Well, I haven't owned anything by CLUTCH since the "Passive Restraints" EP and haven't kept up with them at all beyond just hearing them here and there. This is really impressive. The lyrics are terrible stream of unconsciousness rambles, so bad they are good at some points. I hope they don't expect people to think they are deep and I hope people don't treat them as deep. They're more like sour cream and salsa on a taco (mmm tacos). They add something because the vocalist is solid but you're looking for the meat of it all. And meat it does deliver in spades. Lotsa heavy SABBATH meets DEEP PURPLE meets early FUNKADELIC jams to go around. You can almost see the bottle being passed around, the herbage a smokin', and the powders a diced as they created this.

It's nice that they are able to kick out a ton of consistent songs on one disc. I listened to this the first time stuck on the expressway trying to get into downtown Detroit. One fucking lane of a three lane highway open and it took me an hour and a half to get 10 miles. I gave up and went to Hamtramck (a city inside of Detroit, just outside of downtown) instead for record hunting after a Coney burger and a beer. If a Coney burger is a foreign concept imagine a greeeeaaazzzzy ass cheeseburger slathered in chili, mustard, and onions. Goddamn they are so good despite the fact that they kill the arteries. But what is good that doesn't fuck up your body? Anyways, I played this thing twice and didn't even notice. I can barely pay attention for a 7" but this held out just fine.

The most impressive aspect is the power of the vocals. Very strong, crisp yet clean. Shit, the whole thing is good. They even have a killer guitar tone for this sort of thing and while they get a little funky they avoid trying to play funk, which is a very good thing because that sort of shit is just not cool. It wasn't cool in the late 80's and it ain't cool now. But, this is cool and I suggest you buy it and enjoy it as much as I did. For diehards and newcomers alike.

- Two Tub Tony

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