After 1997’s Bridges to Babylon, The Rolling Stones waited a full eight years to release another studio album, by far the biggest stretch in their career (to that point). They stayed busy, though, touring the world and releasing live and compilation albums.
In 2005, the band dropped A Bigger Bang, a sprawling back-to-basics rock album. While their previous release saw Mick Jagger bringing more “modern” producers into the mix, this one found the whole band on the same page. Working once again with producer Don Was, The Stones wanted to sound like The Stones again.
The album sold well and received critical acclaim, giving the band a hit album in five consecutive decades. That’s an impressive stat even before you realize they’re still going at it nearly 20 years later.
A Bigger Bang is a solid record but one that suffers from its length. If a handful of its 16 tracks were left on the cutting room floor, this would be a much better album. I’d definitely drop ‘Sweet Neo Con,’ Jagger’s attack on American conservative politicians. I want to hear Jagger sing about sex and death, not George W. Bush.
The album does have great moments, and it continues the band’s streak of solid late-career releases (although, given their longevity, what does “late career” even mean for The Rolling Stones?). It’s hard to think of any other rock band putting out material this solid 22 albums in.
I’ve been travelling but I don’t know where
I’ve been missing you but you just don’t care
And I’ve been wandering, I’ve seen Greece and Rome
Lost in the wilderness, so far from home
Yeah, yeah
[Verse 2]
I’ve been to Africa, looking for my soul
And I feel like an actor looking for a role
I’ve been in Arabia, I’ve seen a million stars
Been sipping champagne on the boulevards, yeah
[Chorus]
I’m so sick and tired
Trying to turn the tide, yeah
So I’ll say my goodbye
Laugh, laugh
I nearly died
[Verse 2]
I’ve been down to India, but it froze my bones
I’m living for the city, but I’m all alone
I’ve been travelling, but I don’t know where
I’ve been wandering, but I just don’t care
[Chorus]
I hate to be denied
How you hurt my pride
I feel pushed aside
But laugh, laugh, laugh
I nearly died
[Post-Chorus]
Been travelling far and wide
Wonder who’s going to be my guide
Been travelling far and wide
Wonder who’s going to be my guide
[Verse 3]
Living in a fantasy but it’s way too far
But this kind of loneliness is way too hard
I’ve been wandering, feeling all alone
I lost my direction and I lost my home, well
[Chorus]
I’m so sick and tired
Now I’m on the slide
Feeling so despised
When you laugh, laughed
I almost died
[Outro]
Been travelling far and wide (Oh, yeah)
Wonder who’s going to be my guide (I hurt my pride, yeah)
Been travelling far and wide (I hurt my pride)
Wonder who’s going to be my guide (You hurt my pride)
Been travelling far and wide
Wonder who’s going to be my guide (Been travelin’)
Been travelling far and wide (Yeah)
Wonder who’s going to be my guide
Been travelling far and wide
Wonder who’s going to be my guide
Been travelling far and wide (Oh)
Wonder who’s going to be my guide (Gonna be my guide)
Been travelling far and wide (Oh, and wide)
Wonder who’s going to be my guide (Everybody, everybody now yeah)
Been travelling far and wide
Meet Me In Montauk 
The longevity of this band is truly remarkable.