The Rolling Stones may be decades removed from their artistic heyday — namely, their quartet of Jimmy Miller-produced masterworks in "Beggars Banquet" (1968), "Let It Bleed" (1969), "Sticky Fingers" (1971), and "Exile on Main St." (1972) — yet "Hackney Diamonds" finds the band playing with a renewed gusto.
With Steve Jordan handling drum duties in place of the late Charlie Watts, the LP features an array of guest stars, including Elton John, who plays piano on “Get Close” and “Live by the Sword”; Paul McCartney, who lends a spirited bass part to “Bite My Head Off”; and Lady Gaga, who brings down the house on the epic “Sweet Sounds of Heaven.” While the special guest stars provide welcome highlights, there is plenty to enjoy on "Hackney Diamonds". The album’s lead single, “Angry,” is a pot-boiler, with a fresh, contemporary sound to boot.
