In many ways Clapton is again like Me And Mr. Johnson a trip back to Eric Clapton's roots. The sound has been stripped down a lot from Back Home, and it sounds again more bluesy. In other words there is not anything new to be found on this album, it is Clapton doing what he does best, singing blues and playing the guitar but he has cut down on the gimmicks and over the top arrangements that can be found on for example Pilgrim.
I especially enjoyed the track Judgement Day, it reminded me of the blues songs written by the likes of Lightnin' Hopkins and Muddy Waters. There is also a bunch of notable ballads on the album, like How Deep Is The Ocean and Autumn Leaves. In these ballads it's great to hear that EC lays back with the guitar solos and concentrates on the singing for a change. My Very Good Friend the Milkman and When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful are on the other side pop standards, recording these pop standards is completely new for Clapton, and I have to say that they seems a bit misplaced, the album would have worked better as a whole without these tracks.
The overall sound of the record is very old fashioned, and I'm not saying this in a bad way, this goes with both the ballads and the blues numbers, it gives the record a certain sincere feeling that I can't remember has been present on a EC record since Journeyman from '89.
Track listing:
01. Travelin' Alone
02.Rocking Chair
03. River Runs Deep
04. Judgement Day
05. How Deep Is the Ocean
06. My Very Good Friend the Milkman
07. Can't Hold Out Much Longer
08. That's No Way to Get Along
09. Everything Will Be Alright
10. Diamonds Made from Rain
11. When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful
12.Hard Times Blues
13. Run Back to Your Side
14. Autumn Leaves
4/5
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