Foreign Tongues
Studio album by
the Rolling Stones
Released 10 July 2026 (2026-07-10)
Recorded
  • 2019
  • 2021[a]
  • 2022–2023
  • 2025–2026
Studio
  • Henson (Los Angeles)
  • Metropolis (London)
Genre Blues rock
Length 62:33
Label
  • Polydor
  • Capitol
Producer Andrew Watt
The Rolling Stones chronology
Welcome to Shepherd's Bush
(2024)		 Foreign Tongues
(2026)
The Rolling Stones studio album chronology
Hackney Diamonds
(2023)		 Foreign Tongues
(2026)
Singles from Foreign Tongues
  1. "In the Stars" / "Rough and Twisted"
    Released: 5 May 2026
  2. "Jealous Lover" / "Divine Intervention"
    Released: 26 June 2026

Foreign Tongues is the twenty-fifth studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 10 July 2026. Produced by Andrew Watt, the album features musical contributions from Steve Jordan, Darryl Jones, Steve Winwood, Robert Smith, Paul McCartney, Benmont Tench, Bruno Mars, and Chad Smith, among others. It also features a song recorded with Charlie Watts prior to his death.[1]

The lead single, "In the Stars", was released through YouTube and streaming services on 5 May 2026 along with double A-side "Rough and Twisted", which had previously been released only in extremely limited quantities as a physical 12-inch single several weeks earlier under the pseudonym of The Cockroaches, which the band had occasionally used in the 1970s to perform secret shows at smaller venues.[2] A second single, "Jealous Lover", was released on 26 June.[3]

Background and release

Foreign Tongues is produced by Andrew Watt.[4] Ronnie Wood first confirmed in late September 2025 that fans would be getting a new Rolling Stones album when he told UK publication The Sun, "Yes, you will be getting a new album next year. It is done."[5] Reports dispeled rumours that it will be their last album, and asserted that the band have written at least 10 more songs for an album after it.[4] The album was first teased as part of a marketing campaign for the single "Rough and Twisted", credited to pseudonym The Cockroaches, which was released on 11 April 2026,[6] including only 1,000 vinyl copies to select records stores.[7] A number of publications had also erroneously announced in the days leading up to its release that a song entitled "Mr Charm" was rumoured to be released as the lead single for a new Rolling Stones album on 11 April 2026.[8][9] Of the single, Will Hodgkinson of The Times stated that it had "a killer riff, a rambunctious harmonica solo from Mick Jagger, a devil-may-care spirit and the feeling that, six decades on from first crawling out of a notoriously squalid flat in Edith Grove, southwest London, to play the blues in smoke-clogged pubs and clubs along the Surrey Delta, the Rolling Stones are still a chaotic bar band forever on the verge of collapse, happiest in the most low-down dives."[4]

The album primarily consists of new material, with a handful of leftover compositions from the band's last album, Hackney Diamonds, as well as material from the band's final session with drummer Charlie Watts in 2021, as confirmed by Jagger at a press conference hosted by the band in New York City.[10][11] On 25 April 2026, the band posted 20 photographs onto their official Facebook page taken in different countries showing street views with posters announcing the words Foreign Tongues written in different languages, which was later to be revealed as the title of their new studio album.[12] On 2 May 2026, the album's front cover was unveiled, a 2025 painting by American painter Nathaniel Mary Quinn entitled Trinity showing Wood, Richards, and Jagger's "faces seem[ing] to merge into one".[13][14] The next day, the band teased further details to be released on 5 May.[15]

On 5 May 2026, the band confirmed that Foreign Tongues would be released on 10 July 2026,[16] also launching the album's first single, "In the Stars", on YouTube and other streaming services,[17][18] and also included the complete audio version of "Rough and Twisted" digitally as a double A-side to "In the Stars" three and a half weeks after its physical release.[19][13] The band released a music video for "In the Stars", featuring Odessa A'zion, on 14 May 2026.[20] The album features guest appearances by Paul McCartney, Robert Smith (the Cure), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Steve Winwood and Bruno Mars. The band's recording with Watts occurred during a session in Los Angeles shortly before his death in 2021. Several tracks included on Hackney Diamonds were recorded during the same Los Angeles sessions.[18]

Artwork

The album's cover art is a 2025 pastel drawing by American artist Nathaniel Mary Quinn, whose work has been described as "fractured, dreamlike portraits [which] assemble identity from overlapping memories, emotions, and experiences rather than conventional likeness".[21] Entitled Trinity, it consists of a composite, collage-like surrealist portrait of the three bandmembers' faces "seem[ing] to merge into one".[13][14] The artwork was made under the art direction of Portuguese illustrator Bráulio Amado and English art director and visual artist Mat Maitland.[22] Possibly inspired by the art of British painter Francis Bacon, it is reported to be reminiscent of a "better version of the cover to Metallica's 2016 album Hardwired... to Self-Destruct".[14] The artwork has met with a divided reception, with Euronews dismissing it as "retina punishing".[23]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.1/10[24]
Metacritic 78/100[25]
Review scores
Source Rating
The Arts Desk StarStarStarStar[26]
Classic Rock StarStarStarHalf star[27]
The Guardian StarStarStarStar[28]
The Independent StarStarStarStar[29]
The Irish Times StarStarStarStar[30]
Mojo StarStarStar[31]
Rolling Stone StarStarStarStar[32]
The Telegraph StarStarStarStarStar[33]
The Times StarStarStarStarStar[34]
Uncut StarStarStarStar[35]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Foreign Tongues received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 78 out of 100 from fourteen critic scores.[25] The review aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it a weighted average score of 7.1 out of 10 from 14 critic scores.[24] Rather than being a nostalgic retread, Dave Simpson's review in The Guardian described Foreign Tongues as "a thoroughly modern-sounding, occasionally political record that has the band confronting the world around them and their remaining time within it". Simpson highlighted the tracks "Mr. Charm" and "Covered in You" for their railing against "mad mogul Mr Musk" and autocrats respectively.[28] Kory Grow of Rolling Stone stated the album "continue[s] their late-career winning streak", finding it to be superior to Hackney Diamonds.[32] Grow praised the record for being "more guitar-centric and holistically Stones-y" than its predecessor, stating that while the production is "a little overly slick at times", it mostly "stays faithful to the Stones' signature sound, or at least Watts' idea of how the Stones should sound".[32]

The Telegraph's Neil McCormick awarded the album five stars out of five, finding it contains "more than enough vitality, wit, richness, energy and joy on offer here to make the case that rock 'n' roll still rules in the modern pop firmament, and the Stones remain its greatest advocates."[33] Alex Flood of the NME found the album to be "a cool, confident compendium of everything the band have done so far", and commended Jagger's vocal performances as well as the record's "fresh and refined" songs.[36] Danny Eccleston of Mojo called the album a "rousing and varied experience with plenty of trademark Stones action and only a handful of caveats".[31] Eccleston did criticize the record's "loud and busy" production, as well as some songs which he found were "reaching for a modern airplay hit", but found these to be offset by "key moments when the Stones' soul shines through".[31] Soundwaves contributor Jason Landry wrote, "The Rolling Stones defy the calendar with a raw, timeless surge of blues-rock that honors their deepest roots while proving their signature swagger remains entirely untouched by time."[37]

Conversely, Paste writer Grant Sharples gave the album a D+ rating and denounced Watt's production, finding its "pristine polish sands down the edges and defangs the Stones' guitar solos", while the "shambolic rowdiness that defines the band's best work is almost entirely absent".[38] Sharples was also critical of the band members' performances and the album's runtime, ultimately deeming the record to be "impulsive and haphazard" while sounding like a group of outtakes from Hackney Diamonds.[38]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Jagger–Richards, except where noted.[39]

Foreign Tongues track listing
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Rough and Twisted"   4:40
2. "In the Stars"   4:13
3. "Jealous Lover"   3:50
4. "Mr. Charm"   4:34
5. "Divine Intervention"   4:46
6. "Ringing Hollow"   5:18
7. "Never Wanna Lose You"
  • Jagger–Richards
  • Matt Clifford
 4:31
8. "Hit Me in the Head"   2:57
9. "You Know I'm No Good" Amy Winehouse 4:54
10. "Some of Us"   4:01
11. "Covered in You"
  • Jagger–Richards
  • Clifford
 4:32
12. "Side Effects"
  • Jagger–Richards
  • Andrew Watt
 4:35
13. "Back in Your Life"
  • Jagger–Richards
  • Watt
 6:13
14. "Beautiful Delilah" Chuck Berry 3:29
Total length: 62:33
iTunes Store bonus track
No. Title Length
15. "Bad Luck Hideaway" 3:50
Total length: 66:23

Personnel

Credits are adapted from Tidal.[39]

The Rolling Stones

  • Mick Jagger – vocals (tracks 1–9, 11–15), background vocals (1–12,15), electric guitar (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15), harmonica (1, 8, 9, 11), acoustic guitar (2, 5, 6, 11, 15), percussion (4, 5, 7, 12)
  • Keith Richards – electric guitar (all tracks), background vocals (2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 15), acoustic guitar (4, 9, 10), piano (8), vocals (10, 14, 15) bass (15)
  • Ronnie Wood – electric guitar (1–13,15), bass guitar (1, 2), background vocals (4, 10)
  • Charlie Watts – drums (8, 15)

Additional musicians

  • Steve Jordan – drums (1–7, 9–13), percussion (4, 9)
  • Andrew Watt – electric guitar (1–4, 9, 11, 13), background vocals (1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 15), percussion (2, 8, 11–13), acoustic guitar (3, 12, 13), piano (3, 4, 9), synthesizer (3, 5, 7, 12), bass guitar (8)
  • Matt Clifford – piano (1, 2, 11, 15), organ (1), synthesizer (3, 11), Rhodes (9, 11)
  • James King – tenor saxophone (1, 5, 9, 13), alto saxophone (5, 13), baritone saxophone (9)
  • Ben Waters – piano (1)
  • Benmont Tench – organ (2, 10, 15) piano (15)
  • Darryl Jones – bass guitar (3–7, 9, 10, 12, 13)
  • Steve Winwood – organ (3–6, 9, 12, 13), Rhodes (3, 7), piano (5–7, 10, 12, 13)
  • Naarai Jacobs – background vocals (4)
  • Robert Smith – electric guitar (5), background vocals (7), synthesizer (7)
  • Ron Blake  – trumpet (5, 9, 13), flugelhorn (13)
  • Bruno Mars – cowbell (7)
  • Paul McCartney – bass guitar (11)
  • Chad Smith – concert bass drum (14)

Technical

  • Andrew Watt – production, engineering (all tracks); mixing (14)
  • Don Was – additional production (8)
  • Paul Lamalfa – engineering (all tracks), mixing (14)
  • Marco Sonzini – engineering (1–7, 9–13), additional engineering (8)
  • Matt Clifford – engineering (8), pre-production (1–13)
  • Krish Sharma – engineering (8)
  • Joe Brice – additional engineering
  • Alex Kalteziotis – additional engineering (1–13)
  • Lars Fox – additional engineering (1–13)
  • Joe Dougherty – additional engineering (1, 2, 11)
  • Kelsey Porter – additional engineering (1, 2, 11)
  • Tommy Turner – additional engineering (1, 2, 11)
  • Harpaal Sanghera – additional engineering (3–7, 9, 10, 12, 13)
  • Mollie Crammond – additional engineering (3–7, 9, 10, 12, 13)
  • Dani Perez – additional engineering (8, 11, 12)
  • Rich Evatt – additional engineering (11)
  • Lawrence Adams – additional engineering (13), studio personnel (5–12)
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • Bryce Bordone – additional mixing
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Andrew Koenig – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Dom Faccini – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Laura Ramsay – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Pia Squillino – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Pierre de Beauport – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Ryan Bullington – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Tavish Westwood – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Tony Russell – studio personnel (5–14)
  • Anna Donarski – studio personnel (5–13)
  • Artie Smith – studio personnel (5–13)
  • Marc Van Gool – studio personnel (5–13)

Notes

  1. ^ The band's final session with Charlie Watts.

References

  1. ^ Aswad, Jem (5 May 2026). "Rolling Stones Announce New Album, 'Foreign Tongues,' Featuring Guests Paul McCartney, the Cure's Robert Smith and More". Variety. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  2. ^ Grow, Kory (5 May 2026). "The Rolling Stones Tease 'Foreign Tongues' Album With Upbeat Single 'In the Stars'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  3. ^ DeRiso, Nick (25 June 2026). "Rolling Stones Unveil New Single 'Jealous Lover' With Steve Winwood". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  4. ^ a b c Hodgkinson, Will (9 April 2026). "A secret song, a new album — why it's going to be a Rolling Stones summer". The Times. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  5. ^ Simpson, Beth (30 September 2025). ""Yes, you will be getting a new album next year. It is done": Ronnie Wood confirms a new Stones album is on the way". MusicRadar. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  6. ^ Brannigan, Paul (10 April 2026). "The Rolling Stones are releasing a new song tomorrow, but under a fake name". Classic Rock. Future. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  7. ^ Patrick, Philip (28 April 2026). "How the Rolling Stones keep rocking". The Spectator. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  8. ^ Cashmere, Paul (7 April 2026). "The Rolling Stones Expected to Reveal New Song "Mr Charm" and Final Album Foreign Tongues on 11 April 2026". Noise11. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  9. ^ Cashmere, Paul (12 April 2026). "The Rolling Stones Release "Rough and Twisted" as the Cockroaches in Ultra-Rare Vinyl Teaser". Noise11. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  10. ^ Roberts, Rachel (9 April 2026). ""Some people are seeing this as a final album": Details of the Rolling Stones' top secret new album revealed". Guitar.com. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  11. ^ Jeffries, Mark (6 May 2026). "Rolling Stones new album details including final 'punk' track with Charlie Watts". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
  12. ^ "🌎 👀". Facebook. 25 April 2026. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
  13. ^ a b c "Nathaniel Mary Quinn - The Rolling Stones' "Foreign Tongues" Album Cover". gagosian.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  14. ^ a b c Wilkening, Matthew (2 May 2026). "Rolling Stones Puzzle Seems to Confirm New Album Title and Cover Art". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  15. ^ "Rolling Stones to make Foreign Tongues announcement Tuesday". Everett Post. ABC News. 3 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  16. ^ Monroe, Jazz (10 April 2026). "The Rolling Stones Prepping New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
  17. ^ The Rolling Stones YouTube > In The Stars (Official Lyric Video) (4:15)
  18. ^ a b "The Rolling Stones announce new album, 'Foreign Tongues.' Here's what we know so far". Associated Press. 5 May 2026. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
  19. ^ The Rolling Stones YouTube > Rough And Twisted (Official Audio) (4:40)
  20. ^ DeVille, Chris (14 May 2026). "The Rolling Stones Talk Tour Plans, Get De-Aged In Their "In The Stars" Video Starring Odessa A'zion". Stereogum. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  21. ^ Harper, Simon (10 July 2026). "The inside story of the Rolling Stones' Foreign Tongues artwork". Creative Review. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  22. ^ Amado, Bráulio. "Bráulio Amado album cover reveal". Instagram. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  23. ^ Mouriquand, David (6 May 2026). "The Rolling Stones: 'Foreign Tongues' & The 30 worst album covers of all time". euronews.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  24. ^ a b "Foreign Tongues by The Rolling Stones reviews". Any Decent Music. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  25. ^ a b "Foreign Tongues". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
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  27. ^ Fortnam, Ian (17 June 2026) [Summer 2026 issue]. ""Foreign Tongues had been rock's worst-kept secret for some time before album opener Rough And Twisted dropped in April to acclaim and relief. Media duly frenzied. Mission accomplished." The Rolling Stones roll on with album number 25". Classic Rock. United Kingdom. p. 66. ISSN 1464-7834. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026 – via Louder.
  28. ^ a b Simpson, Dave (4 July 2026). "The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues review – stomping blues and anti-Musk politics make this another late triumph". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  29. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (7 July 2026). "Foreign Tongues by the Rolling Stones is an album a band 60 years younger would envy". The Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. ISSN 1741-9743. OCLC 185201487. Archived from the original on 7 July 2026. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
  30. ^ Power, Ed (19 June 2026). "Foreign Tongues review: The new Rolling Stones album is freewheeling, frisky and fabulous". The Irish Times. ISSN 0791-5144. OCLC 137350020. Archived from the original on 19 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  31. ^ a b c Eccleston, Danny (25 June 2026) [in print: 11 June 2026]. "The Rolling Stones Foreign Tongues Reviewed: Amid some clutter and blare, the spirit of the Stones shines through". Mojo. No. 393 [August 2026]. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 1351-0193. Archived from the original on 27 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
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  33. ^ a b McCormick, Neil (16 June 2026). "Twenty-five albums in, the Rolling Stones are still rock's most thrilling band". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. OCLC 49632006. Archived from the original on 27 June 2026. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  34. ^ Hodgkinson, Will (15 June 2026). "The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues review — a career high, in their eighties". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. OCLC 61565875. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  35. ^ "Foreign Tongues review". Uncut. London, United Kingdom. 19 June 2026 [August 2026 issue]. p. 98. ISSN 1368-0722.
  36. ^ Flood, Alex (9 July 2026). "The Rolling Stones – 'Foreign Tongues' review: a fresh and fluent follow-up to 'Hackney Diamonds'". NME. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  37. ^ "Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues - review". Soundwaves. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  38. ^ a b Sharples, Grant (9 July 2026). "The Rolling Stones can't sand down the monotony of Foreign Tongues". Paste. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  39. ^ a b "Foreign Tongues / The Rolling Stones / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 9 July 2026.