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THE CLARKS
The Clarks Live (Razor & Tie)
Reviewed by Melanie Campbell
I have to tell ya, I've been going crazy, trying to think of an original, yet apt, description of the Clarks' repertoire of music. Best I could come up with was "roots-rock & groove." I dunno, you tell me, it's a little clunky at first, but once you get used to it, it has kind of a nice ring to it. I needed to capture the essence of Pittsburgh's finest musical export in only a few short paragraphs, so I had to think up something good. Trust me, it was difficult, especially since we're talking about a live recording in this instance. Live CDs can really lack at times, because, try as you might to enjoy it, you're just not there! As a result, it's hard to find a lot of depth on live recordings, because you need the whole experience for it to be enjoyable. To make things more complicated, the selections here cover a lot of musical ground, so it's hard to describe in brief. But we'll try, because it's very simple -- live really is the best way experience the Clarks. The production here really captures the energy of their music and their audience, and from a musician's standpoint that's even more awesome. See, these guys have been doing this for a while now, and they've gotten really good at playing this stuff.
Apparently, the folks at their new label, Razor & Tie, agree, because the relationship, forged with last year's debut release Let It Go, is continuing. The follow-up to that release promises to see the light of day sometime next spring. Meanwhile, the label wanted to release some more of the band's material, so they got a hold of this 1998 live recording (released originally on the band's own King Mouse Records), and re-mastered it. Then, to make it even sweeter, they added some extra tracks that were not on the original, three of the band's newest songs, recorded on their last marathon swing through the heartland last summer. One of those songs, "Better Off Without You," had gotten mass rotation at home, and picked up airtime up and down the mid-Atlantic region. The version contained here is such fun, especially if you've just broken up with someone. Did you think rock-n-roll had run out of neat ways to say sayonara to a lousy mate in a song? Oh no -- and when you're talking about broken hearts, sometimes less is more. It's the simplicity of the messages that count, and this is what the Clarks do best. These guys really have the knack of saying so much with so little, while still making it sound so cool: "I'm havin' fun lookin' out for number one, and I'm doin' all the things I like to do; I'm havin' fun 'cause I knew it all along, I'd be better off without you..."
Uh-huh, I know. But you gotta hear it. Trust me, you sit there singin' along to that, and by the end of the song, you're yelling, at no one in particular, "YEAH! Take that, you *#^&*## hoser (and you know who you are, too, heheh...)." It just feels so good. The whole set is true to that formula, though this music is far from formulaic. There's some fine blues ("Apartment Song"), some wistful balladry ("Penny On The Floor"), and a deep-fried, down-home, drinkin'-too-much-and-forgetting-where-yer-at -type song. Which, for the unenlightened, is sorta country-twang, sorta mellow-rock, and sorta bluegrass-y. Well, almost (the hilarious "Last Call," a song which still refuses to be pigeonholed after all these years). There's even some funk and r & b here (a cover of Prince's "Kiss" and the smooth, mellow, and laid-back groove of "Lock And Key"). These guys have got the skinny on some of the best feel-good music in a long time, and I don't know about you, but it sure seems like we could use some feeling-good right about now. This fills the bill rather nicely, and it's highly recommended...
Track List:
Mercury * Brand New * Over Me * Now And Then * Penny On The Floor * If I Can't Have You * Courtney * Help Me Out * Apartment Song * Lock And Key * Caroline * Cigarette * Kiss * Last Call * Snowman * Born Too Late * Better Off Without You
© 2001 - Melanie Campbell