Thunderclap - Hellbent On Success
This week I will take you on a 14-song journey into the twisted musical world of Canadian artist Thunderclap. On October 16, 2015, (I’m warning you), that Hellbent On Success” will be released into the world.
Thunderclap is the creation of Niagra Falls Canada native Adam Buller, self-described as a Guerilla Folk Poet, this album sounds like being a witness in Tom Waits’ dream of David Bowie on stage impersonating Elvis.
To fully experience the theatrical nature of this album, it needs to be enjoyed listening from start to finish.
This epic begins with “Emergency Vehicles”, a psychedelic vision of flashing beams of memories as “Emergency Vehicles Are Overtaking The Scene”.
The various styles of music Buller presents here range from emotional ballads to freaky dance numbers all played to perfection on piano and guitar.
One of my picks for song of the year is “Silverback”, starting off with a classic blues resonator guitar riff, and then spiraling into the most original vocal performance ever. “If I ever had a boy, which I will, this is what I’d say to do”. He’d call him Silverback and then as the song continues he spouts off words of “wisdom”, funny stuff.
“The Future Is Here”, takes you on a funky Buster Poindexter type ramble into the future, which you will definitely enjoy.
The title track is a piano number that busts out incredible lyrics like “We’re all widgets of our own factories, so what you selling?” Buller’s vocals shine here, proving testimony to his songwriting talents.
The album closes with the brilliant “Newsflash”, featuring some of the most inventive lyrics, interspersed with spoken word, all backed by an infectious dance beat. (Yes I enjoyed the dance beat). Buller, sounding like Bowie has his brain infested with thousands of water spiders from Mars, it is the perfect way to end “Hellbent On Success”.
I really, really loved this album. A fun listen from start to finish including intelligent lyrics and proficient musicianship, this album definitely should be on many a music critic’s “best of” 2015 list.
