THE SLEEVE NOTES announce that “this record ain’t country, like Lyle Lovett and Steve Earle ain’t country.” It does, however, have a wealth of signifyin’ guitar twang, harp wail and high lonesome holler, enough to make it a credible bid in the No Depression sweepstakes.
Clyne, who’s blessed with a sweetly pitched warble that seems to quiver from self-doubt one minute and Dutch courage the next, spins believable travelogues of road-side epiphanies and barroom light revelations. His ace band, which includes former members of the Gin Blossoms, Dead Hot Workshop and Clyne’s previous outfit The Refreshments, has a deft touch, marrying old-school country-ish motifs to jangly power-pop raveups. And the combination works–“Tow Chain” and “Beautiful Disaster” are surging rock anthems to die for, while the shanty-like ballad “Green And Dumb” and the twangy shuffle “Tell Yer Momma” beam with an irresistible roots-rock vibe.
While not a perfect set–the title seems an unfortunate choice, and a few moments (the talking Leon Redbone-ish blues of “Jack Vs. Jose,” the forced interstellar lyrical conceits of “My Heart Is A UFO”) come off as hokey and gimmicky–this is an impressive debut that bodes extremely well for the future. And, as the admittedly charismatic Clyne has been anointed by Phoenix media as the hands-down best live performer in the Valley, it’s a safe bet that he’ll last longer than his erstwhile combo, which unceremoniously crashed and burned amid internal friction, major-label indifference and a general dimming of Tempe’s once-vaunted Mill Avenue scene. Welcome back, sir.
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2000.