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Album Review

Jim Clements and the Right to Die
When the Saints Go

Article written by Matt H - Jan 19, 2008

The title of the opening track, Razors in the Soap, is a neat summation of Jim Clements’ songwriting. Just as with his first album Kill Devil Hills, what makes it a little bit special is the barbs and bitterly lyrical turns of phrase that jut out what is otherwise stout-hearted, rolling country rock. Here there’s also fine violins and musical saws adding odd texture and punctuation to the sliding guitars and bar room rhythms.

So while Clements' voice is still a bit too nasal to entirely warm to, it’s not hard kick back and enjoy his craft. From the slowly built sinister oddness of the Bottom Feeders whose protagonist has a “noose-swing in [her] step”, through the flash of stiletto which has St Christopher casually observing “they’re sure gonna miss me when there ain’t no fluid in their brakes”, to the rather magnificent duet Visions of Jehovah, where Clements' hairshirt-sporting Christian rails against the unfairness of his irreligious consort having God appear to her far too regularly for her own liking. And, yes, he makes play with When the Saints Go Marching In - in a way not entirely dissimilar to what fellow vocally-challenged troubadour, Conor Oberst, did with Ode to Joy a couple of years back.

As with Kill Devil Hills not quite every song hits the mark, but most do, and in a part of the musical world where honesty and straightforwardness are rated far too highly, there’s easily enough twisted cleverness on display here to celebrate and enjoy.

Links:
http://www.jimclementsandtherighttodie.com

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