Alfred's Audio

Alfred · 07-22-2009, 10:22 PM

(Requested by Antonio)

Clutch "From Beale Street To Oblivion"

Year: 2007
Genre: Rock/Blues
Length: 48:18

My first experience with the Maryland-based hard rock group Clutch was their rough, mopey, no frills debut album Transnational Speedway League. I had decided to give the band after Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster singer, Dallas Taylor, recommended them in an interview. Now, jumping ahead to their eighth album, From Beale Street To Oblivion, I see that I picked the wrong album to get into this band... but maybe that was for the better.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how far Clutch had come since their debut album. The change in the vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation is huge. Whereas the debut was a punk-influenced stoner rock album, this is a soulful, bluesy hard rocker, huge emphasis on the blues.

I've always had a thing for blues, and this album does the genre justice by revamping it with some modern heaviness to keep it all fresh. I'm not going to be a pretentious asswipe by pretending like I know the singer's name here, but whatever his mama called him, his voice sounds a million times better than that drugged-up grunt that I was used to hearing before. Not only is it an improvement, but he can sing the blues with the best of 'em.
Of course, instruments are another vital part of blues, and whoever does the guitar sure manages to pull off all my favorite blues-clichés (I mean this in the best way possible).

I got this album because I liked the single Electric Worry, it seemed like a pretty awesome and straightforward heavy blues song. But when I dug through this album and listened to the lyrics, I was amused at some of the things these guys write. When Vegans Attack is a favorite of mine:

Quote:

How’s that hardcore fanzine? Still take the piss?
Y and T got records, demos on cassette.
Summer of the seven inch. Too cool for school.
Manifestos at Kinko’s, pinko commies play no fools.
I feel the spirit moving over me.
There are clouds beneath my feet.
When vegans attack on ten speed bikes.
Tattoos with meaning, American Spirit Lights.

Poking fun at underground hardcore, vegans, and everything in between = pure win.

So in conclusion, I won't lie and say that Clutch created what I'd call a masterpiece, but I will say that they pulled off (several?) an infectious, heavy blues record that is worthy of spending some time with. I dig the vocals, I dig the licks, I dig the lyrics, I dig the whole thing, and I'll probably listen to Clutch some more. Thank you to Antonio for bringing your clutch love to this forum, or else I probably never would have revisited them.

78%
Good

Antonio · 07-27-2009, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

(Requested by Antonio)

Clutch "From Beale Street To Oblivion"

Year: 2007
Genre: Rock/Blues
Length: 48:18

My first experience with the Maryland-based hard rock group Clutch was their rough, mopey, no frills debut album Transnational Speedway League. I had decided to give the band after Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster singer, Dallas Taylor, recommended them in an interview. Now, jumping ahead to their eighth album, From Beale Street To Oblivion, I see that I picked the wrong album to get into this band... but maybe that was for the better.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how far Clutch had come since their debut album. The change in the vocals, lyrics, and instrumentation is huge. Whereas the debut was a punk-influenced stoner rock album, this is a soulful, bluesy hard rocker, huge emphasis on the blues.

I've always had a thing for blues, and this album does the genre justice by revamping it with some modern heaviness to keep it all fresh. I'm not going to be a pretentious asswipe by pretending like I know the singer's name here, but whatever his mama called him, his voice sounds a million times better than that drugged-up grunt that I was used to hearing before. Not only is it an improvement, but he can sing the blues with the best of 'em.
Of course, instruments are another vital part of blues, and whoever does the guitar sure manages to pull off all my favorite blues-clichés (I mean this in the best way possible).

I got this album because I liked the single Electric Worry, it seemed like a pretty awesome and straightforward heavy blues song. But when I dug through this album and listened to the lyrics, I was amused at some of the things these guys write. When Vegans Attack is a favorite of mine:

Poking fun at underground hardcore, vegans, and everything in between = pure win.

So in conclusion, I won't lie and say that Clutch created what I'd call a masterpiece, but I will say that they pulled off (several?) an infectious, heavy blues record that is worthy of spending some time with. I dig the vocals, I dig the licks, I dig the lyrics, I dig the whole thing, and I'll probably listen to Clutch some more. Thank you to Antonio for bringing your clutch love to this forum, or else I probably never would have revisited them.

78%
Good

*muuuuahhhh* thank you as well.

but yeah, if you like that, you should also check out Robot Hive/Exodus, really bluesy and what i consider one of their best. Pure Rock Fury and Blast Tyrant are definately worth mentioning as well

i could PM some albums for you if you want

crash_override · 07-26-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

Rise Against, Mariana's Trench, All American Rejects and 3OH!3 are the favorite musical groups of a girl I know. She's spoiled, she appears to be a little angel with her big bullshit smile and life accomplishments to back it all up when her parents introduce her, but knowing her for years I know that she's a cold, shallow little bitch. She is easily swayed by what she sees on TV. She is given everything she wants, whether it's her wardrobe of bland yet expensive Abercrombie T-Shirts, her cell phone, iPod, all those accessories that her daddy bought her, or all the places she goes (for a shopping spree?). On paper she is the kind of person I should hate, and yet I have found myself having feelings for her.

Now you might be wondering, how does this relate to music? Well, as I said before, her favorite bands are Rise Against, Mariana's Trench, All American Rejects, and 3OH!3. On paper, I should hate these bands. They're produced and appeal to a shallow-minded mainstream audience. Yet they produce the kind of hooks that you cannot help but enjoy. On a good day, you'll hear a song on TV or the radio and nod and hum along. On a worse day, you'll despise them, hate their guts. And when I add it all together, weigh all the positives and negatives... I dislike these bands. Such are my feelings towards this girl. For some reason, I've been attracted to her for a couple of years now, despite all the grief I have been put through. Now, after all this time, I don't want this anymore. She's not the kind of person I want. "Hooks" are decieving, substance is needed for truly good music, and truly good people.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and juvenile coming from a young teenager, but I don't really care. This is the only way I could relate music, my current emotions, and my even hatred towards society and pop culture. The bottom line is: you can tell a lot about a person by the music they like.

punkrockalfredâ€™s Music Profile â€“ Users at Last.fm

Form an opinion about me.

That's the most insightful thing I have ever heard from a person of your years Alfred. A lot of truth told in that post. Music and personality are so closely related that you can tell a lot about a person in relation to the music they listen to.

Fruitonica · 08-04-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfred

Now you might be wondering, how does this relate to music? Well, as I said before, her favorite bands are Rise Against, Mariana's Trench, All American Rejects, and 3OH!3. On paper, I should hate these bands. They're produced and appeal to a shallow-minded mainstream audience. Yet they produce the kind of hooks that you cannot help but enjoy. On a good day, you'll hear a song on TV or the radio and nod and hum along. On a worse day, you'll despise them, hate their guts. And when I add it all together, weigh all the positives and negatives... I dislike these bands. Such are my feelings towards this girl. For some reason, I've been attracted to her for a couple of years now, despite all the grief I have been put through. Now, after all this time, I don't want this anymore. She's not the kind of person I want. "Hooks" are decieving, substance is needed for truly good music, and truly good people.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and juvenile coming from a young teenager, but I don't really care. This is the only way I could relate music, my current emotions, and my even hatred towards society and pop culture. The bottom line is: you can tell a lot about a person by the music they like.

punkrockalfredâ€™s Music Profile â€“ Users at Last.fm

Form an opinion about me.

You can tell what kind of music they like.

Musical taste can tell you something about a person, but only the most shallow generalities, nothing that cannot be gleamed from one minute of small talk. And even this crops up mostly because of any stereotypical personality traits they have that caused them to associate with a particular subculture, not the best things to form a character judgement from.

I appreciate what you did with the story, introducing the personal element is what made it compelling, but what you described is a rather common type of teenage girl who enjoys the music enjoyed by the majority of teenage girls. It's more a matter of probability than insight, and offhand I could offer a multitude of counter examples.

I think as music fans who tend to eagerly seek out new sounds and explore genres, we tend to attach greater significance to taste than people who passively let the background pop music soundtrack their lives. We like to think we are perhaps more conscientious, but truthfully music is just a passion, and one that still works on primarily a visceral connection that can't be mapped to a person's deeper character.

jackhammer · 07-20-2009, 03:46 PM

I have never heard this record. I know of it of course but for some reason I have never felt the urge to listen to it. I suppose I should to say that I have sometime but then I think- fuck it. I gotta save something for when I'm in my 40's right?

Alfred · 07-21-2009, 07:50 PM

As long as you get around to it eventually. It absolutely blew me away when I first heard it last February.

gunnels · 07-22-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Pause your ****ty obscure noise album. Listen to Maylene & The Sons Of Disaster III.

The scary thing is, I was listening to Merzbow (****ty obscure noise) when you said this.
AND I almost bought the Maylene CD yesterday.

Also eeexellent choice for number one!

Alfred · 07-27-2009, 09:04 AM

Sure, that'd be great.

Antonio · 07-27-2009, 11:33 AM

ok, you can expect a PM shortly

Astronomer · 12-06-2009, 04:38 PM

In my teenage years I was a huge Green Day fan, and although I wasn't really keen on American Idiot when it first came out (I much prefer their older stuff, by a long mile) I went and saw them live on their American Idiot tour and my faith in them was restored. They cop a lot of flack for the direction they've taken and for the popularity they have gained, and I can understand why, but I still love them.

What did you think of 21st Century Breakdown?

07-20-2009, 03:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I have never heard this record. I know of it of course but for some reason I have never felt the urge to listen to it. I suppose I should to say that I have sometime but then I think- fuck it. I gotta save something for when I'm in my 40's right? __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

07-21-2009, 07:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	As long as you get around to it eventually. It absolutely blew me away when I first heard it last February. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

07-27-2009, 09:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
Alfred one big soul Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 5,096	Sure, that'd be great. __________________ LAST.FM / VINYL COLLECTION / RYM

12-06-2009, 04:38 PM	#10 (permalink)
Astronomer we are stardust Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 2,894	In my teenage years I was a huge Green Day fan, and although I wasn't really keen on American Idiot when it first came out (I much prefer their older stuff, by a long mile) I went and saw them live on their American Idiot tour and my faith in them was restored. They cop a lot of flack for the direction they've taken and for the popularity they have gained, and I can understand why, but I still love them. What did you think of 21st Century Breakdown? __________________