Eric Clapton - Pilgrim (14 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

Another Crossroads for Eric.

duke66@iserv.net | Wyoming, Michigan | 07/23/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I had to give this album a rating, I almost gave it a subjective four stars. I thought, if every song on the album was perfect, I'd give it five stars ... But then something struck me. This album is so radically different, so truly new, that it deserves a five star rating. How many artists have ever been able to reinvent themselves as successfully as Eric Clapton? Very, very few. And I'm not judging his success by the album's rating on the charts, or how much money he'll make off of it. Eric's career is so well established that it's written in the stars. I'm judging his success by the songs and workmanship on the album itself. His voice has grown to fit him, and his vocal range is astounding, especially after going back and listening to his early vocal work with The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Derek and the Dominoes and Blind Faith. Yes, his guitar work is subtle on this album, but subtle like the brush strokes of Michelangelo on the Sistine Ceiling. Volume ! isn't everything, sometimes softness can be more powerful. "River of Tears" is a song for anyone who has ever suffered a loss. Go someplace quiet and just listen to it. It will wash over you like a gentle hand, wiping your pain away. And that's what this album is really all about. Clapton discusses it in the Pilgrim tour book, how most of the songs were inspired by a recent love he lost. Music, to Mr. Clapton, is a means of healing. "Circus", a song he wrote about his son Conor, proves that Eric is still healing from the loss of his son, and probably always will be. But there are high volume songs on this album, too. "Sick and Tired", a Clapton-penned blues rocker is an electrified tribute to the Texas Blues of Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Clapton's playing on this one is absolutely jubilant. And "She's Gone" is pure Clapton dynamite. Just listen to it. Basically, Eric took a chance and laid it all out for this album. He t! urned a page, and tried a new musical direction. His sound! is still there, but it has somewhere to go other than backwards. And though the songs are heavy and often sad, they're ultimately an exercise in moving on. Eric Clapton has had the blues, but he's making music about them. That's what it's all about."

Misunderstood masterpiece

Randy J. Boatright | San Antonio, Tx | 12/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You either love it or you hate it. I LOVE it! Perhaps it is the fact that this is such a departure in style from anything else Eric Clapton has ever done. He brings his blues guitar background to a melodic electronic mix and in my opinion, created a masterpiece. Forget the fast forward button. It is rare that you have an "non-compliation" album where 13 out of the 14 songs are great. Pilgrim delivers."

Mellow but very good music- for music lovers

T. Wise | Austin, Texas USA | 05/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know a lot of people do not like this disk.I must say though

if you take it for what it is and give it a chance it is a very very good cd. it is not Ocean blvd,or backless not even close if you are lookinng for that this is not it. but it is a very steady and relaxing cd that you must be in the space for.

If you really like Clapton,not just commercial Clapton you should like this disk.I can put it on and let it play from start to finish.you must be open to Where Clapton was at at the time of this disk and take it for what it is and not try to make it be a 1976 E.C. Album.the musician ship is awsome and it is a very deep soulfull disk. a good bottle of wine headphones and candles type of album.give it a chance if you like music not just close minded commercial rock , you will enjoy it.."

Guess you had to be there

YORK | ks | 10/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Seriously, everyone has a handful of albums or CDs that the whole thing just echoes or conjurs up an experience in your life and you swear the artist must have been right there and witnessed it because the song hits so close to home, and not just a song but the whole album. Well Pilgrim is one of those for me. I always have been a Clapton fan, and I had read somewhere recently it wasn't received very well so I thought I would check the old amazon reviews and try to get a feeling. I was glad to see a lot of positive reviews and more than a little taken a back at how mean the negative ones were.

Back to Pilgrim. I can't explain it but this CD reaches out and touches the soul. I know that just because an album does it for one person, doesn't mean it will do it for all, but this is one of the few I think could pull it off if you give it a real chance. I can't say if its like Journeyman, or Cream or the Dominos days, I don't think that would be fair because it is so much different but still soooooooooooooooooo Clapton. This isn't full of party hard licks like Layla. But its not totally void of that either. The guitar playing is subtle yet you can't stop hearing it because it sticks. This is an album that can induce healing and peace even when the songs descibe loss. Its a journey, and that's what Pilgrims do.

Give this CD a real chance, I'll bet when you get done you are somewhere between a smile and a wince. Not about the quality of the album,that will no longer be in in dispute, but the qualiity of the things in your own life you had forgotten."

Something different

S. Pollock | Ontario, Canada | 07/21/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I'm amazed at the vitriol of some of these reviews. The album ought to be judged on its own merits. It doesn't make any sense to rate it 1-star because it's a different style of music than you were expecting. If it's not your prefered genre that's your problem, it doesn't automatically make the music "awful." Yeah, it's a departure. And it's also a passionate and lovely album. "My Father's Eyes", "River of Tears", "Pilgrim", and "Broken Hearted" are very good songs. It's not a 5-star effort but it sure ain't "awful.""

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	Eric Clapton Pilgrim Genres: Pop, Rock, Classic Rock Track Listings (14) - Disc #1 My Father's Eyes River Of Tears Pilgrim Broken Hearted One Chance Circus Going Down Slow Fall Like Rain Born In Time Sick And Tired Needs His Woman She's Gone You Were There Inside Of Me CD > POPULAR MUSIC > ROCK
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