The Rolling Stones Are on an Incredible Run Right Now

The Rolling Stones are on an incredible run right now.

With Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues, they have put together two albums that feel exciting, inspired, and worthy of standing next to the rest of their amazing catalog. At their current age, it is amazing how great they still sound, but I do not even think these albums need to be looked at only through that lens.

To me, these are just great albums.

They stand up because the songs are there. The energy is there. The guitars, the grooves, the vocals, the attitude, and the heart are all still there. That is what makes this current era of The Rolling Stones so exciting.

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These Albums Feel Connected to the Stones’ History

One of the things I love most about Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues is how they connect to so many different sides of The Rolling Stones without feeling like they are just trying to recreate the past.

“Dreamy Skies” and “Ringing Hollow” both tap into that classic country-rock sound The Rolling Stones do so well. “Rough & Twisted” has that dirty blues sound that feels like it could fit perfectly beside the grit of Exile on Main St. “Sweet Sounds of Heaven” immediately reminded me of “Shine a Light,” not because it copies it, but because it has that same soulful lift that makes the Stones feel larger than life.

Read our full song reviews of “Dreamy Skies” & “Ringing Hollow” here:

Dreamy Skies by The Rolling Stones Meaning: A Country-Blues Escape From the Noise

Ringing Hollow by The Rolling Stones Meaning: How America Has Changed

There are also a few songs on Foreign Tongues that bring out that late 70s Some Girls kind of energy. “Hit Me In the Head” has that raw, punchy feel, while “Mr. Charm” has that loose, funky swagger that also feels connected to that era of the band.

Then there is “Jealous Lover,” which has that Emotional Rescue feel, and two great Keith Richards moments with “Tell Me Straight” and “Some of Us.” Keith songs always bring a different kind of heart to a Stones album, and both of those tracks add something really special to this current run.

The Covers Are Top Notch

Covers have always been a huge part of The Rolling Stones’ story.

They have never been shy about paying tribute to the artists who inspired them, and that is one of the things I have always loved about the band. The Stones came up through blues, early rock and roll, country, soul, and R&B, and they have always had a way of taking a song they love and pulling it into their own world.

That continues beautifully on Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues.

I especially love that they chose to close each album with a tribute to maybe the two artists who influenced them the most: Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry.

Hackney Diamonds ends with “Rolling Stone Blues,” which feels like such a perfect full-circle moment. The band took their name from Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ Stone,” so closing the album with that song feels meaningful right away. But what makes it work even more is how they make it their own. Instead of simply copying the original, they turn it into this raw acoustic blues performance with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. The harmonica, the acoustic guitar, and the stripped-down feel make it sound intimate, direct, and completely natural for this version of The Rolling Stones.

Then Foreign Tongues closes with “Beautiful Delilah,” a Chuck Berry song, which also feels perfect. Chuck Berry’s influence has always been all over The Rolling Stones, especially in the guitar attack, the rhythm, and that early rock and roll energy. What I love about their version is that they do not just play it straight. They strip away some of the frantic rock and roll drive of the original and turn it into something more acoustic, loose, and country-blues influenced. The twin 12-string guitars give it such a cool texture, and the whole thing feels playful in a way that sounds completely alive.

“You Know I’m No Good” is another cover that stands out because it is such a cool choice. I love that The Rolling Stones would cover Amy Winehouse. She came from a much younger generation, but the song already has that smoky, bluesy, soulful feeling that fits naturally in the Stones’ world. Their version keeps the spirit of the song, but the harmonica gives it more of a bluesy Stones feel, and Mick bringing it into his own voice makes it feel less like a copy and more like a real Rolling Stones performance.

That is why the covers on these albums work so well. The choices are top notch, but the execution is what really makes them stand out. They are clearly tributes, but they are not just recreations. The Stones honor the original artists while still making each song feel like it belongs in their own catalog.

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They Still Sound Fresh

The best part is that these albums do not only work because they remind me of classic Stones eras. They also have a new feel that makes this sound like its own chapter.

That is a big reason why Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues feel so alive to me. They pull from the sounds that made The Rolling Stones great in the first place, but they do not feel stuck in the past. Songs like “Angry,” “Mess It Up,” “Depending on You,” “Bite My Head Off,” and “Covered in You” have a spark that feels very much like this current era of the band.

Paul McCartney playing bass on both “Bite My Head Off” and “Covered in You” is also incredibly cool. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones will always be connected in rock history, so hearing McCartney show up on two newer Stones songs still feels special. It adds another fun layer to this run.

Andrew Watt Helped Capture This Era

I also think Andrew Watt deserves a lot of credit for the way this current Stones era sounds.

These albums have a modern energy to them, but they still feel natural. They do not sound overworked or polished to the point where the band loses its edge. The guitars still have bite. The drums still move. Mick Jagger still sounds fired up. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood still have that loose guitar chemistry that only they have.

That balance is a big part of why Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues work so well. They feel connected to the band’s history, but they also feel like this era of The Rolling Stones. They are not just classic-sounding albums. They are fresh, alive, and full of personality.

Both Albums Feel Complete

Between Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues, there are 26 songs, and in my opinion, there is not one bad one.

That is a big reason why this current run feels so impressive to me. It is not just that both albums have a few highlights. Both albums are great all the way through. They feel complete, and they each have their own identity while still feeling connected as part of this current Rolling Stones era.

That matters because it makes the whole thing feel stronger. These are not albums where I am just picking out a few songs and moving on. I want to listen to them from front to back. The deeper cuts are part of what makes the records work, and that is when you know an album really has something.

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This Run May Rival Some of Their Best Work

The Rolling Stones already have one of the greatest catalogs in rock history. Albums like Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, Exile on Main St., and Some Girls helped shape what rock and roll could be.

That is why it says so much that Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues do not feel small next to that history.

To me, this current run may end up rivaling some of their best work. I do not mean that in a way where we have to knock anything else down or force some kind of competition with the past. I just think these albums are strong enough to be talked about seriously within the larger Rolling Stones story.

They have songs that connect to the band’s classic sounds, but they also have a freshness that makes them feel like more than nostalgia. This is not just The Rolling Stones reminding us who they used to be. This is The Rolling Stones showing us who they still are.

Final Thoughts

As a fan, I love that The Rolling Stones are still making music that feels this alive.

Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues are not just impressive because of when they were made. They are impressive because the songs hold up. They have the sound, the feel, the confidence, and the personality that made people fall in love with the Stones in the first place.

At their age, it is incredible.

But regardless of age, these albums are incredible.

The Rolling Stones are in an amazing groove right now, and I really hope they keep the music coming.

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