Eric Clapton - I Still Do

Eric Clapton
I Still Do
2016
Spotify

I Still Do Eric Calpton's 23rd record shows the artist leaning in to an established sound rather than branching out into something new. The blues inspired tracks show what we have known forever that Eric Clapton is an incredible guitarist, but not really that great of a song writer. The musicianship on the entire album is spectacular but not all together engaging. The record feels like a jam sesh in a smokey room more than it does something on the cutting edge. There is also more than a few covers though if you aren't heavily knowledgeable in blues I doubt you would even know that was the case. What is really successful on this record is the way the music spills from Clapton. There is no one out there that can take a piece of music and make it so very organic, like it has been with us since the dawn of time. Even when Clapton does a solo with some effect, it still sounds so natural and beautiful. His talent is undeniable, but his song choices feel stale. This is music meant for leaning back and letting it wash over you, but there is so much of it already that I Still Do does not really break away from the pack or set the world on fire. This very well could have been recorded in one session with a bunch of the best getting together and letting loose which is of course amazing, but the finished product is not exciting. Clapton's singing feels as if He is sleeping through each verse just to get to a guitar solo.

The idea here was correct in reuniting Clapton with the iconic producer of Slowhand Glyn Johns, but perhaps the world has passed both of them by, and they are perfectly fine with that. What is missing however is any sense of danger or edge. When Clapton goes into the studio the time is infinite and so is the money so rushing, deadlines or expectations just aren't there anymore. Without some kind of pressure the product ends up being slow and organic but also quite dull. You can feel the smiles as a song like "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augstine" (A Bob Dylan cover) unfolds and it really is a few track but there simply are just no stakes, it is right in Clapton's wheelhouse and He knows it. There are those that will claim that "Clapton is back" with this record because it is one of the more focused albums He has done in awhile but for the most part the music is the same it has always been. The album also feels very one note each track sounding more and more like the previous each time that you go through. For die hard Clapton fans it will be nice to have some new music from him, but they may be disappointed in the overall product. I Still Do will be nice for the faithful, but I highly doubt any conversions will be coming from this record.

5.0 out of 10