Search - T.D.F. :: Retail Therapy

I had no idea that TDF was really Eric Clapton

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 03/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard "Retail Therapy" back in '97 when I checked out this cd from the local library in Milwaukee. I was curious to hear this cd when I saw the record cover. I enjoyed the cd so much that I eventually bought a copy of "Retail Therapy" by TDF through my record club for $0.99. The music was an interesting mix to say the very least. It was a blend of rock, techno, and elements of world music. Several years later, I dug up "Retail Therapy" and decided to listen to it. When I went to look up TDF's "Retail Therapy" here, I was suprised to say the very least to find out that this was an Eric Clapton project. Learn something new everyday. "Retail Therapy" was quite a stretch for Eric Clapton to say the very least. He rarely delves into more experimental music like this. I can certainly hear his indelible guitar talents through the gorgeous acoustic track "Angelica" which is just breathtaking to listen to. You can certainly hear his searing guitar work on "Sno-god". As far as Eric Clapton's music goes, I wouldn't consider "Retail Therapy" his best but it sure was interesting to listen to because the music was so different from his traditional blues-based music."

Eric Clapton...Unprecedented and Thoroughly Original

Erica Anderson | 02/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"At first listen, it is readily obvious why many critics might denounce Eric Clapton's experimental work. While some critics may misunderstand this album as an attempt to capture mainstream listeners, there is no doubt that Mr. Clapton could sell records relying on proven formulas. Rather, Clapton experiments and stretches with a collection of entirely interesting tracks. If you are a purist unable to except Clapton for anyone other than the Unplugged King or Cream legend, you may reject this album. If on the other hand you are open-minded and curious to hear one of the most respected electric guitar players on earth tackle a new genre of music, this album is wonderful. This disc is infectiously palatable and experimental. ------------------------Nick Lukaszek"

Clapton...innovative, Jeff Bateman...not

martin | Houston, Texas, USA | 03/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I should spend more of my 1,000 words writing about Retail Therapy, a fine composition of high tech blends with soaring guitar overlays but instead this is a review of Jeff Bateman's editorial review of Retail Therapy. Maybe it is really, more appropriately, a review of Jeff Bateman's commitment to review music fairly.I'll begin by stating what should be the obvious but is to often taken for granted by people like Mr. Bateman, who think that because they say an album is bad people like you and I wont buy it. Even worse, they just say something...anything about a record, so they can collect a paycheck and move on to the good stuff, the stuff that is heavily promoted by the big record labels, the kind of stuff that the big record labels are willing to pay big bucks for if a reviewer will say kind words. Because they seem to think unifomly that if a reviewer says wonderful, exciting things about an album that we will buy it (who's got who wraped around their finger???). The truth is that for those of us who are interested in what other people think (or in Jeff Bateman's case forgot to think) about music, a review is an opinion and an opinion should have some validity if the reviewer is to be given any merit. Case in point...Jeff Bateman gave TDF a shockingly bad review. He went so far as to say Clapton's playing was lame but he never says why. I read some more of his reviews, he never seems to like much of anything that is turned out by the older groups or the select few remaining people who we can actually refer to as true musicians (a dying bread). Maybe Instead of reviewing this CD on its composition Jeff decided to make quick work of a piece that deserves more introspective consideration but you can only do that if you actually listen to it. What he forgot is that CD's can talk back and in this case several music listeners heard what it was saying and like myself decided to tell everyone they liked what they heard. They liked what they heard so much that they gave Retail Therapy 5 stars on a scale from 1 to 5 (5 being the best)There really is only one conclusion you can arrive at, Jeff Bateman has no merit...as a reviewer. He is however very good at the air guitar."