If you had to consolidate the views of most music fans regarding new releases, all the details, hopes and dreams would most likely boil down to a simple notion. What many of us yearn for is reliability - a band that releases records consistent in quality and style, with hints of growth and experimentation jumping out from time to time. Of course, there's that rare music fan that wants the band to completely re-invent itself disc after disc, but that's more the exception than the norm.

"From Beale Street to Oblivion" is perhaps the third or fourth disc in a row for Maryland's groove-jam kings CLUTCH that fits the above description of reliability. Leaning perhaps more toward consistency than experimentation this time, the disc steamrolls through twelve strong funk-laced rockers with plenty of bluesy turnarounds and Neil Fallon's patented stream-of-consciousness low-end vocal torrents. For those wondering, "Is this one as good as the last couple?" the answer would be a resounding "Yes". High points include the front-porch blues jam of "One Eye Dollar" and the smooth slide guitar and harp of "Black Umbrella" (featuring Eric Oblander of FIVE HORSE JOHNSON). "Electric Dollar" sounds like it belongs on MASTERS OF REALITY's self-titled masterpiece, and the sick bass groove in the closer "Mr. Cadillackness" ends the whole affair on a strong note. The disc offers just enough variety from an arrangement and production standpoint to avoid the impression that CLUTCH is standing still, yet the track-to-track quality fits seamlessly alongside their last couple of top-shelf weed smokin' riff bonanza records. "Beale Street" is another notch in the belt of the most consistent groove-rock band of the decade.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: http://pro-rock.com

RELATED ITEMS: No related articles at this time.