Wiki
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Release Date
2007
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Length
21 tracks
Circa the early 21st century, it has become quite uncommon for hard rock bands to create a substantial following the old-fashioned way – nonstop touring – rather than having to rely on MTV and radio's stamp of approval. But Clutch have done it their way since the very beginning, and their tenth full-length overall, 2007's From Beale Street to Oblivion, may just be their strongest and most focused recording yet.
The riffs are still meaty, the still somewhat new addition of organ has added a deep classic rock dimension, and Neil Fallon's pissed-off trucker vocals are as, well, ballsy as ever (if you want emo-boy whining you've come to the wrong place, buster).
Unlike some similar-styled bands that completely align themselves with either stoner metal or retro-rock, Clutch borrow equally from both, as evidenced by such standouts as the album-opening big rock of You Can't Stop Progress, the Southern rockish The Devil & Me, and the snake-hiding-in-the-grass boogie of Electric Worry.
And Clutch get extra points for offering one of the best lyrics you're going to hear on a 2007 rock recording – "You can always tell the terrorist / By his cologne and the watch on his wrist" (from the furious 'n' defiant Power Player).
If you long for the days when Soundgarden were still a functioning band, Kyuss were still patrolling the desert, and Black Sabbath had yet to make up with Ozzy, Clutch will definitely not let you down with From Beale Street to Oblivion.
Track listing
01. "You Can't Stop Progress" – 2:40
02. "Power Player" – 3:06
03. "The Devil & Me" – 3:57
04. "White's Ferry" – 5:24
05. "Child of the City" – 3:53
06. "Electric Worry" – 5:14 (Partially written by Mississippi Fred McDowell)
07. "One Eye Dollar" – 1:23 (by allmusic the track title is "One Eye $")
08. "Rapture of Riddley Walker" – 4:09
09. "When Vegans Attack" – 4:56
10. "Opossum Minister" – 4:28
11. "Black Umbrella" – 4:05
12. "Mr. Shiny Cadillackness" – 5:11
The album title comes from a line in the song "The Devil & Me", and is named after the real Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. The song "One Eye Dollar" is a remake of the same track from Jam Room. The track "Electric Worry" is a partial cover of the Mississippi Fred McDowell song "Fred's Worried Life Blues" and features Eric Oblander of Five Horse Johnson on harmonica. It also shares a striking similarity to Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker, even including the "Bang Bang Bang Bang" variation he would do live. A music video has been produced for the track "Electric Worry" and has been presented on Headbangers Ball.
"Electric Worry" is also featured in a T.V. commercial for the video game Left 4 Dead 2.
A reissue of the album released on July 20, 2010. The reissue contains one more CD with 9 tracks "Live at the BBC" and "Live in Australia".
Credits
Joe Barresi – Producer, Engineer, Mixing
Neil Fallon – Guitar, Vocals, Group Member
Jack Flanagan – Management
Bryan Hinkley – Guitar
Nick Lakiotes – Art Direction, Design
Dan Maines – Bass, Group Member
Pete Martinez – Engineer
Eric Oblander – Harmonica
Glenn Pittman – Assistant Engineer
Louis Rivera – Photography
Mick Schauer – Piano, Organ (Hammond), Clavinet, Group Member
Tim Sult – Guitar, Group Member
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