Mick Jagger's supergroup side project deftly mixes blues-rock, reggae and more into an intriguing ste
SuperHeavy, SuperHeavy
*** REGGAE-ROCK
Keith Richards won't shiver his timbers when he hears this album, but neither will he cackle his arse off at this supergroup built around his somewhat estranged Rolling Stones bandmate Mick Jagger. There's much to admire in this intriguing and mostly successful project, most notably the fact that it sounds like a truly cohesive collaboration, with all five members making a distinct mark. When the disparate musical contributions mesh, the results are dynamic if not wholly original.
A surprisingly youthful-sounding Jagger brings his full arsenal of blues-rock vocal mannerisms (and a screaming harmonica on the terrific Energy). Soul shouter Joss Stone pleads and belts with the best of them, especially on I Don't Mind and One Day One Night. (If only she didn't try to ape bland contemporary R&B crooners on Rock Me Gently.)
Damian "Jr. Gong'' Marley's propulsive reggae-meets-hip-hop sensibility dominates the overall sound, and his vocals lend spice and authority, as do co-producer Dave Stewart's powerful guitar fills. A.R. Rahman (keyboards, drum programming, backing vocals) plays a less assertive role. But that's for the best since his Bollywood composing bent (Satyameva Jayathe, on which Jagger sings a bit in Urdu, is Rahman's showcase) is the least compatible element.
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