Clutch is by far the most coolest of all bands to ever surface from the spooge of sub-human tyranny. I found them for myself almost 6 yrs ago, and havent heard or seen another group who clings to my psychci as they have....they are a gift.
@psyckla5 Tool is Cool, no dowt abowtit! I need music "with-in whistlen' distance," and CLUTCH seems to know your sposta come home when the street lights come on. They know about the gnarled southern spirit and describe a life I recognize. Obsessed- I feel like CLUTCH happened only in my world. And to think, spacegrass was the first song ever i heard. I thought it sucked. But i gave it a 2nd hearen. then a 3rd..then hooked for life. I'll almost listen to nothing else.
Man this song brings back memories... I got jumped and the shit kicked out of me lol but i could still hear a great song during the ass kicking and for that.. Good Times
Dammit, everytime I turn around I find another Clutch album I have to buy! I'm not complaining. Thrilled really. Just, damn, what else am I missing out on?
Is it just me.. or is Neil Fallon gettin' lazy? Remember all those kick arse lyrics he used to write; "Back again with a quickness, pick it up, pick it up.
Master arithmeticness, light it up, light it up.
I got the heat in both seats, snake handler's hands.
Come back with slickness and do it all again."
I really miss that Clutch.. all the songs sound like they're off "Robot Hive" now.. This makes me sad.. :(
@horrormonger No one has to agree with my opinion.. I wasn't stating a fact. The fact of the matter is, I don't think their songs are as good as they used to be.. You obviously don't agree with that.. No need to be such an arsehole about it though..
@ItsYourBlood I'm with you, man. This album is a little better than Beale Street (too tragic for me to listen to), but OK isn't good enough from Clutch, at least not for me.
Whoa, I just got into some old Clutch (Impetus, Shogun Named Marcus etc.) and now I hear Neil's voice! I know its been around 15 years but WHOA! Shogun to this! Haha thats pretty cool
Also, Neil talks about the meaning of the song in an interview. The video is on Youtube. Search 'clutch interview neil fallon' by MoreMetalDotCom. He doesn't talk about it until about 6:04, but he does explain the meaning of the album's name, and this song.
It's very easy to assume it's about what's going on in the Middle East right now. Even though the Minotaur is a Greek myth and not from the Middle East, but the Mediterranean.
However, if you want to go that route, it could very easily be about Hippies.
@Hodgemanx13x I think it has to do with how we consume and never are satisfied til we take it all. And then there will be nothing left. Strange Cousins From The West . . . Native Americans, perhaps? It sounds like it has to do with manifest destiny, also.
The album cover itself depicts the band's name in faux-Arabic characters, and the cover art depicts a saguaro cactus (US, perhaps specifically texas) on the left, and what appears to be the Dome of the Rock on the right.
Strange Cousins from the west= Coalition in the Middle east. Minotaur= the Minotaur of minos consumed sacrifices, but at a fixed rate; the "Minotaur" of the middle eastern conflicts simply requires more, and more, and more human fodder. Most of the song goes into detail about the power plays and workings of the conflict.
Actually I think this song expresses a position that is full bore against socialism.
The first verse paints the picture of a corrupt, godless society run by a select group of politicians. The labyrinth is a medaphor for the city or urbanism as a whole. The minotaur is urbanism/socialism. The massive wheel is the government.
The second verse is the cry from a "hopeless" citizen crying foul and excusing his circumstance.
The third verse is a sarcastic claim to a social service (healthcare, welfare, etc). The circumstance is unexpected and cannot wait. The recipient thanks you and promises to return the favor (pay in to the system so you can take from it later). In a traditional system, one turns to ones family in an emergency (family, friends, church, philanthropies). In a socialist system, that is replaced by the collective (government programs). Therefore everyone is your "family."
The strange cousins from the west are those who disagree with this system. Currently the US is the least socialized of all large "western" countries. Europe is the highest concentration of socialized nations. Americans are the strange cousins.
In a socialist system you always need more payers to support he masses. This song pretty much mirrors Ayn Rand in saying that in a socialist system, "...eventually you run out of other peoples' money." The minotaur always needs more.
Well man, with all due respect, I'm sixteen, and to be perfectly honest, it hurts my brain to consider that. Neil wrote the mob goes wild after watching 30 mins of tv, and it doesn't make the song any less good. I see your point but why not just enjoy the song?
@ijf18c on the other hand in a capitalistic system the poor and weak people or those that have noone to help them in their time of need, have no chance of servival or prosperity unless they' re willing to make their way to success over dead bodies. Those who come from a wealthy familly make smart moves stay wealthy. In a capitalistic system you have a minotaur in every home. It's the way of the jungle and thats what the US actually is.
Well, officernarc had the obvious answer. I was looking for the less obvious answer. Figured it may be something like that. Rather interesting that it'd be a female that would play the song, though.
right on.....such a sick and true line. This album is truly a classic embedded with tons of blues rock and sick lyrics! suspicious kith and unkind kin! fuckin right brother!
Self titled is my all time favorite too, but that's hard to say since I love so much of the other albums start to finish, in fact it's hard to say elephant riders is not the best, and songs like the regulator and other blast tyrant songs, robot hive and beale street, this topic is hurting my brain
its strange to say but I agree with you the self titled is my favorate but I do think they get better over time and their new stuff is juat as good but how can that be? House Peter built and the Body of John Wilks Booth are my favorate songs but Prothets of Doom, 10,000 wittneses, The Rapure of Riddly Walker, and Never be Moved are just as great in their own way. This is not typical music this is even more then a cut above everyhting. I find myself very exited about a new Clutch CD.
i feel ya....but seriously, i am a history major in college with a nine year old son and could seriously make a case for track 4 to teach kids about abraham lincoln. My son loves rock and its his favorite track and it gave me a chance to share the assassination story. dorky you may say, but in my free time i can get stoned and jam and with same track explain to my son history???? wtf? Clutch = American rock and roll and solid good times.
ALTERNATIVE RIFF IN YOUR FACE
ihaveallseeingeyes 8 months ago
Clutch is by far the most coolest of all bands to ever surface from the spooge of sub-human tyranny. I found them for myself almost 6 yrs ago, and havent heard or seen another group who clings to my psychci as they have....they are a gift.
UnkleAlbert 9 months ago 2
@UnkleAlbert what about tool?
psyckla5 7 months ago
@psyckla5 Tool is Cool, no dowt abowtit! I need music "with-in whistlen' distance," and CLUTCH seems to know your sposta come home when the street lights come on. They know about the gnarled southern spirit and describe a life I recognize. Obsessed- I feel like CLUTCH happened only in my world. And to think, spacegrass was the first song ever i heard. I thought it sucked. But i gave it a 2nd hearen. then a 3rd..then hooked for life. I'll almost listen to nothing else.
UnkleAlbert 7 months ago 2
@UnkleAlbert tool is cool but clutch have the touch
johnbad1000 1 month ago
i agree one of their best albums!!!
Telamonfan123 9 months ago
Man this song brings back memories... I got jumped and the shit kicked out of me lol but i could still hear a great song during the ass kicking and for that.. Good Times
bookreading4idiots 9 months ago
Clutch couldn't be any more amazing and the fact that theyre so unheard of is so strange to me...
mynameispolak 9 months ago
fuckin awesome! love the new album!
mahasiah01 10 months ago
Dammit, everytime I turn around I find another Clutch album I have to buy! I'm not complaining. Thrilled really. Just, damn, what else am I missing out on?
ThatRoachBoy 1 year ago
Is it just me.. or is Neil Fallon gettin' lazy? Remember all those kick arse lyrics he used to write; "Back again with a quickness, pick it up, pick it up.
Master arithmeticness, light it up, light it up.
I got the heat in both seats, snake handler's hands.
Come back with slickness and do it all again."
I really miss that Clutch.. all the songs sound like they're off "Robot Hive" now.. This makes me sad.. :(
ItsYourBlood 1 year ago
@ItsYourBlood The hell are you talking about? Clutch is as good as ever.
DecimusValerius1 1 year ago
@DecimusValerius1 In YOUR opinion they're still as good as ever.. and as a band, they are as good as they always were.. but their songs are shit now.
ItsYourBlood 1 year ago
@ItsYourBlood Yeah, and I wonder how many people out there actually agree with YOUR shitty opinion...
horrormonger 1 year ago
@horrormonger No one has to agree with my opinion.. I wasn't stating a fact. The fact of the matter is, I don't think their songs are as good as they used to be.. You obviously don't agree with that.. No need to be such an arsehole about it though..
ItsYourBlood 1 year ago
@ItsYourBlood I don't know man, I like all of their stuff. Minotaur is one of my favourites on this album. Great song.
Rambowjo2 1 year ago
@ItsYourBlood I'm with you, man. This album is a little better than Beale Street (too tragic for me to listen to), but OK isn't good enough from Clutch, at least not for me.
electricpigeon28 9 months ago
Soo Awesome !
ltraindm 1 year ago
HAPPY 420 all you mothers from different cousins
NEOPEAKOIL 1 year ago 2
Whoa, I just got into some old Clutch (Impetus, Shogun Named Marcus etc.) and now I hear Neil's voice! I know its been around 15 years but WHOA! Shogun to this! Haha thats pretty cool
SweatyDinosaurMask 2 years ago
Also, Neil talks about the meaning of the song in an interview. The video is on Youtube. Search 'clutch interview neil fallon' by MoreMetalDotCom. He doesn't talk about it until about 6:04, but he does explain the meaning of the album's name, and this song.
Hodgemanx13x 2 years ago
It's very easy to assume it's about what's going on in the Middle East right now. Even though the Minotaur is a Greek myth and not from the Middle East, but the Mediterranean.
However, if you want to go that route, it could very easily be about Hippies.
Hodgemanx13x 2 years ago
@Hodgemanx13x I think it has to do with how we consume and never are satisfied til we take it all. And then there will be nothing left. Strange Cousins From The West . . . Native Americans, perhaps? It sounds like it has to do with manifest destiny, also.
strutnoodle 2 years ago
The album cover itself depicts the band's name in faux-Arabic characters, and the cover art depicts a saguaro cactus (US, perhaps specifically texas) on the left, and what appears to be the Dome of the Rock on the right.
FullContactCMA 2 years ago
@FullContactCMA The band's name is designed like that on their 1995 Self titled album. The one with the view of Earth from the Moon.
Hodgemanx13x 2 years ago
Strange Cousins from the west= Coalition in the Middle east. Minotaur= the Minotaur of minos consumed sacrifices, but at a fixed rate; the "Minotaur" of the middle eastern conflicts simply requires more, and more, and more human fodder. Most of the song goes into detail about the power plays and workings of the conflict.
FullContactCMA 2 years ago
so fucking great song
ph1llyblunt19 2 years ago
This song highlights both sides of the capitalism/socialism conflict.
The first part sets the scene, the second part cites the flaw in a capitalist system, the last cites the flaw in a socialist system.
Americans are the strange cousins from the west
ijf18c 2 years ago 25
Care to elaborate...?
DEEVIOUS1S 2 years ago
Actually I think this song expresses a position that is full bore against socialism.
The first verse paints the picture of a corrupt, godless society run by a select group of politicians. The labyrinth is a medaphor for the city or urbanism as a whole. The minotaur is urbanism/socialism. The massive wheel is the government.
The second verse is the cry from a "hopeless" citizen crying foul and excusing his circumstance.
ijf18c 2 years ago
The third verse is a sarcastic claim to a social service (healthcare, welfare, etc). The circumstance is unexpected and cannot wait. The recipient thanks you and promises to return the favor (pay in to the system so you can take from it later). In a traditional system, one turns to ones family in an emergency (family, friends, church, philanthropies). In a socialist system, that is replaced by the collective (government programs). Therefore everyone is your "family."
ijf18c 2 years ago
The strange cousins from the west are those who disagree with this system. Currently the US is the least socialized of all large "western" countries. Europe is the highest concentration of socialized nations. Americans are the strange cousins.
In a socialist system you always need more payers to support he masses. This song pretty much mirrors Ayn Rand in saying that in a socialist system, "...eventually you run out of other peoples' money." The minotaur always needs more.
ijf18c 2 years ago
Well man, with all due respect, I'm sixteen, and to be perfectly honest, it hurts my brain to consider that. Neil wrote the mob goes wild after watching 30 mins of tv, and it doesn't make the song any less good. I see your point but why not just enjoy the song?
KsFBlastTyrant 2 years ago 2
Are you unable to learn? If so, you'll end up on the public dole and the rest of us will have to pay for you. Get your shit together soon buddy.
MrBasilGanglia 2 years ago
@ijf18c on the other hand in a capitalistic system the poor and weak people or those that have noone to help them in their time of need, have no chance of servival or prosperity unless they' re willing to make their way to success over dead bodies. Those who come from a wealthy familly make smart moves stay wealthy. In a capitalistic system you have a minotaur in every home. It's the way of the jungle and thats what the US actually is.
silentcorer 2 years ago
@silentcorer You must have shitty friends if no one would be there to help you.
FunnelHead12 1 year ago
@ijf18c
colmonic 1 year ago
@ijf18c just my thoughts.
CrveniGavran 1 year ago
A. it's her, lmao, and B. we were reading about the minotaur in greek mythology. and of course my teacher kicks ass.
xCSxGUITARx 2 years ago
Well, officernarc had the obvious answer. I was looking for the less obvious answer. Figured it may be something like that. Rather interesting that it'd be a female that would play the song, though.
SymbioteIII 2 years ago
i meant i was female, lol.
xCSxGUITARx 2 years ago
Oh. Well, yeah. I misread. Sorry. Lol.
SymbioteIII 2 years ago
not a problem. =)
xCSxGUITARx 2 years ago
Wow..... HAHAHAHAHA I'm learning about this shit too, ftw. and theres a chance that symbiotelll should go back to school for a while
KsFBlastTyrant 2 years ago
we listened to this in my english class today i love it
xCSxGUITARx 2 years ago
Not that you shouldn't listen to this song in your English class, that's awesome--but, why did your English class listen to this song?
SymbioteIII 2 years ago
because his teacher kicks ass, obviously.
officernarc 2 years ago
Get to see them next friday. Should be kickass
spiggotblister 2 years ago
....are they freemasons?
FuzzyNugs420 2 years ago
fate is the idiot's excuse ... freedom is the sucker's dream ...
IRISHprik411 2 years ago 21
right on.....such a sick and true line. This album is truly a classic embedded with tons of blues rock and sick lyrics! suspicious kith and unkind kin! fuckin right brother!
Greydjinn 2 years ago
@IRISHprik411 a wise man once said....
weathermaker91 7 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@IRISHprik411 So what do you believe?
SuperWickedRed 3 months ago
@IRISHprik411 I guess each person is just another brick in the wall
LiceeanulZburator 2 months ago
Self titled is my all time favorite too, but that's hard to say since I love so much of the other albums start to finish, in fact it's hard to say elephant riders is not the best, and songs like the regulator and other blast tyrant songs, robot hive and beale street, this topic is hurting my brain
haasermark 2 years ago
This is good, but nothing compares to the self titled album. I would probably say that is my all time favorite album by any band.
ClutchFan1971 2 years ago
its strange to say but I agree with you the self titled is my favorate but I do think they get better over time and their new stuff is juat as good but how can that be? House Peter built and the Body of John Wilks Booth are my favorate songs but Prothets of Doom, 10,000 wittneses, The Rapure of Riddly Walker, and Never be Moved are just as great in their own way. This is not typical music this is even more then a cut above everyhting. I find myself very exited about a new Clutch CD.
AL3XTH3LARG3 2 years ago
rock and roll outlaw, tight like that, basket of eggs, and regulators.
swollengoat906 2 years ago
i feel ya....but seriously, i am a history major in college with a nine year old son and could seriously make a case for track 4 to teach kids about abraham lincoln. My son loves rock and its his favorite track and it gave me a chance to share the assassination story. dorky you may say, but in my free time i can get stoned and jam and with same track explain to my son history???? wtf? Clutch = American rock and roll and solid good times.
Greydjinn 2 years ago
i couldnt agree more, i listen to the whole or at least part of that cd every day, best album EVER.
swollengoat906 2 years ago
hey neil loved the show in dallas did you see that kid rockin out on center balcony
clutchfan88 2 years ago
I wanted to drive down from Pryor Creak Oklahoma so bad. Whats 6 hours to see Clutch? Nothing but a great time. Sorry I missed it.
AL3XTH3LARG3 2 years ago
Definately a sick song. Clutch comes through once again! Whats up with the masonic handshake on the cover though?
Dubfx316 2 years ago
"Strange cousins from the west overstay their welcome
Peculiar manner and strange dress
Who will ever dare to tell them?"
Lichtor 2 years ago
One of the best songs from the latest album, Strange Cousins from the West. Amazing riffs.
SymbioteIII 2 years ago