Clapton only rocks if he is playing with musicians who challenge him. I know he has "been there, done that," but it does seem his work of the past 20 years has not seen him challenging himself as he could be. Clapton Unplugged was his undoing I believe--he got so much adoration for that album that he keeps going back to that format. Safe. Dylan, love him or hate him, has been continually reinventing himself and writing some of his best songs, particularly in the past 10-15 years. Dylan has failed miserably, much more so, than Clapton ever has. But the brilliance of Modern Times, etc? Sure, Clapton keeps it between the ditches and "ages gracefully", but I'd rather see him go off the rails and show us what he really could do. Guess the island living has a lot to do with it! Don't anyone misread my post. I love and idolize Clapton. I own a Clapton signature Strat (plays wonderfully, by the way), have seen him live a dozen times--solo, with Winwood, with the Derek and Dominoes reunion (absolutely stunning playing by the entire band on that tour--esp Derek Trucks), etc. I just wish his albums had more passion than the satisfaction they show. But who am I to say, a mere mortal, one who could not even contemplate having written all the songs he has written. With some artists, the best work is done by 30. Others like Picasso can go til nearly 100.
