Throwback Thursday: Cream
Hi everyone! I haven't done one of these entires in quite a while, but I was inspired after playing this record on the way to class this morning.
I don't pretend to know or presume I know everything about music, its technique or its presentation. I try to just talk about music in the way it speaks to me and how I see it. And for a long time, as long as I can remember, I have always considered one member of this band to be the most skilled guitarist ever. What he does to a guitar is very near criminal, how he can make it wail just as easily as he can make it weep. The man I'm talking about is Eric Clapton and the band or supergroup if you will I enjoy him most in is Cream.
With all the hoopla over superbands today from Tinted Windows to Blacrock, there still seems to be a standard, and it was made by this band. I could go on about the several accomplishments they made and how they are still considered on of the best bands ever in most circles, but I'd like to talk about Eric for just a second.
I've never seen him live. I want to one day. I don't care in any format, but I want to. Outside of Neil Young and Thom Yorke, I think I respect him most as an artist far more than any others. His ability to take certain songs, simple, stripped songs and bring them to a level unknown still blows my mind. I was listening to Wheels of Fire and remembered not only its popularity, but how incredible that album is. I think anyone who wants to learn how to play the guitar or any instrument for that matter should listen to that album in full. The sheer musicianship should be honored. It's just perfection, really. They song that gets me the most however is Sitting On Top of The World. I always tear up a little, still on the high from White Room. It's this sad, little song about loneliness and while everything seems terrible, you have to keep on going. The song is simple, but in any usual Clapton fashion, he makes it exponentially better. Listen to this band. I'm sure they're the inspiration for many of the bands you listen to now.
I don't pretend to know or presume I know everything about music, its technique or its presentation. I try to just talk about music in the way it speaks to me and how I see it. And for a long time, as long as I can remember, I have always considered one member of this band to be the most skilled guitarist ever. What he does to a guitar is very near criminal, how he can make it wail just as easily as he can make it weep. The man I'm talking about is Eric Clapton and the band or supergroup if you will I enjoy him most in is Cream.
With all the hoopla over superbands today from Tinted Windows to Blacrock, there still seems to be a standard, and it was made by this band. I could go on about the several accomplishments they made and how they are still considered on of the best bands ever in most circles, but I'd like to talk about Eric for just a second.
I've never seen him live. I want to one day. I don't care in any format, but I want to. Outside of Neil Young and Thom Yorke, I think I respect him most as an artist far more than any others. His ability to take certain songs, simple, stripped songs and bring them to a level unknown still blows my mind. I was listening to Wheels of Fire and remembered not only its popularity, but how incredible that album is. I think anyone who wants to learn how to play the guitar or any instrument for that matter should listen to that album in full. The sheer musicianship should be honored. It's just perfection, really. They song that gets me the most however is Sitting On Top of The World. I always tear up a little, still on the high from White Room. It's this sad, little song about loneliness and while everything seems terrible, you have to keep on going. The song is simple, but in any usual Clapton fashion, he makes it exponentially better. Listen to this band. I'm sure they're the inspiration for many of the bands you listen to now.