Clay Melton Band drop EP
URL: https://claymeltonband.com/
One great thing that I have actually missed from doing EP/album reviews is how often you are introduced to a musical artist that you have not previously heard of. The sense of new discovery and enjoyment is beyond comprehension. Such as it is with Clay Melton. Reading his back story he is already a much revered musical talent .Even though his music is termed as guitar driven pop influenced, the “pop” aspect was a tad off putting to me personally. I was pleasantly surprised that its focus lay more in the grittier rock part of the definition. I had heard something to the left of nothing about them before this review – but the words ‘blues”, “rock” and “music’ in a row evoke wonderful things in my head – yes, I love my heavier stuff, but there’s something…honest about blues rock. It makes me imagine driving across the good ole US of A, roof down and this blaring from the speakers. So the big question for this EP is – could I picture myself driving to this? “Tonight” get’s us off to a great start here – from the opening driving guitar riff… , from the first notes, this song drags you in, slowly but surely, building towards the first chorus. This one has got the words live sing-along written all over it.
It’s in the second track, “Home ” that things really begin to step back slightly. This song is more easy listening and mellow until a surprise change of direction and a heavy edge takes over . The chorus builds from that and just grows and grows-another future anthem.
This would be a good time to talk about the singer, Clay Melton I’ve been lucky enough recently to review some great singers – but Clay has possibly one of the best voices I’ve heard. He has the sort of voice that you could imagine singing pretty much anything – and that is even before you take his guitar playing into consideration. His voice is just so soulful and filled with emotions that you can’t help but be moved by it. Earthy, raw and gritty-This is particularly noticeable during “Home.” I had to listen to this song four times before I could bring myself to type anything about it. It’s that catchy it had me literally physically bouncing /dad dancing around my living room in full appreciation.
EP finale “Listen” fits snugly into ballad territory initially ,but again that huge monster guitar creeps right up and blows you away-its perfect ebb and flow during the songs duration builds to a crescendo of soloing -which is quite simply jaw dropping .
This is a artist perhaps born in the wrong era – they’d be perfectly suited to 1960’s San Francisco rather than today’s more turbulent times. But boy – am I glad they were. Definitely a musician that is going places. Hopefully one of those places will be the UK for as good as they sound on this album, I think they’d be something else live. The energy that they put into studio recordings is admirable…let’s see them kick it up a few notches on stage. I have heard many artists and many musical genres in my time. Its difficult for an artist to establish their own identity in difficult musical times. Clay Melton can stand on his own two feet, comparable with many greats but without blatantly plagiarizing from them. Its a sign of quality when an artist makes such an impact that straight after writing a review I immediately sign up to their information service.
I-TUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/clay-melton-band-ep/id1113798955
by Mark Dean