CD Review: Clutch – From Beale Street to Oblivion
Chet May 31st, 2007
Let me first thank the sponser of guitHelp’s 2nd CD Review for providing the CD. You see, without guitHelp’s #1 reader (my fiancee), I’d probably be reviewing Soundgarden’s Badmotorfinger or anything else on its way down to the program director at your local Golden Oldies station. In short, thanks Liz!
Onward.
If you like Clutch you may already have this one but if you’ve never heard of them, surf on over to pro-rock.com because you, my friend, are in for a treat. You can also listen to them at Clutch Radio.
After I first scanned the tracklisting and gave it a preliminary listen I wasn’t keen on the fact that they re-recorded and released One Eyed Dollar. Sure the Hammond Organ assimiliates nicely but it doesn’t sound much different than the original version. I can tell you though that by my third consecutive listen of the album (on long solitary road trip(even longer story)) I caught myself playing air guitar to the song’s concert ending. Clutch will make you like their songs even against your own will. Upon reading an explanation of why they re-recorded the song it all makes perfect sense. Now when I hear it, I’m thinking, “Good idea!”
From Beale Street to Oblivion, like the rest of the Clutch catalog, is exciting, inventive, and unique. It follows a path the band has forged since releasing Blast Tyrant and Robot Hive/Exodus. It’s still the classic, riff-oriented Clutch you’ve come to know and love, but their riffs are getting smarter, loopier, and bluesier by the minute.
What I like about Beale Street is the texture and balance they create. The syncopated cyclical verses contrast nicely with driving straight-eighth choruses. It takes you down a winding country road to the driver’s seat in a 110 mph Mac Truck on the highway (downhill, no brakes) . Highlights for me are Child of the City, Rapture of Riddley Walker, When Vegans Attack, and Mr. Shiny Caddylackness. Pick up this album and you’ll hear a rock band in its prime and find yourself checking the rear-view mirror for angry vegan bicyclists before you know it.
guitHelp score: YES.
