Clapton and King may be more city than country, but this collection has the relaxed, laid-back feel that only comes from a pair of veterans doing what they do best. What they do here is cover 12 classic blues songs, many of them staples of King's repertoire, so the title of this album makes sense. If this were your first exposure to Eric Clapton, a bit of bewilderment would be in order. Not Clapton, who converts his surging, purging charge into a soothing stroll. The collection assembles, for the first time, his recorded blues output.
Disc one is steeped deeply in a slow, grinding blues style.
Clapton maintains the authenticity of the originals by piling layers of grit upon the recordings. Those who have felt Clapton's recent work has been a little too polished, perhaps overly produced, should find these versions to their liking. There have been so many musical sides of Eric Clapton throughout his astonishing three decade-long career, it's sometimes hard to keep track of the real Eric Clapton. For those of you who forgot, he's right here. Pilgrim, his first studio album of new songs since Journeyman, reflects all these facets in his most ambitious, and certainly darkest solo project.