New reissue of Exile on Main Street

actually, according to the same rolling stone article, keith stated that exile was the first grunge record. according to wikipedia "grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics." now, the stones were rarely stripped down, and never eschewed theatrics, so i wouldn't think of 'em as grungey, but it's interesting to read how they regard themselves.

There's no way this could be grunge, it's too upbeat. Plus there is not enough distortion and fuzz on the guitars.

I just got the vinyl version of the remaster and I like the sonics. I orginally bought this album the day it came out in 1972 and wore it out that summer. I think it was bargain priced as I remember and I usually bought albums based on price in those days. Plus it was a double. The music is simply loose, loose, loose; some moments it drives me nuts and then there will be a shift and they "rescue" the song by reigning it in. That is the appeal of Exile and there is really no other like it. Stoned, drunk, intoxicated Stones making music in a dusty, hot humid basement in 1971.

Those were the days...

Jdoris, I agree "Exiles" is not the beginning of alt.country, but I think Tweedy & Farrar would agree it goes back to at least Gram Parsons, with The Byrds, "Sweetheart of the Rodeo," then The Flying Burrito Brothers (especially The Gilded Palace of Sin) and his solo stuff. Parsons "discovered" Emmylou Harris (which she still acknowledges)and she sings on his "solo" album, "Grievous Angel."

I don't think the fact that they are "pretty darn English" has much to do with Americana. There are plenty of Americana/alt country bands from all over the world in the Indie scene today. I think it would be pretty hard to trace the genre back to one record but I still hear this one as a pretty early example (hence my preface "roughly"!)...

I guess my main point...aside from expressing my love of the album...was to say it sounds quite like many of the current Americana/Alt Country bands I listen to.

Hell what do I know! Just a great album.

To points about alt/country influence, here is a bit on Gram Parsons's presence at Nellcote in '71.

http://theselvedgeyard.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/keith-richards-gram-parsons-1971-summer-in-exile-villa-nellcote/

The Brit invasion bands were of course magpies of American music forms.