Search - Rolling Stones :: No Security

Questions you should ask yourself before buying:

John Stodder | livin' just enough | 10/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1. Do I like the Rolling Stones?

2. Do I think the Rolling Stones lost it after (fill in the blanks with either "Some Girls" or "Tattoo You.")?

3. Do I think the Rolling Stones are too old to be doing this?

4. Do I like their older, "classic" material, but don't care to hear new versions?

5. Am I afraid that if someone sees this record in my collection, I'll be mocked for buying a "tour souvenir" with no musical merit?



If you answered yes to the first question and no to all the others, then there's no reason why you shouldn't spend your hard earned $15 on this very enjoyable disk.



This one in particular fills a couple of niches for me. I don't automatically dismiss any of their late work--in fact I like most of it, including the new one, "A Bigger Bang." But "Bridges to Babylon" was admittedly pretty weak. Well, this disk gives you a chance to hear the handful of good songs from that the record, and these versions are preferable. In particular, "Out of Control," a lengthy piece with a lot of dynamic changes, comes off great here. Other recent songs like "Saint of Me," "You Got Me Rocking," "Flip the Switch" and "Thief in the Night" come off better here than in their studio incarnations. Of the older material, the versions of "Gimme Shelter," "Memory Motel," "Waiting on a Friend" and "The Last Time," are spectacular.



Reactions to the Stones are rather predictable and annoying. You're supposed to be annoyed with all their post-tour live albums, and see them as "just cashing in." This just isn't true. The live disks are a chance for them to re-address older material in versions that take advantage of their improved musicianship and matured perspective. On "Flashpoint," for example, you can hear fantastic versions of "Paint it Black" and "Ruby Tuesday," played with great passion and inventiveness. "Stripped" has many highlights, including a wonderful version of the very early tunes "I'm Free," and "Spider and the Fly," and a jolly take on "Let it Bleed."



If you want to let late-night comedians and jaded rock reviewers guide your choices, then you probably aren't going to want to risk the "uncool" label they would surely apply to anyone who bought "No Security." But I enjoy it, I play it all the time, and my hat's off to the Stones for risking ridicule by putting it out."

Yet another live Stones album

03/25/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"It seems that every Rolling Stones tour results in a live album. This one, unfortunately offers nothing new or even particularly interesting. Efforts to duplicate the studio sound (ie., "Gimmie Shelter") only demonstrate the superiority of the originals. Further, the guest spots featuring Taj Mahal and Dave Matthews are totally unnecessary. This album suffers from too many added musicians, too many backup vocalists, a couple of out-of-place "guest stars", and a general lack of inspiration. If you want a Vegas-style Stones show, this album is for you. If you want to hear a good live set from the Stones (minus the guest stars and other embellishments), listen to "Get Your Ya-Ya's Out", which features the Stones when they still had the energy and imagination to improvise. This album is "product", and nothing more."

Security Blanket

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 01/16/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You can always count on the Stones to release a live album after a tour and No Security follows suit for the Bridges To Babylon tour. The album contains a few guest stars including Taj Mahal on "Corrina" and an excellent performance by saxophonist Joshua Redman on "Waiting For A Friend". Dave Matthews appears on "Memory Motel" and proceeds to wreck what is one the band's best songs and the best vocal interplay from Mick Jagger & Keith Richards. Mr. Matthews takes over Mr. Richards part and his bland and overbearing voice doesn't fit the grittiness needed for the part. That complaint aside, the rest of No Security is another fine live record including a great version of "Gimme Shelter", a ripping version of "Live With Me" and excellent takes on the Sticky Fingers nugget "Sister Morphine" and the some Girls punkish rocker "Respectable"."