Review of Shine a Light (2008) by Richard P — 25 Aug 2008

Perhaps those big stadium gigs aren't so bad after all, because up-close the reptilian Stones are hideously scaly. Scorsese's opening "fly on the wall" sequence is utterly unconvincing, and then we're into a gruelling marathon of the Stones greatest hits.

I never thought I'd say this, but Christina Aguillera really does arrive to save the day late on. The Stones sound is grungier than ever, and Jagger unforgivably shouts his way through classics from Exile On Main Street.

But, at the end of the day, you gotta love 'em for lasting this long and still rocking. The sound, incidentally, should win some sort of award for the way it uses surround sound and solos are flawlessly faded up in the mix.