Bloom

Eric Johnson (Rock) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 14, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Favored Nations
• ASIN: B0009K7RO8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,970 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Texas guitar prodigy Eric Johnson returns to recording after a near-decade absence with a lush, typically restrained collection that eschews flash for fluid cool. Arranging the album's 16 songs into a musical triptych whose sections are labeled "Prelude," "Courante" and "Allemande," Johnson aims at creating a landscape of shifting moods that's as subtle as it is mature. The guitarist's trademark lyrical style is immediately showcased on the title track, "Summer Jam" and the stately fallen astronaut tribute, "Columbia." The first section is also energized by the funked-up "Good to Me," before Johnson turns to fare that's variously more impressionistic (the instrumental "Sea Secret"), conscience-driven (the pop-savvy ballad "Sad Legacy") and smooth-groove, r&b sultry ("From My Heart"). The infectious finger-pickin' "Tribute to Jerry Reed" segues into a final act that includes the romance of "Your Sweet Eyes" (with guest Shawn Colvin adding her distinctive harmonies), "Hesistant"'s tasteful Wes Montgomery-isms and the 70's charged, acid-jazz of "Magnetized." His fusion-lite cover of Dylan's "My Back Pages" and saccharine "Sunnaround You" withstanding, it's another fine tribute to Johnson's tasteful, often introspective muse. -- Jerry McCulley

Product Description

Eric Johnson returns with the worldwide release of 'Bloom'. Special guests include Grammy Award-winning vocalist Shawn Colvin and guitarist Adrian Legg. The sixteen songs on 'Bloom' are carefully sequenced into three different sections, grouped together in terms of vibe and style. The prelude section features 'Bloom', 'Summer Jam', the Bob Dylan cover 'My Back Pages', 'Good to Me', 'Columbia', and '12 to 12 Vibe'. The courante section features 'Sea Secret', 'Sad Legacy', 'From My Heart', 'Cruise the Nile', 'Tribute to Jerry Reed', 'Your Sweet Eyes', and 'Hesitant'. The allemande section rounds out the CD with 'Sunnaround You', 'Magnetized', and 'Ciel'. Favored Nations. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MONSTER of a cd from Eric!, June 16, 2005

By 

Benjamin J. Neiman (Phila., Pa. United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bloom (Audio CD)

I love this cd!! This is the most musical of all his recordings, at least for me. There are echoes of Stevie Wonder, Keith Jarrett, Ralph Towner, some Rundgren and Metheny also, but it is all very original. Gorgeous tunes, so well played. And Eric sounds as if he has been seriously studying bop phrasing for the last few years and now there just isn't any style this guy can't play way convincingly(come to think of it, I did hear him do a perfect version of Wes Montgomery's arrangement of "Down Here On the Ground" years ago). The Jerry Reed tune is honkin' country pickin' and he has played this in his live set for years. The guitar heroics are kept to a minimum on this record, and everything he plays sounds perfect for the song, there is no seeming attempt to impress with chops. Yet every fill is perfect, some much better than I've heard Carlton or Ford do for a very long time! On top of it all, Eric Johnson is one of the nicest cats I've ever met and I hope this record is a success for him cause he deserves it! Buy this immediately.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, wow., October 1, 2005

By 

John Walker "Guitar Lover" (Manistee, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bloom (Audio CD)

I normally wouldn't add a review after 42 others have already been published, but I want to help Mr. Johnson's batting average with my five stars. This album is incredible.

Mr. Johnson is a pop artist at heart, and a guitarist's guitarist. So he doesn't receive the notoriety of any number of hotshot shredders. Like Todd Rundgren, he creates masterpieces in relative obscurity while the cogniscenti favor rougher, hipper fare.

This album is indeed a bloom, of genius, of a musician who lives inside his music, and whose capacity for romantic beauty has made him an American original. Plus, this guy has chops to die for.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great CD from a brilliant guitarist, October 24, 2006

By 

Brian Welsch (Spartanburg, SC United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bloom (Audio CD)

This is an impressive effort. This CD has been played fairly constantly in my car for the past 3 weeks. What impresses me is that I consistently find new bits that stand out depending on my mood. There are some great grooves, brilliant fills, and rocking riffs in classic Eric Johnson style in the first movement, 'Prelude'. The opener 'Bloom' and 'Good To Me' are probably the highlights there. Mr. Johnson then turns it down a bit during 'Courante', the second movement.

'Sad Legacy' and 'From My Heart' are both great introspective songs. 'Sad Legacy' builds a sense of urgency and 'From My Heart' has a mellower, R&B feel and nice jazzy runs. These two are probably my favorites off the album.

The last movement, 'Allemande' starts off with a nice old-school style jazzy number, 'Hesistant'. 'Magnetized' gets things rocking again, before a very good atmospheric classical guitar piece, 'Ciel' ends the ride.

Eric plays an wide variety of styles on this release and manages to keep it all together as one cohesive piece, with one small exception. Tribute to Jerry Reed, while a nice bit of picking doesn't fit on this CD for me, especially after the sitar on 'Cruise The Nile'.

I'd recommend this CD to anyone who enjoyed Ah Via Musicom or Venus Isle. Or, if you aren't familiar with Eric johnson already, then do yourself a favor and pick up a CD. This one is as good as any of his studio albums to start off with.