Rod Stewart - When We Were The New Boys

Sure, it sounds kind of hokey on paper. The concept of Rod the Mod attempting to revisit his Faces/Every Picture Tells a Story glory days via a transfusion of hip new cover material. But surprise! This experiment actually works, and the raspy old rooster is crowing like he hasn't in years on Primal Scream's "Rocks," Oasis's "Cigarettes and Alcohol," Graham Parker's "Hotel Chambermaid," and even a bagpipe retro-fitted take on the Faces' vintage standby "Ooh La La." The title track works as a nice snapshot of memory lane, taken by one of rock's most legendary (and lately sorely overlooked) talents. Not exactly a second childhood, but it'll do. --Tom Lanham