The Rolling Stones have released their 25th album, Foreign Tongues, continuing the rejuvenated sound of 2023's Hackney Diamonds. The record features stomping blues, touching vulnerability from Keith Richards, and political commentary from Mick Jagger targeting war and autocracy, including a jab at Elon Musk.
A Creative Renaissance
Mick Jagger recently described the album's diversity, stating, "The thing about this record is, the Stones are a rock band that also has the capacity to do ballads, country music or dance music. So we don't get stuck in one kind of style." While many bands could claim the same, the Stones maintain their unique sound—a just-shaky Jenga tower that seems ready to collapse but never does.
Foreign Tongues continues the creative renaissance that began with Hackney Diamonds, their first album of original songs in 18 years. Producer Andrew Watt captures the band's joy of playing together, with Keith Richards noting that Watt "kicks their asses when needed." The death of drummer Charlie Watts five years ago may have sharpened the founding members' awareness of their mortality, leading them to go down blazing.
Track Highlights and Political Edge
The album opens with "Rough and Twisted," a raucous stomp referencing their early love of Chicago blues ("All I drank was Muddy Waters"). In "In the Stars," Jagger leans into blues mythology ("I was standing there when the lightning struck") while acknowledging his fortune and defying age: "Do you wanna dance until the roof caves in? / Yeah, and the guitars scream and the choir still sings."
"Jealous Lover" shifts to a slinky disco number reminiscent of "Miss You" or "Emotional Rescue." However, Foreign Tongues is not nostalgic; it's a modern, occasionally political record. Songs like "Ringing Hollow" feature Jagger singing, "Lady Liberty don't look so good when there's a tear in her gown." In "Covered in You," he wakes up "sick and tired of all these autocrats / You know, they seem to be breeding like a swarm of dirty rats with their missiles on parade." The punkier "Mr Charm" rails against "mad mogul Mr Musk" and those focused solely on making money.
At 82, Jagger sounds more energised than in years, relishing lines in "Divine Intervention" like "dystopian values are too hot to handle" and "when they try to arrest you, I'll come to your rescue." He also dusts off his harmonica for a cover of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good."
Guest Appearances and Tender Moments
The album features Steve Winwood on organ, along with cameos from Paul McCartney, the Cure's Robert Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and Bruno Mars on cowbell. As on Hackney Diamonds, Charlie Watts drums posthumously on "Hit Me in the Head," a fatalistic driving rocker recorded in 2021 about going out with a bang.
Tender moments offset the playful racket. Jagger cues Ronnie Wood for a gut-wrenching guitar solo in "Back in Your Life," and Richards delivers a vulnerable vocal in "Some of Us" ("are on our knees"), offering a glimpse behind his wildman image.
Overall Verdict
Foreign Tongues doesn't match the holy run of albums from 1968's Beggars Banquet or later triumph Some Girls, but at their ages, it's remarkable. Paired with Hackney Diamonds, this is comfortably their best material in decades. The album is released on 10 July.
