Clutch

Forging a unique path as a metal-based band with strong ties to boogie rock and outright jamming, Clutch are in a class all their own. It has liberated the band, allowing them to create unencumbered. From Beale Street To Oblivion finds them in that exact same place, possibly with an even greater dent in the cushion. Content-wise, the album is unsurprising, featuring more of the same. However, on a presentation level this is stunning. Maintaining their fuzzy production values without hampering the finer nuances, there is a decided warmth to From Beale Street To Oblivion. This is nothing new from Clutch but at least they know what works. On the other hand, the writing has taken a bold step up. As noted by singer Neil Fallon, road-testing material before recording, as opposed to the band’s traditional practice of working out glitches in the studio, has only served to strengthen the album. Each song flows smoothly and seamlessly and there is a comfort and confidence ingrained in each track that has been sorely absent from the band’s past few releases. While Clutch have never truly been guilty of issuing outright faulty product, there were clearly times when they failed to meet their own bar. In the case of From Beale Street To Oblivion though, they have most certainly raised it a notch.