Rod still rocks with mature reflections… but he lacks fire
Even as a flash lad, Rod Stewart had a flair for bittersweet reflection. Now in his autumn years, his voice still as golden as his hair, he’s carved a niche as a reformed roué, warning young turks away from the rocks of temptation. A bit rich, you might think, but strangely engaging.
Didn’t I is a heartfelt parental plea to a child tangled up in drugs, while
Look In Her Eyes preaches caution to aspiring ladykillers in the era of #MeToo.
Meanwhile, the music covers his many incarnations, from acoustic troubadour (Julia) to cheesy disco king (Give
Me Love) and Motown revivalist (Rest Of My Life).
There’s even a traditional sea shanty, proffering the tantalising vision of Stewart aboard a 19th century whaling schooner.
Only a feisty version of Bob Dylan’s Rollin’ And Tumblin’, however, hints at the lawless spirit of The Faces. Blood Red Roses is solid, but it could use more of that kind of fire. Graeme Thomson