Few musical releases are more steeped in rock and roll mythology than Exile on Main Street. The self-styled World's Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band produced a double album that acted as a road map for most of their musical influences and creations, recorded during a time of great personal and professional transition, operating as tax exiles the south of France and seemingly awash in decadence and inspiration.
The result of all these factors was an album that is unlike almost any "great" album in the history of rock and roll --- an album devoid of a hit single, an album with many songs where the lyrics are so indecipherable as to resist interpretation, an album that sits within one of the murkiest and least-defined soundcapes ever attempted by a major artist. Many rock and roll fans --- many ROLLING STONES fans --- find this album to be inferior to the previous three, lacking the obvious hooks and clear mission statement that is so present on Sticky Fingers or Let it Bleed.
But despite this, Exile on Main Street is effectively the codex for understanding and loving The Rolling Stones and what they represented in rock history. It is sprawling, messy, and loose, with neck-deep excursions into country, blues, gospel, and voodoo incantation. Many of its songs are moods unto themselves, played and sung with a soulful conviction that summons the cornerstone artists and songs that preceded the emergence of rock and roll as an art form. There is an effortless energy to most of this album, a primal spirit that has captivated both fans and aspiring artists for nearly five decades. Sticky Fingers and Let it Bleed might be more immediately rewarding listening experiences for the uninitiated, but there's a reason why Exile on Main Street's influence is so obvious and all-encompassing for many of the musical acts that emerged during the 70s, 80s, 90s, and beyond.
Join us on this episode of Cosmic America as we delve into the sounds and vibes of Exile on Main Street.
