Clem McGillicutty And The Burnouts – ‘It Gets Better I Promise’

Clem McGillicutty And The Burnouts – Sebring, Florida, USA.

Floridian Folk-Rock charged with Punk-Rock, dancing, and probably beer.

Clem McGillicutty And The Burnouts, what can I say? The name warrants interest even before you even hear the band’s music. Hailing from Sebring in Florida, they first hit the scene in 2012, and these guys have been folking around with their down-to-Earth, fresh sound ever since. Which, as you’d expect, has resulted in a cracking debut album.

Time to talk influences. : ‘George Jones, Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Johnny Hobo, Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters, Earl Scruggs, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr., Bob Dylan, Citizen Fish, Tom Waits, Willie Nelson’ 

Solid fucking list! Anyway, what you are left with is essentially a set of Folk-Rock and Folk-Punk that reminds you of early Floridian heavyweights, Against Me! Think, Reinventing Axl Rose; while still holding it’s own sound. A lot of Folk-Rock and Folk music in general is often fast and full of quirky hooks… Clem And The Burnouts however, add a bit more.

‘It Gets Better I Promise’, here be our thoughts:

Tracks you’d expect in a saloon in the old west, harder Punk tracks to jump about to, tracks to dance to around the BBQ and campfire, and others to sit and chill in the sun with. Personally, a lot of the Folk-Punk I listen to leans more towards the heavier Punk sound, such as the UK’s Roughneck Riot and Crazy Arm for example. This band however, have a far more Folk orientated sound. That’s not to say the Punk elements don’t shine through – on the contrary – they do, and they add a welcome harder edge to the already gritty Folk sound.

37 minutes, 13 tracks of Folk madness. It really does just work. There isn’t a bad song on this album, I’m genuinely having a hard time staying still while typing this. The opening track ‘Dear William’, is one of the Punkier numbers, and draws you in immediately! AND, despite being the first track, is an album highlight.

‘Saddam and AlGorremorah’ keeps the Punk vibe flowing, with up tempo drumming and political lyrics – all without losing any of the dance appeal. Next, ‘Drink this Quarty Down’ is an anthem that would send arms and beers in the air while hating your town at any Punk-Rock show. Obviously I’m not advocating drinking your problems away, alcohol is not the the answer… I do like beer however.

‘So I guess everything ends, I was just one of your trends. A passing phase in your life and all we can do and all the things I say to you is goodbye, I won’t see you again. Goodbye, I won’t see you again’ – A Passing Phrase, absolute emotional and angst-filled belter. Feels.

‘A Harrowing Experience In The Key Of G’ is a fast Folk number that has an accompanied DIY video which looks like it was a lot of fun to produce, so check it out:

A quick note, this is actually from an earlier recording, the song was rerecorded for the album.

This album has everything! Sing-a-longs in the form of the aforementioned, ‘Dear William’, and a personal favourite of mine, ‘Oh Carolina’. But there’s also laid back numbers and a certain track that sounds like what would happen if Leftover Crack tried their hand at folk-orientated Punk. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, a song about the issues of becoming a Werewolf Pirate in ‘Black Flag Silver Sails’. Yes you read correctly, ’tis a real danger to us all!

The rest I shall leave for the rest of you. To find, to dance to and to Folk around and Punk about, to your hearts content. Great fucking album, clearly these boys poured it all in, and it shows. Musically Fresh have decreed that it shall receive 8.5 /10.

For music and videos visit the bands Reverbnation profile where the ‘A Harrowing Experience In The Key Of G’ is available for FREE DOWNLOAD. For more listening and purchase (and at a very modest price at that) visit their bandcamp where the first six tracks can be streamed for enticement (The rest are included in the purchase). And enticed you will be. The album was released and made available by Cracker Swamp Productions.

Finally, keep track of thier exploits via their Facebook page.

#StayFresh