The Rolling Stones' latest album, Foreign Tongues, is a testament to the band's enduring legacy and their ability to evolve with time. Despite being in their eighties, the Stones prove that age is just a number, as they deliver an impressive and modern-sounding record that rivals their classic output from the 60s and 70s. The album is a satisfying sequel to their Grammy Award-winning predecessor, Hackney Diamonds, and showcases the band's core trio of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, along with producer Andrew Watt, creating a sense of urgency and vigour that is audible from the first bluesy lick of the opening track, Rough And Twisted. The album features a mix of hard-hitting blues, surprising sentimentality, and a political bent, with a dig at Elon Musk and a nod to the social unrest in America. The star-studded special guests, including Paul McCartney, Benmont Tench, and Robert Smith, add to the album's appeal, while the covers of Amy Winehouse's You Know I'm No Good and Chuck Berry's Beautiful Delilah showcase the band's versatility and willingness to experiment. Overall, Foreign Tongues is an impressive hour-ish of new music that proves the Rolling Stones are still relevant and capable of delivering the thrills, even in their late career peak in their eighties.
