Main Offender

Keith Richards

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 Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #14,294 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 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 (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

3 of 3 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

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.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keith IS the Stones, May 17, 2002

By	Tim Huguet (AMSTERDAM Holland) - See all my reviews

For the earlier writer, 999 is the code number for pharmeceutical heroin. That should shed some light on the "Don't Panic!" line in the middle of the song.
And one more thing; DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN KEITH IS GONNA MAKE A NEW ALBUM!?!?!?!?!