Clash the Truth is the second studio album by American indie rock band Beach Fossils. The album was produced by Ben Greenberg (formerly of The Men) as well as band frontman and primary songwriter Dustin Payseur. It was released on February 19, 2013, through Captured Tracks.
| Clash the Truth | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 19, 2013 | |||
| Recorded | 2012 | |||
| Studio | Excello Recording (Brooklyn, New York)[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 35:21 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer |
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| Beach Fossils chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Clash the Truth | ||||
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Recording
editDustin Payseur wrote and recorded a demo of the entire album in his apartment in New York before recording it professionally in a studio. The recording of Clash the Truth was finished at the Excello Recording studio in the fall of 2012. Recording was briefly interrupted when Payseur's studio was flooded during Hurricane Sandy.[6]
Clash the Truth featured new drummer Tommy Gardner, who allowed for a faster, more energetic sound than in previous releases.[6] It also features collaborations with Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead and Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing.[7]
Cover artwork
editThe artwork used for Clash the Truth, designed by Captured Tracks founder Mike Sniper and Dustin Payseur, features black and white stills taken from the experimental video Three Transitions (1973) directed by Peter Campus.[8]
Reception
editClash the Truth received mostly positive reviews from critics, some noting the more focused themes of adolescence and nostalgia as a sign of growth and maturity while continuing to refine their sound and style.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 68/100[9] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [10] |
| Consequence | C+[11] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[12] |
| Paste | 7.4/10[13] |
| Pitchfork | 5.8/10[3] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.7/5[5] |
In a lukewarm review for Pitchfork, Ian Cohen wrote that "The New York City dream pop band's second album sees them introduce a darker, more socially aware edge, though it trades their former instrumental rigidity for amiable, mid-fi college rock jangle."[3] Writing for Consequence, reviewer Paula Mejia rated the album a C+, stating that "Beach Fossils’ Dustin Payseur strays from the syrupy reverb typically dominating Beach Fossils’ breezy aesthetic, trading it in for torrential guitars and thrashing drums on his band's restless sophomore release." She continued with "With Clash the Truth, Beach Fossils are driving away from the blinding sunlight and toward a shadowed elsewhere. What matters is that their eyes are trained forward."[11]
In a similar review, The Quietus writer Ryan Foley commented on their production and songwriting by writing "Clash The Truth follows that 'Beach Fossils' template to a tee. What separates the album from previous releases is its robust sound." while also commending this approach by writing "It's like Payseur went from doodling on Post-it notes to emblazoning missiles across the sky... In 'Careless' and 'Crashed Out', nervy, guitar jangle and punchy percussion come together in breakneck instrumental outros unlike anything Payseur has recorded previously. The songs do more than simply breathe new life into guitar pop – they snatch its breath away."[14]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Dustin Payseur, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Clash the Truth" | 2:03 | |
| 2. | "Generational Synthetic" | 2:44 | |
| 3. | "Sleep Apnea" | 2:26 | |
| 4. | "Careless" | Tommy Gardner, Payseur | 3:03 |
| 5. | "Modern Holiday" | 1:21 | |
| 6. | "Taking Off" | 3:09 | |
| 7. | "Shallow" | Payseur, Jack Tatum | 3:17 |
| 8. | "Burn You Down" | Gardner, Payseur | 2:57 |
| 9. | "Birthday" | 2:52 | |
| 10. | "In Vertigo" (featuring Kazu Makino) | 3:20 | |
| 11. | "Brighter" | 0:33 | |
| 12. | "Caustic Cross" | 2:41 | |
| 13. | "Ascension" | 1:30 | |
| 14. | "Crashed Out" | 3:25 |
Personnel
edit- Dustin Payseur - vocals, guitar, bass, art direction, composer, mixing, producer
- Tommy Gardner - drums, composer, guitar, vocals, wurlitzer
- Ben Greenberg - producer, mixing, guitar
- Jack Tatum - composer
- Kazu Makino - vocals on Track 10
- Katie Garcia - uncredited vocals on Track 12
- Joe Lambert - mastering
- Peter Campus - artwork images
- Mike Sniper - art direction
- Ryan McCardle - design and layout
References
edit- ^ Sundermann, Eric (February 20, 2013). "Beach Fossils Frontman Dustin Payseur Knows Who He Is, And Embraces It". The Village Voice. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Lucas, John (April 25, 2013). "Beach Fossils ramped up the energy for latest LP". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c Cohen, Ian (February 18, 2013). "Beach Fossils: Clash the Truth". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
- ^ Ramirez, A.J. (February 20, 2013). "Beach Fossils: Clash the Truth". PopMatters. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ a b joshuatree (February 17, 2013). "Beach Fossils - Clash the Truth (album review )". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Lindsay, Cam (February 20, 2013). "Beach Fossils Talk Their Close Call with 'Clash the Truth'". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Higgins, Reese (March 1, 2013). "Beach Fossils' Dustin Payseur on Inexplicably Rowdy Fans and Working With Blonde Redhead". Washington City Paper. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ "art of album covers". Artofalbumcovers.tumblr.com. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ "Clash the Truth by Beach Fossils". Metacritic. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Sendra, Tim. "Beach Fossils Clash the Truth Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ a b Mejia, Paula (February 21, 2013). "Album Review: Beach Fossils – Clash the Truth". Consequence. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Gourlay, Dom (February 14, 2013). "Album Review: Beach Fossils - Clash The Truth". Drowned in Sound. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Cosores, Philip (February 12, 2013). "Beach Fossils: Clash the Truth". Paste. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
- ^ Foley, Ryan (April 5, 2013). "Beach Fossils". The Quietus. Retrieved April 3, 2019.