Clutch "From Beale Street to Oblivion" (DRT)
By Eric Chon
Friday. May 18, 1:45 PM
Killer slab of groove and soul like no other.

The hardest working rock band in the world has come back with a killer slab of groove and soul like no other. It’s apparent that Clutch have given up their hardcore roots in favor of fuzzy guitars and a harmonica, but this is clearly for the best. While their handling of off-kilter noise-rock was dynamic and exhilarating, their shift into more blues-oriented territory filled a niche that was sorely lacking in bands, much less good ones. 2005’s Robot Hive/Exodus was a testament to their ability to embrace that soulful sound with aplomb, and From Beale Street to Oblivion solidifies their position as the best.

Openers “You Can’t Stop Progress” and “Power Player” are strong and powerful with driving rhythms and head-shaking riffs, replete with guitarist/vocalist Neil Fallon’s signature witty lyrics and powerful vocals. They are instantly infectious and identifiable. But it’s at the third track, “The Devil & Me,” where the album truly begins to shine. Here, the pace is slowed and the groove comes out in full effect while Fallon croons about how “the devil and me had a falling out…” Here, guitarist Tim Sult proves himself the master of the chunky riff against impressive drumming from Jean-Paul Gaster.

The entirety of From Beale Street to Oblivion remains just as clever and powerful (they may have won the Best Song Title award with “When Vegans Attack”), showcasing a band at the top of its form. Whether it’s the quirky start-stop rhythms of “Rapture of Riddley Walker” or the undeniable heaviness of “Mr. Shiny Cadillackness,” Clutch’s latest masterpiece wins on every track. It goes to show that hard work and talent without compromise will constantly be rewarded with fantastic output at every turn.

Clutch’s combination of intelligence, soulful blues, and hard-driving guitar is the penicillin needed to rid the music world of the viral infection that permeates the charts today. If Papa Roach or Breaking Benjamin are the disease, then From Beale Street to Oblivion is the cure.
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Eric Chon

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