Don't understand all the pans,

This "live" Rolling Stones release may not be for the customer looking for all the hits "live"...you can find those on many other "live" Stone releases. This "live" release is for the true Stones fan who wants to see the Stones go deeper into their own classic rock catalog and do more of these songs in concert. In 2003-2004, we got to see the Stones doing just that on tour and playing songs they wouldn't normally do in concert and it was a real treat. Same with this release, if you are a true Stones fan, you won't be disappointed.

Middling At Best

As far as live albums go, The Rolling Stones have had a pretty shaky record. Their first concert recording, 1966's "Got Live If You Want It", suffered from vapid studio overdubbbing and muddy audio. But they made up for it with the pivotal 1970 release "Get Yer Ya - Ya's Out", which ranks among the greatest live albums ever made. 7 years later came "Love You Live", which was a bit muddy in terms of sound but showcased their exhilerating energy live. Another 4 years passed before "Still Life" was released. It was ok but suffered from bad playing and a bland song selection. 10 years passed before they struck gold with "Flashpoint", which once more proved that they could still rock. 5 years later came the classic unplugged "Stripped". 4 years wore on before 1999's "No Security", culled from their astonishing "Bridges To Bablylon" tour, one of their best in recent memory. Unfortunately, the results did not meet fans' expectations.

The thing that doesn't work is the song selection. None of the songs here are what you'd expect to hear in a regular Stones concert. No "Satisfaction", no "Jumpin' Jack Flash", not even a "Brown Sugar". What got here are 14 songs that range from great to tepid. The great songs are the older ones, including "The Last Time", "Respectable", "Waiting On A Friend" and especially "Gimme Shelter" and "Live With Me". And it was great to finally here "Sister Morphine" done live. But the majority of songs belong in the tepid category. The newer songs especially irked me. I never cared for "Thief In The Night", "Out Of Control" or "Flip The Switch". And the two duets don't do it to me either.

If you want to hear The Rolling Stones doing what they do best live, get "Get Yer Ya - Ya's Out", "Love You Live", "Flashpoint" and "Stripped", plus the "40 Flicks" dvd boxed set. But avoid the other 3 live albums I mentioned and the live movie "Let's Spend The Night Together".

Not an essential live album, but a really enjoyable one

The Rolling Stones have released numerous live albums, some great, some merely so-so.

"No Security" documents the 1997-98 "Bridges to Babylon"-tour, and it pretty much avoids the songs that have been included on previous live albums (no "Jumping Jack Flash" this time!).



Instead it draws on newer material ("You Got Me Rocking", "Waiting On A Friend", "Saint Of Me") and somewhat lesser-known songs, as well as documenting guest appearences by Taj Mahal (on "Corinna") and Dave Matthews (on a great "Memory Motel").



The sound is very good, and the Stones lay down a swaggering, bluesy groove, anchored by Keith Richards' muscular riffs and the rock-solid backbeat of Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman.

Mick Jagger is in fine form, too, and "No Security" has got that nice "live" feel that you want from a concert recording, making it a thoroughly enjoyable addition to the Stones' catalogue.