Archipelago - Archipelago

Advantages: Good versions of some less familiar oldies
Disadvantages: Some tracks rather dull

...feel that way about at least four of the remaining eleven numbers. On the plus side, the homegrown, mainly acoustic, bluesy 'The Spider and The Fly' and Willie Dixon's 'Little Baby' have a kind of low-key charm which doesn't sound that much like the Stones we know and love, Mick's inimitable (if occasionally self-parodying) vocal apart. The same goes for 'Love in Vain', an old Robert Johnson number which they cheekily credit as 'an adaptation with new words by Jagger/Richards' (come on, guys, you hardly need the extra composing royalties), with an engaging false start. About 20 seconds in, Keith stops playing his guitar, apologises as he 'didn't get the right archipelago', and they have to try again. I also like the good-time, sort of folksy/country feel of 'Let it Bleed', 'Sweet Virginia' and 'Dead Flowers', and the gospelly 'I'm Free... Read review

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