Customer Reviews

Goddess in the Doorway

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(30)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(22)

 

 

I've had a few listens. Not sure if I agree with Jann Wenner's claim. But my initial impression is that it's good. Really good. A bunch of songs I like, one or two that are mediocre. It's a good ride all the way through. Well produced with a polish, unlike Wandering Spirit, which was also well produced, but with a rawer sound. This is not a Stones record and I don't think it's trying to be. It's definitely a sound that comes from a man who has lived a privileged life of wealth and taste (sorry for the cliché). Very confident, relaxed, yet upbeat and mature. It's mature, in much the same way as Leonard Cohen's "The Future", but a totally different record in terms of what it's trying to do. I can understand the early criticism that it's too "radio friendly" but I don't think that's fair. Jagger's voice is good, if not better, than ever. It's masterful, and fun. Musically, it's a mix of good stuff. It's got a good rhythm too (no surprise here). Keith Richards probably likes the record, but wouldn't want it as a Stones album. The record has a few jams on it. It's all very rich and is pulling me in pretty quickly. My hunch is that it will have much commercial appeal, although it probably won't draw in most of the blue collar Stones crowd for lack of raunch. If you're a Jagger or Stones fan, it's a must have. I've been one forever and never knew a world without Mick and The Rolling Stones. But in my attempt to be an objective music enthusiast, this is a great record in many ways. You can do a lot with it, as one would naturally expect from Mick. [...]

I think it is a peculiar truth that almost no one would claim that Jagger has a good voice, though many would argue that he is one of rock's greatest vocalists. This particular album seems to celebrate this odd paradox.

Jagger may have tried a little too hard to cover a number of genres here...but so what. This is an edgy and modern sounding instant classic from one of the most important and influencial rockers of all time.

One shudders to think how cool this disc might have been with Richards tempering Jagger's more eccentric moves.

This is, however, an excellent disc.

First let me ask the first 2 reviewers which album they were listening to? With comments like "Same structure, lyrics followed by chorus, followed by more lyrics"- hello? This is called a song. Unless your listening to the Airplane's "White Rabbit" nealy all pop, rock, etc. songs have bars of lyrics followed by a chorus, especially the Stones' songs! Geez, put on "Start Me Up" as a reminder. With all the garbage (Chili Peppers, Limp Bizkit) and overrated (U2, Nelly Furtado) polluting the airwaves, we should welcome quality music, not knock it because its trendy to knock the Stones/Jagger's age.
Secondly, let me say that this will probably be the most underrated album of the decade and be looked back on as a truly great release. All the songs are different, with great lyrics. Visions of Paradise, Don't Call Me Up, and Too Far Gone are high quality, catchy tunes. The album definitely has a contemporary feel, but not in a "keeping up with the times" way at all- think Macy Gray's first album, but with more than 2 memorable songs. Also, check out the import single which has a non-album cut on it called, "Blue" which is great. Mick Rules! Especially on this album!

People often make the mistake of grouping all 3 of Mick's previous solo albums into one group, when in fact the mediocre "She's The Boss" and "Primitive Cool" were far surpassed by 1993's "Wandering Spirit", which offered several great songs. "Goddess In The Doorway" offers very few songs that can compete with the likes of "Don't Tear Me Up" or "Out Of Focus", in my opinion, but the album is solid throughout (perhaps moreso than "Spirit"). "Hide Away", "Visions Of Paradise", "God Gave Me Everything", and "Too Far Gone" are among the best, but there are no clear standouts on an album that has many good songs. As would be expected, Mick goes in several different directions, with the only constants being that distinctive voice and the mark of quality that has followed it for much of the past 40 years.

I have to admit I would not even consider buying A Mick Jagger solo cd usually. Keith Richards anytime, but Mick's past solo efforts gave no reason to look forward to his next outing. All that has changed now!
Once I saw the 5 stars Rolling Stone gave the cd, I decided to buy it immediately upon release. Best move I have made in quite some time! This is a fantastic cd, I canhonestly say I like every song on it, something I cannot even say about any Stones cd of the past 20 or so years.This disc will definitely get more time in my player than any of those albums.
The Stones have been accused of just putting out product for the dough for quite some time now, but Mick obviously cares about the music this time around."Hide Away" produced by Wyclef Jean is a great song. Other highlights for me are "Joy" ( featuring Bono), Too Far Gone and Brand New Set Of Rules. The last two are in that classic Stones "ballad" style.
The disc really covers all the bases from dance to rock to ballad, and even a country flavor on a song like Brand New Set Of Rules. But more important, all the songs are damned good!
One last note: there is a hidden track at 6:35 into track 12, not really a song, but a few moments of a piano and Mick over some noise, almost like in a lounge.

With Pete Townsend and Lenny Kravitz guesting, how could you go wrong. This album could very well be a Stones album, that's how good the songs and music are. And, Mick did say in an interview I heard that he wrote a few of these songs for the Stones, but they decided not to use them, so he did. I think it's Mick's best work to date. Hope he does some more soon. Even if you're not a fan of his solo stuff, I think you'll really like this one.

Goddess in the Doorway is obviously not as good as Wandering Spirit (1993), which is Jagger's best album, but it is not as bad as one might think. It is actually pretty good.
The major problem of this album is that it does not have a focus, it goes in too many directions. There are too many styles, too many different sounds, too many producers.
The presence of too many producers has already been somewhat problematic when the Stones released Voodoo Lounge. But in 1994 the problem was easily solved by the fact that most of the songs in Voodoo Lounge were really good.
This is not always the case with Goddess in the Doorway. There are some good songs (Joy, Don't Call Me Up, Lucky Day), there are some ok songs (God gave me everything, Hide away, Too far gone), and there are some pretty bad songs (Visions of paradise, Dancing in the starlight, Everybody is getting high, Goddess in the Doorway). Symptomatic of the overall quality of the record is Brand New Rules. It's not bad, but it never steps up, it never clicks, it does not make sparks fly.
This said, this record is not terrible and probably deserves more attention than has so far received.

This is a great CD for anyone who is either a Stones fan, Mick Jagger fan or just a rock fan. If you like the Stones but don't care for the tracks with Keith Richards on lead vocal, this CD is for you. This is so much stronger than Mick's last solo CD, "Wandering Spirit". I purchased it several months ago, and it has found a place in my car CD changer ever since. Mick successfully mixes upbeat numbers such as "Joy" (with Bono sharing vocals), "Dancing in the Starlight", "God Gave Me Everything" with a few more mellow sounds like, "Don't Call Me Up" and "Too Far Gone". There is something here for everyone. Track 10 entitled "Gun" has a similar hard sound to "Undercover of the Night" from the Stones. If you are wondering about buying this CD, do yourself a favor and buy it!

Really 3 1/2 stars. I'm puzzled where Rolling Stone Magazine came up with a 5 star rating. Save the 5 star reviews for albums like Beggars Banquet and Some Girls, please. Nevertheless, this is a solid record, and Mick is obviously involved and excited about making music again. The record does not have the consistency of MJ's LP "Wandering Spirit," which is the finest solo effort by a member of the Stones ever.

Nevertheless, there's some good material here. The terrific "Don't Call Me Up" and "Joy" show Mick at the top of his vocal and songwriting game. The hard rocking songs like "God gave me" and "Everybody Getting High" simply don't work without the blistering blues riffs of Keith and Ronny.

For the reviewers ridiculing Mick and the Stones 90s work, get over it folks. These guys, even in the 90s and onward, beat 90% of the drivel that's on the radio now.

This is one great CD! I love the rockin' "God Gave Me Everything." "Goddess In the Doorway" is awesome, and probably my favorite tune. Definitely not a Stones CD, it is pure Mick. I like the contributions from Kravitz, Bono, and Pete Townshend. It was interesting seeing the TV special "Being Mick," it was obvious that everyone was having a great time putting this CD together. Goddess will likely appeal to many who don't consider themselves Mick fans, and Jagger has proven that he is rock'n'roll royalty!