We've also had some great press reviews of the new EP written up stateside and over in ol' Ireland! Thank you so much to the authors/reviewers and we look forward to hearing more so please send em our way at clattylads@gmail.com. Check out The Anglo Celt review:
"Virginia exile turns his hand to authentic Americana"
By: Damian McCarney
May 2012
The Anglo Celt - Cavan, Ireland
The most surprising aspect of the authentic, feel-good Americana served up in The Clatty Lads’ first eP is that their frontman hails from Virginia. No doubt singer Adrian Sharkey’s influence is all over the New York band’s musical output (and definitely the name) but it will take a keen ear to locate a hint of european let alone Irish, or less still Cavan fingerprints on this eponymous five-track.
You’re basically swept off in a convertible Cadillac speed- ing along a sun-drenched Route 66 or some equivalent hollywood movie scene deep in the Irish psyche, such is the State-centric flavour of the tunes. This shouldn’t be read as criticism – it’s truly a refreshing sound.
That’s not to say Sharkey puts on an American accent (in speaking there’s no hiding his roots); he offers strong, clean vocals full of character on the rockier numbers, while a slower track requiring world-weary vocals is left to fellow Clatty Lad, Josh Patch. Musically the six piece have a bank-balance swelling ear for melody, and this accessibility is already drawing a lot of at- tention in New York with live performances on national TV and radio.
Soft rock number Left To Be Nothing is arguably the highlight of this slick, professional eP. Lyrically it may dip towards the morose, but the guitars (Patch/David Yesner) charging through the chorus and oh-oh refrain are hugely uplifting.
Rhythmically the lads are far from clatty - drummer Chris Mintiens and bassist Justin Brewer are superbly understated, always throwing in variations, rewarding repeat listens.
Opener, A Shade Further Grey, is a Ryan Adams-style upbeat number complete with hand claps and Matt Knapp’s superb pedal steel guitar. Its infectious melody has a feel good chorus like John Cougar’s Jack and Diane where it demands the listener to sing along, and just like that ‘80s classic you can’t make out the lyrics either. It’s not hard to imagine how well this number goes down live.
A brace of country flavoured numbers, laced with generous measures of liquor and regret, slacken the pace. Neither ‘Never Lonely On Tomorrow’ (“I pick up the bottle/drink away my sorrows... No more tears/I just drank a couple dozen beers ”) or the sombre Six Pack of Tears with mournful slide and Patch’s harmonica would be recommended listening for Alcoholics Anonymous members. On the other hand, broken-hearted barflies weeping into their pints will be in their element.
‘The Day That I’ brings sees The Clatty Lads revert to their anthemic best – it’s the kind of tune that could accompany the climax of a coming of age American dramas where the geek ends up with the girl and is befriended by the jocks who’ve a new found sensitivity and everyone feels invincible. Anyway it’s one of those life- affirming songs that’s impossible not to like.
Surely The Clatty Lads are destined to make some sort of breakthrough. See for yourself by logging onto http://theclattylads.com/ where you can buy the EP and/or avail of the free download of A Shade Further Grey.
We are also honored to have reviewed by Jayson Berray once more on his music blog "Here's What I Meant By That". Please see the review here:
http://jaysonberray.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/the-clatty-lads/
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