Jeff Hubbard

If you ask me, Kyle's wrong, though, and not necessarily because it's a

great album - it's not. But I maintain that those who are complaining

that Clinic are in a holding pattern aren't listening closely enough.

First off, this album is far more guitar driven than "Walking With

Thee," and less accessible, perhaps, as a result. The problem isn't so

much that they're treading water (I mean, AC/DC made the same album over

and over for something like eight years before they started sucking),

but that the tunes aren't as immediate or exciting as on some of their

previous discs, especially the world beating "Internal Wrangler."

Having said that, "Falstaff" and a few other songs on the album are

terrific expansions on their sound, without straying too far from what

makes them one of the few bands that I can think of that have really

established a sonic identity in these most derivative of times. The

only other band I'd give as much props for establishing a unique sonic

blueprint, in the last two or three years, would be TV on the Radio, who

may as well come from Neptune.

kyle

jeff,

how many times (albums) do I have to listen to these guys retread the same material before I say shame on me for thinking that these guys are original? Three ep's, International Wrangler, Walking With Thee, International Wrangler. Well, that's four in a row. My problem isn't that I think this album sucks, far from it in fact, it's just that I'd like a little variety other than the boom chh boom chh boom chh of the kick drum and cymbols and the same guitar lick over and over and que the melodica now guys! It's just getting a little old. Just because they're the only ones with this "sonic identity" doesn't mean they should rehash the same old shit until someone finally gets around to copying their M.O. Trust me, if Tv on the Radio is still doing do wop covers of Pixies tunes three albums from now i'll be bored with that too.

kyle

oops! meant Winchester Cathedral on that fourth album there. sorry.

Jeff Hubbard

Kyle,

Kudos for your response, as I will say that it initially set me back on my heels. But see, here's the thing - repeating oneself does not inherently imply a lack of originality. Hell, Chuck Berry and Little Richard essentially invented rock music, as a form, and the fact that they rarely strayed from three chord barn burners does not detract from their legacy, one whit.

You don't love "Winchester Cathedral"? No problem. Hell, I'm not sure I LOVE it, but I do think that they continue to add subtly to their lexicon, and that's enough for me. For example, to choose a tune that both of us seem in agreement about, "Falstaff" is not entirely dissimiar to "Goodnight Georgie" or "For the Wars," but the bizarro Flamingo-esque doo wop renders the tune completely compelling. Elsewhere, new gadgets create just enough sonic ear candy to differentiate this record from its predecessors.

Also, I actually find it ironic that you find this album so rhythmically similar to their previous outings, only because I think they've backed off of the rhythmic attack of the earlier albums, sometimes to the detriment of the album's drive. Having said that, it's clear to me that they are working out methods of incorporating new variations into their work, if not always successfully.

I'm also not deaf or ignorant enough to deny that Clinic rely on sonics, perhaps more than most bands, to define their sound. Moreover, when their always unintelligable lyrics don't coalesce into strong hooks, the music suffers (for a comparison, listen to the meaningless but utterly infectious hook of "The Second Line" from "IW"). So, again, I don't disagree with all of your criticisms. All the same, do we say that "Leave Home" isn't good because it doesn't have as many "gabba gabba" hooks as "Ramones"? I sure don't.

In the end, though, I guess I'm a little more willing to stay with a comparatively weak effort by a band that I find truly imaginative, even evocative. Let's face it, plenty of Radiohead fans went running when they stopped placing sing-along hooks in every other song; I was one who didn't. I found their pursuit of sonics as an end in themselves intriguing, perhaps even superior to what had come before. Clinic are clearly not in that shape-shifting league, at least based on the evidence that we've been given so far, but hell, a sound as radical as theirs deserves a few albums to gestate before the next shift comes along. Radiohead, out of the box, just sounded a lot like U2 - let's face it.

WC

Just out of curiosity I can't remember the name of the group who made the original song a hit Winchester Catherdral -you're bringing me down - you stood and you watched as - my baby left town? Who was that?

kyle

Wc,

Are you thinking of the New Vaudville Band? I think that may be it.

Jeff Hubbard

The answer is the New Vaudeville Band, but, really, man, that's what All Music is for. I only know because I used to work for a shitty Karaoke company that produced a version of it for that "sing along" shit. It's really information that I'd rather forget. That song blows, quite frankly. The new Clinic is much better (which still isn't saying much).

Really, Kyle, do you have a response to my last post. I'll admit that subsequent listens haven't brough even the kind of belated appreciation that even "Walking With Thee" elicited. I do think that a good half the album is pretty compelling, though. If you were giving star ratings (out of five), what would you award this album? I'd go about three and a half, if I had to vote today.

wc

Thanks for your more than adequate answer - it just so happens that the first time I ever danced with my late wife was to that song. But I'm sure you're right - it's probably just an awful song.

kyle

jeff,

uhh.......isn't that a 3 I gave the album out of 5? Seems kinda self-explanatory how many stars I would give it out of that number. As for repeated listens, it's still just average. No more, no less. I don't know what more I should say from an average album that doesn't hardly bring any sort of emotion to the forefront for me whatsoever.It isn't like when I listened to International Wrangler for the first time, for God's sake, those days are past. If you want to know what I think of it compared to Walking With Thee it's definitely below it, because honestly, the novelty of these guys is starting to wear pretty thin. And hey, going back to your first statement, at least Radiohead, while sounding a bit like U2 at first, have gone on two carve their own nitche by making one hell of guitar album (The Bends) the most orginal album of the 90's (Ok Computer) their own personal Dark Side Of the Moon (my personal favorite Kid A) it's kid B album (Amnesiac) and bringing it all full circle with Hail To the Thief. I can't belive you'd even try to compare a band that's made the same album three times in a row with someone as innovative as Radiohead. Radical sound? Clinic? Not with three albums and an ep collection that all sound exactly the same. Sure, you could say the same for The Ramones, but last time I checked they invented a new genre of music with their style of play. I don't see Clinic doing anything I haven't heard before. They're not My Bloody Valentine, they're not The Pixies, and they're definitely not even worthy to lick the pete moss off of Radiohead's and The Ramones boot heel. Is that response ok for you Jeff?

Jeff Hubbard

Kyle,

Sorry about missing the rating. I actually just noticed the rating system thing yesterday.

You know what? The more I listen to this album, the more I think I'm glad that you reviewed it, rather than me. This is one time where fan bias may have clouded my view, initially. I think that your review is more or less on the mark (though I still can't believe you didn't like the live show - I thought they were amazing, and several other people I've talked to felt the same). Because their sound does not really vary from record to record, it becomes important to really take some time and assess the songs' merits (hooks, riffs, melodies) before coming to any conclusions. And, on that basis, I'm starting to get the nagging feeling that this album is a bigger failure than I initially thought. These songs, with a few key exceptions, are just not registering with repeated listens.

You gave it three, I'm thinking maybe three and a half, and a half star just isn't worth haggling over.

So, savor your victory, my friend. I can admit when I've been beaten like a step-child.

And yeah, you're right