Clutch stuck in cheesy gear

Trendiness is all too common in today's rock world. The passion is traded in for record deals, fashion and MySpace friends. But somewhere off the dusty path are bands that just wanna rock. Clutch has been rockin' their metallic blues-y blend of rock since 1991, and it doesn't look like they plan on stopping anytime soon. From Beale Street to Oblivion is another offering of intelligent, Southern-tinged metal that will get your feet stompin' and your head bangin'.\nClutch is almost impossible to categorize. Metal, hard rock, stoner rock, punk, blues -- the band's style has shifted throughout the years. One thing's for certain though: If you like riffs, you'll probably dig Clutch. Their sound is similar to that of Audioslave and Monster Magnet ("Spacelord mother, mother!"), but that's where it stops. They have a Southern flare that's unique and tolerable. Did I mention they play some badass riffs? And lots of harmonica and keyboard.\nLyrically, Clutch is a little cheesy. On the single, "Electric Worry," singer Neil Fallon howls, "Bang, bang, bang, bang! Vaminos, vaminos!" It's a party track for sure. You get that same guilty pleasure that makes Andrew W.K. enjoyable. "Party hard, party hard!" And what's up with "Mr. Shiny Cadillackness?" It's painfully catchy, though.\nClutch shines on the high-energy, "Guitar Hero"-worthy tracks like "One Eye Dollar" and "Power Player." "White Ferry" is a slower blues number but is a nice break from the rather monotonous feel of the album. The riffs aren't as memorable, and nothing jumps out as being amazing. Clutch plays it safe on this one, but I was expecting a little more out of these guys.\nClutch are white trash but intelligent white trash unlike Skynyrd- and Larry The Cable Guy-white trash. But as far as being replayable, that's questionable. Not their most shining moment, but still a strong album. All their riffs just make me miss Rage Against The Machine that much more.