Sweet Sounds of Heaven

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was teased by the band via an Instagram post on 25 September 2023, which played a short snippet of the track and revealed its release date.^[5] A lyric video for the radio edit of the track was uploaded to the Rolling Stones' official YouTube channel on the day of its release, and an interview with the band's frontman Mick Jagger was uploaded to the Apple Music YouTube channel as well.^[6][7] On December 8, a live version of the song was released, recorded at the Racket in New York.^[8]

"Sweet Sounds of Heaven" was critically acclaimed. The Telegraph rated it five out of five stars, stating that the band is in "exultant form" and calling the track "a thrilling, uplifting proto-gospel song that belongs in the very highest echelons of the Stones' starry catalogue".^[9] Consequence described the "anthemic, surprisingly emotional cut" as "one of the best late-stage songs the Stones have to offer", with the vocal interplay between Jagger and Gaga "[making] the extended track feel like it breezes by in an instant".^[10]

American Songwriter praised the "truly epic" track as "[proof] that rock and roll and soul music can live harmoniously", while Rolling Stone further described it as a "free-flowing soul journey" with a "gospel vibe".^[11][4]

RTÉ deemed the track the highlight of the album, stating "this is the Stones in excelsis, a cosmic mountain range of a gospel song featuring perhaps Lady Gaga's finest-ever vocals and astounding keys and piano playing from the band's old touring partner Stevie Wonder".^[12] The New York Times listed "Sweet Sounds of Heaven" as the fifth best song released in 2023, stating that "the song climbs to a big, gospelly finish, with Jagger and Gaga goading each other to belt more."^[13]