The Rolling Stones fans point to one album as their most ‘underrated’ – and also one of their ‘best’

Fans of The Rolling Stones are pointing to one of their late 1990s releases as their most “underrated” album.

Bridges to Babylon, which released in 1997, was tipped as one of their “best”, over a decade on from their so-called return to form on Steel Wheels. Mick Jagger and the band piece together a prominently blues-oriented album but used implements of hip-hop and rap during production. Fans are now calling it one of their most “underrated” releases, taking to The Rolling Stones’ subreddit and praising the release. The album peaked at number six in the UK Charts on release, but a new wave of appreciation for Bridges of Babylon has been found in online communities.

A fan posting to The Rollng Stones’ subreddit asked: “Thoughts on this underrated album?” Frequent listeners of the band were keen to defend the album, calling it one of the very best they released. One wrote: “I think it’s one of their best. I listen to it all the time.”

Another singled out Saint of Me as a “hidden gem” of a song. They wrote: “Saint of Me is such a hidden gem. Love this track. I agree this album is a great listen.” Another replied: “Love the video too! The banquet scene! And Charlie’s face when he sees the ‘angel’.” A third added: “Keith didn’t play on it which is something I often think about when I hear the band doing live versions of it.

The original poster says it may be the band’s best album since Tattoo You, the 1981 release from the band which followed on from Emotional Rescue the previous year. They wrote: “I honestly think it’s their best album since Tattoo You with some of their best later songs ever.

“It’s also nice to see them experimenting with different stuff like reggae and electronic type music unlike the very safe approach on other later albums. Some of my favourites are Out Of Control, You Don’t Have To Mean It, Too Tight, How Can I Stop, Saint Of Me, Thief In The Night, Low Down and Flip The Switch. And also Anybody Seen My Baby is pretty cool too.”

Thoughts on this underrated album?
byu/nevermindthegoat inrollingstones

Another fan who saw the album toured in the 1990s said it was one of the best-ever concert showcases The ‘Stones ever put on. They wrote: “I saw them on this tour, one of my favourite stage designs ever, loved their 90s sound, still love this album.

“My fave tracks: Flip the Switch, Already Over Me, Low Down, Out Of Control (amazing live!), Saint of Me (as legendary to me as anything from the golden era), Too Tight, Thief in the Night and How Can I Stop?”

Not everyone was as positive about Bridges of Babylon, though, with some suggesting it was a strong album but far from their best. They wrote: “Like it, don’t love it. My favorite song is Out of Control (though I like the live versions better). I also really like Flip the Switch, Saint of Me and the three Keith songs.I personally would have left off Anybody Seen My Baby?, Lowdown and Might as Well Get Juiced.”