Layluh
Overall Album Score: 8.8 out of 10 So, Eric Clapton decided to dump his solo career (right after dumping Blind Faith ... right after dumping Cream ...) and started up a brand new band! (...But he'll get back with his solo career after suffering an unfortunate decline into drug abuse...) And, maybe it was the fact that it was 1971, which was a ripe time for him to dump all that artsiness that rock-and-roll developed all throughout the sixties! (After all 1970's Eric Clapton was the most immediately-accessible Clapton had been associated with of his career ... even if the material wasn't the best.) Largely, Clapton (or Derek, as he liked to be called) and his Dominoes (which included popular guitarist Duane Allman) are hugely accessible here. HUGELY ACCESSIBLE. I really doubt that anyone listening to this album can actually dislike this (that is, unless they find stark accessibility offensive). Even people who don't like rhythm and blues probably won't find a whole lot unlikable about Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs ... There's quite a substantial amount of overlong, totally derivative rhythm-and-blues tunes on here, and none of them are boring. ... In fact, most of these songs are overlong ... This is a double album! (Yikes!!!) If nothing else, Clapton's guitar saves all of these songs. If Cream and Blind Faith and the Yardbirds and stuff weren't enough to convince you of that, then you'll probably be convinced here! We all probably know this album's title track by heart and it is unquestionably the greatest song on here! "Bell Bottom Blues" comes up second, though ... that one just *feels* like a precious classic rock song if there ever was one! "Anyday" is easily likable as well, with its most-memorable chorus ... and ... I like *all* the songs on here! The weakest one is probably "Have You Ever Loved a Woman," but as I hinted at earlier, it's performed too wonderfully to really care about weakness. An excellent album! It's a bit too longwinded and insufferably derivative to be considered among rock's foremost classics, but ... it's a classic all the same. Overall Album Score: 8.8 out of 10 (A rock-and-roll classic, to be sure! The songs are way too long here, but they're all entertaining and very well performed. Nevertheless, this is Clapton's most easily accessible and casually entertaining album so far in his career.) Average Song Score: 8.9 ("Layla" is Eric Clapton's gift to mankind ... and the other songs aren't bad, either.) Album Tilt: 9.0 (Works rather well as an album sort of in spite of itself. Some of these songs are obviously better than others, but this is an entertaining album to sit through ... even though it's a double album full of overlong songs and a buncha guitar solos.) Artist Rating: 8.5 ("Layla" is a song so full of emotion that I can't contain myself!!! The rest aren't so wonderful, though. While every song on here is expertly played and sounds fresh, there's an undeniable reliance on ordinary blues here.) Track Reviews I Looked Away 9/10 Sort of a mildly enjoyable song ... But I won't for the life of me argue that this is a really good melody. ... This is probably more easily enjoyable and accessible than stuff than anything I've heard from Eric Clapton and one of his bands so far in his discography. It also features some great guitar work ... This is certainly one mightily entertaining song! The only thing keeping it from being a 10 is nowhere do I get the impression that this is a *great* song. Bell Bottom Blues 10/10 I *do* get the impression that this is a great song. It's second only to Layla in this album! The melody is wonderful, the guitar work is even better (...if you liked hearing Clapton in "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," you'll like this song for the exact same reason ... indeed, the songs are quite similar...). A classic tune, and everyone should love this!!! Keep on Growing 9.5/10 This is yet another mightily enjoyable song with even more wonderful guitar. I like the beat ... it's kinda festive! And the energy of this song keeps it fun ... even though it's more than six minutes long. I'm enjoying this pretty consistently throughout ... Go Clapton and his guitar solos! ... For whatever reason, I'm digging these ***MUCH*** more than I was on those Cream albums. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 8/10 Eh ... This isn't difficult to listen to or anything (hence the 8), but this song is merely a run-of-the-mill slow blues tune ... Nothing really great about this song, even though Clapton's vocal performance is good and so are his 'lectric guitar licks. Those aspects don't merit a great song by themselves, though! I Am Yours 9/10 Very nice ... pleasant ... I enjoy the placid rhythm of the song. The melody is good, but ... I won't say this song leaves a tremendously lasting impression! It's too lightweight! ... But it's very entertaining. Anyday 10/10 The chorus is just excellent. ... When that thing strikes up, I'm pretty much at peace with the world! And the rest of the song is very good, too. ... It's six minutes long and totally flawless-sounding. Expert guitar-playing, good melody ... SWEET! It's classic rock of the highest order that's utterly pleasant to the ears. Key to the Highway 8.5/10 Again, more run-of-the-mill blues stuff. Clapton's good at the blues ... but I guess he has a difficult time making them sound original! ... Most blues songs do sound kinda derivative ... I don't know if that's anyone's fault, though. Clapton, again, lends the song some of his guitar, which sounds very nice here, indeedy. ... The song is nearly 10 minutes long (!) and it only barely grows tiresome. Tell the Truth 8/10 'Tis a silly song! 'Tis entertaining! I really really like that crunchy riff! ... And the goofy vocals gives this song an interesting *edge* to it, even though it might be going just a little too far (and I haven't even mentioned the 6.5 minute running length yet!) ... A catchy melody and, again, excellent guitaring makes this one even more enjoyable throughout. Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad? 8.5/10 ...Because I don't have money!!!! ... Hey! You're a rock star!!! ... But you're pining over George Harrison's wife ... and she has a rich dude, too ...... This is too complicated for me! HEY! THIS SONG ROCKS!!! It has a fast pace ... it's not too long ... and there's more *great* guitaring in it! ... WOOOOOOOOO!!!! ... Even though the jamming in this isn't actually structured. I guess that would be a flaw, wouldn't it? *detracts some enthusiasm* Have You Ever Loved a Woman 7.5/10 .............................Sorry, I can't really like this song. ... This is waaaay too derivative-blues for me, even though Clapton's guitar-noodling is awesome. I'm not much of a blues-fan, though, so ... I guess you can take what I'm saying about all these blues songs on this album with a grain of salt! ... This song remains expertly played and overall enjoyable, though. It's not like I hate this or anything. (This is the song about Patti Boyd! ... Yeah! ... Go ahead and grab her! George Harrison won't mind!) ((Seriously, he won't ... I'd wait until a party in 1973 before you do it, though.)) Little Wing 8/10 An anthemic song ... Even though I don't like that recurring theme in this song much at all, it's rather easy for me to get caught up in this song ... only because Clapton's guitar solo just absolutely SOARS!!!!!! ... The melody isn't catchy, though, or anything. It's Too Late 8/10 BLUESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS... Another fine song, of course, but ... I can't get too enthusiastic about this one, I'm afraid. It's expertly played and fine to listen to ... and overlong, of course. But so are most of the other songs on here. Layla 10plus/10 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Are you sure this song even belongs on this album? I mean ... I've been sifting through many-a-blues song, and now I get to this ultra-famous classic-rock song that plays on the classic rock radio station at least once a day. ... Probably, this is Eric Clapton's most famous and well-regarded song, and for great reason! The melody is great! The riffage is great! The guitar-playing is even better! ... And, not to say the least, this is a perfect ode to the torments of love. ... Everything about this seven-minute song is great. Just wonderful. Thorn Tree in the Garden 9/10 ...Why this song be so short? ... HUHHH??????? ... Not that I'm complaining, of course. You see, there's no blistering electric guitar solo in here to sustain it! This is a very quiet and very pleasant ballad and stuff ... yeah ... ballad. ... Acoustic guitar ... huh. Don't be a party pooper; be a comment sender here. |
All reviews are copyrighted by Michael Lawrence and the Geronimoes.
