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There is so much to say about Rod Stewart's past that this entire article could be focused on his awards, accolades, and record selling statistics. Instead, Stewart is on a brand new musical page (and record label), transcending styles and crooning like no other. "Human" marks Stewart's departure from sappy pop and moves him in the direction of blue eyed soul, mixed with urban rhythms. 

A primary example of the sound update is the uplifting first single "I Can't Deny It," in vein of his longtime influences Otis Redding and the Isley Brothers. The title cut is a grooving jam spiced up by some guitar chords from Gun and Roses' Slash. Stewart's cover of Curtis Mayfield's "It Was Love That We Needed" shows his typically rough vocal patterns take more of a smooth path. The disc also sports the incorporation of a soulful country track; The Mavericks' "To Be With You."

In addition, there are a handful of special guests on the disc, including ex-Dire Straits front man Mark Knopfler, who lends some up-tempo riffs to "If I Had You." Also included is an eclectic Motown-inspired duet with Scottish singer/songwriter Helicopter Girl called "Don't Come Around Here." Most notably, Macy Gray lends her songwriting and composing skills on the ballad "Smitten," in the vein of her hit single "I Try."

Regardless of what one's thought of Stewart in the past, it's important to throw those ideas out the window and embrace his vibrantly refreshing new sound. When an artist has as much longevity as Stewart, it is important to mix things up in each project in order to be relevant in the current scene. "Human" succeeds in that regard and also serves as a foreshadowing of where Stewart's career may be going.

Andy Argyrakis  2/17/2001