Artist: Clutch
Title: Jam Room
File Under: Experimental side session
Grade: 9
As cool as the uncoolness of Phish.

If it weren't for fucking Biohazard opening for every God damned show I go to, Clutch would be the band I've seen live most often. The last time I went to see them, two interesting things happened. 1) The friend that went with me said, "These guys are like the metal version of Phish." Naturally, I beat the shit out of him. 2) I found this album at the merch table, the title of which unfortunately supported the theory of my now shitless friend.

Regardless, Jam Room has now become my favorite Clutch album, and that's saying a lot. According to the roadie, they recorded it with extra time they had left over from their major label debut, The Elephant Riders (another excellent album). They used this time to let it all hang out. Jam Room is eclectic work from an already unpredictable band, and truly Clutch at their finest. If you're not into Clutch, this may not be the place to start, but it's still a hell of a lot better than a Biohazard/Phish double bill.

Fagatron 2093 says: Always take a chance at the merch table.