Brooklyn got its rock royalty moment when The Rolling Stones officially pulled back the curtain on their new studio album, Foreign Tongues, and dropped the first single, "In The Stars." Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood hit an album announcement event in the borough to seal the deal on a record that packs 14 tracks, a lineup of guest appearances and a posthumous turn from late drummer Charlie Watts. The big reveal arrived after weeks of cryptic billboards and a mysterious white-label vinyl that had fans playing musical detective.
New album, release date and single
The band confirmed that Foreign Tongues will be released on July 10, with lead single "In The Stars" arriving Tuesday, according to AP News. The announcement was tied to an afternoon launch event in Brooklyn, where the three frontline Stones were on hand to walk fans and media through the new era.
Studio sessions and star-studded guests
In a press release via Universal Music, Mick Jagger said the band cut the album quickly at Metropolis Studios in London, explaining, "We had 14 great tracks and we went as fast as we could." The release also confirms guest spots from Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, The Cure's Robert Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and notes that producer Andrew Watt returned to oversee the sessions.
Teasers, billboards and The Cockroaches ruse
The rollout did not exactly fly under the radar. A global billboard campaign flashed the band's tongue logo alongside the words "Foreign Tongues" in multiple languages, a move highlighted by Variety. Hardcore fans then zeroed in on a limited white-label vinyl single titled "Rough And Twisted," issued under the alias The Cockroaches. That little in-joke helped kick speculation into overdrive and was tracked by outlets including Stereogum.
Brooklyn's moment
For New Yorkers, the headline was that Jagger, Richards and Wood were making the announcement in Kings County itself. Local reporting noted that the trio were set to appear in Brooklyn for the big reveal, giving the borough a starring role in the album rollout, per Brooklyn Eagle. Organizers framed the stop as a press launch rather than a full-blown concert, with the focus squarely on the album details and the new single.
How to hear it and where to buy
The album is up for pre-order now and will arrive in several physical editions, including standard and colored vinyl, deluxe CDs and box sets, according to Universal Music. Fans can already stream "In The Stars" and spin the lyric video above, or head to the band's pre-order page to compare formats and retailer exclusives.
Context
Foreign Tongues arrives on the heels of 2023's Hackney Diamonds, the group's first album of original material in 18 years and the first full-length release following Charlie Watts' death, per AP News. Early commentary from music outlets has framed the new record as an extension of the creative jolt that pushed the Stones back into the center of the conversation, as noted by Pitchfork.
