Ever the trend-setter, veteran performer Mick Jagger jumps at the chance to front a supergroup. Some would argue that, given the talents of The Rolling Stones’ other members, that band is a supergroup in and of itself. This was not enough to satiate Jagger, who pieces together a quality collection of instrumentalists and songwriters for the SuperHeavy project. Their self-titled effort is their sole effort, and it seems likely it will remain that way. Supergroups are nothing new, but we should be wary. Not since The Traveling Wilburys has there been one of worth, and even they only managed two hits before one of their members died. Still, Handle With Care is arguably better than anything featured on this Jagger-fronted band’s first and only studio release. SuperHeavy, like so many other supergroups, falls to the issue of sounding flimsy whenever the sole star steps away from the spotlight. Beyond those issues of Jagger outshining the rest of the members and being in a regular group bigger than this supergroup, the music just isn’t as inventive or creative as it should be.
Considering this is a chance for Jagger and company to dig deep into the riches of sentimentality in genres far removed from their day job work, it’s surprising to hear how little of SuperHeavy works. A mess of musical layers which never seem to be in harmony. Easy it is to write off SuperHeavy as Jagger chasing the pop tones which derailed The Rolling Stones with Dirty Work, his chameleon-like adaptability is part of his charm. He is a risk-taker, and it shows on songs like Unbelievable. He welcomes a new instrumental groove, a different vocal style yet with those same Jagger essentials. Miracle Worker is a song for “those thinking of breaking up” and, truly, any couple on the rocks after listening to this will have packed up their belongings and moved out before Jagger rocks up in his horrendous pink, pimp suit. Incredibly predictable and safe instrumentals with a few spots of backing vocal misery. A stress test for any relationship, though anyone putting a SuperHeavy album on for a loved one has bigger issues to deal with.
At its best, SuperHeavy sounds like a watered-down Rolling Stones track. Energy is just that, harmonica and all. World music has the strongest pull of all on SuperHeavy. A song like Satyameva Jayathe is wonderful work but ill-placed between the barebones Jagger piece Energy and One Day One Night. Even then, Satyameva Jayathe is relatively lifeless and plays up the instrumental tropes the SuperHeavy collective continually relies on. A lot of tame assurances, the one love and one life belief may be true for One Day One Night but it never comes through with a more assured or unique sound backing it. SuperHeavy trivialises a generally agreeable sentiment which has moved many people across the decades. A supergroup should be an overlap of qualities from each member. SuperHeavy all too often becomes the Jagger show.
He does get involved with the other styles present on the album, but ultimately there are too many moments where he and he alone is the musician of focus. Never Gonna Change could be slipped onto one of his solo records. It’s a song which is far stronger than anything he released as a solo act but this is it, he never sounds ready to give his songs to a new style or fresh sound. It hinders SuperHeavy greatly. This one-off collaborative effort is a showcase rather than an overlap, and much of the disappointment to come from the album is because of that imbalance. An uneventful album which, at its best, sounds like Jagger is decluttering his archive and putting together some flimsy songs. Considering how long he and Dave Stewart had collaborated for, it’s amazing to hear how little they manage to make here. Joss Stone has a voice worth hearing though, a sole standout from the SuperHeavy project.
