4. Aftermath (1966)

The U.S. version of Aftermath represents all of the engaging, dissonant and out-and-out frightful elements that would eventually exemplify the Rolling Stones as both a waking dream and dark nightmare of rock and roll. “Paint It Black” borders on primordial malevolence — a kind of senseless cynicism that nevertheless comports to the evil in the world and anticipates the ugly times we are about to live through (Viet Nam, Watergate, etc.). “Under My Thumb” is as nasty and misogynistic as the group ever got, but amidst a fraught plea for power there was always a looming subtext of desperation. Aftermath is the record on which the Stones check their hero worship of the blues at the door and begin to look in the mirror. The results aren’t always pretty but the overall effect is fearfully aspiring, incisive, and game changing. Pop music was not the same after this.