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In my humble opinion, The Rolling Stones are the third greatest rock band that has ever existed.  But, they are still the greatest touring force on the planet.  The movie Gimme Shelter as the antithesis to Woodstock, showed to the world that Mick and the boys had the melodic muscle to rain over most of the music of the 1960’s.  They have always been in the spotlight and never wavered as performers, even as their new music has seen critical ambivalence.  Their newest live recording is also their new movie, the Martin Scorsese directed IMAX experience Shine a Light.

Recorded at The Beacon in NYC, this movie was a rarity, a Rolling Stones concert on a small stage.  Having a band that usually plays for 50,000 screaming hysterical fans doing such a small intimate gig gives the acoustics a much more personal and warm touch.  You can feel the excitement of something different in the air of the performance.

The disc opens with a highlight--‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’.  Mick is still a force of nature propelling the band through the paces with the tight guitar of Keith Richards adding just enough of a spice to his strings.  It was amazing how many tunes from Some Girls appear on this recording.  We get ‘Shattered’, ‘Faraway Eyes’ and the title track.  Missing in action is ‘Beast of Burden’ my favorite Stones tune.  But they do find the funk in ‘Some Girls’, putting a nasty groove to the backbeat almost on the level of the New Power Generation. 

‘Tears Go By’ comes off as more of a palliative ballad.  Mick finds the right mixture between melancholy and morose, sounding like he is enjoying himself dusting off this ancient chestnut.  From Tattoo You and the vaults of Motown is ‘Just My Imagination’ a cover tune that is made into a mid-tempo romp of joy.

There are three guests who help out with the music.  Jack White III helps out with ‘Loving Cup’ a very country feel to an over thirty year old song.  It is great to hear the harmonies but it doesn’t do much for the overall song.  The stunning Buddy Guy gives guitar and vocal to ‘Champagne and Reefer’ easily the best guest to join the group that night.  He roars out his lyrics more of a trapped cougar in a cage than a master blues man.  His licks are simple and dirty.  This little ditty is the highlight of the recording.  Vocals added by third guest, pop sensation Christina Aguilera, comes off more as stunt casting to draw a younger audience.  ‘Live with Me’ is a tight song and Christina gives it her best guttural growl, but she is no blues maven.

The weakest two moments of this entire recording is when Mick hands over the vocals.  Both ‘You Got the Silver’ and ‘Connection’ are downers in terms of both style and substance.  I know a band has to be democratic sometimes, but let Mick keep his mike and center stage persona.

This is a must have for Rolling Stones fans.  It sounds better than the live recordings Gimmie Shelter and Get Your Ya-Ya’s Out not only in just a technical nature of superior recording equipment but in actual playing abilities.  In five decades, this band has proved time and time again that they are the kings on stage.  For the casual fan, after getting Hot Rocks and 40 Licks, this is a solid addition to any collection.

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