Search - Mick Jagger :: Wandering Spirit

Outstanding Solo Effort from Jagger

John M | 03/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wandering Spirit is Mick Jagger's finest effort in a long time. After 2 rather pop sounding 80's albums in She's the Boss and Primitive Cool (both too slick and market driven), Wandering Spirit returns to draw from some of his best work with the Stones and also ventures into new territory. Wired all Night and Put Me in The Trash are 2 raunchy rockers with some of the catchiest riffs that either he or the Stones have come up with in years (and to imagine that these riffs don't have Keith driving them). Evening Gown and Hang On To Me Tonight take you back to some of best Stones ballads (reminiscent of the country guitars in Wild Horses, Dead Flowers). Angel in My Heart is an absolutely stunning requiem. Don't Tear Me Up is a fine mid temp rocker and Out of Focus is another brilliant gospel tinged blues rock number that could just as well belong to Exile on Main Street. Handsome Molly is a pleasant surprise. Use Me with Lenny Kravitz reminds one of Mick's early roots and even the falsetto funk driven Sweet Thing (Mick's flirtation with this genre has been his perennial downfall) works well this time around. Mother of a Man and Think are adventurous tunes with fat guitars; one never hears this on a Stones album. It is however the title track which shows a spiritual and exploratory side of Mick Jagger that best captures the energy, vitality, song writing brilliance as well as musicianship of Mick Jagger.

It's a pity that this album is not continuously raved about as one of the finest albums of the 90's (Rolling Stone magazine though did mention it in their list of 50 most important albums of the 90's). Mick Jagger and the Stones through the late 70's and 80's have often pandered to the seamy side of Rock and Roll resulting in a certain lack of respect from both critics as well as the general public. I would describe Lennon as a Bohemian, McCartney as prolific and Bob Dylan as a poet but Mick Jagger is the true Rock & Roll genius and Wandering Spirit showcases Mick's inherent versatility and ability to cross genres and remain adventurous and relevant.

Wandering Spirit is a must have for any lover of serious Rock and Rock & Roll."

A great record from the true king of rock

Riccardo Pelizzo | baltimore, maryland USA | 11/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Those who are familiar with Keith Richards'first solo album (listen to You don't Move Me, Talk is Cheap) know that Keith was not very impressed by the first two solo album by Mick Jagger. And the truth is that both She's the Boss and Primitive Cool were not memorable albums.
But Mick Jagger's third solo album, Wandering Spirit (1993) was actually a great record and probably one of the best in the decade.
There is some great rock (Wired all night, Put me in the trash, Mother of a man...), there are great ballads (evening Gown, Hang on to me tonight, Angel in my Heart), and there's a lot of blues. Which is what Mick and the Stones have always done best.
Wandering Spirit is a great blues. The handclapping that accompanies Mick's voice is reminiscent of the handclapping that was developed in the early blues tradition to replace the sound of drum--which had actually been forbidden. The parts played on guitar are reminiscent of what Bahamian blues-hero Joseph Spence recorded on songs like Don't Take Everybody to be Your Friend or Won't That Be a Happy Time.
Don't tear me up, which also has very strong blues influence, is the best song in the album and which is really worth listening to over and over again."

Mick shows he can do it on his own

mxw991 | London | 05/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If the Rolling Stones ever finally put away the zimmer-frames, then Mick can always go on recording with my blessing (especially if it's stuff like this). An interesting sounds-like-the-Stones-but-isn't album - if anything it's harder and funkier than the Stones - this is well worth a listen."Sweet Thing" was a poor choice of single and didn't showcase the worth of "Wired All Night", "Mother Of A Man" "Out Of Focus" and "Put Me In The Trash". This album shows Mick's love of the funkier side of the blues, and is helped along by (amongst others) Lenny Kravitz and Flea (from Red Hot Chilli Peppers) and taut production from Rick Rubin. There is the usual Jagger-humour to the lyrics and the playing is characteristically first-class, as you'd suspect. Not quite as together as when he's with Keith and the boys, but this is small criticism given the strength of the album, and it's certainly better than most of the rock dirge we have to put up with from lesser "rock artists" these days... Keep struttin' your stuff, Mick"