For the first time in three years, the legendary Rolling Stones return with a brand new record titled Foreign Tongues. ‘The Stones’ newest record does feature two songs by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and another posthumous appearance by Charlie Watts. In 2023, their Hackney Diamonds record thankfully also featured two posthumous songs by Watts.
The record’s run time is one hour and three minutes and Andrew Watts produced this album. Watt has risen to fame in the music and rock circles by collaborating with Ozzy Osbourne, Post Malone, Eddie Vedder and Iggy Pop. As of this writing – the record has been out for just shy. So, fans have had plenty of time to marinate in the music and get familiar with it.
The record starts with “Rough and Twisted.” From the beginning, Richards and Wood lead the way through trading blues and southern rock licks on guitar before the rest of the band kicks in. Less than 30 seconds into the record, Jagger’s unmistakable voice kicks in and fans are transported back in time. What makes this record and album unique is their back-to-basics approach. It’s plastered with their blues influences. Instead of a classic guitar solo, Jagger takes center stage with a harmonica solo before Richards and/or Wood blast in on slide guitar.
By song two, the group gets in touch with more of their pop and classic side. “In The Stars” has that classic Rolling Stones sound to it. Mellow guitars and piano pad the background The padding allows listeners to dance. You can almost picture Jagger swaying his hips while singing this song. This tune was the first single released by the group on May 5, 2026. “In The Stars” does a good job at grasping a broader audience that wants a more mellow rock listen in a world full of pop, rap and country music.
Song four might be the most underrated tune on the album. “Mr. Charm” is a four-and-a-half-minute jumpy tune. The band’s newest drummer, Steve Jordan, does a great job on the kit. He keeps the tune alive and brings more life into it. Jordan is a very skilled and accomplished drummer, as he has played with John Mayer, the SNL Band and David Letterman‘s Late Night band. On this song, during the chorus, Jagger sings in a lower register, which he does not do very often. Jagger and singer Naarai Jacobs have a beautiful counter with each other throughout the record. Jacobs’ voice is a fresh voice on the entire record that I wish the band utilized more. The slight funk and sway by the entire band create a fun and unique listen.
By the time listeners are at the halfway point, they reach “Never Wanna Lose You.” Jagger, Richards and former touring member Matt Clifford wrote this song. What ‘The Stones’ have done so well throughout their career is have catchy choruses even on a song halfway through the record. The same can be said for “Never Wanna Lose You.” The song is good and is a nice transition to the second half of the record; the chorus does it more justice than typical choruses do. Jagger’s whine at the beginning of the chorus just sounds right and they make it work.
“You Know I’m No Good” has the band return to their blues roots. This song is very similar to the band’s 2019 single, “Living In a Ghost Town.” Both songs have a slower sway and rely on the harmonica as a new tool to incorporate in the tune. The legendary Steve Winwood is on organ and a horn section rounds out “You Know I’m No Good.” Watt does a great job of polishing and layering a lot of complex sounds on this record.
The last standout tune on this record is song 12, “Covered In You.” This love song starts as a ballad before the pace picks up towards the beginning of the song. It’s great to hear Richards and Wood trade guitar licks in the background while Jagger spits out punchy raps over their notes. Like “You Know I’m No Good,” the opening to the chorus leaves a lasting impact on the listener. What the band does so well, especially on their last few records, is that they get to the point, dive into their chorus and end the song quickly. Winwood returns on this song on the piano as he has a great connection with Jagger and their musicianship shines on this track.
On The Rolling Stones’ newest record, they check all the boxes that fans want. Throughout the record, the band brings new material to the table and makes it sound like it was created during their “golden years.” “The Stones” can also add more complex sounds to their sound so it sounds fuller and with more of an edge in an age where they don’t have to try as hard anymore.
Throughout this entire hour-long listen, the production and overall quality don’t sit perfectly. While Jagger, Richards and Woods are heard pitch-perfect on each tune, it’s almost too perfect to the point it’s overproduced. Watt is an accomplished producer without a second thought, but on a Rolling Stones record, I want more of a raw feeling rather than a cleaned-up, mopped-up, and polished sound. It’s almost corporate rock that’s catered more to a pop-oriented base than the base that they already had and grew through Hackney Diamonds, Blue & Lonesome and A Bigger Bang.
Overall, The Rolling Stones have released another solid record. Having 27 studio albums is a feat in itself. But with every record, especially towards the back of a career, it gets hard to be what you were while trying to plunge forward and explore new horizons. The trio of Jagger, Richards and Woods is all accomplished and outstanding musicians. Most of the album has great highlights and noteworthy tunes. Others are overproduced and polished fillers. “The Stones” will forever be one of the most popular and greatest bands of all time. I would recommend this to any fan. In fact, it’s one of their better releases in the 2000’s.
Rating: 7/10
Tracklisting:
1. Rough and Twisted
2. In The Stars
3. Jealous Lover
4. Mr Charm
5. Divine Intervention
6. Ringing Hollow
7. Never Wanna Lose You
8. Hit Me In The Head
9. You Know I’m No Good
10. Some Of Us
11. Covered In You
12. Side Effects
13. Back In Your Life
14. Beautiful Delilah
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My love for live music started with my first concert ever, Guns N’ Roses back in 2016. Since then, I’ve been able to capture photos of some amazing artists like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Ace Frehley, and Post Malone. I am based in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I am always looking for the next concert to attend.