An Even Longer Overdue Update

Not too long after my last post the house market in San Diego County had tanked and I began a quest to find a house to buy. So not much happened during the period regarding music purchases. I'm still getting a monthly 7" from Sub Pop and started a second monthly series with Volcom Entertainment. Other than that, my music purchases are few and far between these days.

There have been some great albums released. The new one from Alice In Chains was a nice surprise. I had no expectations for it and think it's a well done album. They work in the new guy nicely over the course of the record.

The new Porcupine Tree album is a long concept piece that has excellent variation over the course of the 55 minutes. Looks like Deadwing was their only bump in the road.

Sunn O)))'s 'Monoliths & Dimensions' couldn't have a better titled as the album has both in spades. I'm really liking where they went with the collaborations and new instrumentation.

Clutch's new one hasn't quite clicked with me like their last two albums but it's a solid effort.

The Mars Volta have finally released something that is relatively accessible while still retaining their sound. A solid album but I think the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Band is the real new TMV album since it's pretty much the same band and is all over the map.

Big Business' first album as a trio is good but I dislike one of the tracks and it's a short album so I'm not quite in love with it like their last album.

Les Claypool's latest has a weird, organic percussion sound that shows some progression from his other solo albums.

A couple fine records from Cave and Eternal Tapestry round out the new purchases with some quality psych-rock jams. I think I'm liking this year better for music.

From Beale Street To Oblivion

Clutch are on a roll. Having released their debut EP in 1992, not many bands this far into their career are producing records that surpass their early material. Starting with 'Blast Tyrant' in 2004, they've gone in a much bluesier direction while maintaining their love of the groove. And groove they do.

Other bands may have better riffs or better compositions but Clutch lays down the groove that those bands are sorely missing. Adding a keyboard player (primarily on Hammond B3 organ) for 'Robot Hive/Exodus' they've managed to evolve their sound by adding the influence of blues music to their trademark big choruses and rock solid rhythm playing. Last year drummer Jean-Paul Gaster played on Five Horse Johnson's album 'The Mystery Spot' and so FHJ leader Eric Oblander returned the favor and added harmonica to three of the tracks on 'From Beale Street To Oblivion'.

After two quick rockin' tracks, Clutch lay down the thick groove with The Devil & Me. The album just rolls along with fantastic track after fanstastic track with Neil Fallon's always entertaining lyrical content. After the short burner that is One Eye Dollar, the album looses it's momentum for three songs that lack catchy choruses or interesting riffs, but thanks in part to Oblander's harp on Black Umbrella the album gets back on track. Closing out the disc is Mr. Shiny Cadillackness, a title that certainly fits in with the rest of Clutch's catalog, with contributions once again from Oblander and guitar by Bryan Hinkley.

For me the album doesn't quite top 'Blast Tyrant' or their self-titled album from 1995, but it's yet another excellent release from a band that gets better with age.

Moving Sale

The All That's Heavy online store recently had a moving sale and many of their titles were $5 off. So I picked many discs to fill in my collection. Also arriving very quickly was the new Blood Of The Black Owl album. The first 50 copies came with a reissue of the demo EP on CD-R in separate, handmade packaging. Blood Of The Black Owl was formally known as Svart Ugle, one of the many projects from Chet Scott (Ruhr Hunter, The Elemental Chrysalis, etc.).

Today's massive haul on CD:

Blood Of The Black Owl - 2007 - Blood Of The Black Owl (with demo CD-R limited to 50 copies)
Clutch - 1993 - Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes And Undeniable Truths
Clutch - 1997 - Impetus (EP)
Clutch - 1998 - The Elephant Riders
Clutch - 1999 - Jam Room [2004 Reissue]
Clutch - 2004 - Blast Tyrant
Core - 1999 - The Hustle Is On
Down - 1995 - NOLA
Hawkwind - 1970 - Hawkwind [2001 Reissue]
Hawkwind - 1974 - Hall Of The Mountain Grill [2001 Reissue]
Jesu - 2005 - Jesu
Jesu - 2006 - Silver (EP)
Spirit Caravan - 2003 - The Last Embrace (2 Discs)
The Stooges - 1969 - The Stooges (2 Discs) [2005 Remaster]
The Stooges - 1970 - Fun House (2 Discs) [2005 Remaster]

And the loan LP:

Hey Colossus/dot(.) - Split LP