Eric Clapton
's eponymous solo debut was recorded after he completed a tour with
Delaney & Bonnie
.
Clapton
used the core of the duo's backing band and co-wrote the majority of the songs with
Delaney Bramlett
-- accordingly,
sounds more laid-back and straightforward than any of the guitarist's previous recordings. There are still elements of
blues
and
rock & roll
, but they're hidden beneath layers of
gospel
,
R&B
country
, and
pop
flourishes. And the
element of the record is the strongest of the album's many elements --
"Blues Power"
isn't a
song and only
"Let It Rain,"
the album's closer, features extended solos. Throughout the album,
turns out concise solos that de-emphasize his status as guitar god, even when they display astonishing musicality and technique. That is both a good and a bad thing -- it's encouraging to hear him grow and become a more fully rounded musician, but too often the album needs the spark that some long guitar solos would have given it. In short, it needs a little more of
's personality. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine