THE CLARKS
Another Happy Ending (Razor & Tie)
Reviewed by Melanie Campbell

---

Maybe you aren't sure who they are yet, but if we have anything to say about it, it won't be long before the Clarks are a household name. And we are not talking about has-been candy bars, either. Pittsburgh, PA's finest musical export ever is back with their eagerly-anticipated, eighth full-length cd, Another Happy Ending. This disc finds the guys a bit more laid-back, moodier, and mellower than on it's predecessor, Let It Go, both in lyrical content and melody. The first single, "Hey You," sports what appear to be some very simple, basic lyrics, set to a rather melancholy tune. But a closer listen to the words sets your mind to wondering if this isn't somehow a very moving little tribute to 9/11 ("I won't forget today, the sun is bright, the sky is blue; I won't forget to pray, day is night, the world is new; the pain will go away in another year or two, in a hundred years or two..."). And that's what's so neat about the Clarks; they're really good at crafting catchy, hummable songs with lyrics that can mean a dozen different things to a dozen people. And, because they've always been so darned good at it, we're gonna forgive them for the lack of outright rockers this time around. Well, it's certainly not all 'mellow and moody.' "On Saturday" is a right funky, smooth dance-groove and so is "Boys Lie" ("like the rug under my feet"). And "All The Things I Wanted," probably the closest thing here to a "rock tune," is far and away the best track. We predict great chart heights for that one, were it to be released as a single. All in all, this is a welcome return to form by one of rock's most steadfast and consistently dependable talents.

© 2002 - Melanie Campbell