A Bigger Bang

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A Bigger Bang
Studio album by The Rolling Stones
Released	5 September 2005
Recorded	September 2004 – June 2005
Genre	Rock
Length	64:23
Label	Virgin
Producer	Don Was and The Glimmer Twins, except "Streets of Love": Don Was, Matt Clifford and The Glimmer Twins
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Blender Oct. 2005 Robert Christgau (A-) link Music Box link musicOMH.com (positive) link PopMatters (5/10) link Q #231, Oct. 2005, pp. 110-11 Rolling Stone link
The Rolling Stones chronology
Live Licks (2004) A Bigger Bang (2005) Rarities 1971-2003 (2005)

A Bigger Bang is the 22nd studio album by The Rolling Stones. It is a follow-up to their previous full-length studio album, 1997's Bridges to Babylon, and like Bridges to Babylon and its 1994 predecessor Voodoo Lounge, the album was again produced by Don Was and The Glimmer Twins.

[edit] History

A Bigger Bang was largely recorded in Mick Jagger's house in France, similar to the creation of Exile on Main St. in Keith Richards' house in the same country in 1971. Jagger and Richards also worked on it in 2004 with producer Don Was at Jagger's residence in the Caribbean. Charlie Watts later attended the sessions and was reported to be in excellent health after being treated for throat cancer. Darryl Jones played bass, and four tracks again featured the piano work of Chuck Leavell.

The album features a more basic, stripped-down style reminiscent of Some Girls, but with a harder, more contemporary edge. Many of these songs were recorded with just the core band of Richards, Jagger, and Watts, with Ronnie Wood apparently absent from some of the sessions, and with only very occasional contributions from outside musicians.

Although initial reports stated that the Stones had "returned to their roots" with the record, the minimal instrumentation, rough mix, and tough blues and "garage" rock hybrid bear certain similarities to the aesthetic of contemporary artists like The White Stripes and The Black Keys, which would indicate that the Stones are still, as they have always been, in touch with modern trends in popular music.

Critical reaction was positive. A Bigger Bang was touted as the best Rolling Stones album since 1981's Tattoo You and found the band in a revitalized state. Nevertheless, all of the Stones albums since 1989's Steel Wheels had been similarly lauded, and many critics and fans felt that the Stones had yet to record a late-period album truly up to their high standards, though the rock-oriented nature of the record certainly appeased the Stones' loyal fanbase.

First single, "Streets of Love / Rough Justice" reached #15 in the UK singles chart, while A Bigger Bang entered the UK charts at #2 and #3 in the U.S. However, like all of The Rolling Stones' studio albums since Tattoo You, its commercial performance was not enormous, as its singles failed to become major hits and the record made only a transient impact on the charts. Nevertheless, A Bigger Bang went platinum and sold about as well as its predecessor, Bridges to Babylon (perceived as a considerably more commercial record), indicative of the Stones' enshrinement as a ceaselessly popular rock band rather than immediate pop contenders, and of a commercial security derived from a huge, devoted fan base (which may have been one of the bands realizations in recording this less calculated, rawer, and fairly uncommercial record).

As of March 31, 2006 the album did sell over 2.4 million copies worldwide according to EMI ^[1]

In August 2005 the Rolling Stones embarked on the A Bigger Bang Tour in support of the album. The 90 show phenomenon is the largest tour in North American history and was met with sold out tickets at every destination - usually within minutes of opening. The tour was extended into 2007, not because always of selling every ticket, but because Keith Richards fell out of a tree in Fiji. It concluded in August 2007 at the O2 Arena in London.

The album is the first on which Jagger also plays bass on some tracks. This is part and parcel with Ronnie Wood's lesser participation.

This album was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. It was ranked the second best album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine, behind rapper Kanye West's Late Registration.^[2]

Even before the singles were released, A Bigger Bang was noted for having a key track critical of both President George W Bush and American politics. The track, which was called Sweet Neo Con caused much controversy. ^[3]

[edit] Track listing

All songs by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

1. "Rough Justice" – 3:13
2. "Let Me Down Slow" – 4:15
3. "It Won't Take Long" – 3:54
4. "Rain Fall Down" – 4:54
5. "Streets of Love" – 5:10
6. "Back of My Hand" – 3:33
7. "She Saw Me Coming" – 3:12
8. "Biggest Mistake" – 4:06
9. "This Place Is Empty" – 3:17
10. "Oh No, Not You Again" – 3:47
11. "Dangerous Beauty" – 3:48
12. "Laugh, I Nearly Died" – 4:54
13. "Sweet Neo Con" – 4:34
14. "Look What the Cat Dragged In" – 3:58
15. "Driving Too Fast" – 3:57
16. "Infamy" – 3:48

[edit] Personnel

[edit] The Rolling Stones

• Mick Jagger – vocals, guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
• Keith Richards – guitars, bass, piano, vocals
• Ronnie Wood – guitars
• Charlie Watts – drums

[edit] Additional musicians

• Darryl Jones – bass
• Chuck Leavell – keyboards
• Matt Clifford – keyboards, string arrangements, programming
• Don Was – piano
• Lenny Castro – percussion
• Blondie Chaplin – backing vocals

[edit] Charts

[edit] Album

[edit] Singles

[edit] Worldwide charts

[edit] References