The Rolling Stones have released "Foreign Tongues," their 25th studio album, which is being met with critical acclaim and described as their most exciting in years. The album, released today, showcases the band's enduring energy with a sound that blends blues, country, and soul.
Featuring collaborations with notable musicians including Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, and Robert Smith of The Cure, "Foreign Tongues" demonstrates the band's continued vitality. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood, with a combined age of 243, defy expectations of retirement.
On tracks like "Hit Me In The Head," Jagger, 82, delivers lyrics about embracing the present moment. The album was produced by Andrew Watt, who has previously worked with the band on their 2023 album "Hackney Diamonds" and other veteran artists. Watt is known for helping established musicians recapture their creative momentum.
"Foreign Tongues" opens and closes with blues tracks. "Rough And Twisted" features Jagger on a narrative journey, while the album concludes with an acoustic rendition of Chuck Berry's "Beautiful Delilah." Other highlights include the soul ballad "Jealous Lover," showcasing Jagger's tender falsetto, and the country-tinged "Ringing Hollow," which includes reflections on America and current events, with the lyric "Lady Liberty don't look so good when she's wearing a frown."
![Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood pose on the red carpet during the launch of The Rolling Stones' new studio album "Foreign Tongues" in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., May 5, 2026]( "Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood pose on the red carpet during the launch of The Rolling Stones' new studio album "Foreign Tongues" in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., May 5, 2026")
Robert Smith contributes guitar and vocals to "Divine Intervention" and "Never Wanna Lose You," fitting seamlessly into the Stones' signature sound. McCartney plays bass on "Covered In You." The album also includes an interpretation of Amy Winehouse's "You Know I'm No Good."
Throughout the album, Jagger's vocal performances are praised, supported by the guitar interplay between Richards and Wood. The overarching theme, as expressed in songs like "In The Stars," encourages living in the present. The band's persistent drive is evident, with Jagger posing the question, "Do you wanna dance 'til the roof caves in?" to which the answer for The Rolling Stones remains a definitive yes.