Weekly Release Spotlight: Shannon And The Clams
Posted on 5/03/2011
Shannon And The Clams
Sleep Talk
[1-2-3-4 Go!]
Sleep Talk
[1-2-3-4 Go!]
Few people can pull off a satin French maid's uniform. But if you can belt it like Shannon and the Clam's Shannon Shaw, clothing doesn't really matter. The Clam's second full length release, Sleep Talk out on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records is solid spin after spin- and this is definitely an album that you put on repeat. The beauty of the Clams is their ability to embody the spirit of the 50s soulful doo-wop and rockabilly garage-thrash seamlessly. Shaw let's her wide vocal range amaze and awe audiences while guitarist Cody Blanchard's layers his squealing cries to heighten the sensation. There are so many songs on Sleep Talk where Blanchard and Shaw's voices flawlessly crossover, only revealing whose voice is whose when one breaks form with a high pitched squeal.
Title track “Sleep Talk”, which closes the album, dares you not to dance like in the movie Grease for the duration of the song. If you're not doing the twist, it's cause you obviously can't hear the driving force that is Shaw's bassline as Blanchard walks his fingers all over the fretboard and drummer Ian Amberson rides the cymbals as the group powers through the short number. The best thing about a Clams album is that it squeezes in so many songs into an LP that lasts less than 40 minutes- begging to be played over and over again. “You Will Always Bring Me Flowers” shows off Shaw's doo-wop at it's finest, and the rollicking surf guitar makes you feel as if you're hearing The Ronettes mixed with The Stooges.
The true gems of the album include the California thrashing garage punk tracks such as “The Cult Song,” “Toxic Revenge” and personal favorite “King of the Sea.” Out of all the bands that layer on the reverb until they sound as if they’re under the sea, Shannon and the Clams is indeed the ‘King' of the Sea. Sleep Talk offers such a diverse range of incredible impassioned vocal stylings and hip swaying surf treasures, it's no wonder the Clams are starting to really make a splash.
Stream: Shannon And The Clams - “Sleep Talk"