In Your Opinion the most Overrated and most Underrated Rolling Stones album

[Justin]

"Exile on Main Street" is so great it will always be underrated, and you can say that for any of the Stones albums that preceded it, and a few after as well.

The only thing "overrated" to me about the Stones, and it's a big one actually, is them as live performers.  I'm guessing that seeing them in '69 or '72 - '73 really was something, but even on some of that, Mick Jagger to me is insufferable.  Particularly as they get into stadium mode, watching him jump around and point means zero to me.  His vocals were absolutely god-awful for a long time -- they've gotten better but unfortunately they've also become thinner. When I watch videos of them I beg for "more Charlie"!

To fully understand the hoopla about their live performances, it'd be good to download a few of the concerts they released on their offiical bootleg site.  Brussels 73, Hampton 81 and LA 1975 are gems and easily beat out any live document they have released....and in some ways possibly even Ya-Ya's....


http://www.stonesarchive.com/bootlegs/

[Alex]

Overrated: Beggars` Banquet and pretty much their entire career after Brian Jones died. Underrated: Satanic Majesties.

[bluesno1fann]

Overrated: Beggars` Banquet and pretty much their entire career after Brian Jones died. Underrated: Satanic Majesties.

That's pretty much true, but a majority of their career after Brian Jones left isn't exactly overrated, only really the Mick Taylor era. As great as it is, it is highly overrated, and not quite as good as the Brian Jones era.
And Their Satanic Majesties Request is criminally underrated, but it is understandable why a lot of Stones fans hate it. It's just too different. But I love it! Especially "In Another Land". Yeah, I'm a Bill Wyman fan!

[Mike's Beard]

These days "Their Satanic Majesties Request" is the only Stones album I really have anytime for. The first and last time the band took a chance with their music.

Overrated: Some Girls. Yeah their 'comeback' album is better than "It's Only Rock & Roll" and "Black and Blue" but that's only comparatively speaking. It's still a painfully average record. And don't get me started on those 'Rolling Stones answer to Punk' claims...

Underrated: ..Majesties Request. See above. As a British psychedelic pop album of it's era, it's up there with S.F. Sorrow and Piper At The Gates.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

These days "Their Satanic Majesties Request" is the only Stones album I really have anytime for. The first and last time the band took a chance with their music.

Well, this is what happens when you're too chickenshit to jam with The Beach Boys on I Get Around as opposed to Jampin Jack Flash.....

[Aum Bop Diddit]

"Exile on Main Street" is so great it will always be underrated, and you can say that for any of the Stones albums that preceded it, and a few after as well.

The only thing "overrated" to me about the Stones, and it's a big one actually, is them as live performers.  I'm guessing that seeing them in '69 or '72 - '73 really was something, but even on some of that, Mick Jagger to me is insufferable.  Particularly as they get into stadium mode, watching him jump around and point means zero to me.  His vocals were absolutely god-awful for a long time -- they've gotten better but unfortunately they've also become thinner. When I watch videos of them I beg for "more Charlie"!

To fully understand the hoopla about their live performances, it'd be good to download a few of the concerts they released on their offiical bootleg site.  Brussels 73, Hampton 81 and LA 1975 are gems and easily beat out any live document they have released....and in some ways possibly even Ya-Ya's....


http://www.stonesarchive.com/bootlegs/

I saw the Stones in '75 and '81, and I am certainly very familiar with recordings/videos from all points of their career.  For years I had Brussels '73 that I recorded off the original broadcast from "King Biscuit Flower Hour" and it was my go-to Stones live recording.  Amazing band and Mick Taylor just elevates.  My criticism to the point was not only of Mick Jagger's live singing (for years very lazy compounded by no back up vocals to speak of) and my distaste for his (IMO) cartoon stage act, but the *emphasis* that is put on him in terms of their live greatness.  For me he completely detracts from it.  And again, I love his musicianship in the studio in the classic years.

I might add that I don't enjoy music in stadiums or huge amphitheaters.  I am grateful that I can go see Brian Wilson in mid-size or intimate halls.  It's also nice to enjoy the show with (mostly) other folks into the music and not boneheads there just to be there on the corporate ticket or whatever.

[Mahalo]

Well, this is what happens when you're too chickenshit to jam with The Beach Boys on I Get Around as opposed to Jampin Jack Flash.....

I think this may be my all time favorite post.

[BillA]

Overrated - Black & Blue

Underrated - Some Girls - The Stones take on Punk and Disco and win.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

"Exile on Main Street" is so great it will always be underrated, and you can say that for any of the Stones albums that preceded it, and a few after as well.

The only thing "overrated" to me about the Stones, and it's a big one actually, is them as live performers.  I'm guessing that seeing them in '69 or '72 - '73 really was something, but even on some of that, Mick Jagger to me is insufferable.  Particularly as they get into stadium mode, watching him jump around and point means zero to me.  His vocals were absolutely god-awful for a long time -- they've gotten better but unfortunately they've also become thinner. When I watch videos of them I beg for "more Charlie"!

To fully understand the hoopla about their live performances, it'd be good to download a few of the concerts they released on their offiical bootleg site.  Brussels 73, Hampton 81 and LA 1975 are gems and easily beat out any live document they have released....and in some ways possibly even Ya-Ya's....


http://www.stonesarchive.com/bootlegs/

I saw the Stones in '75 and '81, and I am certainly very familiar with recordings/videos from all points of their career.  For years I had Brussels '73 that I recorded off the original broadcast from "King Biscuit Flower Hour" and it was my go-to Stones live recording.  Amazing band and Mick Taylor just elevates.  My criticism to the point was not only of Mick Jagger's live singing (for years very lazy compounded by no back up vocals to speak of) and my distaste for his (IMO) cartoon stage act, but the *emphasis* that is put on him in terms of their live greatness.  For me he completely detracts from it.  And again, I love his musicianship in the studio in the classic years.

I might add that I don't enjoy music in stadiums or huge amphitheaters.  I am grateful that I can go see Brian Wilson in mid-size or intimate halls.  It's also nice to enjoy the show with (mostly) other folks into the music and not boneheads there just to be there on the corporate ticket or whatever.

Yeah, it always bugged me that their records would have such great Mick vocals with absolute perfect Keith backing vocals and then Keith would be nowhere near a mic for much of their live output, and now they have a whole haggle of  generic backup singers to bear that brunt (sorry Blondie) ...... The Mick/Keith harmonies are just as important to me as the Ray/Dave ones with The Kinks and Dave has never ever slouched on that end live.

[bluesno1fann]

Overrated - Black & Blue

Underrated - Some Girls - The Stones take on Punk and Disco and win.

I disagree with both.
Black and Blue is easily one of their less popular albums anyway, and barely gets any praise at all, for good reason.
Some Girls is usually considered one of the best Stones albums anyway, and is also generally considered to be the last great Stones album (I personally disagree, Tattoo You is their last great album). So in no way is Some Girls underrated. Their pre-Beggars Banquet albums on the other hand...

[buddhahat]

Most overrated: Between the Buttons

Definitely agree with this. It seemed to get a lot of revisionist praise over the last decade, possibly aided by the remaster. Allmusic even gave it 5 stars which I can't begin to fathom.

Most underrated for me maybe Tattoo You. If it is underrated - not sure. Man, that second side is so great.

[bluesno1fann]

Most overrated: Between the Buttons

Definitely agree with this. It seemed to get a lot of revisionist praise over the last decade, possibly aided by the remaster. Allmusic even gave it 5 stars which I can't begin to fathom.

Most underrated for me maybe Tattoo You. If it is underrated - not sure. Man, that second side is so great.

You're definitely right about Tattoo You. As for Between the Buttons, it hasn't quite grown on me at all. It's certainly not as good as either Aftermath or Satanic Majesties. Maybe one day in the future, it will grow on me and my opinion will change. For Now, Yes it's overrated!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Undercover is pretty underrated! It's got at least 4 great tunes (Undercover Of The Night, Too Much Blood, Pain Of Love, Wanna Hold You) and the rest at least has great playing and Jagger's vocals are really powerful on the whole thing.

[Aum Bop Diddit]

I like "Between the Buttons" but it along with "Satanic Majesties" is a bit the Stones going down a pop path that ultimately wasn't as rewarding as previous and subsequent directions.  Interesting to me is that though the band is often accused of aping the Beatles (or at least being very influenced by them) during this period, what I really hear in "BTB" is someone was listening to the Kinks!

I think the Stones big success in this time period was really as a singles band.

[bluesno1fann]

I like "Between the Buttons" but it along with "Satanic Majesties" is a bit the Stones going down a pop path that ultimately wasn't as rewarding as previous and subsequent directions.  Interesting to me is that though the band is often accused of aping the Beatles (or at least being very influenced by them) during this period, what I really hear in "BTB" is someone was listening to the Kinks!

I think the Stones big success in this time period was really as a singles band.

Not just as a singles band.
I know a lot of people would disagree, but I will always say that Aftermath is the Stone's best album, and that comes from that era.
Under My Thumb, Out Of Time, Lady Jane, Goin' Home, Mother's Little Helper, etc. You Can't go Wrong!
I have a soft spot for the first two Stones albums. Though the majority of the songs are covers, they still did an excellent job at it! Out Of Our Heads and Between the Buttons hasn't quite grown on me. Satanic Majesties is a great album, very underrated. I'd say it was a successful experiment, it's the Stones at their most unique and different! Beggar's Banquet is quite good as well, though slightly overrated. Same can be said with Let It Bleed.
Anyway, Those albums, as well as their singles, are some of the reasons why I consider the Brian Jones era their best.

[Moon Dawg]

  AFTERMATH is a good one but it does contain a fair amount of average quality tunes...but I'll say SOME GIRLS is their most overrated album. Pretty good, but nowhere near their best albums.

 ENGLAND'S NEWEST HITMAKERS and THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST are both underrated. No one in the band ever speaks well of MAJESTIES.

[donald]

I do like the albums before Brian died best, overall.  As an entire album of pretty good songs that most folks have probably missed and thus underrated, I would say Between the Buttons.   while a great lp, Exile is overrated in that it is self indulgent and too long.  Too many drugs, boys.

[cablegeddon]

I'm not going to argue it's just my opinion

Overrated: Exile on Main St....Beggars Banquet is underrated relative to Exile

[Gabo]

I like "Between the Buttons" but it along with "Satanic Majesties" is a bit the Stones going down a pop path that ultimately wasn't as rewarding as previous and subsequent directions.  Interesting to me is that though the band is often accused of aping the Beatles (or at least being very influenced by them) during this period, what I really hear in "BTB" is someone was listening to the Kinks!

I think the Stones big success in this time period was really as a singles band.

I think both the Kinks and the Stones were taking the Beatles' lead through the 60s, for the most part. I think the Village Green Society was a direct response to Sgt. Pepper, just like Majesties Request: "We're Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band..." = "We are the Village Green Preservation Society..."

[Aum Bop Diddit]

I like "Between the Buttons" but it along with "Satanic Majesties" is a bit the Stones going down a pop path that ultimately wasn't as rewarding as previous and subsequent directions.  Interesting to me is that though the band is often accused of aping the Beatles (or at least being very influenced by them) during this period, what I really hear in "BTB" is someone was listening to the Kinks!

I think the Stones big success in this time period was really as a singles band.

I think both the Kinks and the Stones were taking the Beatles' lead through the 60s, for the most part. I think the Village Green Society was a direct response to Sgt. Pepper, just like Majesties Request: "We're Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band..." = "We are the Village Green Preservation Society..."

Well, everyone was taking the Beatles' lead to some extent.  I don't know if Village Green was a "response" to Sgt Pepper, but musically it stands on its own as much as any piece of music ever has.  It has been argued that if any band trailblazed (or at least went their own way) more than the Beatles it was the Kinks -- from the crunch of the early hits to the peculiar but melodic paeans to the sunset of the British Empire and the idea of "concept" albums. 

It's all debatable of course and as such the fodder for message boards.  What seems pretty clear to me is that everyone was influencing everyone in those days -- anything new was picked up on quickly.  You can hear Velvet Underground in Stray Cat Blues, Brian Wilson in Here, There and Everywhere, the Beatles in Girl Don't Tell Me, Dylan in You've Got to Hide Your Love Away.  And so on.  And the Kinks in "When I'm 64" (and a lot of Pepper really), "You're Mother Should Know", "I Can't Explain", "Between the Buttons"....

[Summer_Days]

Overrated: Exile On Main Street. Some great songs, like 'Happy', 'Tumbling Dice', and some good songs. And a lot of songs that are, for me at least, not memorable. Sticky Fingers is way better.

Underrated: Voodoo Lounge. This was actually the first Stones album I ever bought, back in 1994. Weird, huh? Some goshdarn great songs to be found here. Nobody ever talks about this album. It's no Sticky Fingers or Aftermath, but hey.

[Justin]

Overrated: Exile On Main Street. Some great songs, like 'Happy', 'Tumbling Dice', and some good songs. And a lot of songs that are, for me at least, not memorable. Sticky Fingers is way better.

Sorry but I just gotta say...out of all the songs on Exile and you picked "Happy" and "Tumbling Dice" as the only keepers...just shows that you couldn't have picked the two most mainstream/accessible tunes on the album.  That's like saying Pet Sounds is overrated except for "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Sloop John B."  It's kind of obvious that you just never "got" Exile. 

Exile is a different beast all together.  It took me years to finally get around to it and now I understand that Exile is about a vision and a mood that drapes over the entire album. As a collection of songs that weave together to create one idea---THAT's the magic of this album.  It's not about picking out what songs are better than the other---it's about listening to an album and going on a journey through rock and roll, country, blues and gospel.  It's a full 5 course meal.  The main course only tastes better because of the appetizer that preceeded it.  Each flavor blends with the other...the songs may all sound different yet they each share the same DNA. 

Sticky Fingers is a short (comparative to Exile) collection of songs that all work cohesively as well but on a whole different level.  It's a very open and accessible album.  Exile feels like an album where you need a password to enter.  It's not going to reveal itself in its entirety all at once.  It'll come to you after several visits.  Whether you want to see it or not...it'll come eventually.

[Gabo]

 And the Kinks in "When I'm 64" (and a lot of Pepper really), "You're Mother Should Know", "I Can't Explain", "Between the Buttons"....

I don't think The Beatles took the musical hall thing from The Kinks. I honestly can only think of a few Kinks songs with any music hall influence at all (Mr. Pleasant, Princess Marina, All My Friends Were There), all of which postdate Sgt. Pepper.

[alf wiedersehen]

 And the Kinks in "When I'm 64" (and a lot of Pepper really), "You're Mother Should Know", "I Can't Explain", "Between the Buttons"....

I don't think The Beatles took the musical hall thing from The Kinks. I honestly can only think of a few Kinks songs with any music hall influence at all (Mr. Pleasant, Princess Marina, All My Friends Were There), all of which postdate Sgt. Pepper.

Actually, "Mr. Pleasant" predates Sgt. Pepper.

Also, I think music hall was quite prominent in Ray's writing style. I'll find examples to post when I have the chance.