Why is Exile on Main St. held in higher regard than Sticky Fingers?

I think you hit the nail on the head. As a whole, it becomes this dirty, ragged, sprawling portrait. But to inspect the individual components, you can find a few clunkers, and then many decent but not brilliant tracks. Whereas Sticky Fingers only has top shelf tracks.

But that's what makes Exile special. It's the soundtrack to an imaginary movie. It's not a distilled collection of the band's best work over x amount of time. In the time it took to make Exile, the Stones could have made another killer LP, maybe with a few leftovers. Instead, they chose to be excessive. I think a hypothetical equivalent would be if in 1969, Let It Bleed was a double album, and featured not only the classic contents, but the entire Jamming With Edward session. I wouldn't say that the Stones were anymore inspired on Exile than on other albums, but that they decided to let the editing (or lack thereof)stand as raw as the sound.

Meanwhile, I'll take Sticky Fingers over it if I had to choose. Exile may be a grand tapestry, but Sticky Fingers holds the better music.

 

Both are great, but neither are as good as Let It Bleed.

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

 

My first thought.

 

I think Sticky Fingers is the better album (as well as the Stones' best album period), but the backstory behind the recording of Exile On Main Street is so compelling, and it is a great, great album as well. It's also a longer album (although only by about 20 minutes or so), which means that there's more to enjoy in it.

 

...because the first release included 12 postcards...

 

A toss-up for me. Stones have four albums that are heads and shoulders above the rest. SF and Exile are two of them.

 

I don't think Exile is held in higher regard to Sticky Fingers. In fact more often than not the later is praised as Stones best along with Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed. Exile may have developed rather more than a cult following in recent years but it was viewed as a disappointment on release with the follow up Goats Head Soup being more successful.

 

as a Massive Stones fan, I've never had Exile at the top of their achievements

My favourites in order are

Beggars
Let it Bleed
Between the Buttons
Aftermath
Stick Fingers
Some Girls
Satanic Majesties

 

I quite like Exile On Main St but it's no Their Satanic Majesties Request.

 

Exile represents the Stones triumphing over adversity; Keith a proper junkie, Mick married to Bianca (who also was pregnant in 71') tough recording conditions, tax exiles. Yet they did write a few awesome songs at this time, like Rocks Off and Sweet Virginia. True, some of the songs were written well before 71, but how they managed to come out with an amazing album, that is very coherent IMHO, is testament to their artistry.

 

Exile On Main Street is not held in higher regard than Sticky Fingers. Mick Jagger himself has been quite critical of Exile, for example. Sticky Fingers is a landmark Stones album, certainly their best IMO.

 

Not "viewed as a disappointment on release" by "RS" [Lenny Kaye]:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/exile-on-main-street-19720706
"And with "Exile on Main Street", the 'Stones' have chosen to sustain for the moment, stabilizing their pasts and presenting few directions for their future. The fact that they do it so well is testament to one of the finest bands in the world."
Nor "MM":
"Richard Williams of Melody Maker wrote that the album "is definitely going to take its place in history" and called it "the best album they've ever made".

Tho:
“This is at once the worst studio album the 'Stones' have ever made, and the most maddeningly inconsistent and strangely depressing release of their career.” – Lester Bangs, Creem magazine album review of “Exile On Main Street,” August 1972
&
“It’s a bit overrated, to be honest. I’m not saying it’s not good. Compared to "Let It Bleed" and "Beggars Banquet", which I think are more of a piece, I don’t see it’s as thematic as the other two. It’s got a raw quality, but I don’t think all around it’s as good.” – Mick Jagger interview, Rolling Stone, Dec. 14, 1995
&
"Stylistically, 'Exile' being a double album, it had a lot of different styles on it. It really ran the gamut of what the "Rolling Stones" interest was at that point. It's funny that while you're doing it you don't realize it quite as much. I don't think that when we did 'Exile' we were trying to do every different style. We all thought it was a very hard-rocking album. When you actually listen to it, it's got a lot of different things on it. - -Mick Jagger, December 1992
http://www.timeisonourside.com/lpExile.html
[me "depth" thingy/lots of great quotes there ^^^]

Keith Richards later said: "When ['Exile'] came out it didn't sell particularly well at the beginning, and it was also pretty much universally panned. But within a few years the people who had written the reviews saying it was a piece of crap were extolling it as the best frigging album in the world."
[which wasn't actually true/butt you get his drift/not a heroin drift this time]

i guess it just comes down too paraphrasing Macca...
It's great, it sold, it's the bloody "Rolling Stones - Exile on Main St." album, shut up!
Ha, ha!!

 

I don't understand this thread, the Stones are my favorite band and both albums are grouped as the classic era. People may have a favorite, but all of the albums from Beggars-Exile are considered great.

 

That's the conventional wisdom. I think I first heard the term "purple patch" used in reference to a series of rock albums for those four. Personally, I like Exile and Beggars Banquet about equally - they are two of my all-time favorite albums - and I probably rate Sticky Fingers at the bottom of the four... I certainly listen to it the least.

 

I don't think of Exile as an album as such, more like a collection of songs that reprecent a state of being. Production vise and song by song Sticky is probably the better effort but it can never compete with the mighty Exile. Nothing can.

 

That's a very selective quote from Kaye's review. I certainly remember that review as being decidedly unenthusiastic and ho-hum and rereading it now has confirmed my memory (thanks for the link). It couldn't have been an easy review to write under the gun of a deadline after packing-in a few listens.

Keith Richards' memory may have been junked out, but that was pretty much the gestalt of the public and critical reaction in my mind (the NME wasn't available to me back in 1972). I still talk to Stones fans who shake their heads about the impenetrable, filler-laden Exile on Main Street and that POV is pretty common here on SH too.

 

When Exile came out in 1972 I was a senior in high school. It took me many listens until it clicked with me. But in my opinion Sticky Fingers is the better album. Jagger's vocals on Sticky are his best ever and would never reach that plateau again in my opinion.

 

Well maybe, just maybe, he actually did. One of the finest posts I've read on these pages by the way...

 

From all I know, Sticky Fingers is rated higher than Exile.

See for example the following two polls on this forum :
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/rolling-stones-66-81-your-three-favorite-studio-albums.169908/
http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/pick-the-best-rolling-stones-album.209645/

Also, rateyourmusic has Sticky Fingers with the highest ranking of all Rolling Stones albums, followed by Let It Bleed, Beggars Banquet and Exile On Main Street.
http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/the_rolling_stones

So I don't agree with the premise of the thread. I would also argue that Sticky Fingers is the better album of the two, but prefer Let It Bleed overall.

 

Thankfully, that mistake is inapplicable to Exile on Main Street. It's a tight, densely-packed album, clocking-in at 67-minutes.

 

It's an album w/a lot of "depth" [ha, ha!!]; so yeah the GREAT Lenny Kaye's review is all over the place. None-the-less, the quote i quotED is his overall (re-)view of the album.
The Richard's quote has him saying "it was also pretty much universally panned" & that was not the case w/the BIGGEST rag in the US nor one of the Brits more serious music mags.
=====================
This is funny too me & this is what i love about life, the same things people pan 'Exile' for are the same things people praise 'Exile' for.
i luv that humans can hate or like something yet it's the same component of said something; as apposed too hating it for one reason & liking it for another reason.

 

If you prefer Exile to all other Stones albums and think it's the greatest LP of all time by anyone, that's fine with me, but "You either get it or you don't" reeks of condescension. Depth, continuity, scope, consistency and so forth are nice but great songs are what matters.

 

offED topic:

That may be because it's meant too!!

 

In my opinion you're quote is bloated. " the greatest LP of all time by anyone" hogwash!

 

But that overall view smacks of lip-service to the group's stature and lacks any kind of passion:
"And with "Exile on Main Street", the 'Stones' have chosen to sustain for the moment, stabilizing their pasts and presenting few directions for their future. The fact that they do it so well is testament to one of the finest bands in the world."

The opening paragraph in his [very long] review hardly declares the album a "classic." He sounds exhausted and almost paints the album as an exercise in Stones-by-numbers; readymades, same song, vaguely unsatisfied...
There are songs that are better, there are songs that are worse, there are songs that'll become your favorites and others you'll probably lift the needle for when their time is due. But in the end, Exile on Main Street spends its four sides shading the same song in as many variations as there are Rolling Stone readymades to fill them, and if on the one hand they prove the group's eternal constancy and appeal, it's on the other that you can leave the album and still feel vaguely unsatisfied, not quite brought to the peaks that this band of bands has always held out as a special prize in the past.

It remains a thoughtful piece of critical journalism and as I said above, it must have been a challenging album to review in the heat of the moment with a deadline looming.

My own perceptions are more from a personal perspective, growing to love the album during the summer of '72 and spending a lot of time trying to convince some of my college friends that Exile was the best thing ever. Luckily I had a couple of compadres in my posse.