Los Angeles – There is a certain art to perfecting a break-up record; it is a fine line to tread between emotional, heartfelt catharsis and over-the-top bitterness and resentment. While the finality of a failed relationship can cause an artist to reach deep into the accompanying well of misery, unpleasant feelings also have a tendency to lead to over-emoting, generic songwriting, and a lack of quality control. Unfortunately for Shannon Shaw and Cody Blanchard, the two main figures behind Oakland, CA based retro-punks Shannon And The Clams, the finality of a terminated relationship and the hopelessness of a doomed one were readily available inspiration for Gone by the Dawn (Hardly Art).
Fortunately for music fans, the two songwriters have once again created an expertly crafted LP. At times the record’s gloomy motif is hidden in plain sight behind a veneer of melody that is a staple of the band’s trademark update-on-the-50’s punk ‘n roll. Shaw (bass/vocals) and Blanchard (guitar/vocals) are joined by drummer and keyboardist Nate Mayhem, providing their fans with emotional tracks that are as enjoyable alone with headphones as they are at crowded summer music festivals.
Speaking of music festivals, Shannon And The Clams have played a lot of them; Best New Bands last caught up with the band as they performed at Psych Fest in Austin in 2014.
The signposts of a break-up record are littered all over this release, from naming the record Gone By The Dawn, to the track listing features songs like “I Will Miss The Jasmine”, “It’s Too Late,” and “You Let Me Rust”. The first lines of “Baby Blue” are all one needs to hear to understand the record’s vibe: “My baby blue / Doesn’t love you / He loves no one / My baby blue / I wish I knew / Where your heart had gone” and “When you see his eyes again / Please take a look for me / Cause there’s nothing in his eyes for me”.
The album’s centerpiece and most affecting track is the first single “Corvette”. The verse creeps along like a Del Shannon-penned murder ballad performed in an echo chamber. The chorus is one for the ages; Shaw’s husky lead vocals, Blanchard’s scratchy doo-wop backing vocals, and an unforgettable guitar riff all battle for supremacy in the mix. Sonny Smith of Sonny and the Sunsets was behind the board for Gone by the Dawn and his unique style is sprinkled throughout the album. The fade-in of “I Will Miss the Jasmine” is a nice production touch to open up the record, with a sweeping, muted guitar figure and squiggling keyboard lines.
“Telling Myself” continues the break-up theme, though its peppy shout-along chorus is surely to be a favorite at live shows. It should come as no surprise considering the song title, but the late-album track “Knock ‘em Dead” could very well be Shannon And The Clams’ most aggressive song to date. The song begins with a no-frills, bass-driven Stooges-style verse riff before transitioning into the chanted chorus of “I am nothing / You are nothing / We are nothing”. “Point of Being Right” is a catchy early album track that hides complex emotions under a bouncy beat and a melodic chorus.
While within each album there is a great diversity of 50’s and 60’s influenced punk/surf/garage tunes, from album to album Shannon And The Clams do not venture too far from that formula. The songwriters’ focus on their recently dissolved loves gives Gone By The Dawn a strong theme that prevents it from feeling at all like a retread of their previous work. The band has always been known for writing songs about love and loss, but musically and lyrically they take to a whole new level with this release.
Shannon And The Clams will take their act on the road throughout the fall, with dates in nearly every corner of the United States, Eastern Canada, the United Kingdom, and continental Europe. Check out the band’s Facebook page for more information.
Shannon And The Clams photo by Nadia Lee Cohen.
Matt Matasci
Latest posts by Matt Matasci (see all)
- The Shelters Perfects Rock and Roll at Bardot - June 30, 2016
- Featured Artist: The Shelters - June 8, 2016
- Andrew Bird Charms Los Angeles with Fiona Apple - May 18, 2016
