Customer Reviews

When We Were the New Boys

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is rock& roooool man !. Rod Stewart goes back to his roots on this, and kicks off with track 1 Cigaretts and Alcohol, and what a stunning opener. This is probably traditonal rock and roll, but anyway sets a standard trough the CD. Track 2 Oh La La is a more traditonal song, with a very good melody, which bring`s thought`s to the scootish
folk music, with fiddles and a seldom instrument called
bodran. Realy soul in this one. Track 3 Rocks is not up there. It`s similar in style with Track 1, but doesn`t realy have the right kick off and creativity, but anyway, it`s an ok rocker in the most traditional style. Track 4 is a ballad called Superstar, it`s ok, but sound`s to pompous in a way, and it`s
ridden by cliche`s. Track 5 Secret Heart, is as you read it is very, very, simple, but a good listen with some "soulbalsam" inbetween. Track 6 Hotel Chambermaid, kicks off in the right direction. This is similar in style with Track 1. Track 7 is a let down in a way. A ballad that it`s ok, but nothing more.
Track 8 When we Were The New Boys, swings in the right direction, and it`s the song with the most "hit" potensial on this CD. It has a very good refrain, and i don`t mind that the "theme" goes over and over again, when it`s done with quality as this one. The two last one`s is ballad`s .Ok, but nothing more. This CD kicks in many directions, but he`s best when he skip`s the ballads, and consentrate`s with the basic rock and roll`ers. A good buy, anyway. Rod Stewart always delivers the rock and roll package.

Comparing "When We Were the New Boys" to Stewart's earlier works is pointless. Does his new CD stand on its own? Absolutely. Whether the songs chosen were written by young Brits is also pointless. Do the songs chosen work? Absolutely. Stewart's voice is still one of rock's greatest instruments. It is also worth noting that Rod produced this CD as well. Driving down the Sunset strip on a hot summers day with the top down blasting "Rocks"- it sounds real good and it feels good. As Rod said in a recent interview, "It's not a drug song, it's a good reflection on what life's all about, the ugly side of life. It's also a tremendously joyous song. Life is a bit stiff, it's a bit hard, but Friday and Saturday nights you get your rocks off." Rod may be 53 but rock and roll is still in his soul. The final track, "What do you want me to do?", is the best of the lot in showcasing Stewart's interperative skills. When he whispers, "I'm listening" you actually pause as if to listen with him. It's great to be listening to him again.

by and large, rod stewart's latest effort is a winning one! while most main stream critics continue to carp about his age or material selection, I always find two or three efforts on a stewart album highly enjoyable! My highlights include "Cigarettes and Alcohol", "Ooh La La", and the catchy, irresistible "Rocks"! Of course, I've always been partial to the rockers versus the ballads which I feel are primarly geared for his female audience! The rest of the album is OK, especially the title tune and "Hotel Chambermaid"! Let's face it folks, compared to most of the trek that passes for rock n roll, just about anything stewart does has a foundation based in "good ole fashion fun"...and after all, isn't that what rock is supposed to be all about? Suggestion: catch the man "live" doing this new material and forget what the critics say! You'll be glad you did!

An outstanding release that should have stopped him making the current "songbook" crap he's shoving out now. The 1st three cuts flat out rock in a way Rod hasn't done in years. As cheap as you can pick this up used, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

I wasn't a Rod Stewart fan before I heard this album. It is an absolute cracker and never fails to cheer me up when I need it. A great collection of songs, a good solid guitarist and a good range of session musicians, including The Corrs before they were famous all with Rod singing to bust a gut make this a first class good-time-rock-and-roll album. Good to know that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is still around on the music scene (when he is not working with U.S. defence). He plays a nice pedal steel guitar here. The album was produced by Rod himself and he chose the songs as well as composing a few of them. It is a party atmosphere from the beginning to the end, although the pace does slow down a few times. The very highest points for me; Primal scream's "Rocks", Oasis's "Cigarettes and alcohol" and Graham Parker's "Hotel chambermaid", all excellent interpretations which, in my opinion, completely outclass the originals. (That's right Rod, you show 'em how it's done.)

This is good, unpretentious rock music with loads of balls, guts and a lot of fun.

Not sure how I missed this cd. I left the country early 98, and returned 5 years later to Rod singing waltz type music. I thought it was a joke. I'm a huge fan of Rod since the age of 14 and am now 39, but never bought the song book series. I've been tempted to buy them just to try them out, but haven't yet. I did buy his newest "still the same" cd. I like it, but it's not the Rod I remember. It's great for his age and appropriate, but when I stumbled across "When We Were the New Boys" today at a used cd store, I thought it had to be a mix of music from the past and not a new cd in 98'. how did it slip by me, so assumed it probably had gotten bad reviews. Once I played it, I knew there would be no way it got poor reviews. It's classic Rod doing what he does best. I'm sooooo thrillled to have found it. It's like I have a new Rod cd today that is all new music. I swear I am a big fan, but missing this doesn't reflect it. I have all his music, plus more including cassettes, cds and best of Rod, but this one? I love it....and in a way i'm glad i missed it so I can enjoy it as if new today. If you don't have it, go get it. It's a great listen, sing along, and dance. My heart skips a beat litening to Rod and thinking of him move on stage in concert....and the soccer balls!

Well worth the extra money to get CARELESS WITH OUR LOVE....its wonderful and shouldve been released in the states as a single! If you are a TRUE Rod fan...this song is a MUST!

After years of albums like "Body Wishes" and singles like "Love Touch" distanced Rod Stewart from his great early music, this album returns him to the hard-rocking forefront with one question: "Is it my imagination, or have I finally found something that's worth living for?" It's the first line of Oasis' "Cigarettes and Alcohol," and leads off the set's best (and first) three tracks.

The wistful "Ooh La La," the Stones-like snaky swagger of Primal Scream's "Rocks" persuade you that The Rock Voice has returned. But things quickly slow down on the last seven tracks, as Rod mixes beer-stained weepers like "Secret Heart" and "Shelley My Love" with mismatches such as "Weak" (which sounds like a power ballad!) By the last pensive track, Rod asks another musical title question, "What Do You Want Me To Do?" The answer: rock more like this, only bluesier, faster, and with a few more songs.

This, I believe, is the last rock n' roll album Rod Stewart did before he began channeling the spirit of Perry Como.
Before this release, he did a number of hit-or-miss albums that seemed to try to capture the old spirit but always missed the mark. On this one I believed he had finally started rockin' again. Great songs like Cigarettes and Alcohol, Rocks, The Face's Ooh La La, and the title song are what Stewart has always been about. He always had a soft spot for the ballad, and performed them with heart-felt sincerity.
But when he wanted to rock, he did so with energy and a great sense of fun.
As i mentioned, Ooh La La was originally recorded by the Faces and released on their album of the same name, around, I think, 1973. So, interestingly enough, Rod Stewart has recorded the song twice. The original was sung by the late, great Ronnie Lane. This time Stewart handles the vocals and does an admirable job.
All in all, this is a very satisfying release by Rod, but the moment was short-lived.
For reasons of his own, Rod has chosen to record album after album of old ballads and standards. I keep wondering if he'll ever do another rock record the likes of When We Were the New Boys. I don't want someone to say to me:"I remember Rod Stewart, say, Where did he go?"

The title track of "When We Were the New Boys" is the best song from any artist this year! Anyone who remembers their days of adolescence with fondness will be moved by this song. It will give you chills, it is so good. It isn't sappy or maudlin -- it is a rockin' sing-along that you will want to crank up and listen to over and over! I did, and so did my 52-year-old dad. The rest of album is also great stuff that runs the gamut from all-out rock to moving ballads. Don't miss it!