461 Ocean Boulevard
Eric Clapton

When I saw this was the album with Clapton's cover of "I Shot The Sheriff" on it, my heart sank. Why on earth would a guy like Clapton cover Bob Marley except to whitewash reggae for a white audience and cash in? At least put your own spin on it like The Specials or The Police. Jeez. The first tune on the album, Motherless Children, made me think that maybe my fears were misplaced. It's an energetic blues cover in the pop style of Clapton's debut solo album, and a good listen. But every subsequent tune is a disaster. It turns out that 461 Ocean Boulevard is a middle of the road, poppy, radio ready take on roots music, and it's about as exciting as watching somebody fart in a swimming pool. Basically, Clapton takes a huge dump on the legacy he crafted with Cream and his first solo album. It's fucking nauseating, just vile, a complete waste of talent, a competent backing band, time, and vinyl. Every copy of this record should be cut up and turned into guitar picks.

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