Review: Clutch - From Beale Street to Oblivion
Label: DRT Entertainment
Released: March 20, 2007
Admittedly, I haven't spent much time with any Clutch release since Elephant Riders. It's partly due to the disappointment of their live shows after the expectations raised by two albums that ranked #1 and #3 on my best albums of the 90s (Clutch and Elephant Riders respectively) and it's partly due to the fact that nothing since has grabbed me the way those two albums did. However, I still think I understand what makes them a good band and t hasn't really changed in the last 10 years. They're heavy, but not just another Black Sabbath ripoff, they always find a good groove despite their heaviness and they have a great quirky touch of psychedelia. The problem might be simply that they perfected it by their second album, so it eventually wore a bit thin.
From Beale Street to Oblivion is a bit of a departure for them, but instead of getting even further out there, they decide to return to earth in a sense. This has to be their most straightforward album ever. Unfortunately, it's also their dullest. The album has almost no texture. My first impression was that they must've spent a lot of time listening to ZZ Top and Foghat while writing this one. With few exceptions, that impression didn't change as the album played on. Where Clutch was once influenced by a lot of 70s hard rock, they now sound like a 70s hard rock tribute band. They do mix in a little bit of soul on "Devil & Me" which works well, but they don't build on that at all. The album immediately returns to the status quo. Only on the closer, "Mr. Shiny Cadilackness," does anything waver from the dull road this album drives, once again with a nice touch of gospel and soul.
From Beale Street to Oblivion is listenable, but uneventful. It's hard to believe this is the same band from 10 years ago.
Rating: 5/10
Released: March 20, 2007
Admittedly, I haven't spent much time with any Clutch release since Elephant Riders. It's partly due to the disappointment of their live shows after the expectations raised by two albums that ranked #1 and #3 on my best albums of the 90s (Clutch and Elephant Riders respectively) and it's partly due to the fact that nothing since has grabbed me the way those two albums did. However, I still think I understand what makes them a good band and t hasn't really changed in the last 10 years. They're heavy, but not just another Black Sabbath ripoff, they always find a good groove despite their heaviness and they have a great quirky touch of psychedelia. The problem might be simply that they perfected it by their second album, so it eventually wore a bit thin.
From Beale Street to Oblivion is a bit of a departure for them, but instead of getting even further out there, they decide to return to earth in a sense. This has to be their most straightforward album ever. Unfortunately, it's also their dullest. The album has almost no texture. My first impression was that they must've spent a lot of time listening to ZZ Top and Foghat while writing this one. With few exceptions, that impression didn't change as the album played on. Where Clutch was once influenced by a lot of 70s hard rock, they now sound like a 70s hard rock tribute band. They do mix in a little bit of soul on "Devil & Me" which works well, but they don't build on that at all. The album immediately returns to the status quo. Only on the closer, "Mr. Shiny Cadilackness," does anything waver from the dull road this album drives, once again with a nice touch of gospel and soul.
From Beale Street to Oblivion is listenable, but uneventful. It's hard to believe this is the same band from 10 years ago.
Rating: 5/10
posted by bob_vinyl at 1:25 PM
1 Comments:
I have only heard their first two albums I think. I liked the music, but wasn't hot on the vocals. I felt like they didn't mesh with the music. They have always been pretty highly regarded though. It's tough for doom and stoner bands to stay fresh I think. You can only go so slow or drone so much before you have to change something to avoid being stagnant. The problem may be what do you had to keep it fresh, but stay true to your early sound. Trouble to me managed to progress and still sound sharp, but stay true to their early days. St. Vitus are a band who started great, but after a few albums couldn't really figure out a direction and they fizzled a bit.
Post a Comment
<< Home