The Rolling Stones
From The Vault: No Security. San Jose ’99
(Universal Music Canada)
4/5
My fears of live albums being duds were quickly categorized as irrational halfway through “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” the first song on The Rolling Stones’ new archival live album From The Vault: No Security. San Jose ’99. This is a song that has always made the hairs on my neck stand on end, and this recording of it is no exception.
“I Got the Blues” is an epic ballad, proving that the Stones are the last living fathers of blues and rock. The rarely-performed-live “Saint of Me” and “Some Girls” are high points of the album. The epic 12-minute version of “Midnight Rambler” is out of this world, and “Out of Control” is dark and eerie, balanced out with more straight-ahead rockers like “Start Me Up.” “Brown Sugar” is a little messy this time around but still manages to keep its crowd-roaring, legendary riffs and controversial subject matter in the limelight.
As far as live albums go, this one is intimate and top quality, making it a keeper.