"Perspective" reviewed by The Guitarists Website

T.D. CLARK - PERSPECTIVE

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    "Perspective" is a tour de force into rock/shred. 13 tracks that'll take you on a roller coaster ride of guitar wizardry. The songs and styles varying from one to the other. Always sticking close to the rock format. But not afraid to sway from time to time. This time around TD includes 4 songs with vocalist John Yeager. I find most vocal tunes on a mainly instrumental c.d. usually come off as no more than filler. But here TD Clark has done what few have been able to do. He has written 4 vocal songs that are as strong as the rest of the disc. Employing a vocalist with a rich voice that works perfectly opposite TD's beautifully/aggressive style.

    "Perspective" is the quintessential rock/shred c.d. It's as close as you can get to commercial acceptance and still have a razor edge. Just about any one of these songs could easily be a radio hit. It's the incredible beauty in TD's playing that makes even the most intense, aggressive moments sort of sweet in a way. Bringing an undeniable beauty to everything he plays. The thing is he has a very aggressive style combined with this beauty. And this is what I call "Beautifully/Aggressive".  And "Perspective" is beautifully/aggressive throughout. It's mainly a hard rock c.d., but there is a variety of styles. It's this variety that keeps this c.d. fresh. The song order is set up perfectly. In such a way that you never spend too much time in one place.

    With a cleaner production, and writing that's matured since his first (personalities) c.d. "Perspective" is a flawless work from "the man who could be king".

THE TRACKS
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    The C.D. opens with "Avalanche". Which is a great radio friendly rock song. With a hot lead and intense solos throughout. Changing from rock to shred at will. Avalanche starts off with a real happy pop sort of feel and quickly becomes a pretty hot driving rocker. Blending a  pleasant rocker with some serious hard core leads. A great song to open with. Should appeal to anyone from radio listeners to die hard fans like myself.

Track #2 "The Fugitive"  Oh yea baby! This one comes out like a shovel to the back of the head. From there on it all got a little blurry. That's right you guessed it. This one is a straight forward, take no prisoners, and leave no trace rocker! The first time I heard this track I sat in wonderment and thought "geeezzz! what the hell was that?". I'll tell you. It was shred! Fast, Furious and Aggressive. Great song with unbelievable solos. ( I think it's called "The Fugitive" because that's what you'll be if you listen to this tune behind the wheel of a car. The next thing you know you're doing a buck sixty, there's blue lights flashing behind you and a road block ahead. What now? You start the song over, cut across the grass, and the chase begins....... )

Track #3 "12 String Thing" A playful little acoustic number. With a very free feel to it. I really like this song. A beautiful jam played with a touch of aggression. I really do like this tune.

Track #4 "Runaround" The first of 4 vocal tunes included that feature vocals by John Yeager. This has sort of a rocking ballad feel. Not wimpy "Journeyesque" rock ballad. It's more like a "Extreme" rock ballad ( in the early days when they were best). But all comparisons aside. This is a great rocking song with smoking  leads and fantastic vocals. I usually frown upon the vocal songs on a primarily instrumental guitar c.d. I just want to hear the guitarist jam. I mean that's why I bought the c.d. in the first place. But not true here. I really enjoyed "Runaround". I found that TD  is not only an unbelievable instrumental guitarist/composer. But he knows how to write incredible vocal songs as well. Plus he employed a very fine vocalist in John Yeager.  This tune rocks and could easily have been an F.M. hit.

Track #5 "Sunrise" A real smoker! Kind of a mid tempo rocker. Most of the leads are played in the classic rock style. But of course there are those moments when the beast pops out and a little shred happens (keeping it on the edge). A moody feel to this one. But if you've ever (really) watched a sunrise. Then you know it can be a moving experience. You had better bring your sun glasses to this sunrise. A great rock song in the truest sense.

Track #6 "Mary Love"  is the second vocal tune. This is a slow soulful (kinda sad) song. With rich, emotional guitar (my c.d. player wept). And John's vocals on this tune are equally soulful. You can sense the desperation in the guitar and vocals.  Oh! man another vocal tune on an instrumental c.d. that I love. Could I be losing it. Or is TD good enough to change me? "Mary Love" is a very powerful, emotionally  charged song.  Beautiful Man!

Track #7 "Spiked"  is as you might guess, an all out rocker. This one will get the neighbors complaining & your parents yelling. You can't help but crank this one up to 11. This is what I call rockin'. A non stop six string assault right out of the gate. I had to listen to this track a couple of times the first time I heard the c.d. A hard driving "in your face"  rock song. With rock to shred lead that's all attack from the word go!

Track #8 "Still Waters"  is one of my favorites.  A slower emotionally charged song. With a haunting melody that left me motionless for a moment. A certified "Masterpiece". It brings me somewhere deep inside. And a sax solo that is burning with soul! And some unbelievable guitar work that doesn't simply tug at your heart strings. It rips them out by the roots.  The lead throughout this song is "Beautifully/Aggressive". Leaning back and forth from the beautiful to the aggressive side. And to use the sax to bring it back down to tranquility was an awesome touch. Beautiful Man!

Track #9 "If That's What It Takes"  is the third vocal tune with vocals. And this time a second vocalist Jeremy Sparta is also included. A hot rock song with a funky (blues funky) rhythm. With a Texas style blues feel. Think Stevie Ray (a rhythm style he popularized, but was very much a texas style.) meets Triumph (the canadian superband). Ssssmmooookin'

Track #10 "Red Tide"  is  a red hot radio friendly song that is all attack. Did I say red hot? I mean Molten Lava hot!  With a cooking metal like rhythm section and TD shredding mercilessly over it. This is one of the hottest songs on the disc. Take a deep breath before you listen to this one. Heavy, chaotic, coming from all angles, no safe haven, oxygen being depleted, no escape. Yeah! that's how I like my rock. And the "Red Tide" is in!

Track #11 "Flying Away"  brings it back down a bit. With a relaxing acoustic song. This is the last of the vocal songs. A very nice, at times very moody song. (For those who read the whole review. Yes I did like all 4 vocal songs. Congratulations TD. you've done what very few have. I love the entire c.d. even the vocal songs!) This would have been a nice peaceful way to end the c.d. But along comes........

Track #12 "Snake Eyes"  A fiery piece of music that show cases TD's shredding. Culminating into a beautifully melodic, yet intensely aggressive shred fest! Dipping into his metal bag of tricks. . TD pulls out all the stops. And shows why he's one of the best. When the guy behind the guitar is TD Clark, it can get downright frightening.

They say to "Always Leave Them Wanting More".
Well TD has done just that with "Perspective".
I can't wait to hear more from this amazing talent! 

The Guitarists  October 2001