Main Offender

Keith Richards | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2007)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records
• ASIN: B000000WJ2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,555 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This CD can be considered somewhat rare now.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ***3/4. It'll grow on you, August 9, 2005

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Main Offender (Audio CD)

Recorded with the same band that backed Keith Richards on 1988's "Talk Is Cheap", "Main Offender" is more of the same no-frills guitar-driven rock n' roll.

It's not quite as consistent as its predecessor, perhaps, but "Main Offender" offers a handful of really great, tough rock n' rollers, like the #3 single "Wicked As It Seems", the driving "Will But You Won't" and the low-key "Hate It When You Leave". The Rolling Stones should play more of this kind of straight-ahead unassuming rock n' roll.

The best songs here are tighter and more focused than the ones on "Talk Is Cheap", and Richards' vocals are some of his best on record...check out the lean, mean riff-rockers "Eileen" and "Runnin' Too Deep", two of his best songs. And the production is excellent, clear and uncluttered without being slick or glossy.

There is a bit of filler here, sure, but fans of the Human Riff will definitely find this album worth their while. Songs like "Words Of Wonder", "Demon" and "999" may not leap right out and grab you by the throat, but Keith Richards sings and plays as well as he ever did, and "Main Offender" will grow on you if you give it half a chance.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing album, but takes time to dig, October 22, 2006

By 

Frederic Doucet "Fred" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Main Offender (Audio CD)

I bought this album long time ago when it came out. At first, I did not think much of it, and that Wicked as it seems has a real nice riff. However, this album really grew on me, as it is very subtle yet fundamental. Great guitar, great lyrics. I find it a great album to listen to, in the same way as exile on main street, when one goes through the struggles of life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as "Talk is Cheap", but mostly great Keef, October 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Main Offender (Audio CD)

Although "Main Offender" to my ears is not as good as Keith's great "Talk is Cheap", at least he continues in that LP's classic-riff vein. If only the latest Stones albums were so true to their roots..."999" is a ferocious rocker, although I don't know what it's about. Don't tell me 999 is 666 upside down, I like to think it's about something else--someone write and enlighten me! "Wicked as it Seems" is dark, smoldering Keith, and "Eileen" is a good, catchy love song. Keith shows his love for reggae in "Words of Wonder", although I think it slows the LP down some, and "Yap Yap" ends side one at that leisurely pace. I wish there were more than 10 tracks, it would have given the LP more strength. "Hate it When You Leave" is a wonderful recreation of the Motown sound, and "Runnin' Too Deep" is a driving rocker that builds with intensity near the end. A fine sampler of Richards while he was waiting for Mick to get back to the Stones.