Joe Tell's Music Blog: Blair Clark

Blair Clark - Madison, WI

"The good mother the drunk old man the family the pets the doubters and believers. I sing songs from my broken heart and my broken head" from Blair's bandcamp page.

3 songs. 7 minutes. 27 seconds. Garage Pop Punk Rock. Park it in your head. Play it in your soul. Get Off!
releases December 15, 2016

Guitars, Bass, Drums, and Vocals - Blair Clark.
All songs written by Blair Clark.

Get Off! review by Joe Tell.
Get Off The Wheel Kid is a cool rock song. The tune has a unique sound with a underground/garage band feel. The background vocals along with the lead guitar lines are a nice touch and add alot to the soundscape.
Come Back To Me is driven by a heavy guitar. The rhythm is slow and packed with plenty of overdrive giving the song an alternative sound.
16 Times reminded of the best of early 80's new wave. Blair's vocals sound like Leonard Cohen with a rhythm track supplied by The Cramps.
Get Off! is sure to get a rise out of any alternative/punk rock fan.

This should be shaken not stirred. Weep, wail, and cry. Shame.
released November 17, 2016
Guitars, Bass, Drums, Vocals - Blair Clark
All songs written by Blair Clark

Before I start this review I want to thank Blair for supporting my blog and sending me his music to review. Blair is a unique and prolific songwriter who plays all the instruments on his original recordings. I must congratulate him for reaching his goal of 10 EP's by the end of this year. Congrats, Blair! I really enjoy listening to Blair's passionate music, he is deserving of positive attention by the music industry.
Shame reminded me of a song from the 50's. I can picture a crowded sock hop swinging and swaying to the slow sexy groove of Shame. Blair's vocal style is full of heartfelt yearning and emotion.
Cry uses musical tension to create a uptempo, dynamic song. Cry conveys feelings of a sad and longing urgency. Cry is a great example of Blair's unique songwriting style.
Broken Heart is the perfect title for a song that is overflowing with sincere sadness and obvious heartache.
Hopeless Holiday's tempo is uplifting and full of great guitar playing. The lyrical content defies the quick tempo reflecting on some truly sad subject matter.
Shame is one of Blair's best efforts to date. If you are not familiar with Blair's music I highly recommend you click on one of the links and check it out.
https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/shame

Hello , Blair Clark released an EP on October 20th called The State I'm In. Bad cops, bad fathers, divorce, all kinds of struggle for all kinds of people. The State I'm In. Blair Clark is a songwriter currently without a home, on his way to California.

The State I'm In review by Joe Tell.
The first track, Cinch, has an alternative sound, reminiscent of the early 90's rock. Blair's vocals sound heartfelt and soulful as always.
The title track, The State I'm In, is a short song with some unique vocal sounds. Blair sings some high falsetto along with his acoustic guitar.
The lyrics for Dirty Cop seem to be a commentary about the daily police shootings that plague our current state of affairs seemingly every day. The lead guitar line that plays throughout the song is tasteful and sounds cool.
Life Is But A Dream sounds like a country song with a new wave edge.
https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/the-state-im-in

Hello , I'm Blair Clark my current EP is called Is Love and Fuss Trouble and Cuss. Is Love Coming Back kinda reminds me of Burt Bacharach, not the music or the words just the feel. I'm certain if he would punch me if he heard this. I'm a songwriter currently without a home, on my way to California in Oct. My last band was an americana band called the Sills. I walked away from that band last year and now I'm recording EPs. This is my 7th EP this year, the goal is 10 by December.
Thanks for listening - Blair Clark

Love and Fuss Trouble and Cuss review by Joe Tell.
First off, the title of Blair's latest release, Love and Trouble Trouble and Cuss is just a great title.
Is Love Coming Back has a rather sad and melancholy feel. The lyrics tell the story of lonely feelings and the void that is created by a love that has gone away.
Long Way Around somehow manages to sound even sadder than the last track. The slow tempo and the vocals convey a feeling of a love gone awry. Any song that makes you feel something inside is a great song and this song certainly has that quality.
Fair Carnival has a much happier go-lucky sound, reminding me of the good times a weekend visit to an amusement park promises.
CooCoo is about the effects a love affair sometimes has on a person, seemingly driving them crazy.
Call It Love is a stripped down acoustic guitar/vocal song that has Blair's vocals moving up and down in a lonesome timbre. Once again Blair's vocal delivery conveys the feelings of a love affair that has gone awry and the lonely longing that takes over.
https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/love-and-fuss-and-trouble-and-cuss

Do No Good is a sadness EP. It concerns the everyday sadness and special event sadness, last years tour difficulties. I added Shop! cause it just seemed to fit in, wrote for underculture years ago. The song Do No Good is my fav. The cheesy keyboard makes me smile. Enjoy.

Hello , I'm Blair Clark and I have a EP called Do No Good. It is a darkish low. It's moody. A fine August listen. It will move you around. I'm a songwriter in Madison, my last band was an americana band called the Sills. I walked away from that band last year and now I'm recording EPs. This is my 6th EP this year, the goal is 10 by December. Hope you enjoy, thanks - Blair

Do No Good review by Joe Tell.
The title song Do No Good has a minimalistic music track which allows Blair's vocals to convey a feeling of sad regret.
The Road To Denver has a retro sound reminiscent of original 50's rock and roll. Blair's unique vocals add a new wave edge to punctuate the rock track.
Growing Up In Reverse features one of Blair's most ambitious musical tracks. The staccato rhythm is held together by a moving bass track and Blair's way cool vocal stylings.
Shop! seems to be a commentary on the materialistic based society we live in. The lyrics convey the message that shopping has become more important than taking care of real life issues.
Sad Days is a melancholy track that conveys the feeling of a all consuming sadness that seems to permeate our lives at times.
https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/do-no-good

Blair Clark has released a EP called Look Out!. This should be parked in your garage. It is rock and roll at its lowest. This is Blair Clark's 5th EP this year, the goal is 10 by December.
Hope you enjoy, thanks for listening - Blair.

Look Out! review by Joe Tell.
Blair Clark's new EP Look Out! starts out off with a bang! The title track, Look Out! is a uptempo punk rocker that is sure get your blood pumping. All the impressive performances are done by Blair himself. The guitar solos are exciting and the chorus jumps out of the mix proving that Blair knows how to craft a great sounding rock and roll song.
If You Loved Me continues in the same vein as Look Out! The multi-talented Blair kicks out another great jam that stops and starts with urgent rock energy.
Walking Alone sounds like the songs from Blair's previous EP Take Me Like You Found Me. Blair's vocals convey a lonely longing that is compelling and hard to ignore.
Blair delivers another lo-fi masterpiece with Can't Go On Without You. The sound is reminiscent of early Talking Heads.
Heartbeats is a uptempo garage rocker that sounds like it's going to fall apart any second. By the time the beat is established the song abruptly ends.
Blair Clark soundcloud page https://soundcloud.com/blair-clark-804478008

Blair Clark is a low crooner and a late bloomer. He is a singer songwriter from Madison WI. In 2009 he formed the punk rock band underculture. Two years later he started the band The Sills. The music fused bluegrass and folk with punk rock and rockabilly. They put out two cd's and then Blair walked away in 2015. He is currently recording from his apartment on a smallish 8trk on a 10 EP run. He writes songs from his broken heart and broken head. The music is lean. His June release Take Me Like You Found Me is pop candy. In May he released Demolicious it is delicious lo-fi. You can check out all of his EPs at https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/ The Sills can also be found on bandcamp.

Take Me Like You Found Me review by Joe Tell.
Take Me Like You Found Me is a authentic lo-fi experience the likes of which haven't been heard of since the late 60's. The throwback sound brings to mind all of the coolest bands who were influential in the development of punk and alternative rock. The song has a uplifting tempo which may very well inspire much dancing when played live. Blair's vocals are sweet and soulful, using accents and fluttering tremelo to create a unique singing style.
Come Away With Me would fit right in at any rock and roll dance party. A crowded dance hall full of swaying bodies comes to mind when I listen to this song. A guitar plays in the background and fills in all of the open spaces in the melody perfectly. The vocals convey the feeling of smoldering urgency.
See Saw is a melancholy, yet very melodic, rock and roll song which immediately drew me in. The song has a laid back feel yet still manages to sound strong with it's outstanding lead guitar hooks. Blair Clark's sad vocal tones convey the mood and set the tone for the song. See Saw is my newest, favorite song and the best song on Take Me Like You Found Me.
Silver Bells has the feel of late 50's rock and roll rave up. The descending guitar chords help create the mood with a fantastic, jingly jangly Fender sound. Pull out your old leather and slick your hair back before you listen is highly recommended. Bum a cigarette off your buddy to complete the picture.
Ithaca closes out Take Me Like You Found Me is style. Blair's influences can be heard on this track. Traces of Lou Reed, David Bowie and Iggy Pop can be heard in Blair's heartfelt vocal delivery.
https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/take-me-like-you-found-me

Everybody has a sexy side. This is mine. https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/demolicious
Demolicious released May 19, 2016
Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, and Drum Machine -Blair Clark
Words and Music by Blair Clark

Songs for the Sills. When I walked away from the Sills, we had a songs that were never recorded. These are a few. https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/no-sills-no-sale
No Sills No Sale released April 21, 2016
Guitars, Bass, Drums, Xylophone and Vocals - Blair Clark
Recorded at Home on tiny 8 track recorder

Ring A Bell released February 15, 2016 https://blairclarkbc.bandcamp.com/album/ring-a-bell
Credits: Blair Clark - guitar, vocals
Leah Brooke - vocals
Todd Phipps - keyboard
Pete Olig - bass
Ken Koeppler - drums
Words and music by Blair Clark, all rights reserved
Recorded and mixed by Ken Koeppler
The Sound Garden studio