I was um, forwarded a copy of this by a friend, and here's what I think of it after my first listen: alright, but nothing great. It's good to see the army of side musicians used on the Forty Licks tour done away with, although it still sounds kinda heavily produced. The songs themselves are alright, not bad, not great. A couple stinkers, namely Jagger's blatantly anti-Bush "Sweet Neo Con", which I'm sure will get plenty of praise from the folks over at Rolling Stone, but just sounds annoying to me. None really stuck out as great. All in all, 6/10, maybe a 7/10.

I was unaware that a)The Rolling Stones were actually making new material, and b)someone was keeping up on that sort of thing...

Personally I think it's the best they've done since Tattoo You.

i like how they rip themselves off with their new single 'rough justice'. does anyone else hear 'brown sugar' in that tune?

i see a bright future ahead for these young lads

You know, I was just now thinking about this album. I went over to markprindle.com and read the review there, and although not really for the same reasons as him, I just kinda realized this album sucks. It's just boring, most of the songs just sound the same, there are a couple good ones. And a bunch of people are praising it because they removed all of the horns and junk that people think they've been using too much in recent years, but on some of these songs it seems like a horn section would actually make them better. No requests for the back up singers, though. Ugh, I can't believe Rolling Stone gave this album 4 1/2 stars. There's a complex situation with a friend of mine, who has tickets, over whether I'll be able to go see them in November, but with all the praise this album's been getting they'll probably play way too much off of it, so now I don't really even care.

Yea, this is the best album they've put out since Tattoo You.

Sweet Neo-Con sounds cool, but the lyrics are annoying. I agree with what the song is about, but I don't think it's pulled off well. Maybe it's too direct (the Stones don't usually make what they're singing about that obvious).

I still think they should have done "Brown Sugar" at the Superbowl with Beyonce doing a duet

Seeing Beyonce's breast would be a little more pleasing than Janet's so yes, I can agree with you. The Rolling Stones need a boost otherwise I see them making greatest hits albums and dvds from now on.