Blood Red Roses
Rod Stewart · 2018
51 min · 13 tracks · new wave
A reflective blend of bluesy rock and heartfelt ballads, showcasing Stewart's timeless vocal prowess over rich instrumentation.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Look in Her Eyes Start here — This opening track sets a poignant tone with its reflective lyrics about longing and connection, showcasing Stewart's emotive vocal delivery.
-
→
Blood Red Roses — The title track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of love and loss, featuring a stirring melody that highlights Stewart’s signature style.
-
→
Farewell — A standout ballad that showcases vulnerability, this track resonates with listeners through its heartfelt lyrics about parting ways and cherishing memories.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends reflective songwriting with solid performances but lacks standout moments that elevate it beyond its genre.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features mid-tempo tracks that emphasize Stewart's vocal delivery, while the second half introduces more varied instrumentation and tempo shifts.
- Several tracks incorporate bluesy guitar riffs and piano arrangements, creating a rich sonic texture that complements the lyrical themes of reflection and nostalgia.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective moments of emotional weight
- steady pacing for relaxed listening
- heartfelt melodies that linger
- warm vocals for intimate settings
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of fast-paced tracks
- prefer standalone catchy singles
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and sincerity in Stewart's long career.
- Themes
- nostalgic love· heartfelt farewells· reflective longing
- Career context
- By the time 'Blood Red Roses' was released in 2018, Rod Stewart had been a prominent figure in music for over five decades. This album arrived as his 30th studio release, following the commercially successful 'Another Country' from 2015, and continued to explore themes of love and nostalgia that have permeated his extensive career.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Joe Cocker· David Bowie· Elton John
Tracklist
- 1 Look in Her Eyes Start here 4:12
- 2 Hole in My Heart 3:27
- 3 Farewell 4:16
- 4 Didn't I 4:01
- 5 Blood Red Roses 3:41
- 6 Grace 4:53
- 7 Give Me Love 4:08
- 8 Rest of My Life 3:28
- 9 Rollin' & Tumblin' 3:38
- 10 Julia 3:36
- 11 Honey Gold 4:44
- 12 Vegas Shuffle 3:47
- 13 Cold Old London 3:41
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
The Search for Everything
John Mayer
Blends introspective lyrics with bluesy rock tones, exploring themes of love and longing.
You Want It Darker
Leonard Cohen
Shares reflective themes of love and nostalgia, wrapped in rich instrumentation and deep vocals.
Before This World
James Taylor
Combines heartfelt ballads with a nostalgic vibe, emphasizing emotional storytelling through music.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.