Exile On Main Street

blues for dummies

Una obra maestra. El último gran disco de los Rolling Stones. Y el mejor. También un recordatorio de que "con buena picha bien se jode". Con esa banda, ese presupuesto y todo el tiempo del mundo sacan un buen disco hasta los Alcalá Norte. Bueno, ellos tendrían que matar antes al cantante, pero iba a dar la pasta.

The Stones really don't do anything for me.

This album is way too long and half the songs sound the same. The music is otherwise fine, but nothing stands out as great to me. Cut five tracks at random from this and its probably a 3.

me gusto, es una buena compañía para el estudio. un poco repetitivo, un álbum muy blues y medio country. no me deslumbró, aunque algunas canciones las volvería a escuchar calificación: 2,50/5

Album bien rutero

This is pretty good. Not my favorite Stones record. Not my least favorite either. I’d put it on par with The Black Album

The Rolling Stones go country! Very bluesy album. I think thematically this album works really well together, songs just flow into one another.

I'd say better than the last one but still not as good as I want it to be. Maybe a little too honky-tonky.

Welp I didn't care for this as much as the previous album, Beggars Banquet but still fun.

Another one of the Stones.

Mój ulubiony album Rolling Stonesów

I have always enjoyed listening to rolling stones' Hot rocks compilation album, and I suppose it is about time I listened to their later work. This album was actually not too bad, although I wasn't really paying attention since I was concentrating on drawing, but I may give it a proper listen some other time.

Not a fan.

Didn’t even realise it was over

Really wish this hadn’t come up as my first Rolling Stones album but it was a good listen and perfect for a long walk on a nice day. Maybe my dad had a point after all!

lost most of my interest after hearing gratuitous use of the n word! also, it should have been half as long. despite these things, there was some of it that i enjoyed.

Don't do heroin kids. But if you're going to have thousands of pounds of heroin moving through your villa in Nellcote, France while recording an album maybe you'll get lucky and make something artistically perfect. But probably not.

I’m sure it is good, I’m just not a fan

not my type of music. tried my hardest to actually listen to it

Classic. Saw them live at Sofi a few years ago, they still rock.

Plain old good music

holy shot does every rolling stones song sound exactly the same?

more country than i expected the stones. have to give em a lil bit for being pioneers i spose....

Forgive me Rolling Stones I was unfamiliar with your game (this album).

Not bad just not for me

alright

Absolutely peak Stones, at the height of their considerable powers. For me, every track is essential, one of the very best double albums ever produced and one of the very few in which I wouldn't change a single thing. One could (and ones have) spill gallons of ink trying to explain it but in the end, it's The Rolling Stones doing what they do best. Either it speaks to you or it doesn’t

i mean, it's fine

Demasiado R&B

I didn't hate it, so I gave it 2 stars. Although, I would rather not listen to it again. It sounded like one long song. There was discernable high point.

Rudy's favoriete muziek.

Zalige muziek voor een verjaardagochtend 🤭

Finally a really good album again

Was ok I guess. 3.2

As with the previous album I got on this list I’m like why I have I never gotten into them before !!! Very good!!

no es mi gusto musical, no soy fan del rock and roll.

this is simply not my genre 😂

It's okay, but that's about as far as I'd go.

This is an album that helped me clean my kitchen! I really enjoyed this, much more than I thought I would.

Never quite understood the hype on this one.

okay vibey danceable

This is way too long and too sloppy.

no lo acabe de escuchar peroes rolling stones entonces 3/5

Good album!

Good ole’ blues album.

The classic rock and roll album. Without a doubt a gen of the genre and a must listen. To me, it didn't age very well. I find it old and interesting. I prefer more experimental and artsy music. Still a solid listen.

I liked the upbeat vibe mix of rock and dance in a way

not my style of music

Really fun to listen to Fav: Tumbling Dice

The best Stones album and one of the best rock albums of all time. 5/5 without hesitation. Multiple styles. Jagger is at his peak.

The rolling stones have so many better albums/songs. This was just okay.

Fully encapsulated that 70’s party feel. A rollercoaster of excitement and dance till you drop energy right from the first track. Slowly breaks down into more of a clam jam session. Favorite track - rocks off.

Favourite Songs: Rocks Off Rip This Joint Turd On The Road

#309/1001. Well that was a lot of honkkitonkki and rokkenrolli, as expected. Some unexpected ones lift this to a 2.

Style of music sadly just not my bag. Some minor Dylan-esque parts, but mostly just that style of American music isn’t a favourite.

Yeah, alright. Nothing jumped out

This was my first listen all the way through and I loved it. Very grounding in a way I can’t really describe.

I like the Stones but haven’t listened to this in many years. What struck me was the level of cultural appropriation - black blues music rehashed by white guys. Others also did the same. I do believe that the Stones made better albums and that their best work is less derivative!

Probably the best Stones album on the list. Really cool sound.

For a group as overwhelming as the Rolling Stones, I was expecting... more?

Never actually heard the whole of this before. Seems like the perfect encapsulation of what the Rolling Stones are to me.

Blues Rock just isn't my thing. I'll probably relisten to this at a later date, but it just didn't do anything for me

Para tener de fondo durante una barbacoa en verano tiene que ser épico...... pero no me ha interesado demasiado

Could have been 45 minutes shorter, and it would have been a 4.

I'm starting to really understand what Lemy was talking about when it came to the difference between The Beatles and The Stones... The Stones have a few good songs and I'm pretty sure those were all written by Brian Jones, the rest is meh at best.

Fun listen, but for some reason I can't get into the Stones that much.

I'm surprised about how boring I found it - I had heard of this album as one of their best work. I guess I need to manage my own expectations

Yes.

Ikke rigtigt nogen numre, der stak ud.

Love the first half. Don't remember much from the second.

Nope

I've listened to it once before, thought it was fun but nothing memorable yet

Pretty blusey / rock blend. 3 stars

Solid stuff, one that grew on me as it progressed

Hedonismens högborg! Lyssnar du på bonusutgåvan (gör det!) är självaste Sophia Loren med och kraxar på en låt. Skillnaden mellan skivinspelning och överdådigt semesterparty med alla tillgängliga substanser och andra distraktioner (barn, fruar, kvinnor, Marseilles maffia och Riverans partyelit) har aldrig varit mindre. Om det är trots det eller tack vare det som Exile... är helt ljuvlig? ...jag tror på det senare. Bara genom att tömma en riktigt bra vinkällare i ett mindre slott kan man spela in en "Shine a light" det är min fulla övertygelse. Stones bästa låt, ja kanske världens bästa rocklåt. Bill Prestons piano, kom igen man saknar ord. Här finns rock, blues, boogie, soul, country och nonsens. Här finns kanonlåtar (ett bra gäng faktiskt), bra låtar (ett helt stort gäng) och utfyllnad (ett par få). Men varken det ena eller andra spelar egentligen någon roll. Det är hur det är framfört som är poängen här. Det är så lössläppt och livsbejakande framfört. Det är också tillsynes befriat ifrån regler, struktur, form eller genre. Det är kärlek till musik vi hör i dess renaste form. "Någonstans mitt i detta kaos stängde de in sig i källaren och lät musiken skölja bort allting. [...] Och varenda sekund, varenda ton på de arton låtar som utgör Exile on Main Street är genomsyrad av ojämförbar kärlek till musik." [Lokko i Pop #10] Den som inte gillar Exile... gillar inte musik. Det är bara att dela ut full hand

Innehåller kanske inte några av Stones ”stora” låtar, men som album är det det bästa de någonsin har spelat in. Exilen på franska rivieran gjorde gott. Inspelningen känns som en enda lång fest där gäster kommer och går och de bara låter bandaren stå på. Bandet är i toppform. Blåset magnifikt. Så även soul- och gospelkörerna. Rocks off, Torn and frayed, Shine a light, Tumbling dice, Let it loose, All down the line, Sweet Carolina… är bara några att nämna. Även låtar som var för sig inte är så märkvärdiga bidrar till sammanhanget och jag skulle inte vilja plocka bort något spår här.

En instruktionsbok för soul- blues marinerad rock ska låta. Svårare än så här är det inte. Eller snarare som historien visat, precis så här svårt är det. För många rockers har försökt kopiera det här grundmurade genuina svänget utan vara i närheten att lyckas. De kanske inte var helt friktionsfritt under inspelningen, men det här är ett album som jag blir på gott humör av att lyssna. Guldkorn efter guldkorn. Sweet Virginia, Loving Cup, Ventilator blues, Let it loose m.fl.. Visst finns det en och annan utfyllnadslåt men även de håller god klass. En sak förstår jag emellertid inte. Det är obegripligt att inte Shine a light får avsluta skivan. En urladdning som med självklarhet kramar ut det sista svettdropparna. Att det sedan kommer ett spår till känns bara fel. Tyckte så första gången jag hörde EOMS och gör så fortfarande. Inget ont om Soul survivor men den ska inte ligga där den ligger. Det är inte utan darr på ribban, men jag ser inget annat alternativ än ge fem stjärnor till rullstenarna.

Stenarna flyr skattmasen till Frankrike och vältrar sig i nostalgi. Det lånas friskt från Jaggers och Richards skivsamling är, ändå låter det som Stones och inte ett coverband i mängden. Gubbrock när den är som bäst. En svag fyra blir det.

Amazing!!!

This is an incredible, shambolic mess of sorts. It showcases a sort of messy, honky tonk style of rock. Instruments on each track sort of bleed into one another, and Mick Jagger's vocals often get buried into the mix. I wouldn't say the looseness of this album isn't a lack of skill, it sort of seems like it was deliberate which was very different to albums of the early 70's ('flowerchild' era of music). I love the use of the piano in this album. Rock and Roll doesn't really use piano as much and I love that the majority of these songs have a strong presence of a piano. My favourite songs: Stop Breaking Down, All Down The Line, Let It Loose, Soul Survivor.

The further from straight blues the stones get, the better they are, which is what makes their hits so great. Otherwise, they're just a bar band that got lucky. 4.8

My rating 3.6. Another Stones album I had heard of but hadn’t listened to. It was great. Raw and noisy. Just a fun time all the way through.

A few good songs overshadowed by mediocrity! Definitely better Stones albums out there

So good, haven’t listened to that album through in a long time

Solid vibes, but the kind of rock and roll that just washes over me. Can’t really make out lyrics, and when do they’re clearly just there to contribute to the overall sound then to be parsed on their own. The original that became distilled down to every generic filler rock ost for eternity

honestly kinda mid

The last instalment of the Stones’ golden trio, love the loose feel of this one, and the country tinge is right up my street (cheers Gram). In keeping with the circumstances in which it was recorded, it feels like you’ve popped over for a beer and caught them mid-jam, accidentally bashing out all-timers.

I think I preferred this to let it bleed as a whole, had some good songs, had some bad songs, but feels like a more complete album than Let it Bleed

Underwhelmed

Overrated trash.

Best Song: Tumbling Dice. Following the classic Rolling Stones formula of having the best vocals on the album be soulful female vocals that appear nowhere else on the album. Worst Song: I Just Want To See his Face. Why does it sounds like this song was played underwater? Overall: I just find the Stones deeply uninteresting. It doesn't feel like good rock, it certainly isn't great blues, and Mick Jaggers sings with this kind of wailing looseness that I find irritating.

Loved tumbling dice

Definitely my favoriter Stones album. The adoption of gospel and blues into an interesting and energetic format, without loosing the connection to the roots. Songs such as “Rocks Off,” “Rip This Joint,” and “Tumbling Dice” keep the raw rock energy while still sounding like they grew directly out of blues and American roots music. British rock musicians stepping themselves in American musical traditions but keeping a loose, dirty energy rather than polishing it.

This being my the first album from The Rolling Stones that I've listened to, I had expectations pretty high. I don't know why, but I was expecting something that could potentially live up to Led Zeppelin 4 or something from CCR or The Beatles. And yet somehow, through the hour+ long record, not a single song managed to stand out in any way. I am suspicious of some sort of fatigue setting in with these daily albums, but if that doesn't explain it then I'm not sure I can. Mick Jagger's vocals are serviceable at best, and a bit grating at worst. The tracks are all okay to good. But there's nothing here that wowed me at all, or that I would tell people about, unless they really wanted to listen to more of The Rolling Stones specifically and hadn't stumbled across this somehow. Highlight: Shine A Light Lowlight: Sweet Black Angel Highlight #2: Let It Loose

What a fantastic set it and forget it album. No big song stand outs but a great overall vibe. Really enjoyed it.

This sounds like a raw bar band on a really good night. Funky and fun. This is the sound I imagine when I hear Rolling Stones. Enjoyed more than expected

Didn't really love this. But the groove and the production were really, really good. Sweet Virginia and Tumblin' Dice definitely boost it.

Upbeat songs. Didn't realize how much blues influenced their music. Fav was 'tumbling dice'. 3/5

This album came out during a run of nonstop successful records for The Rolling Stones. In my mind I see Mick Jagger just smiling and confidently knocking it out of the park. The vocal delivery is seductive, the melodies are confident and the sound is everlasting. Right from the start I was hooked and it never really let me go until the end. The range is also quite impressive, it contains blues, country, and even some gospel elements, all culminating in a great rock album. My two favorites are "Rocks Off" with its subtle introspection and an unexpected psychedelic turn halfway through, and "Torn and Frayed".

- Oh, these pedos (and probably Zios) again. - Muddy production and boring... no real hooks to speak of, except on Tumbling Dice and Happy, and Shine A Light is kind of nice. - I guess it's good that I can't make out the lyrics because the last album I got of theirs was totally misogynistic. I also don't think that Mick's voice fits this style of bluesy music - it's just too whiny and nasal. - The only instrumentation that stands out is some nice piano playing and a couple other licks here and there. - Would never reach for this - it's cluttered without anything that impressive to focus on, so it's not good background music or something I want to pay attention to. - There is no reason for this to be a double album. It's so long, and I just kept wanting it to end. It just feels totally self-indulgent, which doesn't help my impression that Mick is a total narcissist.

REPETITIVE OH MY WORD.

Tax exiles dressing themselves up as "runaway outlaws"?! Wankers. Loses several stars just for that. Lyrical themes included hedonism. Ah, true men of the people then. Rock and fucking roll... As for the music, it's a derivative blues rock dirge with no redeeming features whatsoever. 70s Stones can fuck right off.

Must say I've been a bit disappointed by the Stones albums I've heard so far on this list - this one included. It feels like quite bluesy rock, vanilla rock, which is not my favorite to start with. The album is always way too long. There isn't much variation in the songs in my opinion, which makes it tedious and a bit boring.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I don’t think The Rolling Stones make good albums. They make great singles, but their records tend to get boring—this one included. There are plenty of songs in its very generous runtime, ranging from standard blues tracks to more rock-oriented songs. Not many of them piqued my interest. The main standout songs are the hits. “Tumbling Dice” is a decent song, and “Shine a Light” is one of the best Stones tracks. The rest was a clear meh. Mid 3 from me.

Hell yeah

*oh my god, I get it* Total vibe of an album, really messy and sleazy and bluesy. Flows right over you. Real real good, instant love from the first listen. Rocks Off on repeat for me now

Just a bit generic and bland. I appreciate this may have been more influential and out there in the 70s but listening today it's just a bit boring 2

It start good, but by the end you're tired of hearing it.

Not really a Stones fan, I am more of a Beatles fan. And I can see why this would need multiple listens for it to sink in.

I see people saying this is their best album. It’s okay music. I can see that they were trying to get back to blues roots. It was decent I just don’t think their music is for me. This also went on too long. I guess if you like it then it wouldn’t be.

Even without the hits this was one of my favorite Stones albums, just because every song on it was consistently good. It could have used one of the big ones on it, however, to boost it into one of the best albums period.

Didn't realize this was basically a country album. Somehow this album is great with absolutely NO hits and I've never heard almost any of these despite being a Stones fan for 25 years.

Rough and rowdy, stones at their peak

Prior to being assigned this I have 6 songs liked on this one. And I have 79 songs liked by The Rolling Stones across all of their albums putting them in the top 5 of all artists for me. 6 songs I already liked - "Rocks Off", "Tumbling Dice", "Sweet Virginia", "Loving Cup", "Happy", "Shine A Light" Even though the Stones are a top 5 artist for me, I find that I often like only about half the songs on most of their albums - exceptions being the albums Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Some Girls which all are either perfect or near perfect. As a side note: I have a general opinion that nearly all double albums are stuffed with a lot of filler (with a few exceptions, such as Pink Floyd The Wall and Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti, and I'm sure there are others but those are 2 off the top of my head) - and I think this album is a good example of proving that point. I've seen people compare it to the Beatles White Album - and while I can find a bunch of reasons to disagree with that - the fact that they are both overstuffed with a bunch of songs that range from underwhelming to very average that sit alongside some good songs is one definite similarity. If the Stones kept the best songs and made this a single album it would be a perfect album. The other thing about this album - I'd say the songs that I like on this one are all "pretty good" but they are not absolute classics that are peak Stones like "Sympathy for the Devil", "Gimme Shelter", "Street Fighting Man", "Let it Bleed", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", and "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". I'm glad I listened to this all the way through 3 times - because I did add 5 more songs upon re-listen - "Torn and Frayed", "Sweet Black Angel", "I Just Want To See His Face", "Let It Loose", and "All Down The Line" One other thought while listening to this - I find the Stones songs that aren't just straight up blues to be much more interesting. I think I dig the more country-fried and gospel-ly Stones better. And even better when they are combining multiple styles in one song - plus adding their unique spin. Liked songs on Spotify: 11/18 Rating: 3/5

Неплохо для замшелых британских говнарей, этот альбом - пока лучшее, что я у них слышал

Masterful blues rock.

👍🏻

Light 4,5

Ei tarvitse perustella. Tähtiä olisi voinut antaa yli 5:kin. 6/5.

Not my favourite Stones album, but this one's just a nice comfy listen. It has this warm, inviting vibe that makes you want to sing along with it. It does feel a bit samey in parts though and doesn't really justify its length in my opinion, so that's gonna knock a star off for me. Favourite tracks: Rocks Off, Sweet Virginia, Torn and Frayed

It sounds as though the Stones got interested in the blues and took a tour of the American South. While there, they got involved with several Black luminaries, some of whom introduced them to gospel, as well. They took their experiences back to France and recorded some raw music in sweltering conditions in a townhouse. Most of the songs exist only on the album and haven't been played often, or at all, at concerts.

7/10. Fav Track - Rip This Joint The Rolling Stones made one of my favorite songs of all time so it's very unsurprising that I enjoyed the sound they provide throughout this album.

not their best

143/1001 I never loved this album so much that I played it over and over but I do come back to it time and time again. This just sounds so genuine. One of those the whole is greater than the sum of its parts albums. Ya just gotta play the full album every time. 8/10

One thing this list has proven is that I seem to have never missed anything by not giving The Rolling Stones a listen. Their third album I’ve had to listen to so far and this still does absolutely nothing for me.

Pretty clearly a masterpiece. Best Song: Shine a Light Rating: 9.5/10 Stars: 5

As someone who’s never listened to Rolling Stones albums, I truly adored Sticky Fingers, and played it on repeat the whole day after I listened to it for the first time for this list. It’s truly a brilliantly fantastic album. I was excited when this album came up because I know it by its reputation and it being on so many lists as the greatest Stones album of all time. It had the benefit of being partially recorded during the making of Sticky Fingers so I could not wait to dive in! Wow. What an underwhelming piece of mediocrity. Is this a joke that this album is so highly regarded? It’s long, average, and mostly dull. As someone who loves the blues, this is a shit blues album. Led Zeppelin does the blues better. This is plain white bread. I don’t know what everyone sees here that I’m missing. No hits, no bangers, no good blues songs. Just mundane drivel.

Apparently not my favourite album from them. It's just boring me to sleep.

Звучит плотно, довольно зааранжирован. Возможно, надо будет переслушать.

Fun cohesive album, but nothing in particular stands out above the crowd. Have liked some of their other albums much more.

I was quite excited about this album. I like the Rolling Stones and have listened to quite a few albums of theirs but not this one. In the end it was fine, but nothing really grabbed me. A lot of pretty samey country blues. Really enjoyed their version of Stop Breaking Down.

Top table. It doesn't get much better than this. Some English guys take a load of heroin to France and make one of the best blues rock albums of all time.

Rolling Stones is a major blind spot in my listening history. Pre Spotify wasn’t interested in buying old stuff and their output late 80’s and 90’s was of no interest. In the Spotify world just not got round to it. So first time for this. Started very well - strong opening 3 tracks. Derivative in places without sounding inauthentic if that’s possible. Then a few slower ones. Picked up again from Loving Cup. Though not so enamoured with I Just Want to See His Face. Pleased it wasn’t full of the hits (or at least ones I know). Overall it’s very good rock (with some country and gospel) album. 4. Maybe should see if they released anything else.

Getting to realise that I'm definitely a best of Stones man. Most of this just seems like formulaic 4 bar blues stuff to me. Used to say The Stones were better than the Beatles, i think I've revised my opinion

Very well paced double album, really finds its groove for me towards the end from when the gospel kicks in on I Just Want to See His Face Me and reappears on at least two other songs among some blistering bluesy Rock bangers - 6 songs easily one of my favorite runs on any album and one I dip back into from time to time. That said, this time out I also have a much bigger appreciation for the side 2 Sweet Virginia through Loving Cup, bookended by the more straightforward Tumbling Dice/Happy.

Wow, I’m starting to look like a hypocrite. This is the second double album in a week that I really like. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that this is my favourite double album of all time. This is arguably peak stones, bluesy brilliance, country rock and gospel tinged gems coagulate into something unique. It’s admittedly not as tight as LIB or SF, but that rambling nature is what gives it more personality than any other album I can think of. For that reason, it’s my favourite stones release, whereby, and against all odds, they seem to have bottled chaos to produce something incredibly enchanting. Some of my favourite Stones tracks also land hard here. Sweet Virginia, Let it loose, Shine a light. All amazing songs and there’s hardly a filler in sight over the 66 minutes. 5 stars. All day, every day.

A personal favorite

A very groovy album! Im not much of a big Rolling Stones fan, but this country rocky album isn't that bad. Though I am a fan of blues and country, not many are. Overall, my favorite songs were Casino Boogie, Sweet Virginia, & Sweet Black Angel.

hm

Not my favorite, most songs sound the same.

Damn fine. The Stones at their raggedy best.

Voor 1 van de beste albums van de Stones, is het toch redelijk eenzijdig en bevat het weinig hits. Grappig hoe Amerikaans het overkomt, als ik niet beter zou weten zou ik denken dat het uit Nashville zou kunnen komen ofzo

My second Stones album so far, Sticky Fingers being the other. Great album, lots of great songs. It feels needlessly long, which leads to all the blues riffs feeling a bit repetitive. I know this is usually considered the Stones best album, but I liked Sticky Fingers a bit more.

This is the bluesy Stones I love.

certified roadtrip album felt different from other rolling stones music (e.g. paint it black)

my favorite Stones album so far but list I beseech thee give me a break from the Rolling Stones now

I like rock, country rock on the other hand is a bit too jarring for me to appreciate

8/10

As the first bars of the opener came up, I was actually quite into it. Jagger wasn't sounding too Jaggerish, the guitars seemed fun and there was a cool energy in the drums. Later Stones albums just remind me of rip of Americana and the early ones are a bit hit or miss. Sadly, four songs in, I felt it was too much for the former. Even the song with turd in the title was not memorable. 3 stars.

This album is like when you finish uni and you move back home to get a job and get on with your life, while wrestling with the cold hard truth that your lifestyle needs to change. University was a wild time. Drinking every night with not a care given to the world, the future, or your role in either. Now here you are borrowing your father's suit for a job interview you don't feel confident about, wishing you had maybe tried harder at uni instead of smashing cheap pints at re:fuel every wednesday night. But that debaucherous idiot is still inside you. The weekend comes around and you want to let loose again. It just doesn't feel the same now. You are run down from five days at work, and suddenly doing a twist-off with your friends doesn't hit in the same way. You search for new weekend kicks, but deep down there is a sadness as you think back to the beer bongs and scrumpy hands from those halcyon days.

I enjoyed some songs, like Rocks Off and Happy. But others were just a drag or too same same. Not really my cup of tea.

it’s them

2/10

One of the best albums ever made by one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all time. There's not really much more to say.

Was not feeling this one, all of the songs sounded the same eventually.

I agree with what one reviewer said, and that was that it was easy for this album to quickly become background noise. I don’t know if it’s the vocals— pushed back and just out of reach where the hard to understand singing style of Jim Morrison— or something else. The Bluey influences are definitely heard throughout and there are some killer harmonica sections. This album just didn’t do it for me though. It’s a fine album and I know there are some diehard fans of this album, and I’m sure I can be one of them, but I don’t wanna really take the time to fall in love with this album if that’s even possible. I’ve also read that this is their most revered album. If that is the case, I don’t think I need to hear anymore of the Rolling Stones because I didn’t really take this happen that much. It’s fine…

похоже, этот альбом сильно для любителей жанра. а именно рок-н-ролла и кантри-блюза. отмечу живость исполнения, пространственное звучание, этакую магию присутствия. однако местами уж очень "непричёсанный" саунд. понимаешь, что делали на коленках. ну а так работа хорошая...но не отличная. как-то толком ничего конкретного из альбома и не запомнилось. не "прилипло". прослушивание быстро соскользнуло "на фон". в итоге, пока посуду моешь напеть под нос нечего. ожидала чуть другого от "одного из величайших альбомов всех времён".

Im just not a fan of the rolling stones......never have been. This album bored me. The Beatles, The Who, The Doors even the Kink - all much better. Cream better than all of them.

Review - there are some good songs here. It's not a bad record. But to me, every The Rolling Stones song just sounds like a The Rolling Stones song. Some are a little better than others and occasionally there's a great song, but a whole double album is just too much of the same. Rating - 5.5/10 Need to listen? YES

7/10

221/1089 kinda disappointed i can’t lie. it’s not “bad” by any means but it was a bit more dull than i was expecting. It was decent background music while i was reading though, so i didn’t feel the length as much as i expected. i can appreciate the chill mellow vibes and it had a couple of moments that stood out to me but it didn’t hook me and it was a bit too samey faves: Let It Loose, Shine A Light, Loving Cup 48/100

QUE TORTURA ESCUCHAR ESTO fue eterno suenan todas las canciones igual la mayoria de las letras son repetitivas los ultimos 30seg d cada cancion son la MISMA FRASE los instrumentos un poco mas y siguen los mismo acordes nono 2 estrellas POR EL SAXO

es buen álbum pero no se terminaba MAS, buena opción para tenerlo de fondo. muy buenos pianos

Best leuk. Snap dat mensen dit leuk vinden maar ik vind het nou niet zo super mega goed als mensen zeggen

Tumbling Dice

Mycket filler tracks men också mycket bangers

I'm not sure I prefer the Stones' 70s work over their 60s. The songwriting is leaps and bounds ahead here, but it is a tad too long and the highlights seem to run out before even reaching the midway point. Still, this is one of the band's undisputed classics, but it also confirms why we continue to hear a lot about The Beatles but less and less about The Stones. Key tracks: Rocks Off Tumbling Dice Torn and Frayed Happy

I understand this is a good album. Personally, though I wanted it to be over halfway through. Each song sounds kind of the same.

yeah I mean it was a banger. it was a fun listen.

Enjoyed it a lot. Great flowing vibes though the whole album, low key and groovy.

Very good but at times all tracks blend into one.

I found this kinda boring. None of the songs were that memorable, the album is too long and all the songs blur into an underwhelming slop of generic rock and roll. To be fair I don't really know the context of when they made this. They must've earned their reputation somehow and I'm sure they were very influential at the time. I wasn't there though so I don't care. It was fine to have on in the background but I'm not going to relisten, on purpose anyway. Bit dead.

For me personally, the lore around this album always overshadowed the music itself, which has traditionally underwhelmed me. But it hit different this time around, in no small part because of the horns. Without them, Exile on Main Street doesn't work nearly as well. At 18 songs, it still feels long, but there's plenty to like. "Rocks Off" has to be one of their best album openers.

Never really understood the hype on this one. A good overall vibe, but not much in the way of songs. I do like Rocks Off and Tumbling Dice. Could have been a single album. It did cause me to google whether anyone else the remarkable similarity between Shake Your Hips and Tush by ZZ Top and while there is some discussion out there it doesn't feel like it is enough.

classic album by the stones with their signature blues rock sound with various other influences. nothing to dislike here. solid, through and through. highlights: “rip this joint”, “sweet virginia”, “sweet black angel”, “ventilator blues”

There’s no bad songs on this double album (I do think Soul Survivor is kinda goofy, though) but I’d love it to be cut down by a few. Problem is, I’m not sure what to cut so never mind.

Another one of those albums where I can understand why it has the reputation it does, but just doesn't resonate with me as much as I want it to

I never realized how many horns were on this album, and how bluesy Stop Breaking Down is.

w tamtym tygodniu pierwszy stonesowy albumik na liscie, a teraz z drugiego konca dyskografii listowej najpozniejszy w ich dorobku ktory sie znalazl na liscie, czyli exile on main street z 72, ktory konczy okres TYCH stonesowych albumikow, glownie przez te tak dobre wczesniejsze albumy ten exile jakos mi umykal, kilka trakow kojarzylem, ale w calosci wczesniej nie sluchalem, a slucha sie go inaczej, a majac w pamieci na swiezo ich pierwszy albumik odnosze wrazenie, ze wlasnie brzmial troche jak ich pierwsze nagrania, jest tu o wiele wiecej chaotycznej roznorodnosci gatunkowej, brak okreslonego motywu przewodniego, wiecej niebieskosci w tradycyjnym znaczeniu tego okreslenia, bo byl to ich chyba pierwszy podwojny krazek, ponad godzina z siedmioma minutami grania i 18 trakow, wiec spora objetosc jak na stonesow, wiekszosc trakow to orginalne kompozycje, a jedynie 2 kawalki to covery, shake your hips dosc wspolczeny w tamtych czasach i tradycyjny song stop breaking down, wiekszosc materialu byla nagrywana podczas exodusu podatkowego w ich mobilkowym studio na kolkach, co tez pewnie wplywa na to jak roznorodnie on brzmi, jak teraz slucham drugi raz to wydaje mi sie, ze to najbardziej rocn n rollowy albumik w ich dyskografii i pomimo braku hitowych trakow, to ma on wartosc sluchalna jako calosc gdzie slychac wiecej eksperymentu i wolnosci brzmienia niz pisania pod charty, na plejke dodam rip this joint, tumbling dice ulubiony traczek z plyty i soul survivor, wydaje mi sie, ze nie tylko u mnie ten album jest jakos zapomniany w ich dyskografii, albo zwyczajnie jestem az takim ignorantem

I'll be damned there IS a rolling stones that I enjoy!!

Of course I know these guys but I sure don’t know their albums! What a way to kick off their albums on this list with this one, a double! One things for sure it’s rock ‘n roll and it sure highlights the importance of the blues to this genre. At this point in time though it does sound a bit dated and I think there’s bands that came later who do this better but gotta give it up to this classic band. Also I think Mick Jagger’s vocals might be a bit one dimensional to carry a double album but like I said, gotta give it up to this classic band. As I get towards the end of the album it seems that the third side has the more interesting pieces on it. I’m not exactly gonna be in a rush to put this on again but I’m glad I heard it and if I hear this again I’ll be sure to keep in mind how the beginning of the album fares against the third side.

Disappointingly, exactly what I expected. Its alright, but there's little difference to standard Stones fare

Much more bluesy than I expected beforehand, having known only the Stones' biggest hits. Faves: Rip This Joint, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia

It’s the weekend so I have had two or three listens, which has changed my mind on it. It sounds like a jam, as everything is laid back, and mixes polished and clean (All Down The Line) to rough and fuzzy (Stop Breaking Down). 1. Tumbling Dice 2. Sweet Virginia 3. Stop Breaking Down

It's ok. Took me until about Tumbling Dice to get into it, and I was ready for it to be over before it finished. The Rolling Stones with the Americana turned up to 11. Felt a bit nondescript.

This british band makes me feel american. Very good. I love the horns

ehhhhh

So... Not my favorite Stones album, there a lack of roughness in it. But musicaly speaking it's really great, lot of inspiration from américains music culture. It's 3.5

YUHHHHHHHH wow this is why I do this project. I hope no one in the Rolling Stones did anything terrible… I’m not gonna look this time.

I like the sound of The Stones

10/10 The best Rolling Stones album, I reckon. It feels loose and super bluesy, but underpinned by some solid songs and musicianship. Has a depth to it that was not apparent when I first heard it in my teens, so I kind of dismissed it for a few years, but now it is one of my all time favourites

Hmmm first time listening to a rolling stone album I don’t necessarily love this one but I get the hype

it’s alright, i’m not crazy about the rolling stones.

Highlights: Rocks Off, Tumbling Dice, Happy, All Down The Line Lowlights: Shake Your Hips, Casino Boogie, I Just Want To See His Face Not what I expected for the Stones. Wasn't bad but couldn't really get into it. Album could have done with being a single instead of a double, the more bluesy songs really took me out of it as well.

2/16 This is the first time I've listened to a Rolling Stones album all the way through. It's okay but I'm not interested in listening to it again.

Hell yeah

Best Song : Rip This Joint / Sweet Virginia Was somewhat surprised to read how this album is often considered their Magnum Opis, given my unfamiliarity with it, and its release date. I could certainly understand after a few tracks - Rolling Stones attributes are so strongly developed here - incredible blues rock that leans into, at times, Country, Rockabilly, Gospel, Jazz - and incredibly American sound for a British band. The instrumentation is incredibly rich with a very enjoyable blend of brass and guitar. Micks vocals are strong and just slurred enough I wonder if he's gone too far, as usual. What this album lacks, and perhaps I am being too immature, is one or two classic tracks; the songs are great but none standout.

Best: Ventilator Blues While Exile on Main Street has some great tracks, this album was less of a compact statement and more of a document steeped in excess, I found it hard to stay engaged for the runtime (I actually had to restart it a few times). For me, its reputation overshadowed actual listening experience, the apparently intentional inconsistency wasn’t to my taste and made the album feel unfocused. Genre wise EoMS is a blend of American roots styles with rock, country, gospel etc, chord progressions are very bluesy and many of the tracks share similar harmonic foundations. Obviously guitars are the dominating sound here but layering felt loose and negated tight riffs, this paired with the cluttered production where the instruments bleed into each other gave it a very dense, murky feel which matched the tired/cynical mood of the album. MJs vocals were cool as always, even when at times sounding sort of slurred, they worked well with the compositions, blending into the music and complimenting the moody lyrics. Although my review has felt largely negative I did admire the raw authenticity of this album.

Not the best stones album but still a solid album.

Bluesy but peppy with a beat.

not my type. i liked it

Most of this album just sounds like white british men singing blues rock to me, but Happy does sound ahead of it's time.

слишком много блюза(((

mudpie - “ That was quite a double turd that Jagger and co. collectively shat out. I don’t understand why a single song on that record even exists. Can you imagine that there are people to whom that album is very dear? Really, each song was more pointless, boring, and sloppy than the one before it.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.

A good road trip sounding album seems to be the type of thing that inspired the white stripes, good rock album. 👍🏼

Probably goes on a bit too long but the good stuff on here is *really good*. Didn't realise there were so many hits I knew on one album. Really good.

Classic. Fantastic album encapsulating the themes of the time. Very classic Dad rock for a reason with catchy guitar licks, but some lyrical themes (see 'sweet black angel') feel dated and like they may spoil it as a modern listener. Only not a five star because I prefer slightly faster forms of rock.

That, my friends, is a bit of me.

Textural

Not quite enough for a 5

A brilliant album. I love the bluesy sound that they achieved. It's a homage to their roots rather than a rip off.

Like Let it Bleed more

Finnes mye av rs som er bedre

I forget how country they can get, and it doesn't do it for me. This does have an incessant groove and a well-executed simplicity of translating parts of blues and country back to the UK context, but this is not their best for me by a mile. There are few stand out songs

Naspa rău

THIS is it? One of the highest rated Rock 'N Roll albums of all time, the "best" Rolling Stones album of all time, this is it? It's mediocre on its best day. Please, quit disappointing me like this King Generator. Favorite Track: "Ventilator Blues".

2.2/5 Some good songs but nothing too amazing

I did not like this album

Yeah, it's not bad.

mid 4

This is an excellent album, bought it many years ago, so good to sing along again

Not my cup of tea but yet very powerfull

When I saw a Stones album come up, I was expecting more. I feel like there are not a lot of memorable moments on the record, no real high marks. The album is a steady stream of middle of the road. Not terrible, but not great either.

More Stones, more blues rock, and surprisingly more ballads. While I understand Exile On Main Street's appeal (it sounds GREAT), it all just sounds like a less interesting Sticky Fingers. On Exile, The Stones do all the things they're expected to do really well. They take it a step further with a stadium ballad of "Shine A Light". Not a bad album, and not the least interesting Stones album I've heard so far, just standard fare.

this one is better than let it bleed. funny i should have them back to back. both five stars, but this was is more five stars. killer opening line up with "rocks off" > "rip this joint" > "shake your hips". love "ventilator blues", "sweet virginia", "loving cup", "tumbling dice". "happy" with keef on the vox.

Its ok nothing much to say

fire love the rolling stones

Overall: 4.7/10 Personally, not for me. The instruments were the main thing keeping my ears focused. I can see why people would like it, but I can’t get jiggy with this.

Pedos

Much better than Beggars Banquet because of its better production and livelier tunes. "Tumbling Dice" is the big one everyone remembers, for good reason, with its earworm backing vocals and groovy blues guitar lick.

8/18 songs added, lowkey my kind of jams 3.5/5

Not my thing

not for me

I love the early Stones music when it was still so very blues oriented. Even though this is several albums in, you can still hear it so clearly.

I've never been a big fan of them, but they're surely an experience and damn well deserving of their recognition. I've been pleasantly surprised, I really enjoyed this album.

In which the Rolling Stones bulk ordered records from america in order to produce a perfectly alright collection of songs for around an hour

Never quite listened to the RS beyond obvious works, and this album has shown me a whole new side of them. This is certainly worth listening to.

I've never really liked most of what the stones produced or I've heard it too many times. This album is certainly full of forgettable tracks. There are some great tracks which I really like, but unfortunately would only fill one side of an LP.

This is one of those albums where I can understand why it’s considered great, but it didn’t really land for me yet. I liked the idea of it more than the actual listen, it’s loose, warm, and grimy in a way that feels very intentional, but also kind of exhausting. A lot of the songs blurred together for me, with Sweet Virginia being the one that actually stuck and felt genuinely charming. There’s a sleazy, lived-in vibe that I really liked and was almost comforting, but the messiness sometimes tipped into feeling unfocused rather than immersive. I didn’t hate it, I just wasn’t in the right headspace for a double album like this. Definitely one I’d come back to on a different day, because I feel like there’s more in there than I caught.

with the passing of time, and the years and the experience, i've come to understand that sometimes things don't get to me, until some time has passed. i can't get the grasp, i can't understand, i get lost and i lose the opportunities and the importance of some stuff that gets to me. But, in the due time, in the exact moment, in the precise sleepless night, in the rainy afternoon of gloomy and thunder and melancholy, sometimes, i get this stuff. I understand, and now it becomes important to me, and i become a new person because of it. this album feels like that. now it's cool and good, but not as radical and profound. but i feel, deeply in my being, that with some time, in the fight moment it will be important and i will understand it in another, more transcendental way.

Really disappointing. When the stones get it right they have some incredible songs, and I knew this album by reputation, but not a single standout track on the whole thing. Some pleasant vibes and the odd passable riff, but mostly just felt incredibly generic and heavily ripping off better artists. For every passable song - Happy, or Sweet Virginia - there's a track like All Down The Line which is just appalling. Scrapes a 2 even after a second listen. However impressive it may have been at the time, it just doesn't hold up.

Blues and rock with a bit of gospel thrown in; and a favourite track (Tumbling Dice)

Fun, upbeat rock album. Really can't go wrong with this one. 6.5/10, Favorite Song: Rip This Joint

A couple nice songs, but this was twice the length it should have been. I don’t get the love for this album. Would not play again.

Classic Prime Stones.

Sounds like an hour of The Rolling Stones sprinkled with some New Orleans jazzy twists.

Can’t believe this has such high reviews. The double album’s worth of songs are all way too similar, and most of them just amount to gang vocals over a chord progression repeated ad nauseam. An absolute sham that these guys are mentioned in the same breath as the Beatles.

Boring, inoffensive, nondescript, forgettable, pleasant enough, dad rock

This album dragged on the 5th track. Completely forgettable album too. Country rock just not my thing haha

My goodness, does this album have a lot of influences from different parts of music. This is fun at times and a bit average at others, but this is what you would expect from an album of this length. Mick Jagger is just consistently good and does this blues thing well, but it doesn't live up to their best stuff.

Top shelf, must revisit ASAP. Fav tracks: Rocks Off, Shine a Light, Soul Survivor. RYM: Y (#411) Saved a song: Y

Great stuff, I'm generally already a Stones person, and had never until now fully listened to this record. A bit all over the place and certainly not my fav Stones record, but still lots to hang onto.

I have decided after being inspired by another review to structure my reviews: Cover: 5/5 this is a instantly recognisable cover and that is the sign of something that has become known beyond its original purpose. A cover that makes you examine it each time you see it. Originality: 2/5 this is a very straightforward blues album with a bit of country thrown in. Accessible to and popular with white music fans because like Elvis it is Black music repackaged for white consumers. Quality: 5/5 lack of Originality does detract from this being an album of sustained quality, good music, song writing and delivery

Classic

You know blues is fun

For me, much of the Stones discography is background rock n roll, formulaic, meh. I think they are also awesome and very entertaining but this album is not. 2.4

La grange > shake your hips This one starts as some pretty generic sorta boring blues rock with some good songs sprinkled in. It just really didn’t do it for me like the others have so far. Loving cup was enjoyable. I’m also shocked at how little I recognized from this for it being such a famous album. I think in a different mood this could ride as my favorite stones album, I do see the vision, and I’m trying to keep that in mind, but definitely my least favorite stones record so far on this first listen at 2am. I came back to it and I was definitely too harsh but my feelings are still similar, this is a good 4/5 rock album that, like most things, if I spent a week really diving into it and listening I would grow to love but that's simply not how the list works~

Say this for most stones album, it was too long

7.8

Vau rok i rol mid

Brilliant album - really my kind of thing. Sweet Virginia is my song of the album with Let It Loose and Tumbling Dice being other highlights. My favourite first listen was Loving Cup

Listened to it twice today. Honestly didn't think much of it. There are some solid tracks, but the Stones hype for blues rock didn't draw me in. Leagues better than the last Stones album I had on the list. It's certainly not bad, but it's doesn't fit my tastes well enough for it to be a 4 star release.

This album is all over the place in song style and some great songs and some in my opinion some not so great songs.

OK, it's the Stones. Was never a huge fan, and this really doesn't convince me either. I used to think it was because I was born too late to appreciate them, but there are other bands from "before my time" that I adore, so that's not it. I just think they are overrated. They aren't horrible, but do they deserve all the crazy amount of glory they have gotten? And this wasn't horrible either, but did it have to be a double album, with bad recording?

Pure class.

Massive appropriation, ridiculous song titles, but this just locks in.

Decent start to finish. A couple hits.

I absolutely love this album. I didn’t listen to it until the 90’s, when I read some opinions of it being one of the greatest albums of all time. I bought Tumbling Dice as a kid when it was current, and always loved that song, but the first time I listened to this album in its entirety, I was blown away! Since then I have listened to it countless times. I think the only throw-away song on the album, is “I Just Want to See His Face”. I will say sometimes it is better to be blissfully ignorant of some of these lyrics. In spite of their offensiveness, this album remains one of my all time favorites. I love order of the tracks, and how they flow. 18 songs, one hour and seven minutes…it seemed like only 35 minutes. An easy ten stars, but I guess five is as high as I am allowed.

I like the rolling stones quite a bit and while I know this is considered one of their best it was just kind of meh for me. No shame just meh.

Nobody can tell me the music here isn’t outdated and tired as hell. I mean, this is completely fine, but there’s nothing to get excited about. This came out the same decade prog became a thing, and this is not even remotely on the same quality level. Just a decent album but not memorable at all.

An album of raw soulful rock and roll served up from a band that created this album born out of a near constant party that surrounded them during its recording

SOSOSO GOOD

Aber das andere war flotter

It’s hard not to appreciate this given what followed, I mean I love Primal Scream… overall this was slightly better than I thought it would be and there are some good tracks, but a bit too much filler. Before I listened I thought this would be a 2 but after a full listen it’s up to. a 3 for me

Not really engaging my ears at all. Feel very generic, which I guess it didn’t at the time. Nevertheless, there’s nothing there for me.

Liked it

I Only Get My Rocks Off While I'm Sleeping 1001 Albums Generator 212 (1/23/2025) Exile On Main Street is a double album by The Rolling Stones, widely considered to be one of their finest works, although it was received quite coldly by critics at the time of its release. I find that a double album really needs to justify its existence as a double album, either by telling some story or some concept, or just by plainly having no filler, and I'm not sure that Exile does that. I found that sides A and D were far and away the best. Rocks Off and Tumbling Dice are both masterful tracks, although Shake Your Hips is literally just La Grange by ZZ Top but without the part where it gets really high energy and fun. I did love the piano-led Loving Cup, but I felt that it was a lone light in a sea of mediocrity where it was on the album. Luckily, around the end of the album, it really picks up again from All Down The Line to the super catchy Shine A Light. Exile On Main St. is certainly an interesting and eclectic blend of different rock styles, ranging from blues to piano to country, but it feels a bit plodding in the middle. Cool 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Rocks Off Tumbling Dice Loving Cup Least Fav: Turd On The Run

So good bro fav song tumbling dice

Los Stones tienen algunos hits, pero no están en este disco. La segunda mitad es más disfrutable 2.5

With its extended running time and its low-key, offhand mood, *Exile* is practically an ambient Rolling Stones record - you can put on in the background and listen to or ignore it as you like. There's no track on this album that's going to reach out and command your attention like "Satisfaction" or "Gimme Shelter" would - it's just Mick and Keef and Co. in default mode, easing their way through 18 blues-, R&B- and country-inflected tunes and eschewing big musical hooks. Ironically though, nothing really seems like a throwaway here, because each of the songs plays an integral part to overall tone of this record.

One of the best albums ever recorded. If I could rate it higher, I would

*1972. *At any given time, this album sounds really solid, but it took me so long to get through. Apparently 70 mins of the Stones is a little much for me. *There's not much nuance or volume play - just about every song sounds like it wants to be an anthem. Shine A Light at the very end is an exception, and a nice change. *Rocks Off is a great way to start of the record. I don't think I know any other songs off this one. *There's not much memorable here either. Nothing bad, just not a lot of standouts. RATING - 7/10

Didn’t finish it’s to my taste

One of my favorite albums of all time and the quintessential Rolling Stones album for those who don't full "get it". This album is a perfect blend of their country influences and dirty Rock n Roll. The story of making the album and recording it is as epic as the music itself. While it might not have the singles most people are used to, Exile is a bonafide beast of a record.

Please, God, no more Rolling Stones. Please. I'll go to church every Sunday, I'll stop cheating on my taxes, I'll give more money in the offering plate so the preacher can buy another Cadillac in your name. I'll stop drinking, FFS! Just please, please, PLEASE no more Rolling Stones albums. 😭

i thought this was really good! the songs were a bit same-y at times, but the instrumentals and guitar work at some parts were brilliant. i saved 2 songs, rocks off and sweet virginia. there were definitely some others i could of saved aswell, i just got very into my history work lol. probably a 6/10, not what i usually listen to but i definitely liked it!

Yall mind if a white boy gets a little.. *bluesy* with it? Cause I do. It’s not very exciting.

Obvs a classic. Pretty dang... rock-and-roll-blues-band-y. Personally, I have never been able to dig the sound of this record. Maybe it just ain't my thing? Is it the mix? The instrumentation? The wandering vocal "melodies"? Nothing futuristic about it? I'm stumped. To me it sounds like the taste of an over-cooked beef stew. Sure, it's tangy and beefy but the beef is dry and there's a slight acidity from too many tomatoes which isn't balanced by any sweetness or fat. On re-listens I find I'm not singing along to anything. Re-listens are actually making me like it less. It's too long. Yes, I know about the history and about the exile. This would have been a hell of an undertaking. It's just...not for me.

Mick Jagger has said that he happened to live in the vanishing small period in the music industry where an artist was able to make real money.

not quite my taste but definitely worth listening to. would i listen to it again? probably not but overall the album brought an enjoyable vibe and it made me want to dance

Masterpiece.

To my shame, I know very little about The Rolling Stones. This strikes me as a great album to have on at a house party - it's a hazy bluesy album. One track blends into the next well enough and they're not bad songs but none make me want to really *listen*.

Its an alright album, but nothing that jumped out at me.

This album is fine, I like blues rock but I do think this one is a little too long and repetitive. By the end of the album songs start blending together.

Very generic, pleasant to listen to, but came and went without leaving any great impression. Three stars.

Fantastic album, classic stones sound. Will listen thru again. Was cool to hear the not mega hits.

Stones are good, not one of my favorites (partial listen)

Vanaf Rocks Off zat ik er meteen in: dit album zet direct een rauwe, rokerige sfeer neer en voelt als één grote, samenhangende vibe in plaats van losse hits. Happy sprong er voor mij echt uit en ook tracks als Ventilator Blues maakten indruk door hoe stroperig en sfeervol het allemaal is, zelfs als het even “vreemd” binnenkomt. De overgang van experimentelere momenten naar het warmere einde (met o.a. Shine a Light) laat heel goed horen hoe je een dubbelalbum opbouwt en afrondt. Ik snap nu volledig waarom dit zo’n klassieker is

It's time to celebrate a pretty big milestone! Throughout the past 836 days of the 1001 Albums project, I have listened to many albums from many artists, many of whom have multiple albums on the list. Obviously, there are some artists and bands who have more albums than others, and it naturally takes a longer time for me to end up getting all of their albums than it is for an artist with fewer albums on the list. The Rolling Stones have now become the first band/artist with 6 or more albums on the list to give me all of them for the generator! This is it! This is my final Rolling Stones album of the 1001 Albums project! Relatively speaking, I think that's a pretty big deal for this project. So now that I've heard them all, I can finally have an opinion on which of the 6 Rolling Stones albums on this list is the best. Now, Exile on Main St. here is frequently cited as the best Rolling Stones album, so it's pretty exciting in its own right to see how I feel about those claims on their own. So, here is my message to everyone who ever claimed that Exile on Main St. is the best Rolling Stones album. You guys might have been onto something. This album is really freaking good. Every legendary band has their equally legendary double album. The White Album, Electric Ladyland, The Wall, they all have one. Exile on Main St. is the Stones' entry in that pantheon and it is more than worthy of having a seat at that table. Despite its length, which isn't even that long in the grand scheme of things, Exile on Main St. manages to be one of the most exciting and innovative albums in the band's entire discography. You'd think this thing would have at least one bad or even offensive song on it, especially given what I've said about other Rolling Stones albums in the past, but no. This thing is rock solid. No issues here, folks! Well, okay, I guess one could take issue in "Sweet Black Angel," but that's political commentary, okay? That song has a point to make, and it's a pretty good one all things considered. As for the rest of the songs, there really isn't a bad one in the bunch. I can't call any of these better than something like "Gimme Shelter," but the best songs here are still excellent. "Rocks Off" is a super cool opener. Again, it's not the best in their discography, but it's up there. "Tumbling Dice" is the closest this album gets to perfection and it's great. I like the bass on that one. "Sweet Virginia," "Loving Cup," "Shine A Light," this album is stacked! It's somehow one of the more consistently great albums in their discography, which is crazy since this thing has 18 songs on it! Of course, there are some more general traits I can praise. As the length might entail, Exile is probably the most ambitious album in the band's discography, at least that I've heard. The stronger blues influences may have been off-putting to some upon release, but it makes the album stand out in a way that allows listeners like myself to appreciate the band's general aura more so than on other records. The lyrical themes still focus on things like sex and drugs, but they're explored in ways that make for a richer and more complex album than something like Aftermath. I'm very impressed with this one. Admittedly, it is a fairly close call as to whether I prefer Exile on Main St. or Let It Bleed, but it's a close enough call for me to feel comfortable giving this one a 5/5 to match it.