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HUMAN
Rod Stewart
(Atlantic)
"I've been looking in the mirror, stuff is getting clearer, wondering who am I?" sings Stewart on the striking opening title track of his latest collection, in stores Tuesday.
Some might say Rod The Mod has found himself again after a minor identity crisis marred his 1998 release, When We Were The New Boys, a more rocking effort featuring the 56-year-old covering tunes by everyone from Oasis to Primal Scream.
It sounded good in theory, but didn't quite work in practice.
Human is a slicker, but ultimately more soulful album that finds Stewart all grown up and comfortable with himself.
That's not to say this collection is without stunts.
Both former GN'R guitarist Slash and Mark Knopfler weigh in with separate solos during the title track and If I Had You, respectively, while Macy Gray provides Smitten, a song so suited to her own soulful style, you wish she'd recorded it.
This isn't to say that Rockin' Rod doesn't sound in warm, wonderful scratchy voice as he emotes over the course of 11 heavily textured, R&B-flavoured pop songs.
Particularly good is his duet with baby-voiced Scottish singer-songwriter Helicopter Girl on Don't Come Around Here; the gospel-tinged anthem, If I Had You, and the first two singles, Run Back Into Your Arms and I Can't Deny It, which harken back to earlier Stewart classics.
He also capably tackles a few covers, Curtis Mayfield's It Was Love That We Needed, and The Mavericks' To Be With You.
Track Listing
1. I Can't Deny It
2. Human
3. Don't Come Around Here
4. Run Back Into Your Arms
5. Smitten
6. Soul On Soul
7. Loveless
8. It Was Love That We Needed
9. If I Had You
10. Charlie Parker Loves Me
11. To Be With You