Milestones

• Artist: The Rolling Stones
• Rating:
• Release Date: February 18, 1971
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

The second of British Decca's early-'70s Stones collections, released following the band's departure for their own label and roundly condemned by group and fans alike for what was then perceived as poor value and low morality, Milestones is, in fact, an aptly titled survey of some of the Rolling Stones' most noteworthy achievements. From the undeniable peaks of "Satisfaction" and "Get off of My Cloud" to the startling revisions of "Not Fade Away" and "Time Is on My Side," from the filthy blues of "Stray Cat Blues" to the faux-psychedelia of "She's a Rainbow" and on to the still-gripping misogyny of "Under My Thumb" and "Yesterday's Papers," Milestones is a remarkably well-designed study of the sheer versatility of the '60s Stones, capturing nuances and shades that listeners always knew were there, but which are often overlooked in the haste to get to the next churning Keith Richard riff. Of course, any number of subsequent compilations have made a similar point with a completely different selection of songs. But Milestones did it first, and besides, any album willing to raise the oft-overlooked "She Said Yeah" to the company of "Out of Time" and "I Wanna Be Your Man" has to be worth a second glance. ~ Dave Thompson, Rovi

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