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Sturdy set of
Americana-flavored rock from
Athens singer/songwriter

Clint Maul - Know You Know
(Self-released)
3 1/2 (out of 5 stars)
Reviewed: July 9, 2010
Clint Maul

Review by Tony Bonyata

As much as musicians may aspire to the gritty, earthy sound of The South these days, some guys just have it in their blood. Athens-based singer/songwriter Clint Maul is one such artist. Never mind that his newly released sophomore album Know You Know taps into many other music styles (most notably the alternative rock leanings of Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements), because at the core of this fine record Maul excudes the true sense of Americana music being channeled through someone - like Springsteen or Tom Petty - who ultimately just wants to rock out.

The production, courtesy of David Barbe (Sugar) and David Lowery (Cracker, Camper Van Beethoven), is direct and to the point, punctuating the power of not only Maul's alt-country-fried compositions, but also the talents of augmenting musicians Drive-By Truckers' John Neff (pedal steel guitar) and Brad Morgan (drums), along with The Glands' Frank McDonnell (guitar) and Barbe (bass).

Maul proudly sports his songcraft influences on his sleeve, with his vocals often nodding to them just as strongly. On the delightful "Coffee Counter Girl" his aching moans are reminiscent of a young Tom Petty early in his career, while he also adds the chewing tobacco- drawl of Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis on the fuzzed-up rocker "How To Pack For Infinity," the radio-friendly [does this term even apply anymore?] number "Only Crime" and the sturdy alt-country track "Homeward Bound," featuring Neff's sunny pedal steel intertwining with both McDonnell and Maul's lead and rythym guitars. The album is also nicely bookended by the stomping, high-energy opener "Best One Yet" and the lo-fi solo acoustic closer "Good Man," which, through Maul's simple guitar and raw, harrowing vocals, makes this diamond-in-the-rough track - not to mention the entire album - really shine.

Clint Maul's Know You Know is available through his website at: http://clintmaul.bandcamp.com

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