Keith Richards 'Cross-Eyed Heart' album review

Image: Keith Richards 

Almost 23 years since his last solo album, the Rolling Stones axeman shows the creative cogs are still turning as ‘Crosseyed Heart’ showcases the best of blues, reggae and folk music. 

Speaking on his new documentary ‘Under the Influence’ which premièred exclusively on Netflix in tandem with the album, Keith stated he “ain’t a pop star no more and I don’t wanna be”.

There’s certainly no sense of clinging on to any former glories on his newest studio effort, more so that he’s finally giving in to a long standing urge to get back to what he does best. 

The opening song and album title track ‘Crosseyed Heart’ is two minutes of no holds barred blues and country guitar work. It’s so typically Keith Richards it should be accompanied with a 10 deck of Marlboro Reds and a bottle of Jack Daniels. 

‘Heartstopper’ and  ‘Amnesia’ feature riffs pumped full of Stones like attitude showing he can still write the killer crowd pleasers; whilst 'Trouble’ sounds so raunchy you cant help but think it must have been written with Mick Jagger and co in mind. 

His vocals are still remarkably strong which is most notable on the slower numbers such as ‘Nothing On Me’ and ‘Lover’s Plea’. It’s almost a miracle he can still hold a tune, following almost half a century touring with the Rolling Stones: a career embroiled in alcohol, cigarettes and drug abuse. 

The album’s highlights are arguably in the acoustic songs, emphasising his impeccable attention to detail and arrangement. ‘Robbed Blind’ offers nothing more than the 71-year-old, acoustic guitar in hand with a soft piano background as he details a quest to hunt down someone who stole money for him - a stand-out song on the record. 

The album was written with long-time friend and collaborator Steve Jordan. The idea stemmed from the two deciding to go to the studio to “see what happens”. Accompanied by a host of accomplished musicians, the studio sessions were more like jam sessions, no more evident than on the brilliantly off the cuff sounding ‘Substantial Damage’, ‘Blues in the Morning’ and cover of Gregory Isaac’s 1974 reggae classic ‘Lover Overdue’. 

Already one of rock n roll’s most fabled persona’s, Keith Richards has certainly earned the right to cater to the occasional creative whim he has. ‘Crosseyed Heart’ is an album that doesn’t try too hard and shows he still has a lot to offer. 

Long live Keef.

Read: Keith Richards declares Sgt.Pepper's was rubbish.