Why Hackney Diamonds deserves more respect as one of the Rolling Stones’ most alive, emotional, and underrated albums—featuring Paul McCartney, Andrew Watt, and classic Stones fire.
This one is IMPORTANT to me, because I love the Stones and far too many people don’t know that this album exist…
For a band that has been mythologized, criticized, immortalized, and everything in between for more than six decades, you’d think every era of The Rolling Stones would’ve been picked clean by now. But somehow, 2023’s Hackney Diamonds — their first album of original material in 18 years — still isn’t getting the universal respect it deserves.
To me, this is not just a “late-career comeback.”
This is one of the most inspired, alive, and emotionally rich albums they’ve made in the last 40 years — and it might be the most underrated album in the entire Rolling Stones catalog.
Here’s why.
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They Sound Like They Have Something to Prove Again
From the moment “Angry” hits, it’s obvious: this isn’t a nostalgia act phoning it in. Mick Jagger sounds ferocious and sharp. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood lock into that signature weaving guitar interplay that defined their golden era.
The Stones don’t imitate their younger selves — they simply sound like a band that refuses to fade quietly.
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A Shockingly Alive Rolling Stones
One of the album’s greatest achievements is how alive it sounds.
Most bands fifty years into their careers understandably mellow out—but the Stones here play with an urgency more reminiscent of the Some Girls or Tattoo You era. Mick Jagger is in full command vocally. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood sound tight, sharp, and inspired. The songs don’t feel recycled; they feel hungry.
Tracks like “Angry” and “Bite My Head Off” punch with the kind of swagger and chaos that defines the band’s most classic work.
But Hackney Diamonds isn’t about trying to be young again. It’s about sounding timeless.
Paul McCartney on “Bite My Head Off”: A Historic Moment
One of the most thrilling surprises on the album is the volcanic punk-charged track “Bite My Head Off,” featuring Paul McCartney on bass.
Think about that for a second:
A Beatle playing bass on a Rolling Stones record.
It’s one of those collaborations’ fans dreamed about for 60 years, and somehow—this late in the game—we finally got it. McCartney’s fuzzed-out bass playing adds a gritty, explosive energy that pushes the song into full chaos.
It’s not just a cool cameo.
It’s the merging of two titans of musical history in a moment of pure, joyful rock ’n’ roll. No, it’s not just the merging of two titans, it’s the merging of THE two titans.
“Dreamy Skies”: A Country Gem Worthy of Their Best
I love when The Stones go Country. This might be my favorite track on the album.
For all the album’s firepower, the Stones prove once again that they can shift gears effortlessly.
“Dreamy Skies” is a gorgeous country-tinged track that instantly recalls the tone and storytelling of their Exile on Main St. and Sticky Fingers roots—especially the vibe of classics like “Dead Flowers.”
It has:
- slide guitar warmth
- Mick in a laid-back storytelling mode
- a rustic, road-worn atmosphere
The Stones have always had a remarkable ability to blend country, blues, and rock, and “Dreamy Skies” shows they still have that magic.
It’s one of the album’s emotional heartbeats.
Charlie Watts’ Final Magic Touch
Two tracks on the album feature the late, legendary Charlie Watts, and they’re emotional centerpieces simply because he’s there. “Mess It Up” and “Live by the Sword” were both recorded 2019 before his passing…His feel — that irreplaceable, slightly-behind-the-beat swagger — reminds you what made The Stones “The Stones” in the first place.
The album honors him without turning into a eulogy.
It sounds like a band moving forward, not backward.
“Mess It Up”
A disco-leaning rocker with an energy that feels like Some Girls collided with 2024 pop production.
“Sweet Sounds of Heaven” (feat. Lady Gaga & Stevie Wonder)
Hands down one of the greatest late-career songs by any legendary band. Spiritually explosive. A full gospel moment. Gaga absolutely soars, and Stevie lays down keys like only he can.
“Tell Me Straight” (Keith Richards)
Keith always knows how to deliver a gut punch. This track hits with weary honesty and that unmistakable Richards vulnerability.
They Close With a Full-Circle Tribute to Their Origin Story
The final track, “Rolling Stone Blues,” is a cover of the Muddy Waters song that literally gave the band their name.
That’s not an accident.
It’s a statement.
After all the fame, excess, reinventions, tragedies, and triumphs…
The Rolling Stones end the album by going back to the beginning, tipping their hats to the blues roots that built everything.
It’s emotional.
It’s symbolic.
And it’s one of the most meaningful album endings in their entire discography.
The Album Isn’t Just Good — It’s Shockingly Good
The Stones didn’t have to make this album.
They could’ve ridden their legacy into the sunset without ever writing another note. But instead, they delivered a record filled with:
- energy
- attitude
- musicianship
- bold collaborations
- heartfelt moments
- and genuine artistic fire
This isn’t “good for their age.”
This is simply good.
One of the strongest late-career albums from any major rock band — ever.
Andrew Watt: The Young Producer Who Lit the Fuse
A massive part of what makes Hackney Diamonds so refreshing is Andrew Watt, the 33-year-old producer whose fingerprints are all over modern rock and pop (Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam).
Watt brought:
- youthful adrenaline
- modern production clarity
- a deep respect for the band’s history
- and a willingness to push them creatively
His approach keeps the Stones sounding like the Stones—but sharper, louder, tighter, and more urgent than they’ve sounded in decades.
He didn’t modernize them.
He energized them.
This album is definitely made better by a young superstar producer in Watt.
Where Hackney Diamonds Fits in Their Legacy
Hackney Diamonds feels like a late-career sibling to albums like Some Girls and Tattoo You — records where urgency, swagger, and creative confidence collided at exactly the right moment. It captures the Stones sounding sharp, hungry, and fully alive rather than reflective or nostalgic. Instead of closing a chapter, this album feels like proof of momentum — especially with the band already recording another new album rumored for a 2026 release. For a group this deep into their legacy, that kind of forward motion is remarkable.
Final Thoughts
Hackney Diamonds might not have the instant classic aura of Sticky Fingers or Let It Bleed, but in many ways, it captures something more rare:
A legendary band refusing to become a museum piece.
It’s vibrant, emotional, risky, playful, loud, self-aware, and surprisingly moving. And with moments like Paul McCartney going full-punk, Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder collabing with the Stones to make a soulful classic, Charlie Watts echoing from beyond, country throwbacks like “Dreamy Skies,” and a closing nod to Muddy Waters…
It’s one of the most exciting late-career albums ever released by a major rock band.
This album deserves a place in the conversation — not as a novelty, but as one of the most underrated, and one of the best Rolling Stones albums ever made.
What did you think of Hackney Diamonds? Drop your thoughts below — let’s talk Stones. If you haven’t listened to this album yet, I urge you to give it a listen. It is great all the way through.
Where to Listen/Buy…
Amazon – The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds Vinyl/CD and Merch
Play Hackney Diamonds by The Rolling Stones on Amazon Music
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