Music Review: J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton

J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton have long had a symbiotic relationship. Clapton has achieved some of his biggest solo hits-"After Midnight" and "Cocaine," for example-from Cale's songbook, who in turn is indebted to Clapton's renditions for his popularity. Their first full-length collaboration, titled The Road to Escondido, is the realization of an idea that should have happened a long time ago.

And as everyone expected, it works well. Cale still hasn't lost his reliability for making impeccably crafted roots and blues melodies, while Clapton concentrates on what he does best: picking the guitar and staying far away from writing new music. When Clapton does put pen to paper with "Three Little Girls," he creates a tune so pandering and hilariously sentimental, it's hard to believe J.J. allowed it on here.

Songs like the bluegrass "Dead End Road," the politely humorous blues shuffle "It's Easy" and the jazz cover "Sporting Life Blues" stand out, but this is an album that maintains a steady level of quality. Everything is done as it should have been done. Clapton's playing throughout is surprisingly understated, yet always tasteful and appropriate, while Cale is still the most consistent songwriter around.

But therein lies the problem with The Road to Escondido. There is a lack of real feeling here. It's an album where every song is around four minutes long, well-written and well-performed, but entirely without a soul. This superficiality makes Escondido a very peaceful thing to hear, but not one I can imagine ever really desiring to listen to.