3 years after the Gramy winning Voodo Lounge (1994), the stones hit the studio again in 1997 to make a new record to be titled Bridges of Babylon. As the writing process progressed Mick Jaggar summoned Beck and the Beastie Boys to bring the stone's music into the 90's and you can see this change throughout the album. Unfortunately, this album is considered a failure. Though, some great tracks have come out of it such as Flip the Switch and Saint of Me.
1. Flip the Switch. Starts out with a cool drumming part than a great riff that goes into a great verse and chorus with some cool stones guitar work.A very fast upbeat song with a good guitar solo. A great opening for this album. 4.5/5
2. Anybody Seen My Baby. Starts with a slow bass line. Mick Jaggar comes in with slow lyrics that go into a soft pre chorus that jumps into a chorus with kinda a mystical feeling to it. It's an okay song that appeared on forty licks. Than toward the end of the song, the unthinkable happans. Rap! Yes a rapper does some short rapping at the end that shows the attempt to change. 3.5/5
3. Low Down. Sarts with a slow double guitar riff and Mick Jaggar singing. The Chorus is rather boring and this isn't a bad song but is pretty plain. This song does sound like something that could come from an early album though. Nothing much more to say about it. 3/5
4. Already over Me. A very slow song with some piano and acaustic guitar with some quiet singing. Soon some drums and cool guitar fills come in. The Chorus is good and makes Mick sound like a country singer. Without that chorus this song would be boring, which basically it is for it is 5 minutes long and doesn't change much. 3/5
5. Gun Face. Interesting vocals on this one. Has a nice beat and guitar to it with a fitting chorus. Has a great bridge though that goes into a cool chorus. Another 5 minute song that drags on. Its a cool song though. 3/5
6. You Don't Have to Mean it. A really fun almost raegae song sung be Keith Richards. Has some nice brass in it. A great upbeat happy song that really grabs your ear when you first hear it. One of my favorite Keith Richards vocal songs and one of my favorite off the album. 4/5
7. Out of Control. This song is a very unique song that is very long and repatitive but is still very good. Starts with some bongos drums and some humming. Mick's vocals are soft and mysterious as most of the song is. Than a good pre chorus leads very well into a loud great chorus that goes back into the quiet verse. After the second chorus there is some really great trumpet that goes well with the song. The song repeats like this until the end. Good song and chorus. 3.8/5
8.Saint of Me. A favorite off the album. Starts with some soft chords and vocals that get louder and better until it leads into a fun chorus that leads into a verse with a beautiful acaustic guitar in the background. Eventually a beautiful bridge with great backing vocals does alot to add to the song. Again a Beautiful song. 4.5/5
9. Might as Well get Juiced. Techno? the begining to this song has some very strange keybords and vocals with some harmonica. This song is basically a componation of classic stones and techno. Those two really don't go together and this is a terrible song, especially because it's 5 minutes long. 2/5
10. Always Suffering. A soft acaustic song with a great melody and vocals done by Mick Jaggar that sound like Keith at first. It's really a beautiful song with a good chorus with great backing vocals. It picks up a little at the end but is mainly a quiet song. 3.5/5
11. Too Tight. This is a good song with a really cool fast moving guitar part that is truly awsome. It has great fitting vocals to it that leads into an okay chorus that is similar to the verse. Again good backing vocals on this one. 3.5/5
12. Theif in the Night. Starts with some interesting soft sounds that lead into an annoying drums and few Kieth Richards Vocals. This song is really boring and slow and long. Not recomended. 2/5
13. How can I Stop. A soft 7 minuete song that is again sung by Keith Richards. Very boring, very slow. Nothing more to say. 2/5
Overall, this album is not the best stones album, but has some good tracks. Most of the songs are very long and can get pretty boring. Though you can tell a the stones made an effort to try to adapt to the 90's. This album is only recomended to big stones fans. Overall 2.5/5
Recomended Tracks:
Flip the Switch
Out of Control
Saint of Me
You Don't Have to Mean it
