So why is Clutch’s Psychic Warfare on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
This here best 1,000 albums ever project has been so interesting in so many ways, and one of them is that it keeps pushing me out of my comfort zone.
Indeed, in just the last few pieces, we’ve pivoted from the heavy themes and incredible roots reggae of Burning Spear’s Marcus Garvey to the elegant, vibraphones-flavored jazz of Milt Jackson, the Thelonious Monk Quintet and crew.
And now here with Psychic Warfare, we have tight-as-a-drum, chugging, thunderous, and gloriously aggressive metal. I’d never describe myself as a “metal guy,” but there truly is great music to be found in every genre, and metal has many wonders and flavors to be explored.
The best overall song on the album is “X-Ray Visions,” which almost demands you go out and beg, borrow, or steal some kind of muscle car – even if it’s via Grand Theft Auto – hit the open road (virtual or IRL) and turn this sucker up. The video is really fun, too.
The more I listen to it, the more impressed I am by the interplay of the melody and the truly terrific metal hooks.
My second favorite song, “Firebirds,” actually has the best chorus on the album, and I mean it’s just fantastic. Also, the music video goes next level. It’s worth checking out just for its weirdo Barbarella retro-futuristic vibe.
There are many other good songs on Psychic Warfare, but I’ll leave off with “Your Love Is Incarceration,” which stays plenty heavy, but shows off a funky metal groove that works very nicely. Also, great song title.
This album also sounds like
I’d love to hear what others think about this one, but I’ll go for a mix of Pantera and Sepultura, a dusting of Supersuckers, and a large dose of the desert-rumbling metal of Kyuss.
Pop culture stuff that’s somehow related to Clutch’s Psychic Warfare
If you’ve ever wondered why Jane Fonda became Jane Fonda, the deeply trippy, wildly uneven, cheeseball sci fi sex romp Barbarella from 1968 is a big reason why.
It’s… it’s not good. But if you want a slice of “oh wow, this is where Hollywood went off the rails and/or was enjoying a great many illegal substances or something” experience, it’s worth checking out. Maybe. Honestly though, Clutch’s “Firebirds” video (see above) might be a better, far more concise time.
And, bonus, Barbarella’s “special effects” make Flash Gordon look like Inception.
Yet another great thing about this best albums ever project? It allows me to randomly dunk on movies that hit theaters over half a century ago!
Some stats & info about Clutch – Psychic Warfare
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Metal, Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Rock, Funky Metal
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – not ranked!
- All Music’s rating – 3.5 out of 5 stars
- When was Psychic Warfare released?
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #981 out of 1,000
Clutch’s Psychic Warfare on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Clutch’s Psychic Warfare that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
Telekinetic dynamite! Psychic warfare is real!
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective take on what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.