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FANS ALBUM REVIEWS
THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST
Nineteen Reviews - Overall Average Rating - 8.0 Tongues
(We are accepting fan reviews for this album once again, for a limited time)
SATANIC MAJESTIES
by
Stynch
April 18, 2012
Rating:
"It's so very lonely... you're 2000 light years from home." "In another
land..." "We have journeyed far from here." "...and if we close our eyes
together, then we will see where we all come from." Space, loss of time and
direction, journeying to nowhere, where are we? Such questions pose the first
time listener of Their Satanic Majesties' Request, a confusing,
jam-filled romp of psychedelic atmosphere from... The Doors - no wait, Iron
butterfly - no... The Beatles - HELL NO, uh.... The Rolling Stones? You are
telling me the greatest rock n' roll band in the world and the best blues band
made this colorful record of total senselessness? YES, and let me tell you...
it's pretty damn good, but incoherent.
Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards were all serving jail time at this point. The band was completely disconnected; it was rumored that they all were never together, at any point, during recording. They are lost in the recording studio, 2000 light years away from each other. This is important, and I want to say this now... this is not a Sgt. Pepper's copycat. Frankly, besides the heavy orchestrations, cover, and the use of public domain sounds, this album is very different. It bleeds psychedelics, and broods the dark atmosphere, that Sgt. Pepper's fails to deliver. Pepper may be the most influential album of all time (that does not mean it is the best, there's a difference) but it isn't as psychedelic as Satanic Majesties. Now that we got that cleared up... back to the album.
As you take out your LP, you notice the 3D album
cover (that is frickin' sweet). It's an obvious top-off to Sgt. Peppers
(but who cares, it is more like a mockery). Open the album and we jump to the
central concept of Satanic Majesties: the maze. This album is full of
space, confusion, and wonder... much like a maze. But with this maze, and the
focus of the album, there is no way to arrive to the destination, "It's Here."
That was not a mistake, and whether the boys realized this or not, they set
themselves up for a central focus on this album. Just as the listener is
confused as to why The Stones have gone psychedelic, so does the music reflect
that. There are two jam songs in the album, "Sing This All Together (See What
Happens)" and "Gomper," these jams reflect the confusion and chaos of being
incoherent and lost in the maze. The lyrics and mood of "Sing This All
Together," "Citadel," "The Lantern," and "In Another Land" also reflect this
same concept. They may not be the best of songs, "Citadel" is an exception, but
they work well with the focus of the album. The best example of this is the
album's best song: "2000 Light Years" From Home". It has the best groove,
atmosphere, feel, and mood that sets everything together. "She's a Rainbow"
misses the focus, but still adds to the atmosphere with a beautiful piano played
by Nicky Hopkins and the ending note sets the stage for what "2000 Light Years
will continue. "On With the Show" is the ending piece: it's fun and funny, and
it gets us ready for a show that we as the listeners will never see. Perhaps
that's the end of our maze... something that can't be reached. What really can't
be reached is the quality of these songs, though. This album has a great
atmosphere and an ironic focus, but the quality each song brings lacks in the
department of listener satisfaction. It's a tough listen if you don't like jams,
but none the less... it's effective and definitely worth the listen, to those
willing to attempt the maze one more time. "See you on Aldebaran!"
To listen to some sound clips or to buy
THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES
REQUEST click here: Their Satanic Majesties Request
More fan reviews:
SATANIC MAJESTIES
by devilsadvocate
July 9, 2009
Rating:
So many people see this album as a rip-off of the Beatles' masterful Sgt Pepper!
I think the comparison is a bit unfair. The Stones had a lot of problems at the
time this album was being made, but they were internal: the drug busts of the three
"main" band members meant that it was very hard to work with any kind of
continuity. There were also dissentions in the band over the direction the album should
take. A lot of people think that the album was Brian Jones' idea when in actual fact, he
was totally opposed to it, wanting instead to return to the band's blues roots.
This album deserves to be rediscovered. While the sound certainly is very different from
anything else the Boys have done, the album does contain some very nice music.
"In Another Land" is the only Bill Wyman penned song officially released on a
original Stones album. While not as good as his "Downtown Suzie" (released on
the compilation Metamorphosis album), it makes for pleasant listening, although
one could do without the snoring at the end.
"Sing This All Together (See What Happens)" is a strong contender for worst
Stones song ever. This self-indulgent mish-mash knocks half a tongue off the album's
rating. Unlistenable!
"She's A Rainbow" follows and redeems things, big time. This beautiful song
highlights the talents of piano player Nicky Hopkins, who does a wonderful job here. The
album's other winner is "2000 Light Years From Home". This song clearly shows
just how essential Brian Jones was to the band. The song just wouldn't be the same without
his otherworldly Mellotron.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
by Lucas Berredo
January 7, 2004
Rating:
Everyone talks bad about 'Satanic Majesties', but I think that album is better than
anything done by Stones from mid-70s on, like Black and Blue and It's Only
Rock and Roll.
Satanic had some songs with interesting chord progressions, such as 'Sing This
All Together' (minus the lyrics, that song begins with a very great G major, changing to
the sad D minor) and '2000 Man' (great harmony!, minus the chorus passage).
Brian Jones is really technically less gifted than Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood, but he
shows he was the most creative and innovative from the Stones. Maybe he was in the wrong
band. 'Gomper' is such a brilliant song for the time, even talking about psychedelic
stuff. The exotic instruments are good and the most intriguing for me is the sitar.
'She's A Rainbow' is a classic masterpiece, in spite of the Beatles' imitation, but...
even though it is a great song. So I think Satanic Majesties is a very underrated
album and it's not a Sgt. Pepper's bastard cousin, in spite of a great influence
on the Stones work at the time.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Rohan Ghatak
January 27, 2003
Rating:
Astounding. This has to be the most astounding Stones' album ever released, aside from Beggars'
Banquet. I like it. The sheer vivacity and psychedelic influence is uncharacteristic
of the Stones.Though some fans did not like this, newer, geekier fans should try this out
instead of EXILE ON MAIN STREET (a *yuck* album)
The album opens with 'Sing This All Together', an enjoyable, heavily Arabic song, minus
the stupid vocals. Then comes one of their all time greats, 'Citadel', beginning abruptly
at the end of 'Sing This...'.'Citadel' is such a song that makes you feel joyous, other
than 'Jumpin Jack Flash'. The next song is rather, well, stupid, 'In Another Land',
by Bill Wyman. What put me off was the sound of snoring. Then, after the 'Sing This...'
reprise, and before, comes '2000 Man' and 'She's a Rainbow'. Both of them are works of
art. And then comes the heavily psychedelic 'Lantern', and '2000 Light Years From Home',
with 'Gomper' stuck in between. Beautiful. The last song provides a perfect ending,
'On with the Show'.
The best songs are 'Citadel', 'She's a Rainbow' and '2000 Man'. Hear this, boys! This is
God!!! The album changed my life, with its beautiful cut-ins, and lyrics. Hear this all
together.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Space Faced Dave
January 1, 2003
Rating:
Born in the year of 1965, I grew up with the Stones, the 5 records that where played and
owned by my father was Aftermath, Between the Buttons, Their Satanic Majesty´s
Request, Beggars Banquet and Let it Bleed. The 2 later ones had very interesting
covers. I examined them carefully and I always found new things to look at. But the album
that I would listen to mostly after getting old enough to handle the record player was: Their
Satanic Majesty´s Request. It had a 3d picture at the cover and the band moved their
head as you looked at the picture from different angels. My favorite song on this album is
"She's a Rainbow". It has this silly piano playing the melody and it feels
simple until the bashing acoustic guitar comes in. A brilliant song. "2000 Light
Years", mystic because of the strange sounds that are probably played backwards and
the Heavy bass/guitar intro. "In Another Land", Mr. Wyman gets one of his song
to join in on the record, a very good song and it ends with the snoring of Bill (every one
have heard the classic story about how the riffs to "Satisfaction" where made).
"Sing this Song all Together (Part one and two)", well I have mixed emotions,
sometimes they are good and sometimes I hate them. "The Gomper" starts off very
good but that part ends and it is placed far down on the list. "The Latern" is a
very good song and it is very well produced with trumpets bass guitars and Mick's voice at
its best. "Citadel", a smashing song, the hardest feedbacking guitars.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Gary Roberts
September 28, 2002
Rating:
The eerie piano notes that kick off MAJESTIES immediately establish the
unsettling mood of much of the music to come. SATANIC MAJESTIES has, over the
years, been regarded as the bastard cousin of The Beatles' overpraised SGT PEPPER'S
album of 1967, but for me, the Stones did better. Yes, it may sound more raw and dated
than PEPPER, but in terms of atmosphere and unease, MAJESTIES far
exceeds it. SING THIS ALL TOGETHER, once you get past the rather silly lyrics, is a
wonderfully sinister musical workout featuring creative percussion and guitar work, while
CITADEL's opening hammer-and-anvil guitar explosion leads us into another doom-laden slice
of psychedelic Stones, with a sneering Jagger vocal that presages his sound on JUMPIN'
JACK FLASH. 2000 MAN is less effective, but instrumental-wise it works quite nicely, and
then we segue into Bill snoring and the genuinely spooky SING THIS ALL TOGETHER reprise
("Where's that joint?"). The screams, pounding piano work and dense, smoky
atmosphere end side one in suitably sinister mode, before the slowed-down whistling-wind
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas". Side two kicks off with the beautiful SHE'S A
RAINBOW, most notable for the lovely high-pitched Mick/Keith harmonies and a exemplary,
fluid piano accompaniment. CITADEL, though a lesser track, benefits from some sublime
slide guitar (no doubt courtesy of Brian), and it possesses a nice, calm rustic English
quality, which swiftly darkens as GOMPER takes over and evokes a disturbing journey
through some dark wood late at night, with demons and evil spirits lurking nearby. Then
comes the superb 2,000 LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME, distinguished by Brian's sublime Mellotron
work that can still raise the hairs on my neck. There's a real sadness about the track,
but it's still truly exciting, and Bill and Charlie's rhythm work is restrained but
integral to the strength of this fine composition. With the vaudevillian ON WITH THE SHOW,
the band relax into a far more lighthearted style, and Mick's upper crust vocal is
amusing, even if the track itself is decidedly minor Jagger-Richards. When one considers
the troubled circumstances in which the album was stitched together - drug busts every
week, it seemed - SATANIC MAJESTIES actually stands up as a very valuable product of its
era, an under-rated, flawed gem of an album vividly evoking the strong scent of hash and
incense, the suggestion of dark sex and the uncertainty that lurked beneath the Summer of
Love.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By ODJ aka Dirty Dirty
September 12, 2002
Rating:
This album is obviously not like the big four classics to follow (although personally I
think Exile is a bit over rated), but I feel they needed this album to transform
into what they would become right after it. They had their first period with their
straight to the roots blues which they did as good or better than any of the other white
boys, hence they got their name from their idol Muddy Waters song "Rolling
Stone". SMR was not the best album to come out of the psychedelic area but
it was a lot better than it was perceived at the time and like a fine wine has been more
appreciated over the years. You have gems like 'She's a Rainbow" that Mick sounds
great on and 'Gomper', which is a kick ass song and one of my favorite Stones songs. '2000
Light Years From Home' which is a better Psychedelic song than anyone the Beatles ever
wrote. In closing you can appreciate this album by understanding how it bridged the gap
between the energetic blues of their beginnings and the mature masterpieces that were soon
to come. Overall a great piece of work that was highly overlooked.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Wayne
May 28, 2002
Rating:
I think Their Satanic Majesties Request released back in '67 is one of worst
albums the Rolling Stones have ever made during their 40 year history, with the song '2000
Light Years From Home' & the album cover itself as its only masterpieces. It's nothing
but a psychedelic travesty of epic proportions since the Stones were trying to compete
with Sgt. Pepper from the Beatles as well as The Doors from the Doors
& Surrealistic Pillow from the Jefferson Airplane, and failed miserably. I
think the Stones seemed kind of lost at the time as a rock-n-roll band since 'Let's Spend
The Night Together' is a mediocre single, while the infamous arrest of Jagger &
Richards at Redlands back in 67, is what the Stones represented that year more than their
music. I don't think the Rolling Stones would ever think of recording & releasing an
album like Their Satanic Majesties Request if they could turn back the clock,
since it's such a lackluster psychedelic mess with no direction while they would get back
to being the Stones after this debacle.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Daniel Alvarado
March 25, 2002
Rating:
I think Their Satanic Majesties Request is a fine Stones album. Thus, I think
it's a bit of a copy from The Beatles Sgt. Pepper and a weak attempt to be
involved with psychedelia compared with A Piper At The Gates Of Dawn or Disraeli
Gears. Satanic Majesties has some great melodies such as the one in
'She's A Rainbow' or '2000 Light Years From Home'. Great riffs ('Citadel'), Indian
melodies ('Gomper'). 'In Another Land' is a great song in my opinion and the harpsichord
is good along with Bill Wyman's unexpressive voice. There's a great instrumental work in
all the album, especially Keith's guitar solos, riffs, chords, and strange melodies. Brian
Jones' weird sounds are also pretty psychedelic. 'Gomper' is the most psychedelic song
along with '2000 Light Years' with its inverted sounds and with that amazing riff. Great
album.
Lows: Sing This All Together (both songs). Very far from the Stones normal style.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Damon Cash
January 27, 2002
Rating:
This album is the Stones first, and pretty much only attempt at psychedelic music. This
most definitely is not the Stones genre, however I think it deserves alot more credit than
it got. This album was made at a strange time for the Stones, after all it was 1967. The
combination of their troubles with the law and an alteration in the sound of popular music
(this being largely a part of the release of Sgt. Peppers), this album brings out a side
of the stones that we had never seen before.
I love the first four songs on Satanic Majesties. The opening track, "Sing
This All Together", is one of my favorites. The message of peace and unity is almost
hippie-like, which adds more to the confusion of Between the Buttons and Aftermath
fans. "Citadel" is really the only track that keeps a straight rock rhythm
throughout the entire song, the instrumentals and lyrics work together perfectly. "In
Another Land" is one of the few Stones songs written by Bill Wyman. The psychedelic
effect added to Bill's voice makes this the strangest song on here besides "Sing This
All Together (See What Happens)", which is really nothing more than random noise.
Next is "2000 Man", this to me is the true masterpiece of the album. Keith's
acoustic work is outstanding and the switches are excellent. The most famous songs on this
album are "She's a Rainbow" and "2000 Light Years From Home". Both are
superb and unique. The only thing I don't like about "She's a Rainbow" is the
long and quite annoying intro. I have no complaints about "2000 Light Years", it
is the best psychedelic song on the album.
The rest of the songs aren't really anything special, but I like them all a little. My
favorite thing about the Stones in the mid to late sixties is that every album is
completely unique. Aftermath, Between the Buttons, Satanic Majesties, and Beggars
Banquet are all different. And the most different of them all is Satanic
Majesties Request. Nothing sums up the strangeness of 1967 quite like this album.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Rob Rabiee
March 3, 2001
Rating:
Well, what can be said? It's psychedelic, it's definitely anti-rock. It can't compare to
brilliance of Aftermath or the down-to-earth blues of Beggar's Banquet,
but it has a mind of its own. TSMR is, to me, less an answer and more a skewer -
The Beatles are the Satanic Majesties, the Stones their innocent whipping posts. Each song
has its Pepper equivalent, which is the brilliance of the album. "Sing this
Song All Together" is as incisive a slice at the "love everyone" gush of
the Beatles' finest works, and it gets that message across with brilliant wit. For me, it
is an album which defies categorization - satire, brilliance, and whatever else. Just
listen and enjoy, and try to get the 60's biggest inside joke.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Net Pimp
December 28, 2000
Rating:
This was a poor attempt to equal the greatness of Sgt. Pepper, by contradicting
its happy mood with dark, solemn, druggy songs. It still gets unfairly put down. And
rightly so. But come on, it wasn't as bad as it could've been considering they were close
to disbanding.
"Sing This Song All Together" is okay, but weird with the wild, chaotic horns
weaving in and out. "Citadel" is pretty good. "In Another Land" Bill'
song, has weird, phased and cut up vocals. The psychedelic feeling works well here.
"2000 Man" is sort of like "Space Oddity" in its touching, spacey way.
The acoustic feeling is rewarding. "STSAT (See What Happens)" is an utter
washout, a true waste of record. One of the rare times a Stones record got trippy, and
boring. The song is repetitive and fails miserably. "She's a Rainbow" with its
classical touch, orchestration by sessionman John Paul Jones (yes, classically-trained
musician, future Led Zep bassist/keyboardist.) I'm not sure if John Paul J. or Brian J.
play the classical piano part that's gorgeous. The song gets weird and druggy at times,
culminating in a freak out ending. "The Lantern' and "Gomper" are equally
creepy, warped out affairs that are average. "Gomper" is a let-down in fact.
"2000 Light Years from Home" is the real classic too. It uses synths, messed-up
orchestras and such to make a scary, dark and disturbing track. Light Years ahead of its
time! LSD helps, you know.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Chris Witte
November 11, 2000
Rating:
The Stones awash in psychedelia. That sentence can describe this album perfectly. Don't
get me wrong however, there are some good songs here. TSMR was a blatant attempt
to answer the Beatles Sgt. Pepper's, and unfortunately the album falls way short
of its lofty expectations. To begin with, 'Sing This all Together' is an average song at
its best, plus its difficult to get through the disjointed horns that kick it off. The
next song 'Citadel' works much better, the guitar is what makes this song enjoyable. Next
is Bill Wyman's 'In Another Land', which is, for lack of a better word, interesting. Not a
particularly well written or musically crafted song, its sprawling weirdness almost forces
one to listen in wonderment. However, the extended snoring at the end gets annoying really
quick. Next is '2000 Man', at last the first real good song on the album, its tempo
changes and futuristic lyrics make it very entertaining. The feeling, however, is quickly
lost on 'Sing this all Together (See what Happens)', a horribly annoying "song"
full of chants, instrumentation, and noise. Next up is 'She's a Rainbow', which is quite a
lovely song as soon as one gets past the extended and also annoying intro. One of the most
blatant "pop" songs the Stones ever did, and it works (I like the strings by
future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones). The next 2 songs 'The Latern' and 'Gomper'
are largely forgettable and rather tedious. Then comes the best song on the album, '2000
light years from Home'. Once one gets passed the tedious and disjointed intro, the Stones
kick it into high gear on a song that shows how great rock n roll and psychedelic
experimentation can sound. Relying on their signature theme of isolation, the Stones kick
out a song that makes this album worthwhile to major fans of their early work. Its just a
shame that the they decided to close the album with 'On with the Show', a track that is
somewhat entertaining but largely annoying and of no real merit. This album is not a must
have, but it is certainly important historically. After this album was widely panned and
sales slumped, the Stones retreated to record Beggar's Banquet.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By christophoros
April 15, 2000
Rating:
:
It's hard to believe, that, if the sales report I have is true, this in over 32 years has
only sold a million of copies. Even in England, where every other Rolling Stones studio
album until after LET IT BLEED was at least a #3 hit, it only went at #6. This
seems to have happened, because there the Rolling Stones had entered new musical terrain,
which was -and still is-against the wish of many fans. In contrast to it, I think, that
they also here only used the new influences for transmitting their typical sound more
freshly. SHE'S A RAINBOW actually is a beautiful, simple rock song, one of their typical
trademarks. Anyway, THEIR SATANIC MAJESTIES REQUEST was the highlight of their
psychedelic phase and their album which is most influenced by the sounds of swinging
London. Also against the opinion of many other people, I must say that my favourite song
here is IN ANOTHER LAND, where I wonder, why Bill didn't do more songwriting and singing,
because this is a clear, emotional song, that makes me cry like PAINT IT BLACK. THE
LANTERN and GOMPER (with its epic instrumental passage at the end) are also very idyllic
and atmospheric. With ON WITH THE SHOW you also find a wild bad-boy song("your
wife will never know that you're not really working late") . Moreover, my rating also
goes to SGT. PEPPERS by the Beatles, which also influenced this album by the
Stones. Like you find a shirt saying WELCOME THE ROLLING STONES GOOD GUYS on the Beatles
cover, you find heads of the Beatles in the flowers on this Stones cover. The two bands
were good friends and here made two albums that are both great. So stop the silly
comparisons!
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Jones
April 10, 2000
Rating:
:
This is actually probably my favorite (or close) of the Stones album. I actually couldn't
stand the Rolling Stones prior to hearing this one. Why do I like it so much? Well, the
most important point I want to bring to attention..I enjoy the richness that this
album evokes. Using everything from pianos, electronic sounds, chorus's of people singing,
simple every day acoustic guitar, etc. etc. I think its richness is captured in a nice
blend throughout the songs, and I believe their potential is well explored. I mean, you
have guys that go in the studio, and pump out albums with nothing but a guitar, bass, and
drum set. Not much depth into their work. They just whip out a short order album for quick
women, quick fame, and quick money. But honestly, most of these artists aren't remembered,
and most of their work is the product of a few guys who could have explored their
possibilities more when writing a song. But then you have TSMR, which uses a
whole host of musical multimedia thrown in, and in result, captures the imagination like
few albums in the present could. "Sing This Song Together" brings to mind the
kind of hippie, psychedelic, transcentalist-sing around a campfire, sing songs with
friends while you do acid kind of theme which was blossoming at the time. One thing that
critics fail to respect is the chaotic clutter mixed in with both this song and the fifth
track which actually contributes to the mood of narcotics usage. Hey, I don't do drugs,
but I know what an acid trip would sound like, and this is definitely drug induced
material that deserves some credit. "In Another Land" is another one of these
kind of songs, which use a windy kind of filter to make people dream of laying back,
looking off into space, taking hits from your joint as you are overtaken by silence and
the mellowness that the drug invokes. Anyways, I would say more, but I got class in two
minutes. This is one hell of an album the whole way through, and if you dont have it, your
missing a not so widely publicized classic.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Dan Hollombe
November 13, 1999
Rating:
As far as album releases go, no two months in the history of recorded music will ever
match November and December of 1967. "Magical Mystery Tour," "Days Of
Future Passed," "Dear Mr. Fantasy," "Wild Honey," "Buffalo
Springfield Again," "Something Else By The Kinks," "A Gift >From A
Flower To A Garden," "Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones LTD,"
"The Hollies Butterfly," "Pandemonium Shadow Show," "Forever
Changes," "Strange Days," "We're Only In It For The Money"...I
could go on and on. There's no question that "TSMR" ranks right up
there with the best of them. The only reason it has been so unfairly maligned over the
years, is because of that eight minutes of garbage at the end of side one. When you think
about it, however, "After Bathing At Baxter's" (which was also released
that month) contains about three times as much similar garbage, and it is actually revered
as a masterpiece in some circles. "Sing This All Together" is a stellar example
of a potentially great song desperately trying to claw it's way out of all the annoying
whistles & clanging bells that bury it. Much like the Beatle's "Only A Northern
Song" (which it slightly resembles), it makes you wish that they'd gotten rid of all
the excessive percussion toys, and instead, concentrated on getting an
audible bass sound. "Citadel" is another matter though. Easily as good as
anything on "Disraeli Gears" (Yet another masterpiece from 12/97!), the track
just rocks with the best of them. It's fitting that the vocals are shoved over to the
left, while the guitars & drums are featured prominently in the middle, as this is
truly a showcase for those instruments...Also, be listening for the descending scale that
appears in the right-hand speaker, beginning with the 3rd verse. Is that a real horn of
some sort, or a keyboard imitating one? "In Another Land" sounds like something
left over from "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn." Hell, Wyman's voice even
sounds just like Syd Barrett's! "2000 Man" starts out as a simple three-chord
folk song, but suddenly turns into a savage psychedelic rocker about midway through
it. Probably the only Stones song that incorporates such a dramatic change in tempo.
"She's A Rainbow" is a magnificent showcase for Nicky Hopkin's talents, while
"The Lantern" was probably an early prototype for Led Zeppelin's "No
Quarter." The first couple of minutes of "Gomper" is a great headphone trip
(just listen to all the different melodies and countermelodies that the various guitars
are playing!) Unfortunately the song goes on about three minutes longer than it should.
"2000 Light Years From Home" remains to this day, the greatest use ever made of
a mellotron. The song's opening, of course, was later copied verbatim by Yes for the
beginning of their magnum opus "Roundabout." The album ends on a humorous note,
not at all unlike "Something Happened To Me Yesterday" on the previous album.
The one mistake? "Fatina starts the show at two o'clock." What burlesque show
could possibly begin at two in the afternoon? If that were the case, there would be no
danger of one's wife "Knowing that you're not really working late," because
you'd probably make it home on time easily!
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Beth
October 31, 1999
Rating:
Anyone who has met me on the board is getting some idea of what I value in my Stones. That
is why I have decided that I must review TSMR. It is one of the most slammed
albums, unless you included Dirty Work (see review). But every album has its time
and place. It can be a feeling or a memory. TSMR equest is a sacred herbage (et
al) party. You can go there by slapping on the headphones, cranking up the volume and
smoking up as I have occasionally done over the past few months to bring you this review.
I grew up in the 80’s – but my heart’s desire was to be a flower child.
Free love, free pot, free Stones in Altamont. TSMR could take me there, even
without chemical assistance. Now, with assistance, this album can take me back to the
80’s.
Top three reasons I love this album, in any state of mind: Citadel, 2000 Light Years, and
2000 Man. The best way to listen: stoned and phoned.
Citadel is just a great loud crashing song – I love it. I listen to it and I can
almost hear my mother screaming “Turn that SHIT DOWN!” It’s everything an
average Stones song should be, maybe more, but it’s really overlooked. If it were on
another album…?
2000 light years… what an excellent song. Turn it up with phones and listen to
Charlie pound directly on your ears. This is the one song where the boys took “all
the latest technology” and put it to powerful use. You must have this song on CD.
2000 man…All three phases of this song are good, each one a little better than the
last. Its got really great guitar in the middle (is your brain still flashing?) This is a
song where you really have to work and crack the shell to get the meat inside. Give it
another chance if you already dislike it. As always, the rhythm section is holding the
whole thing together. Another under –appreciated song, in my opinion.
She’s a rainbow…Kick the “oo la las” and the “music box”
sequences and I would have liked this song better, but still, for where the group was
“at” at the time, a really decent song. Listening, on gets the feeling that
beneath the lace and frills of the day, the Stones could still kick some musical ass if
they wanted to.
Skip over the last half of Gomper if it gets to be too much, and ignore all the musical
farts and it’s really not such a bad little album, Charlie Brown. Don’t just
gobble this up like so much psychedelic cotton candy—there really is depth in the
music if you look for it. Each song is an exotic dish to taste. You may not enjoy all the
offerings, but a sample of each will bring a delightful surprise. Listen with this thought
in mind… what if it were a time capsule? A message to the future: see us the way
were, the way we thought we were, drugged and decadent, with a cynical façade of fashion.
This is the Stones with flower power.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Steve Cronen
July 13, 1999
Rating:
Despite what most think of this album, I’d rank TSMR among my favorite
Stones albums. I’m just really into experimental stuff in music. This album is a
perfect brother to the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour (Sgt. Pepper?
Who gave you that idea? This is nowhere close to that album). This one has it all. Songs
ranging from raging acid rockers (“Citadel”) to some of the most glorious
ballads Jagger and Richards ever penned (“She’s a Rainbow”). From songs
about loneliness and isolation (“2000 Light Years From Home,” “In Another
Land”) to songs about unity and peace (“Sing This All Together”). There are
only a couple of gripes I have: “Sing This All Together (See What Happens)”
could have been erased completely, because it’s really just a bunch of noodling
around. Also, the ending to “Gomper” could have been cut short by a couple of
minutes. I love the song, but the ending…? Anyway, had these gone over, sublime songs
like “We Love You” and “Dandelion” could have easily been put on. This
is really Brian Jones’s album, in a sense. Though he hated the psychedelic movement,
he plays a lot of the cool, freaky instruments on this album. Songs like “Sing This
All Together,” “Citadel,” “2000 Man,” “She’s a
Rainbow,” “2000 Light Years From Home,” and “On With the Show”
are the best, by far. I highly recommend this one if you want to hear something different
from the Stones.
SATANIC MAJESTIES
By Matt Chicchi
June 19,1999
Rating:
This often gets me in trouble, but I LOVE PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC & this album is killer,
acid, British rock grooves!! OK, so the production & mixing is a little crappy in a
few parts, but eat a tab, smoke a joint & this album will speak to you like nothing
you can imagine. It's a little unfocused & silly, but hey, that's one of the hallmarks
of good psychedelic music. Here's a cool selection of similar material for anyone
interested: "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" (Pink Floyd) "Happy
Trails" (Quicksilver Messenger Service) "After Bathing At Baxter's (Jefferson
Airplane) "Anthem Of The Sun" (Grateful Dead) "Mr. Fantasy"
(Traffic) "Magical Mystery Tour" (The Beatles) "Barabajagal"
(Donovan) "Younger Than Yesterday" (The Byrds) "Da Capo"
(Love) happy listening !
Keno's mini review, song list, lyrics and more info on SATANIC MAJESTIES
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