Baxlin Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) I was interested to read comments by Phoebe Bridgers about Clapton, (maybe less said the better about her accusations of his racism) that he produced extremely mediocre music - and also calling ‘tears from heaven’ the dead baby song, apparently. Music is very much a matter of choice and opinion, and there’s some of his music that I can take or leave, but it’s always well performed, and professionally presented/arranged, surely? Certainly not mediocre, with the likes of Nathan East and Andy Fairweather Lowe featuring at times in his live band? And, tbh, is Phoebe Bridgers someone I should have heard of, because I have to admit, I haven’t. Edit: having googled her name, I see she’s (been?) involved with someone called Conor - same spelling....... Edited August 18, 2020 by Baxlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Mediocre means “of average quality, not very good” and I think it’s fair to apply that to the last 30 years or so of his music. I find it bland and dull, albeit immaculately played. Eric’s fans and customers disagree and vote with their wallets so the joke is on me and Phoebe, I suppose 🙂 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 This is one way to accrue some fame I guess. Not saying she's wrong, just saying she's insignificant. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 The thing I have always found with EC is how dull he is until he straps on a Gibson, and suddenly he's superb. I do confess I have always been uneasy about Tears In Heaven (given the subject and background). It's a beautiful song but I like to think that the multi-millionaire me would have felt a great sense of satisfaction with it and kept it for myself rather than make yet more money out of it. I fully appreciate that others will think differently, it's just my view that monetising a personal tragedy seems a little 'off'. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Who is Phoebe Bridgers? And does she produce extremely mediocre music (based on the theory that it takes one to know one) 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dapper Bandit Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 I mean, she's not wrong on either count is she? Rock Against Racism was formed as a direct reaction to Eric Clapton. Maybe mediocre is the wrong word for his music though as it always seems to be expertly put together. Perhaps the way to describe it would be "Blues written by focus group"? 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 The boy who called out the emperors new clothes was insignificant too. But he called it right. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) Just because something is technically brilliant or even genuinely innovative doesn't mean that it can't simultaneously be incredibly boring to listen to. It's all down to personally taste of course and for me there are far worse offenders than Clapton in that department. The solo work of Vai, Satriani and most of the other 'guitar heroes' of the 90s springs to mind. Edited August 18, 2020 by Cato 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 I can hardly contain my indifference to EC and have never heard of P Bridges. But she sounds a class act with the “dead baby song” jibe. Way to go Pheeeebs, must have you round sometime. 🙄 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Can't say i'm a fan of EC. I find most of his more recent material a bit bland compared to some of the classic hits he's had over his long career. I would never criticise the quality of musicianship but not enough interest in it for me. Its generally not my style of music to listen to. On the other hand my wife really likes EC. If i need to learn any of his songs for a band i find the bass lines can be interesting tho and i quite enjoy playing them. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 EC without a doubt, has been among one of the most influential musicians this country has produced in the last 50 odd years. The only problem is that a lot of his material post "461 Ocean Boulevard" has sounded pretty much the same. I think the only good album he did in that period was "From the Cradle", where he went back to his roots in the Blues. This is just my opinion, but his best work was with John Mayall, Cream, Blind Faith, and the Derek & the Dominoes period. And I have absolutely no idea who Phoebe Bridges is... 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 IMHO there are elements of genius in Clapton's music. They're usually shown in some fantastic solos. Well, they move me anyway. The problem for me is I can listen to complete albums (more recent ones) and be disappointed in the over all, result. Yes the solos are great, but the song isn't all that. The best songs probably are the ones from the Cream era and the "Ocean Boulevard" album. All a bit like McCartney really - did some great songs in the past, but now we have the co-writer of Sgt Pepper and The White Album, is now writing "Silly Love Songs" and "The Frogs Chorus"!! Maybe they get complacent and don't really care, or maybe the passion has gone and it's now about the bank account maintenance. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) Here is the young woman in question. Edited August 18, 2020 by steantval 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 2 minutes ago, Grangur said: All a bit like McCartney really - did some great songs in the past, but now we have the co-writer of Sgt Pepper and The White Album, is now writing "Silly Love Songs" and "The Frogs Chorus"!! Maybe they get complacent and don't really care, or maybe the passion has gone and it's now about the bank account maintenance. Agree. I wonder if the "creative juices" just get lost in the need to churn out material to either keep the bank balance going, or to satisfy the record companies... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicVibes Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Regardless of how 'great' Clapton's music is, he is a racist and I don't have time for racist musicians. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 We all have opinions on music and everyone is entitled to their's. Over the years, some of my musical opinions have chopped and changed. There was a time I didn't like Tom Waits or Radiohead. I can see why she would be bored by an aged, multi-millionaire's music. His solo stuff is all a bit easy listening, frankly. Not exactly cutting edge by today's standards. I liked his covers of JJ Cale stuff and I have the album he recorded with him, just before he died. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louisthebass Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, steantval said: 😀😀😀😀😀 and she calls Eric’s music mediocre, I suppose she has her opinion. Not for me I'm afraid, but if someone likes it that's fair enough... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 7 minutes ago, steantval said: Here is the young woman in question. That song needs a 10 minute guitar solo! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 2 hours ago, Baxlin said: I was interested to read comments by Phoebe Bridgers about Clapton, (maybe less said the better about her accusations of his racism) that he produced extremely mediocre music - and also calling ‘tears from heaven’ the dead baby song, apparently. Music is very much a matter of choice and opinion, and there’s some of his music that I can take or leave, but it’s always well performed, and professionally presented/arranged, surely? Certainly not mediocre, with the likes of Nathan East and Andy Fairweather Lowe featuring at times in his live band? And, tbh, is Phoebe Bridgers someone I should have heard of, because I have to admit, I haven’t. Edit: having googled her name, I see she’s (been?) involved with someone called Conor - same spelling....... well, it's Phoebe Bridgers after all... "who?" exactly 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 He has had a couple of flashes of brilliance with Cream, then Layla, Bell Bottom Blues, but hes also knocked out some entire albums of dirge, such as Money and Cigarettes, August, etc. As for Phallic Badger, I've never even heard of him, so I guess they're compensating for something with such a comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 I thought it was just me. I mean, how can you question a so called guitar legend? My wife loves him. I find him extremely bland with a topping of vanilla. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Grangur said: All a bit like McCartney really - did some great songs in the past, but now we have the co-writer of Sgt Pepper and The White Album, is now writing "Silly Love Songs" and "The Frogs Chorus"!! I'll give you the Frog Chorus and much of his output after Wings but Silly Love Songs is a masterclass in pop song writing/arranging/production. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 49 minutes ago, ClassicVibes said: Regardless of how 'great' Clapton's music is, he is a racist and I don't have time for racist musicians. Do you not think it would be ‘was a racist’? I also have no time for racist musicians, but the racist incident was over 40 years ago when EC was on a drug and booze fuelled downward spiral that nearly killed him. He has since spoken of how ashamed he is and apologised for his comments. This doesn’t condone his behaviour but does show how he realises how wrong it was. He speaks of this in the recent ‘Life in 12 Bars’ documentary. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave moffat Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 Manufactured, repetitive, formulaic, unintelligible, whiny, american teen, guff, lyrics read like a teen twitter account. Not great fan of Clapton but he did/does have genuine musical talent. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 18, 2020 Share Posted August 18, 2020 (edited) Some people have different tastes to other people ? Get to feck...really ? I tell you what, I'll call Reuters, you give Associated Press a shout. As it happens, I don't mind the song in the video, it's nothing exactly new (it reminds me of Liz Phair or Juliana Hatfield)....very Radio 6. I'd rather listen to it than some of Eric Claptons more MOR stuff. The video's a bit annoying though, but very trendy with its VHS-style video FX. Edited August 18, 2020 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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