I have to apologize for being late on this week's review. A six hour power outage and the opening of Miller Park will tend to do that to someone! Eric Clapton's latest release is a sort of testimate to the fact that he's had many different roles and faces over the years. It's also a bit of a tribute to his late uncle. Clapton has recently gone back to his roots so to speak with 1994's "From the Cradle" and last years collaboration with B.B. King "Riding with the King". Both of these efforts were great additions to anyone's cd collection, but "Reptile" should be the choice for Clapton purists only.
For his latest release, Clapton uses slick production techniques and more acoustic guitar than what I remember him doing. The opening and title song is a great guitar instrumental. This is an unusual way to kick off an album, but very welcome here. "Broken Down" features strings along with some more solid acoustic guitar playing. The soulful background singing adds a nice touch of the blues. "Find Myself" is a light and fun traditional blues number that features some nice "honky tonk" piano added. "Believe in Life" is already starting to make appearances on the radio. Showing off an almost tropical flavor, this song is fairly light-weight for most Clapton fans. It's understandable why it's being played on the radio since it's probably the mose accessible song on the cd. The song is starting to grow on me a bit, and I do love the line "You will let me call your name, 'cause I love you more than light". Clapton's vocals here are breathy and effortless.
On the other hand, there are a few tracks here that don't quite stand up to the better material. "Travelin' Light" can try the listeners patience after a few listens. A cover of another J.J. Cale song, this effort by Clapton sounds a little too "over-done" and macho, and the chorus vocals are a little too "heavy" here. Stevie Wonder's "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" is a forgettable effort that doesn't quite re-create the funk that was originally injected into it in the first place. I don't really think there was a reason to cover James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight". I do credit Clapton for his re-arrangement of this song by adding some of his traditional fine guitar licks, but the outcome of this cover comes off as being somewhat boring.
All criticism aside, the cd does end in a fairly strong fashion. "Superman Inside" kicks off with some rocking slide guitar, pounding drums and cymbals, and strong hammond organ playing courtesy of Billy Preston. The singing and playing is top-notch here, and I'm sure this song will find its way onto Clapton's live set list. The album closes appropriately with another instrumental; "Son and Sylvia". This slow and beautiful number is accented nicely with double-tracked acoustic guitar, strings and percussion. The surprise addition of harmonica makes for a wonderful folk inspired sound. Clapton should seriously consider doing and all acoustic album some day since his playing seems more inspired on these types of numbers.
I don't believe that I'll be listening to this cd that often a few years from now, but I think there are a handful of stand-out tunes here. I think Clapton is too caught up right now in rich and sometimes over-produced productions of his work, but he is doing what he wants to do with his career right now. This collection is definitely diverse, but that doesn't mean it will stand out as being one of his most memorable releases.
