Music review: Rod Stewart’s ‘Time’
无毛视频淪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,无毛视频� sings Rod Stewart on his 1971 classic 无毛视频淓very Picture Tells a Story.无毛视频澛�
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 无毛视频淭ime,无毛视频� Stewart overcomes his lengthy writer无毛视频檚 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无毛视频� tenderly descriptive piano ballad 无毛视频淧icture in a Frame.无毛视频� The two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee无毛视频檚 signature raspy and soulful voice is still in fine form as Stewart delivers, in my opinion, one of his best performances since 1998无毛视频檚 charmingly nostalgic 无毛视频淲hen We Were the New Boys.无毛视频�
无毛视频淪he Makes Me Happy无毛视频� opens the album by showing an older-but-wiser Stewart, accompanied by the familiar sounds of acoustic guitar, mandolin and accordion as Stewart sings, 无毛视频淲hen I get home there无毛视频檚 a hot bath waiting/Glass of wine on the side.无毛视频�
Stewart无毛视频檚 certainly come a long way from the days detailing an older woman无毛视频檚 seduction on the timeless 无毛视频淢aggie May.无毛视频�
无毛视频淐an无毛视频檛 Stop Me Now无毛视频� outlines Stewart无毛视频檚 early career setbacks, prevailing over record company obstacles with an unshakable determination and a father无毛视频檚 support. From the rocking 无毛视频淔inest Woman,无毛视频� a fond nod and a wink to his third wife, to 无毛视频淧ure Love,无毛视频� a tenderhearted ballad to his children, Stewart sounds sincere and content.
The only questionable number on the album is the awkward 无毛视频淪exual Religion无毛视频� as it uncomfortably evokes the memories of the disco-textured 无毛视频淒o You Think I无毛视频檓 Sexy?无毛视频�
After raiding my older brother无毛视频檚 extensive record catalog in the early 无毛视频�70s, I discovered the charisma of Stewart无毛视频檚 throaty vocals on 1972无毛视频檚 无毛视频淣ever A Dull Moment,无毛视频� featuring 无毛视频淭rue Blue,无毛视频� 无毛视频淟ost Paraguayos无毛视频� and, of course, 无毛视频淵ou Wear It Well.无毛视频�
Since that time, I无毛视频檝e been a Stewart fan through all the singer无毛视频檚 phases and diverse career choices.
After releasing eight cover albums including the 无毛视频淕reat American Songbook无毛视频� series, it无毛视频檚 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.