Reviewed by Fuzmeister
I learned a handful of important things from movies made in the 1980s. One was that “when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say yes.” If Eric Clapton’s new album is any indication, he has never seen Ghostbusters or simply chose not to follow the advice given by Winston Zeddmore. For those unsure what kind of qualifications Clapton has to be called a god should look to his earlier work. Those were the times when he was known more as a guitar player and less as… whatever it is he’s trying to be on his new album “Clapton.”
“Clapton” is an album made up of mostly covers that date back to before WWII. This isn’t neccessarily a bad thing as Clapton proved several years ago with the “Me and Mr. Johnson” record. Paying homage to the classics is far from the problem with his new disc. The arrangements on virtually every track are predictable and cliched. Instead of breathing new life into the older tracks, Clapton has simply acted as a nail in their coffin. For several of the songs, that nail may be the final one as most of the album’s songs are fairly obscure for younger audiences and probably even those in Clapton’s generation.
From a production standpoint outside the arrangements, the album is well-engineered and Clapton’s studio musicians sound effective. However, every instrument feels a bit too pefectly played. Nothing feels off the cuff or “live in the studio” as things did on Clapton’s “From the Cradle.” Speaking of instruments, readers may be wondering why I haven’t mentioned Clapton’s guitar work. The saving grace of even Clapton’s most poppy endeavors has been his excellent (albeit predictable) guitar playing. One of the biggest disappointments on “Clapton” for me was the lack of any shining guitar moments. There are a few moments where a guitar may come through with some classic Clapton tone, but it ends up feeling more like a tease than a full realization of what could be done.
All in all, “Clapton” isn’t neccessarily a bad album. It’s simply an album where Mr. Clapton has chosen to shift focus from his strengths and rely on what appears to be his personal infatuation with the included songs. Fans of his seminal work or those expecting a second coming of blues covers like those found on “From the Cradle” will surely be disappointed. Equally, those expecting some 90′s era Clapton pop music will also be let down by the lack of hooks or memorable numbers. Perhaps the greatest statement made by “Clapton” is that one should almost always rely on their strengths (and possibly a good producer) to get a record that may one day be called timeless. Better luck next time, Eric.
1/5 Stars for Clapton
