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Pastimes : Deadheads -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JakeStraw who wrote (25527)	3/13/2001 10:12:12 AM
From: SIer formerly known as Joe B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 49844

Sounds intersting.

To: JakeStraw who wrote (25527)	3/13/2001 3:17:40 PM
From: SIer formerly known as Joe B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 49844

Another review of the new Clapton CD: 03/13/2001 - Tuesday - Page B 2 CD REVIEW Clapton Grand and Clapton Bland by Glenn Gamboa Staff Writer newsday.com IN THE PAST decade, Eric Clapton has careened between vibrant re- examinations of the soulful classics that stirred his legendary virtuosity and toothless adult contemporary that keeps him swaddled in designer suits and Caribbean hideaways. On his new album "Reptile" (Reprise), Clapton abandons that game plan, opting instead for a maddening mishmash of musical styles that irritate one minute and inspire the next. Just when the dentist-office bland "Believe in Life" (with yawn-inducing lyrics like "You will hear me call your name 'cause I love you more than light/And it will always be this way as long as I believe in life") makes you question why people ever liked Clapton in the first place, he uncorks the potent one-two punch of Ray Charles' "Come Back Baby" and his new "Broken Down." The way Clapton wraps his bluesy vocals and blistering guitarwork around "Come Back Baby" is amazing, playing nicely off the gorgeous backing vocals of The Impressions. The wrenching "Broken Down" and the lighthearted "Find Myself" show that Clapton can still break ground with new songs, if he would only be choosier. Clapton said "Reptile" was an outgrowth of his success with "Riding with the King," last year's album of duets with B.B. King. Aided by many of the same musicians from those sessions, as well as keyboardists Billy Preston and Paul Carrack, Clapton was able to knock out much of "Reptile" in two weeks. The album rolled out of Clapton after the death of his uncle, Adrian, who died last year. The title "Reptile" (British slang for "pal") refers to Adrian, who Clapton says is "the greatest reptile of them all." The death of his uncle made Clapton reconsider his past, leading him to the samba instrumental title track, as well as the retro feel of originals like the first single "Superman Inside." Looking back also brought Clapton to some unusual covers, including a strangely faithful cover of Stevie Wonder's "I Ain't Gonna Stand For It" and a bluesy reworking of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." In keeping with the unpredictable feel of "Reptile," the Wonder cover makes you yearn for the original, while the Taylor cover makes you wonder why Sweet Baby James hasn't thought of this arrangement before. Clapton said he was surprised how much harder "Reptile" was to record than "Riding With the King," adding that he "underestimated B.B.'s presence." The absence of a strong personality like King to rein in Clapton's sappier and geekier tendencies is the likely culprit for the split personality of "Reptile" -a problem afflicting other "reptiles," like Sting. Nevertheless, any move Clapton makes away from uninspired indulgence like his previous solo album "Pilgrim" is welcome.