Saturday, July 12, 2014

Music – New Live Album in Time for Eric Johnson's 60th Birthday

Eric Johnson's latest album, Europe Live, is out now.

As the title indicates, the CD documents the legendary veteran Texas guitarist's recent European tour in support of his 2010 studio album Up Close.

While the new album includes cuts from that CD, the live disc also features classics from Johnson's nearly three-decade-long career as a solo recording artist, as well as two new songs.

A 14-minute YouTube preview sampler is available at www.ericjohnson.com, and based on the audio clips of each of the 14 songs, Europe sounds like Johnson's best live album to date. Not only does it have the advantage of providing the broadest live retrospective of Johnson's solo career, but it also has the benefit of showing how some of his old tunes have evolved in the hands of a wiser and more refined – but still very dynamic and energetic – Johnson, who just seems to keep getting better and better as time goes on.

The CD couldn't have come at a more appropriate time, as Johnson celebrates the big Six Zero this summer (August 17, to be exact). What better way to mark the momentous occasion than to listen to Up Close and Europe Live?

In that spirit, I have included my review of Up Close below.

--Raj Manoharan

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