Review
Now, if there's one album that truly encapsulates everything we love about The Rolling Stones, it's "Let It Bleed." When it graced the scene in 1969, this record was all about getting back to their blues-oriented grasp on music, which had folks hankering for the uneven pavement between blues and rock. Much like "Beggars Banquet," there was a shining embrace of the gritty and raw interplay of these roots. You slip on those headphones, and "Gimme Shelter" just whisks you to a place where Merry Clayton's voice transcends Jagger, bringing an eerie magic influenced by Keith Richards' whirlwind of personal strife and the ongoing mess of the Vietnam War. It's as if the world found a way into that sound.
Diving in a bit deeper, the Stones rolled out everything from sticky blues to twangy country, cooking up holiday gravy to perfection with heaps of influences. Taking Robert Johnson’s bluesy track "Love in Vain" and reimagining their own rollicking "Honky Tonk Women" into a country tinged "Country Honk" just showed how mosaic their music had become. You've got other stunners like "Live With Me" pounding with an unmistakable A-class bass line and "Midnight Rambler," which growls and prowls at its pace. Keith stopped sharing the mic for a spell, treating fans with a good taste of his own pipes in "You Got The Silver."
Turning the album over to side two is like finding a golden fossil amongst gritty rock streets. "Monkey Man" draws on those indelible Keith Richards riffs, while the slightly operatic "You Can't Always Get What You Want" is welcomed by the grand chorus of the London Bach Choir. There’s something about sticking out a song that ends with ponderance and triumph; their mark was undeniable, especially with help from producer Jack Nitzsche's handiwork. It's tough keeping from admiring the superb craft during such a tough time for the band, especially with Brian Jones having just passed away. Even in the storm of this turmoil, they marked their seasoned name with some gritty, earthy blues pressed lovingly into rock, stirring to be exchanged, played, and relished at every opportunity ever since. - Rex
