Sometimes when guitar players have an Alien Love Child, the results are spectacular. No, this isn't a tabloid headline; Texas born grammy winning guitar player Eric Johnson created a side music project of sorts called Alien Love Child. They released one album, this one Live and Beyond. If you have seen the G3 Live in Concert DVD, you know how awesome a guitar player Johnson is. On G3 he hangs out with fellow guitar gods Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
Who or What is Alien Love Child?
Eric Johnson's pet project is himself on guitars and vocals, Bill Maddox on drums and percussion and Chris Maresh on bass, bass keys and vocals. To the best of my knowledge, this album is their only release, but it is worth picking up.
What kind of music does Alien Love Child perform?
This is pure guitar bliss. Johnson makes his guitars wail with long pure tones and infinite sustains. It's the kind of guitar playing that makes you listen and think how does he get those SOUNDS out of his guitar!?. Johnson does remind me of fellow wunderkind Steve Vai, it is that type of showmanship guitar playing. The lyrics and the melodies of the songs are second, you listen to music like this to listen to guitar. It is even jazz like on many songs, going all freeform. Other songs sound like hard rocking blues polished to the Nth degree.
The songs Zenland, Last House on the Block, Rain, Enzo Shuffle, Once a Part of Me, Don't Cha Know, The Boogie King ( a tribute to John Lee Hooker), Elevator Sky Movie, Shape I'm In and World of Trouble.
Brief thoughts on a couple songs
Zenland opens with a slow smooth solo with each note sounding out in pure rich tones and then hanging in the air. The solo builds up coaxing more sound out of the instrument before going into hammer ons and offs all up and down the fret board. Its like a slide from David Gilmour's playing style (the long langorous notes and beautiful sustains) to Steve Vai's (fast paced). This song is pure instrumental, and its basically Johnson showing off. It works too, I was most impressed.
Last House on the Block Pure Blues! A low dirty sounding blues riff opens the song, and Johnson's vocals come in. His vocals are okay, not a gritty blues voice, but his guitar playing is the star here.
Rain This is the song that sounds like jazz guitar! This song would be right at home on a smooth jazz station! If they added some sax, this would be the perfect jazz song!
Once a Part of Me A slow lingering blues ballad. Drummer Bill Maddox sings the song in a voice perfectly suited to the melancholy sound of this song.
The Boogie King (tribute to John Lee Hooker) As a fan of the late blues legend John Lee Hooker, I can tell you that this IS a great tribute song! It has that deep aggressive blues howl, and that trademark Hooker blues riff. I could hear in my head John growling haw hoo haaw haww
The included booklet doesn't say what kind of guitars or amps Johnson uses, but he is pictured with a Fender Stratocaster, and a Gibson ES.
I'll leave you to discover the other songs on your own. If you liked the super group G3, or if you are a fan of Joe Satriani or Steve Vai, I can guarantee that you will like Eric Johnson.
Summary If you enjoy great guitar playing, go out and get Eric Johnson's Alien Love Child. You'll be glad you did!
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