Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions

The winner of Most Intriguing Album Cover of the year might go to Clutch‘s new release – Book of Bad Decisions.  The cover doesn’t feature a book at all, just a painting of a bald eagle on a branch either looking at something off to its right or looking back at us with perhaps apathy or vigilance.  Then there’s the title.  What bad decisions make up this book?  Does it refer to a certain as-yet unnamed book?  Let’s not forget the bald eagle is a symbol of the United States, and that symbol has turned its back on us.  Has it done so because of our bad decisions in recent times?  Is Clutch, who are lovers of history, warning us through a simple image that we are at risk of losing what makes this country great?

The album opens with a tale from the history of the band – “Gimme the Keys.”  It’s the story of one of their earliest gigs when they played a small summer festival / large party in the middle of Corn Field Nowhere, USA, and were accused of stealing a microphone from another band and / or the party’s coordinators.  It opens with fuzzy feedback and then turns into a blistering fire that only Clutch seems to know how to unleash.  One of the best parts is hearing Neil Fallon re-enacting his words to the band’s accusers.  Tim Sult‘s guitar moves back and forth between metal and psychedelia with ease.

“Spirit of ’76” is another history lesson from the band, possibly referring to 1776, the political landscape of 1976 (in which Fallon mentions a “farmer with peanuts in his hand” – Jimmy Carter?), or even the 1975 album of the same name by Spirit.  Knowing Clutch’s catalogue like I do, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s all three.  Jean-Paul Gaster‘s beats on this will have you doing bass drum kicks under your desk before you realize it.  The title track opens with almost drone-metal bass from Dan Maines and talks of dark clouds and leads to killer shredding by Sult.

“How to Shake Hands” has Gaster going bonkers while Fallon takes on elections and political campaigning.  Fallon claims he’s going to release all information about UFO’s and “put Jimi Hendrix on the twenty-dollar bill and Bill Hicks on the five note” once he’s President.  He could probably win on those three promises alone.  “In Walks Barbarella” brings in a horn section as Fallon sings about his childhood love of science fiction, “weaponized funk,” and hot women.  In other words, Clutch has written a tune about yours truly.

Jerry Lee Lewis-like piano runs through “Vision Quest.”  The nearly backward opening drums on “Weird Times” are appropriate, and Gaster’s cowbell was probably begging for mercy by the time he was done laying down the drum tracks.  I like the music box-like underlying sounds of “Emily Dickinson.”  It has a great swagger to it as well that probably flattens crowds when played live.  “Sonic Counselor” has a dirty fuzz to it that makes you feel a bit mean, and it probably should be on your newest workout playlist.

“A Good Fire” starts with bluesy drums as Fallon sings about the joys of bonfires in autumn and the whole band is soon burning up behind him.  “Ghoul Wrangler,” apart from having a cool title, takes off like a dragstrip racer off the line and doesn’t look back.  As much as it rocks, “H.B. Is in Control” rocks even harder (which almost seems impossible).  Gaster sounds like he’s having the time of his life behind his kit and Maines’ groove is so solid that you could build a skyscraper atop it.

“Hot Bottom Feeder,” believe it or not is Neil Fallon’s recipe for crab cakes.  Seriously.  The only thing better than the fact that Clutch put a recipe song on their new album is how damn good the song is.  It’s one of their best blues-laced rockers in a long while, full of Sult’s hot guitar licks and the band’s humor.  “Paper & Strife” sizzles past you at the speed of an out-of-control train engine, and the closer, “Lorelei,” practically has Fallon yelling to the heavens about the murmuring rock of legend in Germany that has possibly lured many ships to a watery grave.

Book of Bad Decisions is another good rocker from Clutch, who never swing and miss.  Historical themes are nothing new to Clutch records, but they’ve woven them into this album with more subtlety and cleverness than usual.  They’ve warned us to always keep history in mind, because, well, you know what happens when you forget it.

Keep your mind open.

[In walks you to the subscription box…right?]

 

Clutch releases some killer pre-order bundles for their upcoming album, “Book of Bad Decisions.”

NEW ALBUM PRE-ORDER AND MERCH BUNDLES AVAILABLE NOW!
CLUTCH TO RELEASE THIRD SINGLE TRACK
FROM THE NEW ALBUM “BOOK OF BAD DECISIONS” TODAY
Maryland rockers CLUTCH are now offering a variety of exclusive “Book of Bad Decisions” pre-order bundles such as the “Limited Edition Collectors Bundle” which includes rare picture disc vinyl, flask, flag, shirt, long sleeve, HATCHET with autographed box, and more!  Bundles will be delivered on or before the album release date of September 7th.
All “Book of Bad Decisions” pre-order bundles, music and merch options are available now exclusively at www.clutchmerch.com
CLUTCH are releasing the third single from their upcoming album Book of Bad Decisions as an instant gratification track at iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/book-of-bad-decisions/1376829212&app=itunes) and Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CNYD1R7).  Spotify has it here (http://open.spotify.com/album/7fJuTpSrV3TYbSExbo3emk)
Clutch’s song “Hot Bottom Feeder” is, in essence, a recipe for Maryland crab cakes set to Clutch’s inimitable style.  Watch the accompanying lyric video here https://youtu.be/SOTrHrGSeNM.
Each of the single releases from Book of Bad Decisions is accompanied by a Spotify playlist put together by one of the band members.  In this instance Dan Maines who asks you to “Check out our latest release Hot Bottom Feeder and beat the heat with these stone cold classics.”
CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion
For more  information, check out the band’s website:
Official: www.pro-rock.com
Keep your mind open.
[It’s never a bad decision to subscribe.]

Clutch releases “How to Shake Hands” from upcoming album.

CLUTCH RELEASE SECOND SINGLE TRACK
FROM THE NEW ALBUM “BOOK OF BAD DECISIONS”
Maryland rockers CLUTCH have released the second single from their upcoming album Book of Bad Decisions as an instant gratification track at iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/book-of-bad-decisions/1376829212&app=itunes) and Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CNYD1R7).  Spotify has it here (http://open.spotify.com/album/0uWlwy6wHD7tGV3FfiVBF0)
In addition, a very limited 7” Picture Disc in a transparent PVC pocket hit stores on June 22nd. “How To Shake Hands” is on the blue side and “Gimme The Keys” on the reverse, green side.
Clutch’s song “How to Shake Hands” traces its lineage back to Ry Cooder and John Lee Hooker via the song “John Lee Hooker for President”.  In that song Ry Cooder impersonates JLH giving a stump speech on what will happen when he becomes President.  Clutch’s original idea of covering the Ry Cooder song was soon abandoned as vocalist Neil Fallon said he couldn’t do the song justice.  Instead, Neil put his own lyrics in the style of Ry Cooder/JLH to a new Clutch song which ended up becoming the fast-paced “How to Shake Hands”.
Each of the single releases from Book of Bad Decisions is accompanied by a Spotify playlist put together by one of the band members.  In this instance guitarist Tim Sult is responsible for surrounding “How To Shake Hands” with other songs to his liking:  “Since Neil mentioned Jimi Hendrix and Bill Hicks in ‘How To Shake Hands’, I decided to make a playlist including both.  Classic guitar playing meets classic comedy.  What could go wrong?”
CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion
For more  information, check out the band’s website:
Official: www.pro-rock.com
Keep your mind open.
[How to subscribe?  Just drop your e-mail address in the box to your left.]

Clutch’s new album due this September, but the first single, “Gimme the Keys,” is out now.

CLUTCH TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
“BOOK OF BAD DECISIONS” 
SEPTEMBER 7th
Maryland rockers CLUTCH have announced Book of Bad Decisions as the title of their new studio album.
Book of Bad DecisionsCLUTCH’s 12th studio album is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 7th, 2018 via their own Weathermaker Music label.
The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound in Nashville, TN by producer Vance Powell (Jack WhiteChris StapletonThe RaconteursThe Dead Weather) and consists of 15 new tracks.
“With Vance Powell as producer we were able to make a very different kind of an album.  The songs feel as if they could jump out of the speakers!” says drummer Jean-Paul Gaster.  Bassist Dan Maines seconds that when he says “Recording in Nashville with Vance Powell gave us a new and fresh approach towards making an album that truly captures the live energy of Clutch in a way I don’t think we’ve done before.”  Guitarist Tim Sult adds “Laying down guitar tracks with Vance was fun and inspiring.  Going through and trying out his and his engineer, Mike Fahey’s collection of vintage amps was one of my favorite recording studio experiences.  I think the outro solo of “Emily Dickinson” turned out particularly great.”
The album cover was designed by renowned photographer Dan Winters.
Book Of Bad Decisions track listing:
1. Gimme the Keys
2. Spirit of ’76
3. Book of Bad Decisions
4. How to Shake Hands
5. In Walks Barbarella
6. Vision Quest
7. Weird Times
8. Emily Dickinson
9. Sonic Counselor
10. A Good Fire
11. Ghoul Wrangler
12. HB Is in Control
13. Hot Bottom Feeder
14. Paper & Strife
15. Lorelei
The first single from Book of Bad Decisions is “Gimme the Keys” and was released May 18th, 2018.  The accompanying lyric video (http://vevo.ly/EXXhw1 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htSvzWy-WcY) was created by David Brodsky.
The song is about the band’s first tour back in 1991, a time where they began to cut their teeth in the live music business, dealt with show cancellations and incidents on the road.  One particular show in a shed surrounded by cornfields in Lawrence, Kansas ultimately turned ugly over a missing microphone and accusations brought by drunk and gun-toting security people at the end of a long day.  “Gimme the keys they can keep the guarantee | Gimme the keys and get the hell out of dodge” is a reflection of the mood of that night.
Pre-ordering the new album Book of Bad Decisions starts today, May 18th at www.pro-rock.com.
This single is the first of four to be released over the next couple of months as an instant gratification track when pre-ordering the album at:
All album formats (CD, 24-page book with CD, 2xLP Standard Black, Limited Colored 2xLP, and 2xLP Picture Disc) will have the same 15 tracks. In addition Weathermaker Music will release two very limited 7” Picture Discs.
“I’ve never been one for nostalgia,” says Neil Fallon, “I’ve always shied away from it.  But after 27 years of this, I realize that there is a wealth of stories to look back upon as lyrical fodder.  As the saying goes, ‘You don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.’  Not all the songs reference our collective experience as a band, but ‘Book of Bad Decisions’ seemed like an apt name for these various chapters, whether factual, fictitious, or somewhere in-between.”
CLUTCH:
Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar
Tim Sult – Guitar
Dan Maines – Bass
Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion
For more  information, check out the band’s website:
Official: www.pro-rock.com