The Rolling Stones have spent the last decade proving they can still move. Foreign Tongues, their 16th studio album, arrives with a stated goal: to be everything at once. The band wants to be a rock band, a soul outfit, a dance group, and a political statement. It is a big ambition for a group whose members are now in their late 70s and early 80s, and it mostly pays off.
The record runs 14 tracks and 62 minutes. It opens with “Rough and Twisted,” a song built for arenas, and closes with “Beautiful Delilah,” a quiet acoustic coda. In between, it tries to capture the sound of a band that has been together for six decades and has nothing left to prove except that it can still surprise you.
Opening With Rough and Twisted
The title track sets the tone. “Rough and Twisted” is a slow-burning blues rocker with a guitar riff that feels both familiar and fresh. It is the kind of song that could have been recorded in 1972, but the production keeps it from sounding like a period piece. The chorus is big and direct, and it earns its place as the lead single.
“The thing about this record is, the Stones are a rock band that also has the capacity to do ballads, country music or dance music. So we don’t get stuck in one kind of style.”
That quote comes from Mick Jagger himself, and it sums up the whole project. The Stones are not trying to reinvent themselves. They are trying to show you all of themselves at once.
In the Stars and Jealous Lover
“In the Stars” follows, and it is the album’s first stretch of pure pop. The melody is bright and simple, and the band leans into the hooks without irony. It is a pleasant song, but it does not reach the heights of the opener. Then comes “Jealous Lover,” a mid-tempo rocker that finds the band returning to their harder edge. The guitar work is sharp, and the song’s tension carries it past the filler.
“Mr Charm” is the weakest stretch of the record’s first half. It is a competent track with a solid groove, but it does not leave much of an impression. The lyrics are generic, and the performance is steady without being urgent. It is the kind of song that fills space on a record without adding anything essential.
Divine Intervention and Ringing Hollow
“Divine Intervention” picks things back up. It is a slow, atmospheric ballad with a piano-led arrangement that recalls the Stones’ more reflective moments. The vocal is tender, and the song builds slowly toward a cathartic release. It is a solid track, but it does not match the energy of the songs around it.
Then comes “Ringing Hollow,” the centerpiece of the album. It is a sprawling, cinematic track that shifts through several movements. One moment it is a driving rocker, the next it is a quiet piano ballad, and the next it is a full-band rave-up. The song shows the band’s range in a single track, and it is the best thing on the record.
Never Wanna Lose You and Hit Me in the Head
“Never Wanna Lose You” is a straightforward pop-rock ballad with a chorus that sticks. It is not a highlight, but it is a comfortable listen. The song’s melody is easy to remember, and the band plays it with warmth.
“Hit Me in the Head” is a shorter, more aggressive track that snaps the album back into focus. It is a punk-inflected rocker with a snarling vocal and a driving rhythm. It is the shortest track on the record, and it is one of the most immediate.
“You Know I’m No Good” is a cover of the traditional blues standard. The Stones have done covers before, but this one feels like a mission statement. The song is stripped down and honest, and it shows the band at their most vulnerable. It is a bold choice for a record this size, and it lands.
Some of Us and Covered in You
“Some of Us” is a slower, more reflective track that deals with mortality and connection. It is a decent song, but it does not have the emotional weight of the surrounding material. The lyrics are thoughtful, but they do not grab you.
“Covered in You” is the album’s other standout. It is a slow, sensual ballad with a horn section that adds texture to the arrangement. The song builds slowly, and the payoff comes at the end. It is a track that rewards patience, and it is one of the best things the band has recorded in years.
“Side Effects” is a mid-tempo rocker that deals with the consequences of fame and success. It is a solid song, but it does not have the urgency of the tracks around it. The lyrics are clever, but they do not land with the force of the best material.
Back in Your Life and Beautiful Delilah
“Back in Your Life” is a long, winding track that explores themes of redemption and renewal. It is a solid song, but it is overlong. The middle section drags, and the song loses some of its momentum. It is not a failure, but it is the weakest stretch of the record.
“Beautiful Delilah” closes the album on a soft note. It is an acoustic ballad that brings the record to a gentle conclusion. The song is pretty, but it is more of a coda than a statement. It does not demand attention, and that is fine.
What Works and What Does Not
The album’s strengths are its variety and its confidence. The band is not afraid to try different styles, and the production allows them to do so without losing cohesion. The songs that succeed are the ones that commit fully to their intent.
The weaker tracks are the ones that sit between genres. “Mr Charm” and “Some of Us” are competent but unremarkable, and they feel like filler rather than essential material. The album’s structure means that the highlights are separated by stretches that do not quite hold the listener’s attention.
The Verdict
Foreign Tongues is a good Rolling Stones album. It is not a great one, but it is a solid one. The band has made a record that rewards attention and punishes skimming. The highs are high, and the lows are low, but there are fewer of them than on a record like Blue & Lonesome.
The album earns its place in the Stones’ catalog because it shows a band that is still willing to take risks. It is not a perfect record, but it is a confident one, and that confidence is infectious.
Key Facts
- Album: Foreign Tongues
- Artist: The Rolling Stones
- Release type: Studio album
- Tracks: 14
- Total running time: 62 minutes
- Score: 7.5 of 10
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- Rough and Twisted4:40
- In the Stars4:13
- Jealous Lover3:50
- Mr Charm4:34
- Divine Intervention4:46
- Ringing Hollow5:18
- Never Wanna Lose You4:31
- Hit Me in the Head2:57
- You Know I’m No Good4:54
- Some of Us4:01
- Covered in You4:32
- Side Effects4:35
- Back in Your Life6:13
- Beautiful Delilah3:29
