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.)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

unlistenable

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.

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.

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.

'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.

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

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

I’d have to agree that this is probably the best Rolling Stones record. …and it’s not just because there’s a song called “Turd on the Run” on it, I swear.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

I’m at another 10 – that was a fantastic album. Nobody told me the Rolling Stones were like this, you know? This is the third time we've gotten them, and they get better every time for me. To say “70s rock band” feels like an understatement – it’s obviously the easiest way to describe them, but this album is just a wonderful blend of rock, country, blues, soul, and a lot of other genres with the right amount of guitar flair and heavier percussion to mold them into something that Mick Jagger could just glide on vocally, and for the rest of the band to work in a harmony that’s kind of indescribable. I could type a lot of things that sound similar to what I wrote yesterday, when we got Sgt. Pepper’s, but I don’t want to tread on the same stuff – it all feels like a buzzword to me right now. It’s critic speak, and I don’t want to engage in that when the album just evoked something in the soul for me that feels hard to put into words. This feels like the type of album that was made for me, as a sort of endgame to all the Gram Parsons-driven country/rock hybrid albums we’ve been getting for the last 417 days, and I think it’s the best of them. Hell, when this blends with harmonica & sax to bring in a poppier vibe that evokes Stevie Wonder and others, it gets even better. I’m sure someone else has the words for this – I don’t. I can only encourage other people to find the same zen state I did, because there is nothing like it. For someone else, it might just be “overrated ragtime/rock/blues/country that Mick Jagger sort of yells over”, and that’s fair enough – for me, it’s just that easy to find the rhythm and feel as in harmony with the band, more so than on any of the other albums from the Stones that we’ve gotten so far. It’s not a flawless album – there are lull spots, and one egregious use of the N word, but I understand why this is called the best Rolling Stones album by some people, and why the magazine gave it that much praise. I think it’s that damn good, and it’s a 10. P.S.: “Stop Breaking Down” is a perfect track with headphones in. I will not hear otherwise.

Very messy, in a good fun way. Not filthy like sticky fingers. Not my favourite RS album but very enjoyable.

This is blissfully bluesy. It's also quite important.

Epochal pantheon record of dirty blues rock, backed up with numerous extraordinary songs.

I always forget just how bluesy The Rolling Stones are. It’s full on blues rock, and it really makes me want to do that Mick Jagger swingy hip dance. I remember as a teen, I thought that the grown ups were losers for liking bands like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. In that loser now because this album was really fun and I enjoyed it from beginning to end. It’s a fairly long album too at 67 minutes, but I didn’t get bored at any point.

Great

An hour of loose rock-n-roll jams. All the ingredients, blues, soul, and attitude.

One of my favorite albums ever. A magnificent, ragged sprawl in answer to the well-mannered smorgasbords other bands were making at the time. Death of the sixties dirty bomb. The bit from "Rocks Off" - the sunshine bores the daylights out of me - is one of the best lyrics in music. You may think this album is a mess, and you'd be right, but Three-Ball Charlie up on the cover knows what's up.

A classic. The Stones at the height of their powers.

This isn't really a review it's just a bunch of blabbing. This album was the soundtrack of my summer of 2006, and I had a damn fine summer that year. I mean it was okay. I'd been into the Stones' best of in high school, Goat's Head Soup in college, and this was another step in my Rolling Stones appreciation tour. Guess it would be the last because I never really listened to them intently afterward, nothing against the album, it's a great album covers a lot of ground. According to my last.fm, I've listened to it at least 30 times.

Many people misunderstand the crime of "cultural appropriation". The issue isn't "white people can't do things non-white people do". In a society where racism didn't exist, there would be nothing wrong with guys like Mick Jagger becoming millionaire celebrities by performing their own version of music pioneered by Black people. But we don't live in that world; ours places powerful barriers to Black people reaching the level of celebrity that White people are able to access. Perhaps things are better now than they were when the Rolling Stones started performing music (years before the Civil Rights Act was law in the US--i.e., when it was PERFECTLY LEGAL to OPENLY discriminate against people because of their race!), but even today too many talentless musicians make their careers by whitewashing art from other cultures, because the people who invented that art aren't allowed to do it themselves. You can't be a serious music fan and not recognize this shit, and you can't be a person of conscience and not be bothered by it. So with that being said: Exile is one of my problematic faves. I would be a cooler and better guy if I could rattle off a dozen blues albums that are more important than Exile on Main St., but I can't. And that's because I didn't grow up surrounded by the blues, but I absolutely grew up with the Stones on the hi-fi. This may be the last good record that the Rolling Stones recorded (and the 1001 album list seems to agree), but it's a fuckin banger.

Rolling Stones being Rolling Stones. Although this one is obviously special, because there's so much soul going on in this album, with a certain Blues twang they didn't often replicate. Lots of variety going on here too, with speaker blasting tunes like Rocks Off and more emotion driven tracks like Shine a Light. One of my all time favorite songs that I used to be obsessed with in HS, Tumbling Dice, just never gets old.

Favorite stones album for sure, give me some blues all day

Didn't expect this to be as good as it was. A very pleasant surprise.

very cozy, very enjoyed listening even though it's not my usual genre

Yesterday I got to listen to Janis Joplin "Pearl." I'd never listened through the full album. I loved it. Today, I've gotten The Stones, "Exile On Main." I've done several Stones catalog dives, and this album is probably my favorite album. Maybe Let It Bleed. Regardless, it's nice to head back in to this double album. Sweet Virginia is such an incredible song. Mick's harmonica is so goddam emotive. And Charlie Watts remains one of my favorite drummers. And he *is* underrated. Got to scrape that shit right off your shoes.

5/5. A classic. I always avoided this album in the Rolling Stone discography because it felt so messy and misguided compared to their other straightforward albums. Upon relistening, a few years later, it's very clear this is just as clear cut as previous albums but with the guise of messiness and drugs (they might also have been on many of the latter still). Each song is just something you might hear in the basement of a seedy bar and yet experience something close to religious ecstasy along with Mick and the gang. Thankfully with this record you'll still be able to find your way home the next day. Best Song: Tumbling Dice, Rocks Off, Shine A Light

I was surprised to see that this renowned album doesn't have any of the Stone's big hits, but from the get go this album is an absolute riot. Between the variety of US influences and the production with Jagger's vocals low in the mix battling with the instruments, it made me feel like I was in a small venue in New Orleans with the band packed onto a tiny stage, and having a blast. I love how different members of the band take center stage on different tracks. If I'm being picky I'd drop a couple of tracks, and use that time to extend a few tracks that fade out to give them time to wrap up properly, but it's still a definite 5/5.

rolling stones

A worthy successor to Sticky Fingers

Superb album. Confident, mature, and just awesome.

The best ever Stones album. Which is saying something.

Widely considered the Stones best work. I liked a few songs. I guess I’m just not a Stones person. Still a great album.

I think this album defined their sound for the remainder of their career. My five favorite Rolling Stones albums all predated this one, but I still think Exile is genius and it deserves no less than five stars. I could listen to Sweet Black Angel all day long.

A rare 5/5 album. THE album from THE Rock n roll band

9.7/10.

top

There’s not a single stinker on the entire album. Just a really consistent showing of peak Stones blues rock, including several of their best tunes. 4.5/5

3 words. It's The Stones!

A collection of classics!

The Rolling Stones are a great rock and roll band. Many American music genres, including blues, country, and gospel influence their music. This record contains it all—one of my favorites.

A masterpiece. Most regard this as the Stones best record. I'm not sure on that but if I could only keep one Stones record it would be this one because of the depth and breadth of it

The greatest rock n roll album of all time

One of my favourite albums of all time. Probably the best double album on this list. It just keeps giving, song after song. When you think you know it go back and look at the lyrics, so rich and clever, more that you expected from some rock and roll tunes.

The Good: album #199 on the list is my first The Rolling Stones album to listen to, and that made me excited! The Bad: that it wasn’t Goats Head Soup The Ugly: me realizing that I should have listened more critically to this album decades ago… Funny how time changes tastes. When going through a phase of listening to all albums in a bands repertoire several years ago, I did not understand why this album is considered one of the greatest rock and roll albums period. Today, I am still a bigger fan of Goats Head Soup, but I really enjoyed the listening experience and will keep enjoying it for days/weeks/months to come Just not certain if I can give it 5*…. but 4 1/2* for certain!

Amo este álbum de los Rolling.

For me this is the greatest Stones record. It's long, and the sameness has been cited as a negative. But I see differently. This is just a complete work that accomplished everything the band set out to do. I have sentimental attachment to Beggars Banquet but even I can admit that this is peak Stones

The best Stones album, for me. More grit, I suspect as Keith had more input with the recording in the basement of his (then) chateau.

Probably the best album I've been sent so far, the other truly great one was Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home. From the opening of Rocks Off to the ending of Soul Survivor there's a lot to love. Side two is the best of the four, I still think of this as a double album. It's hard to beat Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed, Sweet Black Angel and Loving Cup as a side of any record, not just one by the Stones. Supposedly panned by the critics on release, Exile has stood the test of time. 5 Stars probably isn't enough.

For me it's the classic documentation of Rolling Stone's French phase

Not as good on a re-listen The quintessential album for born late in the generation boomer who had kids at a really young age. This album is not the first of any of its respective genres but its some of the best showing in them. 9/10 Fav tracks - All of 'em

Exile on Main Street is the tenth studio album, and the first double album from the Rolling Stones. They were literal exiles at the time, in a sense; they recorded the album while in "tax exile," which the band spend in the south of France. While holed up in a mansion, in what was described as a months-long party. the Stones recorded these songs on rudimentary equipment, while likely excessively inebriated. The result is raw, edgy, and in some way, perfect. At the time, the critical reception was lukewarm, at best. Over time, the album's repute has improved considerably: Exile on Main Street is regarded as one of the greatest albums - rock or otherwise - ever recorded. This is the Stones at the height of their confidence - bluesy and rebellious - with Richard's catchy guitar riffs and Jagger's brash swagger. The album does not contain any of the bands' biggest hits, but is still regarded as their best work because of the strength and range of this set of songs. This is an incredible collection, recorded as the Stones were becoming the greatest rock and roll band in the world.

Rocking, the baby liked it too

Not for the Start Me Up RS crowd. The culmination of maybe the greatest 5-year four album run. Quite simply a Masterpiece. Every song flows together so well. No just a collection of great music. It’s amazing how all these different genres work as one.

I went back and forth on this one as their honky tonk ramblings don't usually grab me. However, this album is different and it's great all the way through. For the record, I don't think it's as good as Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville. But watching a performance by Phish covering the whole album opened my eyes to how solid it really is. And Happy, Tumbling Dice, and Sweet Virginia are so good. Also love Loving Cup.

So good, no notes.

I love the rolling stones, no mistake.

Exile On Main Street is possibly the Stone’s most consistently good album. It’s also arguably their greatest artistic statement, an elegiac take on their signature heavy Blues Rock sound that was by the time of recording, being replaced in the mainstream by early Heavy Metal, Glam Rock and Bubblegum Pop, that is nonetheless full of life, beauty and humour. The point that it’s their most consistent album is, I think, the most interesting part of the album’s reputation. It has less classic songs than the preceding three albums, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard an Exile song out in the wild, but the quality of the songs on here is all top-notch, fun and loose Blue jams with a good smattering of acoustic and R&B tracks. I’ve made it clear that I prefer consistency over greatness, writing one great song is easy, writing a consistently good album is the sign of a true great. And Exile is the capstone of the tetralogy of great albums the band released in the late 60’s and early 70’s, a monumental, twisted work, dedicated to sex, sin, and soul

I can't really add anything to the conversation on this beast. But it's quite better than a 4.

epic

They were so honky took on their early albums

The best album.

Absolute masterpiece

# Album Name: Exile on main st # Artist: The Rolling Stones # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Starts off brilliantly with rocks off. This was Such a fun album. You can really feel the vibes coming through on tracks like sweet virginia. I'd imagine they were all getting off their tits having a great time. Maybe an orgy or two. Theres a great mix of influences on the album. Blues, rock, country, gospel. The band is tight as fuck. You can feel it on the record. I can see why people dont think its a banger because its doesnt have the stones' biggest hits per say. But for me, its such a good album overall. I would agree its a tad too long. Thats been a common problem for any long album on this project, i do tend to get ear fatigue. This album beats the shit of most of the stuff on this project though. Nuff said. Its a banger in my eyes. A sleeping giant. It gets a low 5 for me. # Top Tunes: Rocks off / Shake your hips / Tumbling Dice / Sweet Virginia / Loving cup / Happy / stop breaking down / turd on the run / shine a light # Would I listen to it again? Definitely.

An inevitable classic - feel good, full of swagger and while not the one with the most hits - it’s a solid end to end well paced fun record.

When you look at the individual tracks, there's not much that is amazing but collectively they seemlessly work together making it greater than the sum of its parts. The music is very much like taking a drive through ultimate America with elements of rock, country, blues and gospel. I like the rolling groove, the murky, swampy sound and Jagger's voice being slightly under rather than on top of the mic. The other noticeable thing is how on the last few tracks the album builds up to a euphoric climax that almost feels spiritual. It's by no means a perfect album and I don't play it often but it is one that I consistently enjoy when I do.

Favourite tracks: rocks off; rip this joint; tumbling dice; sweet Virginia; torn and frayed; happy

A classic Stones albums, as were many in late ‘60s and early ‘70s. A great mix of blues, country, rock, with the remix in the 2000’s, sound is great too!

Absolute classic. Tumbling Dice is my favourite

Masterpiece

This is another example of an album that makes no many other albums sound like they don't even have the same tools to make music as these guys. The playing, mixing, vocals, it's all so cohesive and high level. I don't think I can pick a better double album to listen to it and barely notice a song to stand out. It all works so well together and almost demands to be listened to straight. Easy 5/5. If I was forced to pick a song, Shine a Light is fantastic.

This all sounds very familiar. At first I was ready to dismiss this as a generic rock and roll album. It's all solid music done by experts at their craft. With pretty good production. They obviously studied the musical genres on display and made their own great versions of them. Part of me doesn't want to give this a 5, just because it feels strange that The Rolling Stones nailed these sounds. It feels not that dissimilar to what AI does. It is a great sounding album that I would like to further explore.

Exceptional.

Another classic and the last of the Stones classic run. I didn't like this album when I heard it years ago but over time it grew on me and now I love it, southern rock, blues and country, even a bit of gospel this album is soaked in the southern states. Tumblin' Dice, Happy, Sweet Virginia, Torn & Frayed, All Down The Line & Shine A Light are all highlights but if you listen to deluxe version there is a song called Following The River that is a real hidden gem.

This is The Rolling Stones at their best for me. I love how every songs ends in a groove and I’m a sucker for the sloppy saxophone that shows up just the right amount. A great party/hard work album that I’ll be putting on in the future for sure.