Debatably one of the best rock bands of all time, The Rolling Stones, released their 26th studio album “Hackney Diamonds,” on Oct. 20. Although they have released many different collections and remasters throughout recent years, “Hackney Diamonds” is especially influential because it’s the first album of original music since their album “A Bigger Bang,” released in 2005 and their first album since the death of their drummer, Charlie Watts. There is a definite difference in singer Mick Jagger’s voice as he is aging, but the band does not fail to keep up their rock style, with iconic guitar solos. This album features artists from Paul McCartney to Lady Gaga, exploration of tempos and genres, and lyrics that range from humorous to emotional. The collection of 12 songs takes you on a nostalgic journey that is worth listening to at least once.
In case you’re not cultured in British slang, the term “hackney diamonds” is used to describe broken glass. This can be seen in the album cover, which shows a dagger shattering a glass heart. Mick Jagger explained in an interview how hackney diamonds are the glass of your car window that is left on the streets of Hackney on a Saturday night after a burglary. Throughout the album, the lyrics display themes of greed and reliance on others. By naming the album after shattered glass, The Rolling Stones display their attitude towards breaking out of typical band norms.
The opening song on the album “Angry” sets up the vibe of the album within the first few lines. It shows off the angsty vibe that can be seen throughout the rest of the songs on “Hackney Diamonds”. In my opinion, this is the perfect way to start the first album that your band has released in 18 years. It shows that the classic rock vibe is still very prevalent in their music and by including a basic, yet smashing guitar solo, old fans can still find comfort in The Rolling Stone’s new music.
The best thing about “Hackney Diamonds” was the beauty in numerous songs. “Depending On You,” “Dreamy Skies” and “ Sweet Sounds Of Heaven (feat. Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder)” introduced a whole new perspective on the album. These songs showcased new sounds like folk and ballads that blew me away. I found that these songs had the more powerful chorus and heartwarming vocals. The blend of Lady Gaga and Mick Jagger’s voice, accompanied by Stevie Wonder’s incredible piano playing, topped all the songs on “Hackney Diamonds” combined. Being that this song had more of a blues and gospel vibe mixed with that classic rock sound, I was so impressed by how well The Rolling Stones could pull it off. Not to mention, “Sweet Sounds Of Heaven” was the second to last song on the album, which ended the album on an ethereal note.
My only real complaint about “Hackney Diamonds” is that some of the chorus’ were too repetitive, to the point where I got a little annoyed. The song “Mess It Up” would’ve been my favorite if it wasn’t for the pop-sounding chorus. Although I do appreciate when bands explore outside of their usual genres, I think that The Rolling Stones would be better off staying in their generation’s sound.
“Hackney Diamonds” is the epitome of a dad rock album, and for it being the first album released in almost two decades, I think it deserves more hype. Despite The Rolling Stones straying away from releasing new music as they get older, I don’t think they’re done quite yet. Although it may seem like this band is no longer in their prime, I was thoroughly impressed by how well they could incorporate their old sound into “Hackney Diamonds.” From the range of emotion and compelling lyrics, to the experimentation of different styles and genres, I believe this album deserves ⅘ stars, as well as many more listens.
