Guitar Man

J.J. CALE's albums usually sound interchangeable, and his twelfth release, «Guitar Man», is no exception. Although he has recorded «Guitar Man» as a one-man band effort, it sounds remarkably relaxed and laidback, like it was made with a seasoned bar band. That doesn't mean there's much excitement on the album, but Cale's music has never been about excitement — it's more about laying back and letting the music flow. Of course, that approach results in remarkably uneven records, and «Guitar Man» is no exception. There's a handful of very good songs, but there's nothing on the level of his previous classics. It's just another pleasant J.J. CALE album, nothing more but nothing less, either. — Thom Owens.