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From the Vault...
10/22/2000
#704 |
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info
Rod Stewart
"When We Were
The New Boys"
© Warner Bros. Records
Year of Release: 1998
Rating:
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track listing
Cigarettes And Alcohol
Ooh La La
Rocks
Superstar
Secret Heart
Hotel Chambermaid
Shelly My Love
When We Were
The New Boys
Weak
What Do You
Want Me To Do
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Rod Stewart
"When We Were The New Boys"
I've always enjoyed Rod Stewart's music. Most people claim that his best
albums were during his early years. As the years went by, he became more of
an Adult Contemporary artist, and even so, his albums has improved with
his age. His early years were quote "Rockin!" as he started out as the singer
for the Jeff Beck Group, and would later join The Faces, and kept rocking in
his early solo years. When he turned to quote "Adult Contemporary," he mellowed
out a bit, but every once in a while, Rod Stewart would record a few tunes that
would return back to his "roots" : Rock 'n' Roll with a Grit. With that in mind,
Rod Stewart went back to his "roots" on his 1998 release, When We Were The New
Boys," an album that featured Rod Stewart in a style that his fans remember
him for: Songs that ROCK, and songs that were still current in his Adult
Contemporary style.
Take the opening track, "Cigarettes And Alcohol" : A song written by
Oasis' Noel Gallagher (featured on their Definitely Maybe album).
This one definitely ROCKS, as the repeat button gets hit on this particular
song. "Ooh La La" brings back the early years of The Faces, (this song
was written by Faces member Ron Wood and Ronnie Laine) and Stewart's first solo
album, Every Picture Tells A Story. This tune has a medium tempo beat,
(easily fitting his now Adult Contemporary style); which is good to slow down
the pace.
"Rocks" returns Stewart in rockin' style, yet not as driving and
rockin' as the album's opening track, though "Rocks" (Primal Scream)
is a good song, and it gets better towards the end of the song, with its driving
bass and guitars. "Superstar" (Superstar) is a beautiful ballad, as
Stewart's rough voice always sounded great on his songs that rock, and also
his ballads can sound just as sweet. Another ballad (suggested by Elvis
Costello) Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart" is just as sweet as any soft-rock
ballad ever recorded by the hot Rod. The accoustic guitar throughout is just
as sweet as Stewart's tender voice.
Another great head-boppin rock song is Graham Parker's "Hotel
Chambermaid." It's just as rockin' as "Cigarettes And Alcohol."
Nick Lowe's "Shelly My Love" returns Rod Stewart back to his Adult
Contemporary style, this song being a ballad. The title track (co-written by
Stewart) has the same feeling style heard in a previous popular hit,
"Forever Young."
"Weak" is a medium-tempo Adult Contemporary/Rock song, having the
common sound of the 1990s rock/pop style. It's not as "cheesy" as AC hits
as "Forever Young" and/or ballads like "Have I Told You Lately That
I Love You," yet this song could get radio airplay on some Alternative Rock
stations, likewise AC stations. "What Do You Want Me To Do" is folksy,
bring back the harmonica, and it can easily be an Adult Contemporary hit than
any other style.
As much as the title When We Were The New Boys, Rod Stewart does
return back to his roots with a few songs with enough grit and spunk as his
early years, plus he continues his style as an Adult Contemporary artist.
For the fans of his early years, the entire album doesn't dedicate itself to
his early years, as it features more of his continuing style in Adult Contemporary.
Where this may disappoint the true die-hard fans of Stewart's early years, this
album still states the fact that over the years, Rod Stewart can still produce
an album that makes him improve with age, and actually no one can say that any
of the songs on this album is exactly bad. Some better than others, yet this
album is still enjoyable for the fans of his most recent years.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Warner Bros. Records
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