Tom Catmull and the Clerics: 2nd opinions

Tom Catmull and the Clerics might be one of Montana’s favorite bands, but they should be one of the country’s favorites as well. Glamour Puss is a nicely done record with blends of roots, rockabilly, and rock all constructed into a great project that is a pleasant surprise to the listener who has likely never heard of these guys. The record rolls smoothly from tunes that are different from each other in style and substance. One tune may sound like the Old 97s and another might sound like something Roger Clyne would do. It is a sure bet these guys spend lots of time listening to lots of good tunes on those long Montana winter nights. This record was a welcome pleasant surprise.

The new record is not so much a departure for Tom and his band, but a big step up and forward. Catmull’s songwriting has always been top notch, it is just better this time around. The sound of the recording is improved (it was recorded at Club Schmed Studios in Missoula, and mixed in Seattle at the Imperial Room); hell, the band just sounds better, period.

Enter Glamour Puss, where the first song out of the chute signals an album with balls. “Change Your Mind” is a gritty, bluesy shuffle propelled by Travis Yost’s crisp drumming and John Sporman’s popping doghouse bass. Catmull’s AM-radio vocal is supple and understated, adding just a hint of menace to the song.

The real star of Glamour Puss, though, is Gibson Hartwell’s stellar electric guitar work. Muscular in some places, twangy in others, pretty when it needs to be, his playing is always articulate and sure-handed. Happily, he gets to cut loose more than ever on this album. It rocks.

Mixing styles and substance with a decidedly quirky view of life, Catmull has clearly continued his upward arc as a songwriter, and his band feels and sounds most excellent.

These guys are damn good! KTHX listeners may remember the early days of X-radio and all those great Hacienda shows with a young Robert Earl Keen...that's the kind of energy and fun that Tom Catmull and the Clerics bring to mind. Throw in a bit of Todd Snider, Will Kimbrough, some touches of Jerry Jeff and mix that with some wry wit like Tom Waits and Dan Hicks...very tasty! Plus...talking with Tom and the band...they are genuine good guys with great attitudes...You'll be hearing a lot of them on the show!

This album has more of a country feel than Catmull' s previous releases, but I mean authentic, traditional country. Not that plastic, soft-rock ringtone bait they' re churning out these days in Nashvegas. Right from the first listen, TC&C is polished, confident, and achieves a consistent level of musical and lyrical poise, yet is as comfy and easygoing as an old leather jacket. It' s tasty. It' s chewy. Hell, by the fourth song, you want to spread cream cheese on the damn thing and eat it.

"Fans of
country-rock, folk and just plain good music will testify to these
Clerics."

Tom Catmull straddles genres like a bow-legged cowboy on a mountain bike. Too mellow for a rocker, too enamoured of the pedal steel guitar for a folk musician, and not nearly twangy enough to be called a proper country crooner, Catmull probably won't ever find a natural home for his music on today's intensely sub-genrefied radio dial.

But to his fans - who number plenty around western Montana - the ambiguity of Catmull's musical identity is probably exactly the point of his appeal.