Word: barleycorn
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...album was well-received, and rightfully so in that it coupled excellent musicianship with highly sophisticated blues compositions. The touring to promote this album, however, was surprisingly staid and unimaginative, unable to compare with the less polished though earthier live efforts following the release of John Barleycorn...
FORTUNATELY, it seems as though what has plagued Traffic during its past few efforts has been worked out, and it has made an about face. Its latest effort, When the Eagle Flies, is highly reminiscent at least structurally of the Barleycorn sessions in that essentially it is the three man Traffic performing, with the exception of Roscoe Gee on bass. One final change is that of Jim Capaldi back to his drum...
Musically, the album is a gentle melange between the group's style as represented during the Barleycorn and Low Spark sessions. The disc's first cut, "Something New," is a good time boogie tune in which Chris Wood's horns, instead of wandering aimlessly as in the past, provide the perfect rhythm backdrop to Stevie Winwood's crisp piano playing. "Dream Gerrard" is the piece most indicative of the album's general mood. Winwood seems to place more emphasis on keyboards as opposed to guitar with the piano (both electric and conventional) figuring prominently. In addition, Winwood's experimentation with...
Whether it be inspiration, creativity, or whatever you want to call it, Traffic seems to have found it again in a style that should be commerically successful and musically novel; a style that can be experienced to the fullest by taking the core of the pre-Barleycorn style and fusing it with the best of what followed. When the Eagle Flies is an impressive result of that fusion and a welcome emergence from its two year abeyance...
...loved ones than wars, disease and boozeless crime all put together, but loyalty will remain steadfast and true. Those who are dedicated to liquor will worship it, brag about it, shield it from criticism like a doting mother protecting a spoiled and criminal son, even when statistics show John Barleycorn to be probably our most expensive national "luxury...