The Rolling Stones.
 

The Beatles get mentioned quite a bit. But what about that other iconic band, The Rolling Stones?

I've listened to Your Satanic Majesties Request, Let it Bleed, Beggars Banquet and Exile on Main Street. I can't be bothered to go through their entire catalogue.

Let it Bleed is my favourite album. But I have to say --and they're one of those bands that everyone thinks they have to praise to the ends of the earth because everyone says so -- that I wasn't blown away by their albums. I think their strong points are really their singles, and of course, their concerts. Many of the songs I found underwhelming on the albums (And that's quite a few), transformed when brought to the stage.

But yeah.

I've only listened to what my mum has played, so her favorites from a singles album, but I really can't be bothered with them save for "Paint it Black" and "Mother's Little Helper" -- both from the same album. x.x;

Maybe it's because I put too much of a focus on catchy melodies, but their songs sound underwhelming and repetitive to me. I can appreciate them in a cultural aspect because they were formed to be the anti-Beatles, and a big appeal of theirs was the bad boy personae they had. But through music alone, I can't fathom anyone liking The Rolling Stones over The Beatles.

That reminds me. I want to watch Scorcese's Gimme Shelter documentary, but I can't seem to find it.

No more EMFers have listened to The Rolling Stones, or are they just not posting in this thread? Surprising!

I have Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed on my computer and like you I found a lot of the tracks underwhelming. Not bad at all, but nothing blew me away. I don't really like the word overrated, but I 'get' most of the classic bands and artists from the 60's/70's, even if they're not for me, but the Rolling Stones I just don't care about. I'll happily listen to them and I'll put them on now and then, but for the most part... meh.

The Rolling Stones are just the band for people who can't admit to loving The Beatles :p

But as has been said above, a few tracks are decent but generally not a lot of their stuff makes me wanna replay them too often. Maybe I just don't get them? I don't know.

I can see why someone might prefer the Stones to The Beatles because they're a much more straightforward band. They come out, play some rock songs, and that's them - plain and simple. That being said, they're also a greatest hits band. Aside from Exile on Main Street and a few select others, I don't think they have much that can rival The Beatles' catalogue. I still think they are a great band though. "Paint It Black", "Sympathy for the Devil", and "Jumping Jack Flash" are some of my all-time favorite songs. Those rival the best of The Beatles in my opinion.

The Rolling Stones embodied a certain element of rock and roll that The Beatles couldn't and that's the bad boy persona and the gritty blues style. I don't even think John Lennon at his most rocking reached the Stones' heights. They're a harder band. A heavier band. And that's their legacy.

I love the Beatles with every fiber of my being, which I chalk up to my mom playing their songs while I was still chilling in the womb, but the Rolling Stones are pretty solid, too. some of my favorites:

(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
Sympathy for the Devil
Paint It Black
Ruby Tuesday
Let's Spend the Night Together
Brown Sugar

and one of my all-time favorite songs:

Honky Tonk Women

Fantastic band. My favorite track is pretty much any live version of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" from the '70s. Preferably without the loooong sax solo.