The Rolling Stones No. 2 review

The second UK album by the Rolling Stones which is again mainly made up of covers. Currently I'm reviewing the UK albums by the group. The US versions will be covered in another post.

Tracks:

1. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love: 5/10 it's got a catchy beat, but unfortunately The Rolling Stones milk it to death over 5 unnecessary minutes.

2. Down Home Girl: 6/10 an overlong but enjoyable diversion.

3. You Can't Catch Me: 8/10 it's entertaining subject matter and excellent baseline gives this song a wickedly sharp edge.

4. Time is On My Side: 7/10 it's not the most interesting song ever, but it's a lot more entertaining than it first sounds.

5. What a Shame: 7/10 the first original song on the record sometimes feels whiny but it shows The Rolling Stones, even with less compelling lyrics, refuse to phone it in.

6. Grown Up Wrong: 5/10 this finished playing 30 seconds ago and I've already half forgotten it. That's a bit worrying. It has its moments though.

7. Down the Road Apiece: 8/10 this hugely catchy song is pretty hard to dislike so don't even bother trying.

8. Under the Boardwalk: 8/10 it's just another love song, but despite the familiar lyrics it's still effective thanks to its peaceful tone and effective understated beat.

9. I Can't Be Satisfied: 7/10 it's difficult to believe this is a cover since The Rolling Stones' lack of satisfaction runs through many of their later songs. This particular cover is solid but nowhere near as imaginative in discussing being dissatisfied as many other similar songs.

10. Pain in My Heart: 7/10 fairly repetitive, but it stands out from the other songs on the album thematically and on a musical level, it delivers.

11. Off the Hook: 7/10 it's just another song, but extra points for making a song which is just about someone not picking up the phone entertaining. 

12. Susie Q: 7/10 the album closer doesn't say much but manages to pack a surprising amount of punch into it's brief runtime and minimalistic lyrics.

Best song: You Can't Catch Me
Worst song: Grown Up Wrong


Summary: Overall, this album lives up to its title since it is number 2 compared to the first one, and isn't as strong. There are some forgettable songs on here, but ultimately it's pretty enjoyable if not thematically compelling. For a band which is only beginning to find its feet and mainly recording covers this is surprisingly solid and in every instrumental there's a true determination that shows The Rolling Stones mean business.



Final rating: 7/10