EER-MUSIC.com HOME PAGE
Eric Johnson / Alien Love Child Live and beyond (2000,
Favored Nations)
On Live and beyond, Eric Johnson serves up a helping of
live Texas blues rock with his band Alien Love Child, a trio
featuring Chris Maresh on bass and bill Maddox on drums, with
Johnson and Maresh sharing occasional vocal duties with guest
vocalist Malford Milligan. Johnson's infamous meticulousness
over guitar equipment and his recordings has delayed several of
his studio records in the past decade, but Live and
beyond presents Johnson in a less inhibited live setting.
Johnson shines when the band jams, even over some rather stock
blues riffing like "Enzo Shuffle" or the solo section of "The
Boogie King," after the dull intro, but the music lags during
the vocal sections. Many of the blues shuffle riffs sound
quite similar, and "Once a Part of Me" and "Don't Cha Know"
with guest Milligan feel even more hackneyed. None of the live
cuts match the mournful wail of the single studio track "World
of Trouble."
Johnson wields his trademark silky smooth lead sound with mixed
results, such as the wonderfully snappy, gloomy solo on "Once a
Part of Me," and the ponderously extended solo in "Last House
on the Block." His sparkly clean guitar passages add a welcome
contrast to the repetitive gritty blues riffing, particularly
the almost Allan Holdsworth sounding ethereal swells opening
"Elevator Sky Movie." The pedantic rhythm section supports
Johnson adequately but fails to add an additional spark to the
music. Perhaps the studio version of the band, with Steve
Barber on Hammond B3 organ, better suits Johnson's writing and
playing.
Reviewed by Scott Andrews [sha3u@Virginia.edu]
More Info: CD/DVD Shopping Quick Links
CD/DVD Shopping Quick Links
CLICK ON ARTIST'S NAME ABOVE OR . . .
http://www.favorednations.com
Listen to samples & Buy CDs/DVDs here
And another viewpoint . . .
Artist: Eric Johnson
Title: Alien Love Child-Live and Beyond
Genre: Instrumental/ Rock, Blues, Fusion
Label: Favored Nations-www.favorednations.com
Website: www.ericjohnson.com
It is a given at this point that any six-string genius that is worth his salt can be found on Steve Vai�s flourishing
Favored Nations Label.
Eric Johnson happens to be one of those guitar heroes, and one that is hard to ignore. Even though he
came into prominence in the early �90s, he is no stranger to the studio as his recording career reaches back to
the 70�s.
Johnson�s brand of instrumental rock fusion has continually captivated me. His tone and style of playing sets
him apart from everyone else and his voice is instantly recognizable.
In the year 2000 he recorded a diverse gathering of tracks called Alien Love Child-Live and Beyond.
What I enjoy the most about they way he plays are the varied influences he throws into the mix of his work.
The best way to describe this music is rock-blues-fusion.
There are ten tracks on this CD and I loved them all without exception. �Zenland� cranks things
up into high gear right out of the gate, and from that point, the entire show accelerates. Oh yes,
this is live music by the way, but you would never know it if it was not for the audience. Johnson�s
technique and understanding of his instrument allows him to recreate his music in a live setting
that is quite simply, astonishing. He is not only a peerless pure player, he is a polished technician,
and performances like this bear the fruit of all his knowledge and experience. He does a nice
tribute to the deceased blues legend John Lee Hooker titled �The Boogie King,� which no
doubt has Hooker smiling from the heavens above.
Every track is indisputably Johnson in his element and he gets plenty of support from his
crackerjack band consisting of Chris Maresh (Bass), Malford Milligan (Vocals) and Bill Maddox
(Drums). You cannot do it all alone, and I am sure Eric is very grateful to have had such a
wonderful supporting cast. I love everything that this man records and this is no exception, it
rocks, its bluesy fusion, it is in fact everything I like to hear when listening to guitar based music.
�"Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck
May 25, 2003
1. Zenland - 5:54
2. Last House on the Block - 11:13
3. Rain - 4:08
4. Enzo Shuffle - 3:01
5. Once a Part of Me - 7:16
6. Don't Cha Know - 3:53
7. The Boogie King - 4:29
8. Elevator Sky Movie - 2:34
9. Shape I'm In - 5:36
10. World of Trouble - 3:38
Rating- 5 stars!
The Players:
Eric Johnson - Guitar, Vocals, Producer
Chris Maresh - Bass
Malford Milligan - Vocals
Bill Maddox - Drums
Listen to samples & Buy CDs/DVDs here
RETURN TO:
If you are seeking out-of-print and hard-to-find CDs . . .
try my new eBay page where I post CD finds for sale.
"Jazz Fusion Guy" @ eBay pageTo purchase this recording and get more info, soundclips, etc.
Please visit my BUY IT E.E.R. NOW INDEX PAGE
OR...
Please try my brand spankin' new EER and AMAZON.com QUIK-LINKs
buyer's guide to recommended music.
OR ...
go to my LINKS page and find the vendors' section.
Happy hunting!
Observe how the word
wheel reverses direction
if you try and read words.
