Clutch- From Beale Street to Oblivion
(DRT Entertainment DRT449)
From Aural Innovations #36 (May 2007)
Ok.. the masters of heavy swing or groove are back with yet another killer
records. This band just keeps getting better and better. The style has changed
dramatically but they have got the goods and kick your ass all the same as they
did before, they just have a newer cooler sound, if you ask me and more of their
roots are sticking out…. The record starts off quite hard and heavy with
You can’t stop progress right into Power Play. The sound production is
awesome and the swing-groove is addictive… The Devil and Me tells a really
cool story and I love the organ and the killer foot stomping groove of this
track. White’s Ferry begins quite spacey but then it really picks up and
then spaces out again at the end. Electric Worry is one of the most catchy tracks
on the CD with the voice and guitar talking to each other at the beginning before
the track really pick sup in classic early 70’s ZZTOP style, including
some harmonica! One Eye Dollar is a very short 1½ minute track. Child
of the City is a heavy blues jammer… Rapture of Riddley Walker has a very
cool effected guitar and a great simple groove and great lyrics. When Vegans
attack has features some nice slide guitar and organ interplay as well. Funny
track.. Opossum Minister brings back the more harder rocking side of the record
with a killer groove. Black Umbrella and my favourite track, Mr. Shiny Cadillackness
end this awesome CD. Clutch has never been more bluesy than this but that is
cool with me as they keep writing great songs and getting more and more like
the old bands that I love. I just wish they would start jamming more in concert,
then I would be in heaven….
For more information you can visit the Clutch web site at: http://www.pro-rock.com
Reviewed by Scott Heller