ABOUT ROD - News, April 16, 2009: Unplugged Collectors review

The Faces disbanded in 1974, several years after its front man Rod Stewart found greater success as a solo act. Nevertheless, the group continues to loom large in the pantheon of Stewart’s longtime fans. It isn’t surprising, then, that rumors of a reunion of the Faces have circulated with some regularity ever since Stewart was joined by his old pal Ron Wood for a performance on MTV’s Unplugged in 1993. Considering how saccharine Stewart’s output has become — he long ago became a slick and polished pop star, — it’s safe to say that his appearance on the program remains the lone bright spot in his canon, at least since the release of A Night on the Town in 1976. Stewart, it seems, has made his best music whenever he has been pushed by his peers rather than coddled by record labels and producers. Unfortunately, he seems to prefer the latter approach.

The collector’s edition of Unplugged...And Seated revisits Stewart’s temporary resurgence, thus serving as a reminder of the potency of his work.

To read John Metzger's full review in Music Box go to

http://www.musicbox-online.com/review/04162009/rod-stewart-unplugged.html