Mick Jagger

Mick Jagger's first foray into solo work was of course an international success upon release in 1985. With hits "Just Another Night" and "Lucky in Love," Jagger proved he didn't need Keith, Charlie, Bill or Ronnie. Also, listening to the incredible dedication to '80s studio techniques 20 years later, it may appear to some listeners that Jagger also didn't need guitars, drums or even other humans to make the tinny disco herein. Still, it's Mick Jagger, so there's got to be some reason to listen to it now that you can no longer put on your chinos and dance to "Lonely at the Top" at the club.

When Mick Jagger begs, "Can't you see that I'm human?" in "Just Another Night," it gets your
hopes up for She's the Boss. What a setup: Almost twenty-three years into his career as
lead singer, lyricist and point man for the Rolling Stones, Jagger has decided to make a solo
album. Keith Richards, his longtime partner, collaborator and foil, shows up with just one
songwriting credit; the rest of the Stones are nowhere to be heard. Is the man w... More >

History may absolve him. Jeff Beck earns his f*cked-up legend here, and Bill Laswell puts together several bands--like Beck-Martinez-Hancock-Shakespeare-Dunbar-Ponce on "Running Out of Luck"--that should only tour. So maybe a hundred years from now folks who've never read People will admire the timbral virtuosity and breath control of the man atop the tracks. But Jagger has become such an overbearing public presence that I for one find it impossible to care about his romantic vagaries no matter how hard he leather-lungs. It would be going too far, unfortunately, to say he's a joke. But the only thing left for him to do with his persona is burlesque it, which is why the title track is the only one that's any fun. And as my wife complains, he probably thinks it describes the way things are with him and Jerry. (Grade: C)