Venus Isle

Eric Johnson is notorious for his perfectionism, but the six-year wait between his breakthrough Ah! Via Musicom and its follow-up Venus Isle seems a little extravagant, especially considering the resulting album. In six years, it could be assumed that an artist would undergo a number of different phases, exploring several different musical genres and textures. Johnson didn't spend his six years exploring -- he spent them refining. Venus Isle reveals no new insights about the guitarist, it only offers a new spin on the territory Ah! Via Musicom covered. In one respect, this isn't a bad thing. Johnson is a consummate guitarist, pulling out tones and licks from his instrument that no other musician can quite match. It is a joy to hear him play, but Venus Isle nevertheless seems like a lost opportunity because he never departs from his standard bag of tricks. There are the occasional jazzy grooves, a handful of blues, several fusion numbers, and a few stabs at prog rock -- all of the things that distinguished the album's predecessor. With playing as stylish and distinctive as Johnson's, it may seem churlish to complain about the lack of innovation, but given the large span of time between albums, it should have been more adventurous and unique. Venus Isle would have been a perfect follow-up if it had been released in 1992 or 1993, but it has to rank as a disappointment, no matter how enjoyable portions of it are.