Search - Clear Light :: Clear Light

A Classic!

Fred Rayworth | Las Vegas, NV United States | 04/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A Classic!



In the sixties, I had a tendency to pick up albums based on the photo of the band. I figured if the band looked freaky, their music probably was too. I hated pop music so I always looked for the underground bands. The longer the hair, the uglier, the weirdest dressed, that was my incentive. Clear Light was in that category. They had long hair, one guy looked like Buffalo Bill, and there were six of them. Another attraction was their label. They were on the same label as the Doors and at the time, I was really into the Doors first album. So, I figured they had to be something like them.



Many people can see a nod to the Doors in Clear Light's music, but I did not. I was very pleasantly surprised at how good the music was. It was full of experimental songs, like Black Roses that had more time signature changes than cords. Then there was Sand, with a really good tempo shift guitar solo at the end instead of in the middle of the song like so many others. Everyone that knows this album refers to Mr. Blue. It was unusual for several reasons. It has some pretty neat drumming, great guitar effects and solos, and was over six minutes long. It was not quite Ina Gadda Da Vida, but still unusual for the time. My favorite song though is Street Singer, or as I call it the Organ Grinder Song. As a guitar player, I tried to learn the whole album note for note and actually came close a couple of times.



As with my other favorite albums of the time, I wore it out and was lucky enough to meet my wife in Spain (she's American) and she had a copy of the album too! I was finally able to purchase the Edsel version of their CD with the extra track "She's Ready To Be Free" on it from the movie "The President's Analyst." I have tried to keep up with what the members of the band have been doing over the years but the biggest mystery to me was Bob Seal, their guitar player and leader. He seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth, that is until I read the excellent liner notes Mike Staxx wrote for the CD. He interviewed Bob and there are some great anecdotes revealed for the first time.



For those of you looking for a classic sixties album, you can't go wrong with Clear Light. They produced a groundbreaking album that is well worth seeking out."

Paul Rothchild's Frankenstein Project Rules

andy7 | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Clear Light may be dismissed by some as a "Doors Lite" band, but I think the material and playing on this CD is outstanding. I was hooked as soon as I heard "Black Roses" with it's amazing time signature changes, played at a breathtaking hardcore punk pace (before the beast ever existed).

Some tracks have the definite Doors-Love sound without the drunken tunelessness of Jim Morrison, so you get movie actor Cliff De Young's great vocals instead. "Mister Blue" even has that "petition the Lord with prayer" dramatics with 100 times more focus.

Favorite tracks: She's Ready To be Free, Sand, The Ballad of Freddy and Larry (about gay love?). Recommended."

I really wish Clear Light made a second album!!

Rodrigo Rivera | South Gate, Ca | 08/12/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"But alas, they only made this self-tittled work of fantastic music. Im no music critic, but if your into psychedelic/garage rock bands from the 60's, then you wont be dissapointed by getting this album. Best freaking part about this group is that they have two drummers!!!!! Plus, havnt you noticed that the uglier the band memebers the better the music?"