# Earth Rocker > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Earth_Rocker > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Earth_Rocker.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Rocker > Source revision: 1310777952 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox album | name = Earth Rocker | type = studio | artist = [Clutch](/source/Clutch_(band)) | cover = Clutch - Earth Rocker.png | border = yes | alt = | released = {{Start date|2013|3|15}} | recorded = October 2012 | venue = | studio = | genre = [Stoner rock](/source/Stoner_rock), [hard rock](/source/hard_rock), [blues rock](/source/blues_rock) | length = 44:21 | label = [Weathermaker Music](/source/Weathermaker_Music) | producer = Machine | prev_title = [Strange Cousins from the West](/source/Strange_Cousins_from_the_West) | prev_year = 2009 | next_title = [Psychic Warfare](/source/Psychic_Warfare) | next_year = 2015 }} '''''Earth Rocker''''' is the tenth studio album by American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Clutch](/source/Clutch_(band)). It was released on March 15, 2013 by [Weathermaker Music](/source/Weathermaker_Music). ''Earth Rocker'' is the first studio album to be released by Clutch since ''[Strange Cousins from the West](/source/Strange_Cousins_from_the_West)'' in 2009. The album was produced by Machine, who also produced the band's 2004 album ''[Blast Tyrant](/source/Blast_Tyrant)''. ==Background== ''Earth Rocker'' has been described as heavier and faster than the preceding albums. Drummer [J.P. Gaster](/source/Jean-Paul_Gaster) revealed that this ferocity may be attributed to Clutch's recent touring experience with [Motörhead](/source/Mot%C3%B6rhead) and [Thin Lizzy](/source/Thin_Lizzy): {{quote |1="It was on that tour [with Thin Lizzy] that we realized there was really a lack of just straight up rock and roll records coming out these days. So I think we wanted to make something that was, front to back, a very focused kind of a recording. A very efficient kind of recording. One that had good energy from the very beginning to the end."{{cite web|last=Hinch|first=Matt|title=J.P. Gaster of Clutch: The Hellbound Interview|date=March 15, 2013|url=http://www.hellbound.ca/2013/03/j-p-gaster-of-clutch-the-hellbound-interview/|publisher=Hellbound.ca|accessdate=29 March 2013}}}} Clutch recorded 14 songs, although only 11 made it on the album. Frontman [Neil Fallon](/source/Neil_Fallon) expressed the opinion that they were "great songs", but the band was {{quote |1="...committed to keeping this record in classic [LP](/source/LP_record) length...I think there's something to be said about the fact that you've got a side A and side B, and it still translates when you listen to those albums on CD. Whether you're listening to ''[Paranoid](/source/Paranoid_(album))'' or ''[Dark Side of the Moon](/source/The_Dark_Side_of_the_Moon)'', when you listen to the tracks one through ten, there's a bit of a plot arc. I think we were cognizant of that when we were putting this thing together."{{cite web|last=Firecloud|first=Johnny|title=Interview: Neil Fallon of Clutch Talks 'Earth Rocker'|url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/interviews/464119-interview-neil-fallon-of-clutch-talks-earth-rocker|work=CraveOnline|accessdate=7 April 2013}}}} ==Songwriting and recording== The band took a different approach to the songwriting for ''Earth Rocker'' by engaging in extensive pre-production work to flesh out the songs more fully prior to entering the studio. Dan Maines attributed this to the recording preferences of the producer, Machine, who "likes to have all the material in the bag before he hits record." The band recorded to a [click track](/source/click_track) at its rehearsal space and then played along in the studio. As Maines explained, "the idea of doing any 'jamming' doesn't enter the picture. Our intent with these songs was to end up with something that had an intense focus of energy; each song needed to be direct with a no frills punch."{{cite web|last=Hamilton|first=Stephanie|title=Interview: Dan Maines from Clutch on Earth Rocker, Weathermaker Records and the Recording Process|url=http://thesilvertongueonline.com/2013/03/interview-dan-maines-from-clutch-on-earth-rocker-weathermaker-records-and-the-recording-process/|work=The Silver Tongue|date=March 29, 2013|accessdate=April 7, 2013}} This had a cascading effect upon other aspects of the songs, with [Tim Sult](/source/Tim_Sult) noting that the approach resulted in additional soloing: "I would've never expected to be playing as many solos on this album, but they definitely had more of a direction than they usually do. It definitely took a lot more concentration, but I walked away from this album liking them more than I have on any other album."{{cite web|last=Kies|first=Chris|title=CLUTCH Guitarist Talks 'Earth Rocker' In New Interview - Mar. 22, 2013|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=187805|work=Premier Guitar|date=March 22, 2013|accessdate=April 7, 2013}} Neil Fallon opined that the planned songwriting approach resulted from a lack of satisfaction with aspects of previous albums: {{quote|1="In the past, we would go into the studio and write. That never worked out to anyone's satisfaction. It was really important to do a lot of pre-production, knowing exactly what we would be doing when we went into the studio. It was crucial that we did all that prior to hitting 'record'...it was so mapped out that we weren't even in the studio together. You had to take a lot on faith. But once you know a part inside and out, you can move on to worrying about performance. If you're trying to remember it, then you're not playing from the heart - you're playing from the brain. That always sounds stale on playback."}} ==Reception== {{Album reviews | MC=72/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/earth-rocker/clutch|title=Clutch - Earth Rocker|work=[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)|accessdate=April 6, 2013}} |rev1 = [About.com](/source/About.com) |rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Dean|title=Clutch - Earth Rocker review|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/Clutch-Earth-Rocker-Review.htm|publisher=[About.com](/source/About.com)|accessdate=March 29, 2013|date=March 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324055239/http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/Clutch-Earth-Rocker-Review.htm|archive-date=March 24, 2013|url-status=dead}} |rev2 = [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) |rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Heaney|first=Gregory|title=Clutch: Earth Rocker|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/earth-rocker-mw0002485421|publisher=[Allmusic](/source/Allmusic)|accessdate=March 29, 2013}} |rev3 = ''[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)'' |rev3score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Falzon|first=Denise|title=Clutch Earth Rocker|url=http://exclaim.ca/Reviews/Metal/clutch-earth_rocker_2|publisher=[Exclaim](/source/Exclaim)|accessdate=April 12, 2013}} |rev4 = [http://www.metalinjection.net/ Metalinjection.net] |rev4score = 8/10{{cite web|last=Zaluckey|first=James|title=Album Review - Clutch: Earth Rocker|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-clutch-earth-rocker|publisher= Metalinjection.net|accessdate=April 6, 2013|date=March 15, 2013}} |rev5 = [http://www.powerlinemag.com Powerline] |rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Lindblad|first=Peter|title=Clutch - Earth Rocker|url=http://www.powerlinemag.com/music-review/clutch-earth-rocker/|publisher= Powerline|accessdate=April 12, 2013}} |rev6 = Sputnikmusic |rev6score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|last=Fisher|first=Greg|title=Album Review - Clutch: Earth Rocker|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55617/Clutch-Earth-Rocker/|publisher=Sputnikmusic|accessdate=March 14, 2013|date=March 10, 2013}} }} The album met with generally favorable reviews, with [About.com](/source/About.com) comparing it to ''[Blast Tyrant](/source/Blast_Tyrant)'' and praising it for "kick(ing) harder than a mule on steroids". Metal Injection described ''Earth Rocker'' as "a consistently rocking and rolling beast. On the journey through the world of modern hard-rock, Clutch is like the mad village storyteller. You might not get what he's trying to tell you right away, but after a while you discover he's the one you should have listened to all along." However, [Q Magazine](/source/Q_Magazine) criticized the album as being "business as usual" despite being "a little more concise than their usual output". The album debuted at No. 15 on the [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200) and No. 6 on the [Top Rock Albums](/source/Top_Rock_Albums) chart, selling 22,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/clutch-first-top-rock-albums-no-1-psychic-warfare/ |title=Clutch Grasps First Top Rock Albums No. 1 With 'Psychic Warfare' |date=October 14, 2015 |author= Kevin Rutherford |magazine=Billboard }} The album has sold 80,000 copies in the United States as of September 2015.{{cite web|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20150917090733/http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |archivedate= September 17, 2015 |url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/new_album_releases |title=Upcoming Releases |website=Hits Daily Double |publisher=HITS Digital Ventures }} == Track listing == All tracks written by Clutch. === Original release === {{Track listing | title1 = Earth Rocker | length1 = 3:31 | title2 = Crucial Velocity | length2 = 3:59 | title3 = Mr. Freedom | length3 = 2:43 | title4 = D.C. Sound Attack! | length4 = 4:37 | title5 = Unto the Breach | length5 = 3:29 | title6 = Gone Cold | length6 = 4:20 | title7 = The Face | length7 = 4:22 | title8 = Book, Saddle, & Go | length8 = 3:43 | title9 = Cyborg Bette | length9 = 3:13 | title10 = Oh, Isabella | length10 = 5:17 | title11 = The Wolf Man Kindly Requests… | length11 = 5:02 | total_length = 44:21 }} ===2014 deluxe edition=== A three-disc deluxe edition of ''Earth Rocker'' was released on June 24, 2014, containing the original album with two bonus tracks, a live recording of the album (originally only available on vinyl) on CD, and a live DVD of the show played at the [Ogden Theatre](/source/Ogden_Theatre), [Denver](/source/Denver), on November 14, 2013. It also has new artwork and liner notes.{{Cite web|title = CLUTCH To Release Triple Deluxe Version Of 'Earth Rocker'|url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/clutch-to-release-triple-deluxe-version-of-earth-rocker/|website = BLABBERMOUTH.NET|date = April 16, 2014|access-date = February 12, 2016|language = en-US}} {{Track listing | headline = Disc one | title1 = Earth Rocker | length1 = 3:31 | title2 = Crucial Velocity | length2 = 4:01 | title3 = Mr. Freedom | length3 = 2:44 | title4 = Night Hag | length4 = 3:36 | title5 = D.C. Sound Attack! | length5 = 4:38 | title6 = Unto the Breach | length6 = 3:31 | title7 = Gone Cold | length7 = 4:21 | title8 = The Face | length8 = 4:22 | title9 = Book, Saddle, & Go | length9 = 3:45 | title10 = Cyborg Bette | length10 = 3:14 | title11 = Oh, Isabella | length11 = 5:18 | title12 = Scavengers | length12 = 4:03 | title13 = The Wolf Man Kindly Requests... | length13 = 5:03 | total_length = 52:07 }}{{Track listing | headline = Disc two – Live | extra_column = Venue | title1 = Earth Rocker | note1 = May 25, 2013 | length1 = 3:33 | extra1 = [House of Blues](/source/House_of_Blues) – [Houston, TX](/source/Houston%2C_TX) | title2 = Crucial Velocity | note2 = May 26, 2013 | length2 = 4:03 | extra2 = Meltdown Festival – [San Antonio, TX](/source/San_Antonio%2C_TX) | title3 = Mr. Freedom | note3 = May 25, 2013 | length3 = 2:45 | extra3 = House of Blues – Houston, TX | title4 = D.C. Sound Attack! | note4 = May 23, 2013 | length4 = 4:05 | extra4 = Bourbon Theater – [Lincoln, ND](/source/Lincoln%2C_ND) | title5 = Unto the Breach | note5 = May 19, 2013 | length5 = 3:30 | extra5 = The Vogue – [Indianapolis, IN](/source/Indianapolis%2C_IN) | title6 = Gone Cold | note6 = May 23, 2013 | length6 = 4:51 | extra6 = Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, ND | title7 = The Face | note7 = May 25, 2013 | length7 = 4:13 | extra7 = House of Blues – Houston, TX | title8 = Book, Saddle, & Go | note8 = May 26, 2013 | length8 = 3:47 | extra8 = Meltdown Festival – Houston, TX | title9 = Cyborg Battle | note9 = May 25, 2013 | length9 = 3:14 | extra9 = House of Blues – Houston, TX | title10 = Oh, Isabella | note10 = May 19, 2013 | length10 = 5:14 | extra10 = The Vogue – Indianapolis, IN | title11 = The Wolf Man Kindly Requests... | note11 = May 22, 2013 | length11 = 5:03 | extra11 = The Venue – [Fargo, ND](/source/Fargo%2C_ND) | total_length = 44:18 }} * The songs "Night Hag" and "Scavengers" are the bonus tracks on the deluxe edition. ==Personnel== '''Clutch''' * [Neil Fallon](/source/Neil_Fallon) – vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion * [Tim Sult](/source/Tim_Sult) – guitar * [Dan Maines](/source/Dan_Maines) – bass * [Jean-Paul Gaster](/source/Jean-Paul_Gaster) – drums, percussion '''Technical personnel''' * Machine – production, engineering and mixing * Alberto De Icaza – additional engineering and editing * Randy LeBouf – editing * [Zakk Cervini](/source/Zakk_Cervini) and Justin Aufdemkampe – assistant to producer * Paul Logus – mastering{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/earth-rocker-mw0002485421/credits |title=Earth Rocker – Clutch | Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=March 19, 2013 |accessdate=August 2, 2014}} ==Chart performance== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- !scope="col"|Chart (2013) !scope="col"|Peak
position |- {{album chart|Wallonia|172|artist=Clutch|album=Earth Rocker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Finland|50|artist=Clutch|album=Earth Rocker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|id=214030|71|artist=Clutch|album=Earth Rocker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Norway|13|artist=Clutch|album=Earth Rocker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|39|date=20130324|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|14|artist=Clutch|album=Earth Rocker|rowheader=true|access-date=November 15, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|15|artist=Clutch|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2013}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|1|artist=Clutch|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2013}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRock|6|artist=Clutch|rowheader=true|access-date=April 6, 2013}} |} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120216052524/http://www.pro-rock.com/ Clutch's official website] * [http://earthrocker.com/ Official album website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403172810/http://earthrocker.com/ |date=April 3, 2013 }} {{Clutchband}} {{Authority control}} Category:2013 albums Category:Clutch (band) albums Category:Albums produced by Machine (producer) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Earth Rocker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Rocker) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Rocker?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.