Music review: Rod Stewart – 鈥楤lood Red Roses鈥�
My oldest brother was a big Rod Stewart fan back in the day. He had every Stewart album released from 1969 through 1981, including all the recordings by the Stewart-era Faces. Since I always respected my brother鈥檚 musical taste, it was natural that I too would become a fan of the charismatic singer.
I grew up on classic Stewart releases like 1970鈥檚 鈥淕asoline Alley,鈥� 1971鈥檚 鈥淓very Picture Tells a Story鈥� and 1972鈥檚 鈥淣ever a Dull Moment.鈥� One could certainly say that those were some very good years indeed.
After several years of offerings from the 鈥淕reat American Songbook鈥� series, the 73-year-old music icon is back with 鈥淏lood Red Roses.鈥� The new release follows the same successful musical blueprint heard on 2013鈥檚 鈥淭ime鈥� and 2015鈥檚 鈥淎nother Country.鈥�
On his 30th solo studio album, the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee adds his raspy, well-seasoned voice to a 13-track set filled with intimate and sincere songwriting from an older and wiser perspective.
The new material finds Stewart delivering a variety of musical styles like EDM on the opening number 鈥淟ook in Her Eyes鈥� to the pop sounds punctuated with a stirring horn section on 鈥淗ole in My Heart鈥� to the tender confessions of love witnessed on the ballad 鈥淕race.鈥�
鈥淔arewell鈥� serves as a touching tribute to the memory of an old and trusted friend and the numerous adventures experienced during a satisfying lifetime.
Stewart addresses the hurt and frustration felt by caring parents trying to warn their daughter about the dark path she is starting to walk down on 鈥淒idn鈥檛 I.鈥� The track features additional vocals by New York City native and Stewart backup singer Bridget Cady.
Stewart shows he isn鈥檛 afraid to display his rock star flair on the guitar-driven burners 鈥淩ollin鈥� & Tumblin'鈥� and 鈥淰egas Shuffle.鈥�
Stewart makes a brief return to his days of 鈥淒a Ya Think I鈥檓 Sexy?鈥� with the pulsating disco stylings on 鈥淕ive Me Love,鈥� proving once again that maybe blondes do have more fun.
After over 50 years of performing, Stewart still wears (and sings) it well.