Book of Bad Decisions is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Clutch, released on September 7, 2018, through the band's own label Weathermaker Music.[4] It was released on CD, regular black vinyl, limited coke bottle clear vinyl and on picture disc, and was produced by Vance Powell.

Book of Bad Decisions
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 7, 2018 (2018-09-07)
StudioSputnik Sound, Nashville, Tennessee
Genre
Length56:54
LabelWeathermaker Music
ProducerVance Powell
Clutch chronology
Psychic Warfare
(2015)
Book of Bad Decisions
(2018)
Sunrise on Slaughter Beach
(2022)

Reception

edit
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[5]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
Classic Rock     [1]
Exclaim!9/10[7]
PopMatters     [8]
Rolling Stone     [9]
Sputnikmusic     [10]

MetalSucks praised the album, calling it a "slightly disjointed record that sounds like the simmering undercurrent of disbelief, anxiety, and rage that lies just below the surface of the world today."[11] Rolling Stone was also positive in their review, stating "Book of Bad Decisions is another solid latter-day Clutch record, bathed in the grit and liberal fuzz tone that have made their live shows legendary."[12] Exclaim! gave the album a 9/10, stating that "this really needs to be said more, but Clutch are one of the best rock acts of the modern era".[7]

Track listing

edit

All songs written by Clutch.

No.TitleLength
1."Gimme the Keys"3:33
2."Spirit of '76"3:39
3."Book of Bad Decisions"3:23
4."How to Shake Hands"3:52
5."In Walks Barbarella"3:49
6."Vision Quest"3:18
7."Weird Times"3:09
8."Emily Dickinson"5:06
9."Sonic Counselor"3:28
10."A Good Fire"3:44
11."Ghoul Wrangler"4:28
12."H.B. Is in Control"3:01
13."Hot Bottom Feeder"3:34
14."Paper & Strife"3:02
15."Lorelei"5:48
Total length:56:54

Personnel

edit

Clutch

Additional personnel

  • Chris Brooks – Hammond B3, wurlitzer and piano on "Book of Bad Decisions", "In Walks Barbarella", "Emily Dickinson", "Sonic Counselor", "Vision Quest" and "Hot Bottom Feeder"
  • Mike Dillon – percussion, vibraphone on "In Walks Barbarella", "Hot Bottom Feeder", "Book of Bad Decisions" and "Lorelei"
  • Kevin Gatzke – tenor, baritone saxophone and horn arrangement on "In Walks Barbarella"
  • Vinnie Ciesielski – trumpet
  • Roy Agee – trombone and bass trombone

Technical personnel

  • Vance Powell – production, engineering and mixing
  • Michael Fahey – production assistant
  • Paul Logus – mastering

Charts

edit
Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] 57
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[14] 22
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 89
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 87
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[17] 42
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 15
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[19] 17
Scottish Albums (OCC)[20] 9
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[21] 26
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 20
UK Albums (OCC)[23] 13
US Billboard 200[24] 16

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Clutch - Book Of Bad Decisions album review". September 4, 2018.
  2. ^ Massie, Andrew (August 29, 2018). "ALBUM REVIEW: Clutch - Book Of Bad Decisions". The Rockpit. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions". hellfire-magazin.de. September 7, 2018.
  4. ^ ""BOOK OF BAD DECISIONS" OUT TODAY". Pro-Rock.com. September 7, 2018.
  5. ^ "Reviews for Book of Bad Decisions by Clutch". Metacritic. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Book of Bad Decisions - Clutch - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. ^ a b "Clutch Book of Bad Decisions". exclaim.ca.
  8. ^ "Clutch Revisit the Past on 'Book of Bad Decisions'". September 12, 2018.
  9. ^ "Clutch Serve Up More Raucous Good-Time Rock on 'Book of Bad Decisions". Rolling Stone. September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  10. ^ Simon.K (September 8, 2018). "Clutch - Book of Bad Decisions". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
  11. ^ "Clutch's Book of Bad Decisions Is Harsh Medicine for the Chapped Ass of 2018 - MetalSucks". September 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Shteamer, Hank (September 7, 2018). "Review: Clutch Serve Up More Raucous Good-Time Rock on 'Book of Bad Decisions'". Rolling Stone.
  13. ^ "ARIA Chart Watch #490". auspOp. September 15, 2018. Archived from the original on January 23, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  14. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  17. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  19. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2018. 37. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 15, 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
  22. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Clutch – Book of Bad Decisions". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  24. ^ "Clutch Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2018.