As one of rock and roll’s founding fathers, 71 year old Keith Richards has nothing to prove, and that lack of pressure is what makes "Crosseyed Heart," his first solo album in 23 years so endearing.  His rough hewn vocals, derivative Rolling Stones riffing and anti-perfectionism are offset by the fascinating look into his swaggering gypsy persona.

The casualness is immediately apparent with the first track, the title song that sounds like a tossed off demo with a him adding at the it’s abrupt end “that all I got.” His limitations are what anyone else would kill for.

He’s accompanied by his touring band, The Expensive Winos including drummer Steve Jordon, guitarist Waddy Wachtel and keyboard player Ivan Neville, but he plays most of the guitar, bass and piano parts himself. One song features a duet with Norah Jones that sounds like part of a late night set at a smoky, alcohol soaked dive bar.

The rockers are what’s expected of him but it’s the ballads that bring out his true character. One of them recalls the Stones "Wild Horses" in a song about having his stash ripped off.

One song is about his famous survival instincts it’s the one that sounds most likeliest to make the cut on a Stones album.

As with his recent autobiography, "Life," "Crosseyed Heart" is an unexpectedly powerful statement from a true survivor of rock and roll and a rare late in life high point from an artist who has proved himself to be ageless.  

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