CLUTCH: s.t Tape cassette 1995 East West Records. Check video. American Stoner rock, alternative metal, hardcore, funk metal.

Description

Clutch is the second full-length album by American rock band Clutch, released in May 1995. It was the second and last for East West Records, a now defunct sub-label of Warner Bros. Records.

Recording and release
It saw the return of “Uncle Punchy” Lawrence Packer to the production of the album and a return to Uncle Punchy Studios in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is the band’s best-selling album in the US, at over 200,000 copies, to date. The album gets regular live coverage still, with at least half the track list making their live performances on a regular basis, well over 20 years later.

Background
This album captures the band’s MO of trying out new styles and genres, with a definable mix of funk metal in the songs this time around. The album is considered to be the point where the band had begun to evolve their stoner and blues rock know-how. The record also keeps with their punk metal credentials, containing some heavier tracks. The album is considered a staple of the 1990s stoner rock genre. The album features some of their more ‘spacey’ pieces such as “Big News”, “Escape from the Prison Planet”, “I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth”, and “Spacegrass”.

Track listing
All music and lyrics written by Clutch.

No. Title Length
1. “Big News I” 5:13
2. “Big News II” 2:23
3. “Rock n’ Roll Outlaw” 2:59
4. “Texan Book of the Dead” 2:57
5. “Escape from the Prison Planet” 4:53
6. “Spacegrass” 6:33
7. “I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth” 4:27
8. “Tight Like That” 4:49
9. “Animal Farm” 2:01
10. “Droid” 4:43
11. “The House That Peterbilt” 3:32
12. “7 Jam” 6:18
13. “Tim Sult vs. The Greys” 4:11
Total length: 55:05

Neil Fallon – vocals
Tim Sult – guitar
Dan Maines – bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – drums
Richard Morel – organ (on tracks 5, 7, 12 and 13)

Production & Engineering by Larry “Uncle Punchy” Packer at Uncle Punchy Studios in Silver Spring, Maryland

Year Chart Position
1995 Top Heatseekers 33

AllMusic Review by Jeremy Ulrey:
Moving the guitars forward in the mix paid off in spades for Clutch, who continued with their familiar formula of mixing Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath on their sophomore album. Without straying at all from its roots, the band adds a little more funk to its sound à la Primus, which makes for a more consistent set of songs than last time. Not to mention that the stars shine brighter than they did last time around: “Spacegrass” alone should have become an instant classic, but following minor rotation on hard rock stations, the song — and the band with it — was delegated a cult status, compared to the likes of contemporaries Coal Chamber and Korn.

4.5
superbReview
Released in 1995, Clutch deliver their sophomore groovy, riff-laden self-titled album. Clutch was met by slight mainstream exposure and most fans of the band consider this album to be the bands finest moment as well being regarded as one of the best stoner rock albums released in the 90’s. What Clutch made is an album that can be intelligent when it wants to and strange when it feels right. In this album lies the signature vocal style of Neil Fallon, the groovy guitar playing of Tim Sult, the booming, funky bass lines of Dan Maines and the superb, catchy drumming of Jean-Paul Gaster.

The album runs at around a little more than 55 minutes, but in that time Clutch manages to accomplish their mission very well. Zeppelin/Sabbath-esque riffs straggle throughout the album and they are quite damn catchy and impressive to say the very least. The bass lines are also up to par with the guitar riffs. For example, the album’s opener, Big News I features those signature groovy catchy, funk bass lines and guitar riffs that make this album such a grandiose accomplishment. Big News II picks up right off where its brother track left off except this time it is much more fast paced and more riff laden than the last track. Great combo track to start off an awesome record. The lyrics are quite vapid and hilarious and show off Neil Fallon’s unique charismatic vocal style that ranges from high pitch growls to low toned snarls. Hell, some tracks on the record like Escape From the Prison Planet even have Fallon sort of rapping though not annoying a la Fred Durst.

Texan Book of the Dead is one of my favorite songs off Clutch. All of the members nail it on this track. Its a fun song to rock your head to and is also fast paced like Big News II and the energetic, Animal Farm. Also, as mentioned before, Clutch is known to furnish very intelligent, yet inane lyrics and this song shows it early in the album. Whats so good about this song is how Neil shows that he is not a one dimensional singer. He once again changes vocal tones and styles very effortlessly and concise. Spacegrass features some of the most bizarre, unconventional lyrics I have ever heard and I mean that in a good way. The lyrics are about a dude traveling in space with his Dodge Swinger 1973 seeing outer space wonders like “watching the universe expand”. The song feels very spacey as well with cool little sounds floating around your speakers providing a sort of ambiance and once the thundering power riffs kick in, they will send your head bopping back and forth in this way-out there tune. This is one of the album highlights and a fan favorite and its obvious why.

Every song on this record is uniquely its own. No track sounds like another and you won’t get déja vu listening to this record. Clutch has so much variety that there is a little something for everyone. But needless to say, that is a bit of an exaggerated statement. This album isn’t really for everyone. Neil Fallon’s vocal style, albeit loved by many, may have to grow on new listeners as some may find it annoying and foreign to them, but nevertheless Fallon is a great powerful vocalist with quite the attitude.

The thing about Clutch is that it gets better and better with every listen, slowly turning into a classic for some with amazing replay value. Droid and 7 Jam have that instant lovable Clutch charm and will get stuck in your head with its signature unique blend of Tony Iommi influenced riffs and its sophisticated drum beats. Truly every track on this record has memorable riffing and well seasoned bass lines. No song drags on too much producing meaningless, unnecessary cacophonous noise that takes the song nowhere. Also what might also be noted is the crisp, warm audio production. All of the instruments can be heard clearly in the mix without one instrument overpowering the other. You might even consider this album a classic if it weren’t for some of the flaws it has. For instance, some songs might be boring to some people on their first listen and it isn’t the most accessible album out there, but other than the minor blemishes mentioned, this is an ass-kicking album to check out! If your into great 90’s rock music then this is your album.

Notable tracks:
Big News II
Texan Book of the Dead
Tight Like That
Spacegrass
Droid
7 Jam

5.0 out of 5 stars A Majestic Album by Metal Royalty,
For those not acquainted with the fantastic Clutch, this is an excellent place to begin what will almost certainly become an obsession. This album feels like such an expression of Clutch soul, via Niel Fallon unique vocals, Dan Maines simplistic-yet-powerful bass grooves, Jean-Paul Gaster pumping-yet-subtle drum lines and Tim Sult technical-yet-soulful guitars.

Every song earns its place, as the album takes you on a journey through the cult of Clutch. Each passing song, despite being vastly different in sound, is unmistakably Clutch, although this album has a spacey feel that other Clutch albums don’t possess. Songs such as the opener Big News I and Spacegrass swirl and dive around you, whilst Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw and the superb I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth are the more straight ahead metal which many would associate the band with.

The undeniable highlight is the jaunty Texan Book Of the Dead, in which Fallon, whose lyrics are, as always, impeccably inventive, sings nursery rhymes and Sha na na witch doctor in the chorus.

Inspired throughout, this album is a must for any Clutch fans.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Clutch,
This album may be considered an uncertain pleasure. It is, on one hand, one of only ten albums I might pause to rescue if my house were on fire. On the other, the fact that there are only ten might indicate how rarely anything approaches true brilliance, and though half of this album might be considered soaring, raucous, balls-out emotional napalm, the other half lumbers like a wounded buffalo.
The problem may be that the record is over-polished â“ whilst later work, e.g. Jam Room, was excitingly unfinished, varied and relaxed, there seems to be a conscious conformity to many of the songs, which cause the record to hang together well, but can also become nagging.

All things considered, you gotta buy this album. Play it real loud. Then get your mates to buy it.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Clutch at there best,
Everything clutch do seems to mesmerize, but this is the cream of the crop.
An album with no bad and loads of great tracks. The highlight is the some what over played escape from the prison planet, but all tracks are good.

The base line and guitar are simple and catchy and the lyrics are clever and fun. Buy this, turn it up loud, sit back, and enjoy!”