Music review: Rod Stewart’s ‘Time’
鈥淪pent some time feeling inferior/Standing in front of my mirror/Combed my hair in a thousand ways/But I came out looking just the same,鈥� sings Rod Stewart on his 1971 classic 鈥淓very Picture Tells a Story.鈥澛�
A true storyteller for more than 40 years, the 68-year-old singer (who still looks remarkably the same) releases a sentimental collection of beautifully crafted melodies containing personal snapshots of his life experiences. With 鈥淭ime,鈥� Stewart overcomes his lengthy writer鈥檚 block, penning 11 of the 12 age-appropriate tracks that were inspired by the release of his best-selling autobiography last October.
The lone cover is Tom Waits鈥� tenderly descriptive piano ballad 鈥淧icture in a Frame.鈥� The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee鈥檚 signature raspy and soulful voice is still in fine form as Stewart delivers, in my opinion, one of his best performances since 1998鈥檚 charmingly nostalgic 鈥淲hen We Were the New Boys.鈥�
鈥淪he Makes Me Happy鈥� opens the album by showing an older-but-wiser Stewart, accompanied by the familiar sounds of acoustic guitar, mandolin and accordion as Stewart sings, 鈥淲hen I get home there鈥檚 a hot bath waiting/Glass of wine on the side.鈥�
Stewart鈥檚 certainly come a long way from the days detailing an older woman鈥檚 seduction on the timeless 鈥淢aggie May.鈥�
鈥淐an鈥檛 Stop Me Now鈥� outlines Stewart鈥檚 early career setbacks, prevailing over record company obstacles with an unshakable determination and a father鈥檚 support. From the rocking 鈥淔inest Woman,鈥� a fond nod and a wink to his third wife, to 鈥淧ure Love,鈥� a tenderhearted ballad to his children, Stewart sounds sincere and content.
The only questionable number on the album is the awkward 鈥淪exual Religion鈥� as it uncomfortably evokes the memories of the disco-textured 鈥淒o You Think I鈥檓 Sexy?鈥�
After raiding my older brother鈥檚 extensive record catalog in the early 鈥�70s, I discovered the charisma of Stewart鈥檚 throaty vocals on 1972鈥檚 鈥淣ever A Dull Moment,鈥� featuring 鈥淭rue Blue,鈥� 鈥淟ost Paraguayos鈥� and, of course, 鈥淵ou Wear It Well.鈥�
Since that time, I鈥檝e been a Stewart fan through all the singer鈥檚 phases and diverse career choices.
After releasing eight cover albums including the 鈥淕reat American Songbook鈥� series, it鈥檚 a treat to find Stewart returning to his rich blues and folk influence contained on his early solo albums.
While time waits for no one, it certainly has been kind to Stewart and rewarding to his fans.