ARRRRGH...PIRATE BLARG! (couple o' exclusives)

Due to my consistent failure to launch ELEVATED RADIO, I thought I'd break G.O.M.E. tradition and offer a couple of special treats this fine Monday. Listed below are one track each from the upcoming CLUTCH, FU MANCHU, and ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY albums. This goes without saying, but I strongly encourage you all to support all three bands, both at your local mom & pops' record shops and on tour. That said, consider these three meager offerings free advertisement for a trio of kickass bands. The FU is in stores tomorrow, but we'll have to wait 'til March 6th and 26th for ATP and CLUTCH, respectively.

Early thoughts --

FU MANCHU has really tapped into their west coast hardcore influences on We Must Obey. It's definitely their fastest album, but also, possibly, their most consistent. Don't let the faster tempos and the CARS cover fool ya, though. It's the FU through and through, and, in my opinion, their best record since The Action Is Go (my personal fave).

As the FU seem to be leaning more towards their punk influence, the mighty ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY seem to be settling into a more mainstream heavy rock approach. The way ATP switches singers, it's amazing they've been able to maintain ANY degree of consistency, but Open Fire is about as close to AC/DC as Rise Again was to KYUSS. That's not to say it's a bad record by any means (I love AC/DC), but it's a more mainstream hard rock sound. I like it.

CLUTCH just might be the best brand of rock & roll going today. From Beale Street to Oblivion is sure to be an Album of the Year contender here at G.O.M.E. come the twilight of 2007. "White's Ferry" (download below) is easily my favorite 2007 track, and the entire album is rock solid. Of course, the G.O.M.E. faithful knows to never expect anything less than the absolute best from CLUTCH. It's strange, though...As FU MANCHU goes punk and ATP goes mainstream, CLUTCH seems to be courting a much bigger blues influence than on past albums.

Enjoy.


FU MANCHU - Sensei Vs. Sensei (fu-manchu.com)

ATP - Words of the Dying Man (atprva.com)

CLUTCH - White's Ferry (pro-rock.com)