Ah Via Musicom
Ah Via Musicom makes a strong case for guitar music that puts melody first. Eric Johnson can move through a fast passage with remarkable ease, but he also knows when a simple phrase will do more. The album brings rock, blues, country and jazz together without turning that range into a series of disconnected exercises. Its instrumentals are the main attraction, although the vocal songs give the sequence a different pace.
Cliffs of Dover is the clearest example of what works. The quick opening leads into a tune with an immediately recognisable shape, and the more elaborate playing keeps returning to that central idea. Johnson's clean, carefully shaped sound also makes the individual notes easy to follow.
The shorter pieces show another side of his control. Steve's Boogie uses lively country picking to make its point quickly. Song for George provides an acoustic contrast, with enough detail to hold attention without stretching the idea. These changes help the album feel varied rather than overloaded.
Righteous has a more relaxed groove, with harmonica adding a welcome change of texture around the guitar. East Wes closes in a jazzier setting, giving Johnson room for a softer, more reflective performance. The playing remains precise, but the mood is less concerned with immediate impact.
The vocal material is less consistent. Desert Rose and Nothing Can Keep Me from You offer approachable melodies, though Johnson's singing does not have the same distinctive character as his guitar. Forty Mile Town makes a weaker impression. The polished production can also leave the supporting instruments too far behind the lead.
Those limits do little to weaken the best music here. Ah Via Musicom is accessible because Johnson gives his technique a clear direction. The memorable themes, changes of style and quieter moments make this more than a record for people interested in how difficult a guitar part is to play.
