Posted by The Storm on October 08, 1999 at 18:14:43:
In Reply to: Re: Why Exile is NOT a masterpiece posted by Vacendak on October 08, 1999 at 17:56:58:
Related to all of this, I have to admit to being highly surprised a couple of weeks ago that "Rocks Off" won the poll as best opening song. Even if you think "Exile" is the greatest thing since pearl tea, how could "Rocks Off"--fun but silly--be put even in the same ballpark as "Sympathy?" Or "Gimme Shelter?" Or "Brown Sugar?" Or even, for that matter, "Love Is Strong," whose lyrics may be lacking but which captures in its first 10 seconds the essence of the Stones: Charlie's LIVE drumming, Ronnie's and Keith's inter-woven guitars, Mick's harp, then Mick's nasty vocal. And even to avoid igniting another VL vs. B2B controversy again, I would go so far as to say "Flip the Switch" is a much more intersting song than "Rocks Off." I think it's all those horns on "Exile" that rub me the wrong way. Not only that, but the lyrics on "Flip the Switch" are dangerous and sinister--just like the good old "Sympathy" days. (Even the lyrics to "Love Is Strong" are menacing and politically incorrect, implying as they do stalking.)