Zack: I was able to stealthily make sure that the
first two Rolling Stones albums we listened to were my favorite two, so it’s
all downhill from here. Not really, the listmakers (for once) did an excellent
job in picking the 6 Stones albums they included, so Let It Bleed is privy to
all the same praise I’ve heaped on Exile on Main Street and Aftermath. If I was
to issue any criticism to this album, it would be that the primary singles –
Gimme Shelter and You Can’t Always Get What You Want – are just too good. They
bookend the album and totally eclipse all the songs in between. For most other
Stones albums, the singles are strong but there are a couple of other songs on
there that I love almost as much as the singles. Here, there’s a pretty strong
drop-off from my first 2 favorite tracks to the third. But that comment is
minor, since there’s really no filler track on Let It Bleed.
Favorite Tracks: Gimme Shelter; You Can’t Always Get What
You Want; Midnight Rambler
Emily: The Rolling Stones are such an iconic band that I tend to forget exactly what they sound like. It's like they've just been part of the cultural backdrop for so long that they tend to blend in with every other band from that era, all of the musicians who have stood the test of time. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, though. It means I'm surprised every time I actually listen to a whole Rolling Stones album. I forget how strong the blues influence is in their music, especially earlier albums like Let It Bleed. I think they're most successful, though, when they take that influence and make it entirely their own. That especially shines through on the most iconic songs from this album - Gimme Shelter and You Can't Always Get What You Want. These songs are classics for a reason. And it's a great reminder when you haven't heard them in a while of why this band remains relevant nearly fifty years after this album was released.
Favorite Tracks: Gimme Shelter; You Can't Always Get What You Want; Let It Bleed
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