Cosmic America

From the album cover to some of the songs that sound unfinished or uninspired, there’s quite a bit to criticize about Dirty Work. The 1986 album was made amid internal disagreements and continued substance abuse issues, leading to a musical document that marks another rough time in the band’s history. It’s not all bad, though! As with most of the post-Tattoo You period for the Rolling Stones, properly evaluating the album requires that you separate the musical document from the in-the-moment critical analysis. The first and last songs serve as highlights, and there are some bright points along the way.