These old Stones continue to gather moss

Why do the Rolling Stones even make albums anymore? When a band's creative powers have been near death for 25 years, maybe it's time to call it quits on the recording, and just be comfortable selling out stadiums and being sponsored by Ameriquest. For the past couple of decades the Stones have consistently made mediocre albums that in no way measure up to their 60s and early 70s heyday. Their newest effort, A Bigger Bang, is no different. Bloated and uneven, this album will most likely fail to leave much of a mark, taking its rightful place as a footnote in the Stones' body of work. Ultimately, it's the Stones sounding like the Stones, but without the vitality, grit and soul that once made them so great. \nOne of the major problems with the album is that it is spread out over 16 tracks when ten would have been fine. A Bigger Bang is cluttered with forgettable sound-alike rockers that never really go anywhere. It seems that Charlie Watts only knows one drum beat these days, and by the time you've heard it for the tenth or eleventh time, it starts to become annoying. In addition to a general sense of mediocrity, there are also several cringe-inducing moments. The funk and hip-hop tinged "Rain Fall Down" is laughable as Mick, all of 60-some years old, sings about making sweet love. "Streets of Love" is a mushy power ballad that is nearly impossible to sit through, with lyrics so lame that it sounds as if Mick slopped them down 5 minutes before they recorded it. Mick also takes a swipe at the President in the unremarkable "Sweet Neo Con," but who hasn't these days?\nFor all the problems it has, A Bigger Bang does have a few decent moments. "Let Me Down Slow" is a good pop song with a bittersweet and affecting melody. "Back of My Hand" is an old-fashioned dirty blues that sounds like it came off of Beggars Banquet, and the Keith-sung "This Place is Empty" has a soulful world-weariness to it that makes you wish he had lead vocals on more songs.\nFor better or worse, the Stones still refuse to act their age. While many people admire their longevity, it seems to me they are trying to recapture something that is never going to return. The Stones are old men still trying to make young men's music, and their act is becoming less and less believable as the years continue to go by.