Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
One strange thing about Eric Clapton's '90s success is that it relied almost entirely on covers and new versions of classic hits; he released no albums of new material between 1989's Journeyman and 1998's Pilgrim. In the decade between the two albums, he had two new hits -- his moving elegy to his deceased son, "Tears in Heaven," and the slick contemporary soul of the Babyface-written "Change the World" -- and Pilgrim tries to reach a middle ground between these two extremes, balancing tortured lyrics with smooth sonic surfaces. Working with producer Simon Climie, his collaborator on the TDF side project, Clapton has created a numbingly calm record that, for all of its lyrical torment, displays no emotion whatsoever. Much of the problem lies in the production, which relies entirely on stiff mechanical drumbeats, gauzy synthesizers, and meandering instrumental interludes. These ingredients could result in a good record, as "Change the World" demonstrated, but not here, due to Pilgrim's monotonous production. Unfortunately, Clapton doesn't want to shake things up -- his singing is startlingly mannered, even on emotionally turbulent numbers like "My Father's Eyes" or "Circus." Even worse, he's content to take a back seat instrumentally, playing slight solos and fills as colorless as the electronic backdrops. The deadened sonics would make Pilgrim a chore even if there were strong songs on the record, but only a handful of tunes break through the murk. Considering that Journeyman, his last album of original material, was a fine workmanlike effort and that From the Cradle and Unplugged crackled with vitality, the blandness of Pilgrim is all the more disappointing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc. ASCAP, MusicPublisher - Adm Unichappell Music Inc, ASCAP, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Greg Phillinganes, Composer - Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher - THE MONTSERRAT FOUNDATION, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc. ASCAP, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - James B. Oden, Composer - Arc Music Corp., BMI, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc. ASCAP, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Bob Dylan, Composer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Special Rider Music, SESAC, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, RecordingEngineer - MICK GUZAUSKI, MixingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc. ASCAP, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc. ASCAP, MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Eric Clapton, Composer, Producer, MainArtist - Simon Climie, Composer, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Alan Douglas, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Climie Songs, MusicPublisher - BMG Music, ASCAP, MusicPublisher - E.C. Music Limited, adm. by Unichappell Music Inc., MusicPublisher
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Album review
One strange thing about Eric Clapton's '90s success is that it relied almost entirely on covers and new versions of classic hits; he released no albums of new material between 1989's Journeyman and 1998's Pilgrim. In the decade between the two albums, he had two new hits -- his moving elegy to his deceased son, "Tears in Heaven," and the slick contemporary soul of the Babyface-written "Change the World" -- and Pilgrim tries to reach a middle ground between these two extremes, balancing tortured lyrics with smooth sonic surfaces. Working with producer Simon Climie, his collaborator on the TDF side project, Clapton has created a numbingly calm record that, for all of its lyrical torment, displays no emotion whatsoever. Much of the problem lies in the production, which relies entirely on stiff mechanical drumbeats, gauzy synthesizers, and meandering instrumental interludes. These ingredients could result in a good record, as "Change the World" demonstrated, but not here, due to Pilgrim's monotonous production. Unfortunately, Clapton doesn't want to shake things up -- his singing is startlingly mannered, even on emotionally turbulent numbers like "My Father's Eyes" or "Circus." Even worse, he's content to take a back seat instrumentally, playing slight solos and fills as colorless as the electronic backdrops. The deadened sonics would make Pilgrim a chore even if there were strong songs on the record, but only a handful of tunes break through the murk. Considering that Journeyman, his last album of original material, was a fine workmanlike effort and that From the Cradle and Unplugged crackled with vitality, the blandness of Pilgrim is all the more disappointing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 01:15:31
- Main artists: Eric Clapton
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Bushbranch - Surfdog Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
(C) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records (P) 1998 EPC Enterprises, LLP. Under exclusive license to Surfdog Records
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.