Dr. Love
Member
Clutch rocks!
A few days ago, I went to my 19th Clutch concert since 2001. They totally killed it, one of my favorite shows. Even though they have very well-produced studio albums, Clutch is a live band. If you truly want to have a kick-@ss, rock concert experience, you must go see them live! You won't be sorry.
Clutch doesn't make hits - They make albums. Most gearheads view their catalog as pre-2004 and post-2004. 2004 was the year the rock masterpiece Blast Tyrant came out, and fans tend to view that album as the divider between eras. Fans who like the early Clutch better (a minority among current fans) tend to view Blast Tyrant as the last great album. Fans who enjoy the latter period more (such as myself) tend to proclaim Blast Tyrant as the beginning of the band's awesomeness. But both camps tend to agree that Blast Tyrant is totally awesome!
For those interested in checking out the band, I highly suggest starting with the latest new studio album, Earth Rocker (2013). It's easily accessible, strait-forward rock. It is currently my 2nd favorite Clutch album, and a poll on the official Clutch forum ranks it as 3rd best. They just released a Deluxe version of this album (white - see my avatar), so there are probably a lot of cheap copies of the original release available (black background instead of white).
Then after that, I suggest getting Blast Tyrant (2004) next. This is my personal favorite album, and it is also the poll's #1 album. There was a rerelease of that in 2011 so between one or the other, copies should be cheap and plentiful. If you still want more, then I suggest just going forward from there and catching up to Earth Rocker. After you've gotten the latest 5 albums you'll be a big fan so you'll go back and get the pre-2004 stuff.
Or if you are a huge Sabbath fan, you may want to start with The Elephant Riders (1998) before going on the above. The friend who introduced me to Clutch back in the 90s calls it the ultimate Sabbath tribute album, style-wise. I go further than that by saying it is the Sabbath album Tommi Iommi wishes he made. It is definitely my favorite pre-2004 album. It may be a little hard to find because it is out-of-print. In the early years, Clutch bounced around between labels but the band currently owns their catalog from 2004 forward (they are an independent band now).
If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to help!
I only run into this complaint of Neil Fallon's vocal style for the first two albums (such as the two songs you mentioned from the 1995 self-titled album). The vocals were yelled and growled more than sung back then, but he became more melodic after that. No, he's still no Robert Plant or even Ozzy Osbourne, but he doesn't need to be. Someone I know calls the first couple albums 'cookie monster rock', but they are two of my least favorite albums in their catalog.
For the uninitiated reading this thread, I thought I would clarify that "Jesus on the dashboard" are lyrics in a song properly titled "Spacegrass".
Gearhead all the way here. Clutch is my very favorite modern band. Yes, they started in the early 90s and they are still the same 4 guys rocking it today. I've been a fan since the 90s but they officially became my favorite band in 2004.
Official Website
Transnational Speedway League (1993)
Clutch (1995)
The Elephant Riders (1998)
Jam Room (1999)
Pure Rock Fury (2001)
Blast Tyrant (2004)
Robot Hive/Exodus (2005)
From Beale Street to Oblivion (2007)
Strange Cousins from the West (2009)
Earth Rocker (2013)
Not sure if these guys started in the 90's, but I think so. Saw them several years ago, opening up for Pantera. I don't think I liked them muchat the time, but I found(downloaded) a song they did, "Jesus on the Dash Board," and I really began to like them. It's a very different kinda song. Another song they do, "Red Horse Rainbow," is pretty cool too. Let me know if there are any Clutch fans out there.
A few days ago, I went to my 19th Clutch concert since 2001. They totally killed it, one of my favorite shows. Even though they have very well-produced studio albums, Clutch is a live band. If you truly want to have a kick-@ss, rock concert experience, you must go see them live! You won't be sorry.
Clutch doesn't make hits - They make albums. Most gearheads view their catalog as pre-2004 and post-2004. 2004 was the year the rock masterpiece Blast Tyrant came out, and fans tend to view that album as the divider between eras. Fans who like the early Clutch better (a minority among current fans) tend to view Blast Tyrant as the last great album. Fans who enjoy the latter period more (such as myself) tend to proclaim Blast Tyrant as the beginning of the band's awesomeness. But both camps tend to agree that Blast Tyrant is totally awesome!
For those interested in checking out the band, I highly suggest starting with the latest new studio album, Earth Rocker (2013). It's easily accessible, strait-forward rock. It is currently my 2nd favorite Clutch album, and a poll on the official Clutch forum ranks it as 3rd best. They just released a Deluxe version of this album (white - see my avatar), so there are probably a lot of cheap copies of the original release available (black background instead of white).
Then after that, I suggest getting Blast Tyrant (2004) next. This is my personal favorite album, and it is also the poll's #1 album. There was a rerelease of that in 2011 so between one or the other, copies should be cheap and plentiful. If you still want more, then I suggest just going forward from there and catching up to Earth Rocker. After you've gotten the latest 5 albums you'll be a big fan so you'll go back and get the pre-2004 stuff.
Or if you are a huge Sabbath fan, you may want to start with The Elephant Riders (1998) before going on the above. The friend who introduced me to Clutch back in the 90s calls it the ultimate Sabbath tribute album, style-wise. I go further than that by saying it is the Sabbath album Tommi Iommi wishes he made. It is definitely my favorite pre-2004 album. It may be a little hard to find because it is out-of-print. In the early years, Clutch bounced around between labels but the band currently owns their catalog from 2004 forward (they are an independent band now).
If anyone has any questions, I'd be happy to help!
