This Road will take you places

[HTML_REMOVED]Recommendation:[HTML_REMOVED] Well-worth listening to

As a critic, it's easy to judge new music simply by comparing it to older works. Too often are entire reviews based on one sentence we've heard a thousand times before: "(New album/song) is decent, but it's nowhere near as good as (artist's earlier band/album/song)."

It's even more tempting to make these associations when you're talking about rock veterans as deliciously seasoned as J.J. Cale and Eric Clapton. Yet it would be unfair to expect the duo's joint new record, The Road to Escondido, to measure up to either of the artists' respective masterworks. This is why I am taking a stand and attempting to tackle this record without prejudice. From here on out you will hear not a word about Disraeli Gears, Blind Faith, Derek and The Dominoes, Troubador, or even previous collaborations like "Cocaine" and "After Midnight."

The good news is that The Road to Escondido holds up damn well on its own. From the first smoky licks of the album-opener "Danger" to the upbeat blues-stomp of "Ride the River," Escondido is an ambitious road trip of an album, spanning the genres of blues, jazz and rock with great success. Cale's signature laid-back grooves dominate the album; 11 of its 14 tracks were penned by him, while Clapton only contributed two. Still, good ol' Slowhand permeates the album, providing most of the vocals and crafting some amazing guitar solos.

Blues number "Hard to Thrill" is one of the major highlights of the album, showcasing Clapton's instantly recognizable axe work. Teen-heartthrob-turned-greasy stoner John Mayer is also featured on the track, holding his own (much to my surprise) against the man guitarists around the world know simply as "God." 

The Road to Escondido is full of delightful blues-rock wankery, but it never strays too far outside the box. The duo's combined musical prowess is tightly chained to Cale's pop sensibilities; songs like "Missing Person" and "Don't Cry Sister" are so ridiculously catchy that you can't help but stomp your feet and sing along. Noticeably lush production also adds to the mix, making the tracks feel full without going overboard. Twenty-odd studio musicians play on the record, adding multiple layers of percussion, piano and guitar. A horn section and even a memorable fiddle on "Dead-End Road" are also incorporated. 

Escondido is the type of record that conjures up thoughts of driving down a lonesome desert highway at dusk, or smoking hand-rolled cigarettes on a front porch somewhere in the South. These images are perfect metaphors for the music. It's overly romantic and a bit contrived, sure, but in that good way that makes you actually want to get the blues, just so you can know what these guys are talking about. Cale and Clapton have made a gem of an album here; The Road to Escondido is one well worth traveling.

Reach Intermission reporter Jonathan Duke at jonathanduke@thedaily.washington.edu.