The Rolling Stones' "Hackney Diamonds" is the first album of originals since 2005's "A Bigger Bang". The producer Andrew Watt (he's everywhere, lately) makes the album a lot more polished and modern sounding than the title suggests (I can hear some fastidious Autotune that Jagger definitely doesn't need) and the album, in my opinion, is a success.
I really liked the first single "Angry". It's very catchy and modern, while I appreciated a little less the second bluesy one "Sweet Sound of Heaven" even if with 2 super important guests like Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder on keyboards. Talking about important guests, who's more important than Paul McCartney (on bass) for the upbeat and inspired "Bite My Head Off" and Elton John for "Live by The Sword". Two of my favourite songs on the album. But my one is definitely "Whole Wild World" (I just love the chorus).
Hackney Diamonds is full of good music, I can mention the ballad "Tell me Straight", or "Get Close" or the last "Rolling Stone Blues", a version of Muddy Waters' Rollin' Stone featuring only Keith Richards and Mick Jagger. Jagger and Richards are 80 years old. Respect.
Rating 70/100
Top tracks: Angry, Bite My Head Off, Whole Wide World.