"Personalities" reviewed by The Guitarists Website

  T.D. CLARK - PERSONALITIES

{Mark is missing again. So I'll handle it alone.}

    Personalities is full of youthful enthusiasm. Giving some of the songs a cocky sort of attitude. Much like that of early Eddie Van Halen.  And it doesn't have the Big Studio mega production sound quality. It's a little raw. Giving it a very live feel.  Enhancing the experience that is T.D. Clark.

    I wasn't sure whether to call Personalities a rock/shred or a shred/rock c.d. (note the position of the word shred) But to simply call this a rock c.d. would be doing T.D. Clark a serious injustice. While T.D.'s shred skills place him among the best. He is so much more than just a rock guitarist. Here you get to listen to T.D. display a few of his own (musical) personalities. You'll find shred, rock, acoustic, country (on caffeine) "Metallic Hoe Down" and a latin acoustic song  "El Rio de Tiempo" that must be heard. With a close eye on melody, these songs would appeal to the average guitar fan. As well as the die hard guitar fan, like myself. I love the diversity of this c.d. In both the songs and the playing. Although it's primarily a hard rock c.d with perfectly played and well written ( molten ) solos. T.D. includes a few acoustic interludes which give the disc room to breathe. These acoustic songs show the virtuosity of T.D. Clark. Going from fierce hyperspeed shredfests to the beauty and simplicity of "April". All played in T.D.'s unique style and immaculate technique.

    The C.D. opens with "Emerald Skies". A great emotionally charged rock song  with some tasteful twin leads.  Very hot solos too. I love the outro solo where he kicks in the wah. This song left me feeling kind of melancholy. If this song were used in a movie soundtrack. It would be used during a time when someone was reflecting back to a nice time. This song perfectly exemplifies what made me such an instant fan of T.D. Clark in the first place. His natural beauty and emotion. And his aggressive lead style. Creating a style and sound  I like to call "beautifully/aggressive".

    Track #2 "Parallel Lines" was the first song I heard from T.D. Clark. (the song is available at his site). A driving grind with plenty of attitude.  This is also some of the heaviest and fastest T.D. on the disc. Here T.D. shows a perfect balance between rock and metal styles. From the metallic rhythm that becomes more rock at the chorus. To the rapid fire assault that seems to change from rock to metal (shred) in an instant.  I really like the almost evil feel of this one. This is the one song on the disc that I would call "metal" style. (maybe it's the double bass drums) Very Hot Guitar and some major adrenaline pumping solos make this one of my favorites. Two words, Heavy & Shred.  (full sample available at T.D. Clarks web site)

    Track #3 "At The Rivers Edge" is an uptempo fun acoustic song played on a 12 string. Complete with running water sounds for ambience. You can't help but tap your foot or move your body in some way listening to the rivers edge. I loved the guitar on this one. Beautiful but funky/bluesy at times. There are a couple of licks in the latter part of the song that just brought an even bigger smile to my face. A very happy, peaceful vibe on this one.

    Track #4 "Metallic Hoe Down" is a rip roaring rock extravaganza chock full of country licks. That ultimately becomes a metallic meltdown.  With an over the edge solo throughout the song. I especially liked the relentless, no escape fever pitch that this one reaches. And T.D. did a fine job of injecting the lethal rocker with a perfect dose of country. ( kind of like chet atkins meets joe stump ) Let's see you square dance to this "Hoe Down". It would end up the first country mosh pit. And with T.D. doing the fiddlin' there'll be no survivors.

    Track #5 "Game Show" A great rocker with a very hot rhythm track. Check out the riffage and the cool fills. Sometimes I just sit and listen to the rhythm track. That part of the song alone is worthy of note. But add the lead and solos (oh! the solos) and you've got  a great song. I liked the solos on this track. T.D. step s outside of  the typical rock style.

    Track #6 "El Rio de Tiempo" is an acoustic latin song. Complete with trumpet. Some thing you don't usually find on a rock c.d. This is unquestionably one of my favorites. This shows the incredible talents of T.D. Clark. And the variety of T.D.'s influences. This isn't a latin influenced song. This is a full blown latin composition. And done as beautifully and articulate as any guitarist specializing in this genre. ( strunz & farah, de lucia, etc. )  I must say "muy bueno".

    Track #7 "Cincinnati" is a radio friendly rock song with an absolutely fiery lead. If anyone could sell shred to the average radio listening public. It's T.D. Clark. He is so melody oriented that even the fastest, most aggressive songs come off pleasant. It's time for a new guitar player to step up to the throne of radio king. Jeff Beck dominated the airwaves for a lot of years. And then Joe Satriani took over with a more up to date style and sound.  T.D. Clark clearly possesses's the arsenal to storm the castle and reign as the new king. I'll gladly join his army. Viva la T.D. Clark.

    Track #8 "Tears"  is another one of my favorites. And this time it's someone other than T.D. that that has drawn my attention. Tears is a beautiful 2 hand piece for the bass. Great job Dave! The mood is enhanced by T.D. who handles the keys on this one. This song is short but sweet.

    Track #9 "Haunting" A moody feel with some very tasteful leads. T.D. brings it down a bit on this one. But I still found it one of the most powerful songs on the c.d. And he does this without a single speed lick.  Using a slower more emotional playing style.  And T.D.'s music is naturally beautiful. So he really shines here. A real moody feel to this one. I could feel him almost reaching into his soul for this song.....

    Track #10 "April" is a very sweet acoustic piece with just T.D. picking a short but memorable song.

    Track #11 "The Duel" is a duel ( hence the title ) between T.D. Clark and Ryan Nash. This is the way to end a c.d. of this caliber. We all know nothing drives a guitarist more than playing with  another guitarist. So if you put these two monsters in the studio together you had better run & hide. The duel is a no holds barred showdown. That comes to an almost chaotic end. You want it raw? You want it hard? You want it life threatening? Then face the duel...............

"PERSONALITIES"  is one hell of an introduction to a real master of his genre....

ALL OF T.D.'s C.D.'S & MERCHANDISE ARE AVAILABLE ON HIS WEBSITE.
accepting VISA, MASTERCARD, DISCOVER, AMERICAN EXPRESS.
so there's no reason not to order any of T.D.'s stuff.