Album Review: Gary Clark, Jr – This Land (Warner Bros)

Gary Clark Jr is pissed off. And that anger serves as the driving force on his latest album…one that finds the Texas guitar-slinger focusing on songs rather than shredding.

The opening title track sets the tone for the whole record. He’s “paranoid and pissed off” after an encounter with a racist neighbour, but then seems to direct his anger to a wider audience as he rants, “Fuck you! I’m America’s son, this is where I come from”, then taking a page from Woody Guthrie with, “this land is mine!”

Its an emotional opening salvo that seems to come from out of the blue. Previously, Clark has been happy to show off his guitar playing chops causing many to draw a line from him back through Stevie Ray Vaughn and to Hendrix.

But Clark has bigger fish to fry.

This Land should make anyone who hears it sit up, take notice and realize that Gary Clark Jr is an artist who want to be taken seriously.

The next track, What About Us, furthers Clark’s argument. Interpolated from an old King Curtis jam, Clark still sounds angry, but funky as well. He takes on a Prince-style vocal approach while singing, “There goes the neighbourhood, one way or another”. And don’t worry, guitar fans, Clark fires off exhilarating solos during both tracks.

The ambitious 15-song album finds Clark rummaging through a crateful of classic black American records, finding bits that suit his own style.

There’s a taste of Stevie Wonder in the soulful I Got My Eyes On You, a dash of Curtis Mayfield during Feed The Babies, even some Chuck Berry guitar riffs…sped up to punk pace…on the thrilling Gotta Get Into Something.

Along the way, Clark touches on reggae (Feelin’ Like A Million), pop (The Guitar Man), and of course the blues (The Governor).

But through it all he sings in a voice that his uniquely his own.

Gary Clark Jr plays almost every instrument (he gets some help from Sheila E and Mike Elizondo) and writes practically every song here. One gets the feeling that this is finally his time and he is ready to claim it.

Now, stand back, ‘cause Gary Clark Jr has had about enough.

Marty Duda