csberry

It was 1967 and the Stones found themselves stretching more from their established blues sound and relying on original songs from the band and not covers. While some may diss this album for its pop sound, as a guy that usually sides in the Beatles vs Rolling Stones debate, this album won me over. Even as the band played with pop music, they didn't lose their edge ("Let's Spend the Night Together" as Exhibit A).

Between the Buttons is a worthwhile exploration that doesn't sacrifice the band's sound. While there is a piano stolen straight from a Wild West movie on "Cool, Calm, & Collected," Mick's vocals and the rag-tag sound of the song isn't all that different from future songs like "Honky Tonk Women." In the late 60's the Beatles were tired of being dismissed as a pop band for screaming teen girls and evolved their sound. Probably feeling pinned in by blues purists, this is an album that the Stones had to make in order to survive and be relevant.

Songs I knew I liked: "Let's Spend the Night Together," "Ruby Tuesday," and "Complicated"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Yesterday's Papers," "She Smiled Sweetly," "My Obsession," and "Miss Amanda Jones"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "Something Happened to Me Yesterday"