Customer Reviews

Voodoo Lounge (Reis)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The Rolling Stones are a victim of their own magnitude. It has long been far hipper to dismiss them as aging, wealthy dilitantes than it has been to admit to liking their work. And too, The Ronnie Wood years do not have the cache that the Mick Taylor early 70s work or the Brian Jones Britpop 60s work had-- even though Wood has been a Stone for 30 of their 42 years. Voodoo Lounge is, I think, unchallenged as the high point of their output post-1980, and it is a strong album from start to finish.

The best thing about Voodoo Louge is that is doesn't have a "sound"-- which is to say, it sounds like the Stones. Ronnie Wood is an outstanding guitrist and the perfect foil for Richards, and this is a guitar album first and foremost (well, it is a song album, but then a guitar album.) "Love is Strong" and "You Got Me Rocking" are radio-ready (or iPod-ready) classic riff-rockers in the best Stones tradition. "Brand New Car" is snaky and groovy and beguiling, with Jagger's nasty vocal implying far more than he actually puts in the lyric, and Woody and Keef dancing their magic weave together. "Sweethearts Together" is reminiscent of "Indian Girl" from Emotional Rescue (another underrated album with which this shares some groove and spirit.)

As is the case on most of the last 7 or so Stones albums, the Keith songs are highlights. "The Worst" is one of those poignant anti-ballad ballads he does, his ravaged and coarse voice belying the sentiment of the lyric and the quality of the songwriting. And "Thru and Thru" is just simply outstanding; used to great effect to conclude season 2 of the Sopranos cable series, it is a snarling, gritty rocker that by itself makes this album noteworthy.

The Voodoo Lounge sessions were productive ones, and there are many bootlegs floating around of outtakes, demos, and alternate versions. It is worth noting that one of these bootlegs contains an alternate version of the album, in sequence-- supposedly "Keith's mix"-- that actually surpasses the released version.

If you want to check out a later-period Stones album, this is the one. Every one has at least one or two or three tracks that make it worthwhile, but this is clearly the strongest and most consistent. From here, Bridges to Babylon is good too, less consistent but worth the effort, especially the deeper you get into the record (past the radio hits and into the art.) Steel Wheels sounds tinny to me, although there too the last few songs are worth the effort (especially Keith's gorgeous "Slipping Away.") Undercover and Dirty Work are probably the last post-1980 studio releases you need, although there again, each has a gem or three.

I may be a tad sentimental in my appreciation of the STONES '94 effort VOODOO LOUNGE. I was about to be a senior in high school, beginning to appreciate the STONES, and about to go see them live. Obviously, I have fond memories that go alongside this CD.

Sentimentality aside, I still think that this is an exceptional album that surpasses its glossy, over-produced predecessor, STEEL WHEELS (1989), and the intermittently listenable BRIDGES TO BABYLON (1997), which was to follow.

There are many who feel that the last amazing STONES album was TATTOO YOU (1981), or even SOME GIRLS (1978). While VOODOO LOUNGE is not quite up to par with either of those works, it's undoubtedly the best thing they have done since then.

VOODOO LOUNGE has all the elements of a great STONES album: great uptempo rockers like "Love is Strong" and "You Got Me Rocking," and surprisingly moving ballads like "Out of Tears."

Even Keith gets some fine moments on this album like "The Worst" and "Thru and Thru."

My personal favorite track on here is "New Faces," which finds the STONES getting back to their roots and could easily pass for something they did back in the day with Brian Jones.

While VOODOO LOUNGE can in no way eclipse anyones memories of LET IT BLEED, STICKY FINGERS or EXILE ON MAIN STREET, it is still an excellent collection of well-written songs that finds Mick, Keith, Charlie, Ron and company at a late peak of sorts. Eleven years on and they are still at it!

After just three years without a new Stones release, "Steel Wheels" was hailed as a comeback. But after that, it took the Stones five years to come up with "Voodoo Lounge".

So is it a better record than its predecessor?

Well, perhaps not..."Steel Wheels" was actually pretty good.

But "Voodoo Lounge" could have been better, it is just too long. In the "old days" it would have been a double LP, and it seems that many artists feel that with the longer playing time of the compact disc, they have to come up with more material.

If the Stones had cut five songs and put out a lean, mean ten-track CD instead, "Voodoo Lounge" would have felt like a much stronger album, but forgettable mediocrities like "Baby Break It Down" and "Suck On The Jugular" drag it down a little.

That's not to say that it doesn't have its share of excellent songs, however. "You Got Me Rocking" is one of the best, toughest rockers the Stones have done for many long years, all raw electric guitars and thundering drums, and a great lead vocal from Mick Jagger.

The opening song, the grinding "Love Is Strong", is great as well; Jagger plays some excellent, bluesy harmonica, and new bassist Darryl Jones contributes a deep, rumbling bass line.

Other highlights include the lean, up-tempo hard rock of the sleazy "Sparks Will Fly", the slow, acoustic "The Worst" (sung in a hoarse whisper by Keith Richards), the lovely ballads "Out Of Tears" and "Sweethearts Together", and the funky, swaggering blues-rocker "Brand New Car".

And fans of the "Sopranos" TV series will probably recognize Keith Richards' quietly menacing "Thru And Thru" as well.

The band recorded several of Charlie Watts' drum parts in a stairwell, resulting in the biggest, most powerful drum sound since Led Zeppelin's apocalyptic "When the Levee Breaks", and the neo-classicist production by Don Was is simply excellent, clear and uncluttered.

All in all, "Voodoo Lounge" comes off as one of the Stones' best albums of the 80s and 90s for sure, alongside "Steel Wheels" and "Bridges To Babylon".

This album is stunningly good with the 50 something year old Stones shockingly soaring to creative heights not seen in more than 15 years, and most assumed would never been seen again. Indeed the fans agreed as the album reached #2 in the charts (#1 in England) and would be 6th highest selling original studio album of the 25 they made. The tour that followed the release of the album remains by far the highest grossing tour in musical history. Some critics said the album was great but broke no new ground. They could not be further from the truth as the album features scores of great songs totally unlike anything the Stones had ever done before including "The Worst", "Moon is Up", "Brand New Car" and "Suck on the Jugular".

The album opens with "Love is Strong" an instant classic in the long line of legendary opening songs such as "Rocks Off", "If You Can't Rock Me", "Start Me Up" and "One Hit to the Body". One of the amazing things on this record is Mick's singing is as good as any point in his career showing off tremendous range and featuring the most interesting lyrics since Some Girls. A critic for Rolling Stone Magazine at the time accurately called Mick's singing on this record as "sheer pleasure". It is followed by "You Got Me Rocking" for the best 1-2 hard rock punch to kick off a Stones album since Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main Street from the early `70s.

Voodoo, which was named after a stray cat that wandered into the recording studio that was adopted by Richards, has 15 tracks without an ounce of filler, amazing for an album that would have been a double album back in the vinyl days. There are so many great songs, I can't cover them all, but they include Keith's soulful country ballad "The Worst" with Wood on slide guitar, which has more heart than anything you would hear all day listening to a Country Music station. "New Faces" and "Out of Tears" are 2 of the best Stones ballads ever, in the same league as "Tell Me", "Wild Horses", "Angie" and "Waiting on a Friend".

"I Go Wild" is a blistering rocker with a lyrical tale that will have you on the ground laughing at the list of women that "the doctor" recommends avoiding and may in fact be a generic list of Mick's voluminous encounters over the previous half century. "Brand New Car" is one of the most original and cleaver songs ever by the Stones. To this day, most people including veteran rock DJs think this song is about a car. Let me tell you a secret, it has nothing to do with a car and you will be embarrassed when you finally figure it out. Again, Jagger's singing is phenomenal. "Suck on the Jugular" features a beat from drummer Charlie Watts that is unlike any musical style you have ever heard and it works great. "Thru and Thru" is another Richards vocal that is also quite unlike anything you have ever heard, except it doesn't work quite as well as some of the other highly originally crafted songs on this album.

This Album is definitely in the Stones top 10 and possibly in their top 5 which is an amazing feat for the band at this advanced stage in the band's career with so many legendary albums in their wake. It did not go unnoticed by their peers as indicated by their comments just after the release of the album. Angus Young of AC/DC: "Wow, when they want to, they can rock with anyone". Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull: "They are still easily the best band in the world". Roger Waters of Pink Floyd: "If there were one band I wished I was in, it would be the Rolling Stones, because they are so sexy". Gene Simmons of Kiss: "You are talking about a band that continues to be the consummate Rock `N Roll band in the world."

Voodoo Lounge and their other `1990s release Bridges to Babylon (1997) are both far superior to the bands 4 1980s releases and both were followed by massive awe inspiring tours. Voodoo is a must have album, especially for those of you who incorrectly assume Some Girls was their final legendary effort. Overall Grade: A

Other Stones album ratings

1) Some Girls (1978) A+

2) Let It Bleed (1969) A+

3) Sticky Fingers (1971) A+

4) Exile on Main Street (1972) A+

5) Voodoo Lounge (1994) A

6) Beggar's Banquet (1968) A

7) Black and Blue (1976) A

8) It's Only Rock `N Roll (1974) A

9) Bridges to Babylon (1997) A-

10) Out of Their Heads (1965) A-

11) Goat's Head Soup (1973) A-

12) Aftermath (1966) A-

13) A Bigger Bang B+ (2005)

14) Between the Buttons (1967) B+

15) Tattoo You (1981) B+

16) Now! (1964) B+

17) Emotional Rescue (1980) B

18) Steel Wheels (1989) B

19) Dirty Work (1986) B-

20) Undercover (1983) B-

21) England's Newest Hit Makers (1963)B-

22) December's Children (1965) B-

23) 12 X 5 (1964) B-

24) Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) C

After waiting five years for "Voodoo Lounge", I was both pleased and disappointed; pleased by the Stones musical return to form, and disappointed by Mick Jagger's sad attempts to appear bad and dangerous at the age of 51. This album contains more profanity per song than any other Stones album, like they were trying to compete with the '90's grunge and rap acts. Worse than that were the sleazy, gratuitous, and downright crude sexual references on "Sparks Will Fly", "I Go Wild", "Suck on the Jugular" and "Brand New Car". "Sparks Will Fly" could have been a hit single without it's blunt sexual reference; does Mick realize this? The Stones could use a hit nowadays. And "I Go Wild" contains Jagger's most vicious and vulgar reference to women yet. I know that some Stones fans just eat this stuff up, and it makes their day, but I think it's getting pathetic. Their best work in the 60's wasn't this graphic; it didn't need to be. OK, now the positive review: this album rocks hard. The first 3 songs are tough, ferocious Stones, especially "Sparks Will Fly" (sigh). "The Worst" is a great Keith country ballad, a return to his outlaw image, but in a poignant manner. "New Faces" is a lovely harpsichord-laced ballad a la "Lady Jane", and Mick lets some real emotion out on "Out of Tears" (don't believe the critics: this guy sometimes DOES put his feelings into songs, especially on the '90's LP's). "I Go Wild" is a powerful rocker, in spite of the unredeemable lyrics at the end. And "Blinded By Rainbows" seems to be about the spiritual fate of those immersed in violence; it's a powerful song. Other than that, "Brand New Car" slips up on it's greasiness, "Suck on the Jugular" is tiresome funk, "Moon is Up" is pleasant but strangely incomplete-sounding, and "Thru and Thru" is tedious, wasting it's best melody ("Any minute, any hour")by not developing it enough. "Mean Disposition" is just hard on the ears, as far as I'm concerned; they can rock better than this! Ultimately, this was a better Stones album than "Steel Wheels", but it lacked that LP's feeling of goodwill and maturity. Stones will be Stones, I suppose.

The Stones revamped and updated their sound on this record -- which has more polish than some of their previous records.

I'm really rather surprised at some of the vitriol spewed in some of the reviews of this record...I guess when you are a legend, some people are going to be disappointed when every song isn't "Satisfaction."

I could have done without some of the vulgarity, but hey, folks, this is the Rolling Stones, not Musak.

As far as the songs, the only ones you are likely to have heard on the radio are Love Is Strong -- a solid hit -- and You Got Me Rocking -- a workmanlike Rock song.

Sparks Will Fly is a hard-driving sexually-charged rocker with one over-the-top vulgar line.

The Worst is a county-style Keith Richards take on a lost love. I never thought Richards could sing this emotionally. "I said from the first, I am the worst kind of guy for you to be around."
I couldn't agree more (I wouldn't want my daughter dating him, would you?)

New Faces -- A lament of losing a love to another, sung well with the acoustic guitars in the background...
"Well, well is he ringing your bell? My heart is breaking in two."

Moon is Up -- More emotional stuff. "Where did you go when I needed you?"

Out of Tears -- A quiet lament.

I go wild -- Another rocker. A minor hit. Otherwise unremarkable.

Brand New Car -- A tired sexual metaphor. Kinda [weak], except for a catchy guitar hook.

Sweethearts Together -- The Stones get syrupy on us. Is this for real? You could play this at proms.

Suck on the Jugular -- Funky.

Blinded by rainbows -- Lament of all the violence in the world.

Baby break it down -- A good rocker.

Thru and thru -- An overlooked but very touching Richards ballad that builds up slowly to a great fanale...

Mean disposition -- Jagger just having fun.

Although I grew up in the heyday of such seminal Rolling Stones albums as "Exile On Main Street" and "Sticky Fingers," I was never much of a Stones fan as a kid. Over the years, though, I grew to admire the band's knack for continually re-inventing their tried and true formula - and making it all sound hip and relevant. That formula - part Chuck Berry, part Muddy Waters, part Hank Williams - is on display in all its glory on "Voodoo Lounge." Perhaps bolstered by the achievement of "Wandering Spirit," Mick Jagger's fine 1993 solo album, the Rolling Stones concocted their most consistent, satisfying album since 1978's "Some Girls." Don Was produced the album along with Jagger and Keith Richards. To his credit, Was lets the Stones fall where they may, keeping the sound of the CD this side of raw. Acknowledging that the band perfected a timeless rock 'n' roll sound years ago, no overt attempts are made to "bring the Rolling Stones into the '90s." The album opens with the strong 1-2-3 combination punch of "Love Is Strong" (the first single), "You Got Me Rocking" and "Sparks Will Fly." Each is an up-tempo number led by the always on target drumming of Charlie Watts. Keith Richards and Ron Wood trade sturdy guitar work and Jagger sings like a guy half his age. Bassist Darryl Jones steps in (replacing Bill Wyman) and sounds like he's been playing with Charlie Watts his whole life. Other highlights include the touching ballad "Out Of Tears," the Caribbean lilt of "Sweethearts Together," the sweaty R&B sing-along "Suck On The Jugular," Keith Richards' boozy country-blues take on "The Worst," and the heartfelt, anti-violence ballad, "Blinded By Rainbows." Lyrically, Jagger and Richards cover the same territory they've explored for the last thirty years - love, sex, broken hearts, and the pursuit of women. While my literalist colleagues in the press might grumble that as middle-aged men, the Glimmer Twins should have other things on their minds, I disagree. First of all, it's a huge mistake to assume that any artist is offering true confessions in his music. Just because an artist uses the word "I" doesn't make a song autobiographical. Secondly, for the Rolling Stones to suddenly start singing about picking the kids up at school or settling comfortably into middle age would ring false; and worse, it would be terribly boring. Music is primarily entertainment. Some of the songs on "Voodoo Lounge" might be sexist in their attitude toward women, but hey, "it's only rock 'n'..." Well, you know.

Surprisingly enough this album was actually a little bit better than most of the garbage that the Stones have been bombarding us with recently. Okay, so its not Exile but its actually more listenable than Steel Wheels or (shudder)Undercover and Emotional Rescue. I actually kind of like love is strong, the worst, and through and through. Odd though that two of the best are by Richards.Anyway, this album is okay but dont expect anything great or original. Theres still the standard rockers about sex,three of which sound the same,and one dumb song which compares a girl to a car(thats really a new idea!)and one awful ballad called Sweethearts Together.Whats annoying about most of the songs is that they are so OBVIOUSLY TRYING to be macho, and they are in a kind of cartoonish and unrealistic way. It seems that back when Mick was androgonous and bisexual the Stones had more of an edge. Now it all seems to just be pretend.

voodoo lounge is the greatest stones album of the nineties and contains terrific songs like you got me rockin and sparks will fly.hugely recommended.get this but avoid all albums by kylie please.

There are a few sparks of brilliance to be found on this album, but for the most part the Stones play it safe on this one. Most of the rockers (which, lets face it, are the Stones stock in trade) sound pretty much the same, and the production is way too clean. I Go Wild is probably my favorite, but there's not too much to distinguish it from, lets say, You Got Me Rocking. Most of the tunes are mid-tempo numbers, and again there's not much to say about most of them. Moon Is Up sounds a lot better on the Keith-sung bootleg. Suck On The Jugular is a decent but rather bland funk work out. The Stones are an established act, and the problem is that on this album, much like with Steel Wheels, they sound like one. They tried, but a lot of it is still just going-through-the-motions. Still, songs like The Worst, Love is Strong, Out Of Tears, Blinded By Rainbows, I Go Wild, and Mean Disposition make it worth owning (Mean Disposition especially is a dissapointment, though, because Don Was's production really hurts what could be a great song). The best songs of this period are spread over Keith's Main Offender album and Mick's Wandering Spirit (two completely essential albums for Stones fans). But it's not till Bridges To Babylon that they really sound like they're giving 100% again.