Cosmic America

Mick Taylor is gone, having quit shortly after the release of It's Only Rock & Roll. While he wasn't a huge fixture on that album, he helped to provide some of its most memorable moments. With Keith Richards sinking further into addiction-related absence, it was a fair question to ask what would become of the Rolling Stones musically in the mid-70s.Black and Blue saw the band going through the process of auditioning guitar players to replace Taylor, and it showed. Three new lead or second guitarists make major contributions on this album, and their musical contributions ran the gamut of rock and roll. But there are other influences here of note. The production is much cleaner and more focused than on the previous album, the songs are largely more thought-out, and the influences from other realms of pop music are starting to really make a mark on the sound of the band. You hear elements of funk, disco, synth-driven balladry, and reggae all over this album, making it a pretty eclectic musical experience. Bu