The Clint K Band - "Here We Go"

Album review by Mark Cuthbertson

The Clint K Band seems to be aiming for an eighties and nineties hybrid sound. The guitar tones are reminiscent of early Collective Soul and Urge Overkill. The vocals have characteristics of Tom Petty, Ric Ocasek, Roy Orbison, and David Bowie. The overall direction of the music can be anything from grungy or gritty to jangly or aynth-laden campy pop.

Fans of eighties music and/or lighthearted pop won’t mind the many clichés and lack of originality (I was reminded, however briefly, of Boston, the Offspring, the Kinks, the Cars, Simple Minds, the Flaming Lips, the Rolling Stones, Everlast, and the ones I’d mentioned before, among others) on this album which brings so many old bands and sounds to mind it’s difficult to know where to begin and end. Many may even find the “Jumping Cows” song (“This is a story of three farmers and a cow…Jump! x12…”) to be good in a campy or silly sort of way and perhaps perceive the clichéd lyrics as honest. And to be sure, many will forgive the out-of-tune spots, but not every listener.

Fortunately, there are other things to like about this album. Chet Kueffer’s bass playing and Jason Green’s drumming form a tasteful and tight foundation. While Chet is clearly focused on holding down the root (a lesson not every bass player has learned) with his punchy bass, he also plays some highly musical phrases to fill the gaps between each root. One of the better examples of this is “How Far You Have Come.” The production and mix is good, and the tones are pleasant, though the guitar sinks into the background at times.

--Mark Cuthbertson