Strange Cousins from the West

Clutch | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 14, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: WEATHERMAKER MUSIC
• ASIN: B00292SQQ2
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27,569 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

The first new Clutch studio release in over two years. Strange Cousin's From The West is the band's 9th studio effort, and second with producer J. Robbins. It's the first original studio release on the band's self-owned label, Weathermaker Music

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The next logical step for Clutch, July 16, 2009

By 

Adam M. Wright - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Cousins from the West (Audio CD)

The Clutch of today is not the same as the band who released "Passive Restraints" or "Transnational Speedway Anthems" back in the day. Their fans have grown up, and so have they. After making one of the best straight-up rock albums in a long time with "Blast Tyrant", Clutch began to experiment more with blues and an almost "classic rock" style of music on "Robot Hive/Exodus" and then ventured even farther into that territory with their last LP, "From Beale Street To Oblivion".

This new album, "Strange Cousins From The West" definitely seems like the next logical step in that direction. The new album is "rock", but probably not in the way that top-40 radio has classified "rock" these days, but rock in the way that I think it used to mean. The band is obviously making the kind of music they enjoy playing and hoping that their fans will follow them along for the ride. Judging from the reaction some of the new stuff got when I saw them in concert a few months ago, I'd say that the fans approve.

For me, the sweet spot of this album begins at song four, "Abraham Lincoln" and continues through "Minotaur" and "The Amazing Kreskin" There aren't any throw-aways on this album, and even stuff that I found myself kind of resistant to at first, like "Witchdoctor" wound up winning me over in the end. The main riff for "Abraham Lincoln" has been stuck in my head for days too...

Obviously, I'm a Clutch fan, but if you enjoy this, be sure to check out their instrumental stuff, released as The Bakerton Group, because it's some good stuff too. If the only song you know from Clutch is "A Shogun Named Marcus", then you have a lot of catching up to do, because the band has only gotten better and evolved their sound into something much more unique over the last 19 or so years. If you get a chance to check them out live (they tour heavily) I would also say DO SO.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Can't Stop Progress, July 14, 2009

By 

Bill R. (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strange Cousins from the West (Audio CD)

It's remarkable that a band can be this good while still getting better on their ninth studio album.

Strange Cousins from the West continues on the organic progression Clutch has been making on each album since their inception. It takes what was good about From Beale Street to Oblivion and makes it better, which Beale Street did with Robot Hive/Exodus, and so on.

Awesome album and congratulations to the band on self-releasing it. I'm glad to know my money's going straight to the people who deserve it for once.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not my personal Favorite...but a solid effort., July 24, 2009

By 

B. Glenn (Boling, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Strange Cousins from the West (Audio CD)

I've been a Clutch fan since the first album way back in the early 90's. When a band has been around this long and has proven the test of time it is only natural you have GREAT efforts and then solid...yet subpar efforts. SCFTW is a step down from the last 3 albums...HOWEVER, that in no way says this is a bad album, it is not, in fact it is a very solid effort. Personally I have always preferred the faster tempo of albums such as Blast Tyrant and Robot Hive/Exodus. SCFTW is a slower album than anything Clutch has done in quite a few years. Some of it takes me back to Elephant Riders but then you get hints of Beale St as well. The one thing that is really missing is the far out lyrics....Fallon is one of very few song writers that can just about produce an acid flashback in my mind with his words. This aspect is missing on this album, there are a few instances of oddball lyrics..but very few and far between, for sure nowhere near the level of past efforts.

All in all, this is a solid around effort and any Clutch fan should be glad to have it in their collection. The packaging is AWESOME! It will stay in my player for awhile no doubt....but not as long as the last few albums have, for me this is another Pure Rock Fury....a solid effort but not my favorite of their releases. It will be pulled out occasionally, but not nearly as much as other albums.