Dirty Work

The title track 'Dirty Work' sounded like a pretty good rocker at the time. Now it just sounds tired. Although it is almost rescued by the superb guitar break in the middle, Those 20 seconds are at least superb. 'Too Rude' is a reggae effort which is quite pleasing but mainly if we're honest because it features Keith on vocals. And 'Sleep Tonight' is a good closing number, from Keith again. However, it is a sad reflection on any Stones album when Keith's tracks are superior or at least more listenable than Mr Jagger's offerings. But I am afraid that is the case on almost any Stones album since 'Undercover' (1983). No wonder he went solo. For a while anyway.

Of Jagger's vocal tracks, the opening song 'One Hit To The Body' sounds great, production wise. But is forgettable in the long term. Most un-Stones like backing vocals. 'Fight' is OK and the next one, the single 'Harlem Shuffle' is quite good, but is a cover all the same. Since when had the Stones' lead off single single been a cover for God's sake? Nuff said. The other tracks are pretty forgettable with the possible exception of 'Had It With You' which at least contained some of that vintage Stones grit and anger.

But there about 10 albums from The Rolling Stones which should be discovered before you even go near this one. It is not rubbish, it is just that they could and did so much better than this. Approach or as George Harrison once said Handle With Care. And what are those clothes they are wearing on the front cover??


So-so   November 29, 2003
Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

"Dirty Work" isn't a terrible album, it just isn't particularly memorable either.
Apart from a few songs like "One Hit (To The Body)", "Harlem Shuffle", and the catchy reggae cover "Too Rude", "Dirty Work" just never gets off the ground. There are some good moments, but overall it remains rather forgettable, and it is one of those records where I can never seem to remember more than half of the songs. It sits on the shelf with "Exile" and "Steel Wheels" and all the others, but it is not one that I return to a lot.
2 1/2 stars.


The worst Stones album ever?   September 6, 2003
2 out of 4 found this review helpful

As a die-hard stones fan this is a real disappointment with only 2 tracks of merit being 'one hit to the body' and 'harlem shuffle'. No decent riffs, the same bang bang smash drum beat on every track and Jagger using a false, gruff shout - a strange parody of his own vocal style. The only stone that seemed to be trying on this album was Bill Wyman!