Album Review: Eric Johnson’s ‘EJ Vol II’

By Stan Jay, Rock At Night Contributor-Texas

Album Review: Eric Johnson’s EJ Vol II-Release date March 6, 2020

With crafty cagey intention and graceful uncluttered mind, Eric Johnson puts forth his latest offering EJ VOL II.  If one listens closely and does more than scratch the surface, one may be blinded by the illumination on what reveals the secret of Johnson’s sustained success throughout the last three decades.

If you listen closer than usual boom-bang, it is all there–the beauty of sweet melodies, skillfully played with heart and soul. The music has such clarity and color, and is so bountiful and overflowing, making your soul want reach out and take a big bite out of Johnson’s musical fruit, that at first tastes fresh but is so sinfully sweet to the core.

One has to pat Johnson’s support musicians on the back, as they are stellar and maybe just as skilled as Johnson himself. The drummer and bassist, Tom Brechtlein and Roscoe Beck, are especially in sharp keen communication, thus, laying a very deep, super solid and most level foundation for Johnson to step upon with no pressure, and shine in his masterful expression.

“Divanae” is a prime example of this color, clarity and exquisite flavor, where concentrating listeners are set free to conjure up pleasant images of serene tranquility to jolly ebullience in mind and spirit. The host of the remaining tunes underscore, highlight, and inculcate the listener in similar if not greater fashion, providing a grand array for listener’s to choose their favorite. To which I forewarn buyers, is the only drawback.

EJ Vol. II is a must have for Johnson’s veteran fans or someone who has never sampled Johnson’s work before. So download this masterpiece now!

 EJ Vol II Track Listing:

1. Waterwheel

2. Gift of love

3. Hide Your Love Away

4. Charldron’s Boat

5. Over The Moon

6. Divanae

7. Let A Friend Find You

8. Lake Travis

9. Hotel Ole

10. Different Folks

11. Golden Way

12. Black Waterside

13. For The Stars

 

Mixed and engineered by Kelly Donnelly.

Roscoe Beck-Bass (Acoustic and Electric)

Tom Brechtlein-Drums

Tommy Taylor-Drums on Track 6

Doyle Dykes-Guitar on Track 4

James Fenner and Kevin Hall-Percussion

Stephen Barber-String arrangement

Tosca String Quartet-Strings

John Mills-Clarient and Flute o Track 5

Arielle-Background vocals on Tracks 1, 3, 6, & 9

Eric Johnson-Acoustic & electric guitars, vocals, lap steel, piano, and Redneck Cowboy Kalimba

 

 

Catch EJ on his CLASSICS: PRESENT AND PAST Tour with with ROSCOE BECK , TOM BRECHTLEIN and DAVE SCHER. See dates HERE

ERIC JOHNSON ONLINE
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

 

Stan Jay was a former DJ in Texas between 1977 and 1993. He is also a published poet.