A Bigger Bang
A Bigger Bang | ||||
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Studio album by The Rolling Stones | ||||
Released | 6 September 2005 | |||
Recorded | November 2004, 7–9 March, 6–28 June 2005 | |||
Studio | France, West Indies and Henson Recording Studios, Los Angeles; mixed at Village Recorders, Los Angeles | |||
Genre | Hard rock, blues rock, garage rock, punk blues | |||
Length | 64:23 | |||
Language | English | |||
Label | Virgin, Rolling Stones | |||
Producer | Don Was and The Glimmer Twins, with Matt Clifford ("Streets of Love") | |||
The Rolling Stones chronology | ||||
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Singles from A Bigger Bang | ||||
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A Bigger Bang is the 22nd British and 24th American studio album by the Rolling Stones, released on Virgin Records in September 2005. It is the follow-up to their previous full-length studio album Bridges to Babylon from 1997; that gap of eight years was, up to that time, the longest between studio albums of the band's recording career. Released as a double album on vinyl and a single CD, it was produced by Don Was and the Glimmer Twins.
History
The album used a stripped-down style reminiscent of Some Girls (1978), but with a harder, more contemporary edge. Although initial reports stated that the Stones had "returned to their roots" with the record, the minimal instrumentation, rough mix, tough blues and "garage" rock hybrid bear certain similarities to the style of contemporary artists like the White Stripes and the Black Keys.
Many songs were recorded with just the core band of Jagger, Richards and Watts. Ronnie Wood was absent from many sessions, playing on only ten of the sixteen tracks, with only occasional contributions from outside musicians comprising the recording of the album. This is also the first album where Jagger plays bass guitar on some tracks.
The Stones said in a statement that the album's title reflects "their fascination with the scientific theory about the origin of the universe."[1][2]
Release and reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 73/100[3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | favorable[5] |
Canoe.ca | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B–[7] |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
PopMatters | 5/10[9] |
Robert Christgau | A–[10] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stylus Magazine | B[12] |
The first single, "Streets of Love"/"Rough Justice", reached No. 15 in the UK singles chart, while A Bigger Bang peaked at No. 2 on the UK charts.[13] Another song from the album was "Sweet Neo Con", which was critical of the conservative Christian movement in American politics.[14]
In August 2005, the Rolling Stones embarked on the 90-show A Bigger Bang Tour in support of the album. It was met with sold-out tickets at every destination, usually within minutes of going on sale. The tour was extended into 2007 because Richards got hurt falling out of a tree in Fiji and required surgery in New Zealand. It concluded on August 2007 at the O2 Arena in London.
Critical reaction was mostly positive. The aggregate score of the album by Metacritic was rated 73 out of 100, categorizing the reviews as "generally favorable."[3] A Bigger Bang was touted as the best Rolling Stones album in years.[4][5][6][7][12] Nevertheless, all of the Stones albums since 1989's Steel Wheels had been similarly lauded,[9] and many critics and fans felt that the Stones had yet to record a late-period album truly up to their high standards. It was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005, and ranked the second-best album of the year by Rolling Stone magazine, behind rapper Kanye West's Late Registration.[15]
A Bigger Bang went platinum in the US[16] and Germany,[17] and gold in Japan.[18] According to Nielsen SoundScan it sold 546,000 copies in the US,[19] and as of 31 March 2006, 2.4 million copies worldwide according to EMI.[20]
In 2009, A Bigger Bang was reissued by Universal Music Group. The US re-release was handled by Interscope Records, while Polydor Records handled all other territories.
Track listing
All tracks written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Rough Justice" | 3:11 |
2. | "Let Me Down Slow" | 4:16 |
3. | "It Won't Take Long" | 3:54 |
4. | "Rain Fall Down" | 4:54 |
5. | "Streets of Love" | 5:10 |
6. | "Back of My Hand" | 3:32 |
7. | "She Saw Me Coming" | 3:12 |
8. | "Biggest Mistake" | 4:06 |
9. | "This Place Is Empty" | 3:12 |
10. | "Oh No, Not You Again" | 3:46 |
11. | "Dangerous Beauty" | 3:48 |
12. | "Laugh, I Nearly Died" | 4:54 |
13. | "Sweet Neo Con" | 4:33 |
14. | "Look What the Cat Dragged In" | 3:57 |
15. | "Driving Too Fast" | 3:56 |
16. | "Infamy" | 3:47 |
DVD special edition bonus disc
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Introduction to A Bigger Bang" | 10:45 |
2. | "Streets of Love" (video) | 4:25 |
3. | "Streets of Love" (TV performance) | 4:03 |
4. | "Rough Justice" (TV performance) | 3:10 |
5. | "Rain Fall Down" (Remix) | 6:10 |
6. | "Under the Radar" | 4:36 |
7. | "Don't Wanna Go Home" | 3:34 |
8. | "Streets of Love" (With commentary from director Jake Nava) | 4:25 |
Total length: | 41:22 |
Personnel
- Mick Jagger – bass (6, 7, 11, 13, 14), guitars (1–5, 8, 10–16), harmonica (6, 13), keyboard (4, 12, 13, 16), percussion (6, 7, 12, 15, 16), production (all tracks), slide guitar (6, 9), vibraphone (4), vocals (all tracks)
- Keith Richards – bass (9, 10, 16), guitars (all tracks), keyboard (16), piano (9), production (all tracks), vocals (2, 3, 7–9, 16)
- Charlie Watts – drums (all tracks)
- Ronnie Wood – guitars (3–5, 7, 12, 14, 15), slide guitar (1, 2)
Additional musicians
- Lenny Castro – percussion (14)
- Blondie Chaplin – vocals (7, 16)
- Matt Clifford – keyboard (4, 5), organ (5), piano (5), production (5), programming (5), string arrangement (5), vibraphone (4, 5)
- Darryl Jones – bass (1–5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 15)
- Chuck Leavell – organ (3, 5, 8), piano (1, 5, 15)
Production
- J.D. Andrew – editing (all tracks), engineering (all tracks)
- Andy Brohard – engineering (1)
- Ryan Castle – engineering (1)
- Pierre de Beauport – guitar technician (all tracks), engineering (all tracks)
- Tony King – artwork
- Nick Knight – photography
- Stephen Marcussen – mastering (all tracks)
- Michael Nash – artwork
- Dean Nelson – engineering (2, 3, 5–11, 15)
- Jack Joseph Puig – mixing (2, 3, 5–11, 15)
- Stewart Whitmore – editing (all tracks)
- Dave Sardy – mixing (1)
- Krish Sharma – mixing (4, 6, 12–14, 16)
- German Villacorta – mixing (4, 6, 12–14, 16)
- Don Was – production (all tracks)
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Singles
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[48] | Platinum | 40,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[49] | Gold | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[50] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[51] | Gold | 20,000^ |
France (SNEP)[52] | Gold | 75,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[17] | Platinum | 200,000^ |
Greece (IFPI Greece)[53] | Gold | 10,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ)[18] | Gold | 100,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[54] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Poland (ZPAV)[55] | Gold | 10,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56] | Gold | 20,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[16] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[58] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- ↑ "Rolling Stones back with a Bang". BBC News. 28 July 2005. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ↑ "Stones promise 'A Bigger Bang'". Los Angeles Times (from Associated Press). 28 July 2005. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- 1 2 "A Bigger Bang Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "A Bigger Bang – The Rolling Stones: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 Phipps, Keith (14 September 2005). "The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang | Music | MusicalWork Review". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 Sterdan, Darryl (1 September 2005). "CANOE – Jam! Music – Artists – Album Review: A Bigger Bang". jam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 Browne, David (5 September 2005). "A Bigger Bang Review | Music Reviews and News". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Martin, Dan (19 September 2005). "NME Album Reviews – The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang". NME. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- 1 2 Shymanik, Steve; MacNeil, Jason (12 September 2005). "The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang". PopMatters. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert. "CG: The Rolling Stones". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ Light, Alan (22 September 2005). "A Bigger Bang: The Rolling Stones: Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009.
- 1 2 Soto, Alfred (9 September 2005). "The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Rolling Stones | Artist". Official Charts. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
- ↑ Ali, Lorraine (15 August 2005). "Satisfaction Guaranteed". Newsweek. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
- ↑ "The Top 50 Records of 2005". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2007.
2. The Rolling Stones, A Bigger Bang
- 1 2 "American album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.
- 1 2 "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (The Rolling Stones; 'A Bigger Bang')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- 1 2 "Japanese album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2005年9月 on the drop-down menu
- ↑ Christman, Ed, et al. "Future Shock". Billboard. 23 January 2010
- ↑ Cashmere, Paul (13 January 2007). "EMI Share Price Drops on Restructure Announcement". Undercover Media Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Top 40 Albums - 37 / 2005". Tracklisten. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "European Albums – Week of 24 September 2005". billboard.com. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Rolling Stones: A Bigger Bang" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Lescharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Officialcharts.de – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Ελληνικό Chart". ifpi.gr (in Greek). Archived from the original on 14 October 2005.
- ↑ "Archivum: Top 40 Album". MAHASZ (in Hungarian). Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 36, 2005". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Rolling Stones Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Top 400 Modern Rock songs". Modernrock.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ↑ "UK Top 75 singles, 2005" (PDF). polyhex.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ↑ "UK Top 75 singles, 2006" (PDF). polyhex.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ↑ "Discos de Oro y Platino – 2006". capif.org.ar (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 13 November 2012. Enter Rolling Stones in the field Interpret. Enter A Bigger Bang in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen.
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Music Canada. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Danish album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved 13 November 2012. Click on næste to go to page 37 if certification is from the official website.
- ↑ "French album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Greek album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "New Zealand album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "Polish album certifications – The Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Rolling Stones; 'A Bigger Bang')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
- ↑ "British album certifications – Rolling Stones – A Bigger Bang". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 November 2012. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Enter A Bigger Bang in the search field and then press Enter.
- ↑ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2006". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 13 November 2012.