums of all time, leading off with the highly underrated, Rocks Off and continues to amaze until the end of side 4. Must hear!