Review 25/03/10- Clayton Blizzard "One Two Three Home"

SCREAMLITE RECORDS LTD REVIEW FORM
Band Name: Clayton Blizzard
CD Title: One, Two, Three, Home
Press Pack Included: No
Review: This album was picked up at The Croft, 14th March 2010.
Clayton Blizzard, Bristol based MC-cum-folk wordsmith really straddles genres. “Sad Music Is Uplifting,” gets right to the point with the solid beats of The Streets, piano of Muse and brilliant skills of Clayton who decides that it’s better to use his Bristolian accent to express himself than try and be someone he’s not, which really makes a difference. None of what he’s saying is about the usual rap subjects, which makes him a prime candidate for people who hate the over commercial hip hop and rap and prefer someone who can write something more personal. “New Strings On An Old Guitar,” sees Clayton playing the guitar while still rhyming about things personal to him. With a beatbox style beat in the background and the looped acoustic guitar Clayton could turn heads of the people in The Croft there for a metal gig in the back room without problem. Even the mandolin solo fits perfectly in the overall mix which makes sure that everything finds it’s place without getting in the way of the messages that Clayton is trying to get across. “Winning A Raffle, Losing The War,” is a typical bright folk song with some great lyrics throughout. This is very much like some of Beans On Toast’s true folk moments, beautiful sounding guitar and lyrics that make you chuckle while listening out for the next great line. The end of the song even parodies “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” which is a turn of pure genius from Clayton. “Letter To America,” is another pop at the US and the conflict’s that they’re involved in, and this is a new twist on the well trodden path. A ska/reggae/dub/folk number which relies on the vocals more heavily, along with the samples that pop up in the middle, which is how this track should be.
Overall, Clayton Blizzard is a new twist on folk music which is something more inspired than both most commercial rap and most commercial folk and for that, Clayton Blizzard should be proud.