by Stacia Proefrock
The companion to a book with the same name, Grow Younger, Live Longer is a strange CD. It has the slapdash quality of a project conceived for pure commercial gain, yet Stewart and Chopra have been acquainted for years and at times on the disc seem like old friends. Here Chopra recites contemporary interpretations of classic poems over Stewart's ambient, trip-hop, and dub beats. Both of these artists have done better work, and it is obvious that they spent little, if any, time working together (one track is even a recorded phone call). However, there are a few minutes when it all does come together with a serene, hypnotic effect. One example of this is "My Heat Beats in Waves," where Chopra's voice takes on a meditative quality that is enhanced by Stewart's music. Fans will likely find much more to like on this album, as Chopra's charisma often supercedes the actual quality of his work, but this is not the kind of project which will bolster his popular image.