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Clutch - Elephant Riders Audio CD

A fair review of the Clutch "Elephant Riders" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Clutch reviews here, or go back to the Clutch tabs.

Clutch Band: Clutch
Title: Elephant Riders
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-08-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Elephant Riders 2: Ship of Gold 3: Eight Times over Miss October 4: Soapmakers 5: Yeti 6: Muchas Veces 7: Green Buckets 8: Wishbone 9: Cracker Jack 10: Dragonfly

Import version featuring all 3 bonus tracks
The difference is that Clutch drops the macho posturing altogether, loses the overdriven distortion in favor of clean, downtuned grooves, and has a lyrical snap that makes dimwits of the rest of the scene without nailing itself down for interpretation. Clutch have had a hard time finding a niche in today's metal market as characterized by bands like Korn and Machine Head, though their sound isn't entirely dissimilar. This is both a good and a bad thing. Though the music kicks ass throughout with no lapses in quality, the lyrics and general theme of this album left me quite perplexed about what to make of it all. Now, it's not unusual for a band these days to have nonsensical lyrics, but vocalist Neil Fallon fills the songs with such a sense of earthy descriptiveness that it's hard to believe there's no point underneath it all. For instance, consider this: "Once around the stump then twice around the ceiling/ Now eight times over Miss October is out for me. . . Once again I'm denied my joy. " As it turns out, the band's new home in West Virginia has imbued in them an appreciation for history, and much of the lyrics are based on real-life incidents (though no doubt with a significant poetic license). That aside, it's worth repeating that no weak tracks are to be found on "Elephant Riders", though nothing is as immediately classic as "Spacegrass" or "Binge And Purge". But the fact remains that Clutch just seems like a band outside of all time and place, meaning they're always likely to threaten off any mainstream popularity that could befall them. I'll drink to that. There's also a pretty good multimedia supplement that goes a long way toward clearing up some of the obscure lyrics, although in some cases it adds even more mystique to the songs. The whole thing is set up like a journal, with pages written by vocalist Neil Fallon on each of the songs with accompanying sketches. There is even a magnifying glass feature that, when placed over certain areas on each page, reveal hidden photos and drawings. All of this just adds to the apparent theme that nothing is as it appears. Of course, it wouldn't be multimedia without a couple of videos to go along with it, these being clips of two live songs("Driven" and "The Wheel") from a club gig in 1991.

Note: the Jap. Import has all three bonus tracks. On the US version there is only one of the three bonus tracks on each individual CD. There is no way of telling which bonus track and particular copy of the US version has without buying it and listening first.


Buy this CD
Zappa and Black Sabath meets the Greatful dead. . . . My god!!!!! Mere words bear a poor discription. Buy it and listen.


Evolution of the Funk
Clutch is a great band not because they are heavy, but because they are seminal musicians who keep the funk alive, while forging new aural paths and creating American mythology that will entertain for millenia. This is by far Clutchs' best album. Start with the moon album and work your way up. While their early hardcore (TNSL, Pitchfork) is good, Elephant riders shows an originality and maturity -both lyrically and musically- unparalleled by anyone since Hendrix or Sly. Odd time signatures, snow-covered Yetis and recycling to fend off the hordes, combined with multiple layers of vocals and guitar. Buy it now, homeskillet.


Where Rock Is Criminal reviews The Elephant Riders

Clutch has one of the most unique sounds anyone will ever encounter; they've even been described as "jazz pounded into the ground by hardcore. Hello, I am the webmaster of Where Rock Is Criminal, a site dedicated to Clutch. " But don't judge them for their softer overtones, their earlier days (Pitchfork, Transnational Speedway League) were brim-ful of heavy riffs and hellish white trash vocals. Over the years, however, Clutch's sound has progressed amzingly, and their maturity is most evident in The Elephant Riders.

Although a great record, Elephant Riders just doesn't fair as well as earlier efforts. I would never recommend this CD as a first buy for any potential gearheads, at least not when TNSL and the self-titled LP are as amazing as they are. Of course, by itself it is a great record, but when compared to the others it just doesn't measure up.

However, if you enjoy the sound clips provided, then this one is definately for you. If you're more of a hardcore person, go for either TNSL, Pitchfork, or Impetus. My personal favorite is the self-titled, but it took me two years to fully appreciate it. All in all, Clutch is an acquired taste. Either you love em or you could kinda go either way.

Therefore, I'd reccomend NOT to buy this one unless you already appreciate thier music. ESPECIALLY not for its hefty. . . price tag! That's [a lot] more for just two extra bonus tracks. . . Well I guess that's about it. Please visit my site! And sign the guestbook too!

Rock on.


You can see a complete list of all Clutch discography, or go back to the Clutch tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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