Reptile - Clapton, Eric (CD 2001)

If Eric Clapton's 1998 effort "Pilgrim" was the attempt to "record the saddest album ever" that Clapton claimed it to be, then Clapton's newest effort "Reptile" must be his attempt to make the happiest album ever. With the exception of only a couple of songs, the album is chock full of upbeat numbers, especially the rocker "Superman Inside." Clapton does not attempt to break much new ground on "Reptile," but instead revisits old territory with a new passion and the wisdom that only years can bring. Clapton revisits everything from his childhood love of R&B music (a cover of Ray Charles's "Come Back Baby") to his 1980s solo work ("Superman Inside"). "Reptile" features the same group of studio musicians that Clapton has used on recent albums, but with the addition of Billy Preston and Tim Carmon on keys.

The best addition to the album is the backup vocals provided by The Impressions, the soul group formerly fronted by Curtis Mayfield. Clapton has long been an admirer or Mayfield, and his use of his group is both an homage and an attempt to sound like the late vocal hero. The group adds a whole new texture to Clapton's work, one that would have severely spruced up the moody "Pilgrim."

Clapton's guitar playing rarely shines on "Reptile," as he prefers to let his guitar heroics take a backseat to his vocals and the song itself. He does take twelve bars in the rolling blues song "Come Back Baby" that are vintage Clapton, full of ringing distortion and soaring vibrato. His laid back guitar work on "Reptile" and "Son & Sylvia" is reminiscent of "Signe," the opening song of Clapton's legendary appearance on "MTV Unplugged," and is probably the most experimental work on "Reptile."

"Reptile" does not take the musical chances that Clapton has been taking over the past decade, but that was not the intention of the album. The intention was to reinterpret the many styles that Clapton has covered over his career, and he does that quite effectively. "Reptile" is a solid rock record with some great songs.