Music review: The Clarks – ‘Feathers & Bones鈥�
The Clarks have been electrifying local audiences for more than 25 years with an unmistakable brand of no-nonsense rock music. It has always been a mystery to me why national fame has oddly eluded the Pittsburgh-based band.
I immediately became a fan after hearing a friend鈥檚 copy of 鈥淪omeday Maybe鈥� back in 1997. Led by the dark and brooding 鈥淐igarette,鈥� I was drawn to the band鈥檚 melodic rock on numbers like 鈥淢ercury,鈥� 鈥淐aroline鈥� and 鈥淓verything Has Changed.鈥�
While 2009鈥檚 鈥淩estless Days鈥� possessed the potential to be the band鈥檚 breakout album, 鈥淔eathers & Bones鈥� contains enough kick and charm to bestow national star status on the homegrown band. The new album hits all the right notes with a carefully calculated blend of alternative rock and edgy pop. Tracks like 鈥淎ll or Nothing,鈥� 鈥淣othing Good Happens After Midnight鈥� and 鈥淣othing But You鈥� explode with a slick sense of urgency and richly textured defiance.
鈥淢ap of the Stars鈥� shines as the album鈥檚 standout track with Connellsville native and lead singer Scott Blasey sounding re-energized, focused and unflappable. David Minarik Jr.鈥檚 drumming passionately punctuates each song with a commanding presence that delivers a muscular punch to the gut. While most of the new material is stuck on full throttle, the band eases it back long enough to deliver a pair of charming and reflective gems. 鈥淚rene鈥� outlines a touching life story with a sentimental hint of country and folk, while the album closes with the emotionally charged 鈥淏roken Dove.鈥� The Clarks have masterfully created new songs full of intelligent lyrics, infectious harmonies and straightforward guitar riffs that will most certainly prevent the band from flying under the radar outside our local area.
The Clarks and special guest Abacus Jones rock the Fayette County Fair at the Chevron Outdoor Arena on July 25.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.