REVIEWS:
Post your comments about Eric Clapton
released by Derek And The Dominos
(reviewed by Kevin Baker)
You don't know how hard it is for me to review this. It's not a bad album. In fact, it's quite good, and I give it an 8 with no regret or afterthought. But, I literally cannot sit through the whole thing, and I will tell you why. As good as most of the songs are, either all the filler would have to go, or else a minute would have to shaved off of some of the less worthy songs. For a single album, this one is exceptionally long, coming out to (I believe) over 70 minutes of music. That's too much, to be quite frank. Some of these songs should not have seen the light of day, and some of the others could stand a little cosmetic trimming here and there. That rant over, this is a good, solid blues-rock album whose high-points make Denali look like a molehill in my grandmother's garden. Well, that may be a strecth, but some of these songs are faboo, and several more would be with 30 seconds to a minute trimmed. Instead of doing my usual "and our fourth track is great...." routine, I'll separate the wheat from the chaff here, so to speak.
WHEAT: The title track is friggin awesome. If you haven't heard Layla, you've been under a particularly uncool rock for the last 30 years, or else are a teenager. It deserves all the praise it gets. It goes from frantic cry of desperation to a classical-influenced end section of mind-blowing elegance and beauty. I love the song and hope you do too. Elsewhere, Bell Bottom Blues is excellent, Key To The Highway is a cool jam, Little Wing rocks, Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad simmers, and Have You Ever Loved A Woman is a great blues cover. CHAFF :Everything else is either too sappy or over long. Simple 'nuff. OK, I do enjoy this one.....when I have time. I usually pick and listen to individual songs. They're all good, all close to home, but together just too overwhelming to be a perfect listen.
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