Blak and Blu
| Blak and Blu | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Studio album by Gary Clark, Jr. | ||
| Released | October 22, 2012 | |
| Recorded | 2011-2012 | |
| Genre | Blues rock, neo-soul, R&B, hard rock | |
| Length | 66:55 | |
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Producer | Gary Clark Jr., Mike Elizondo and Rob Cavallo | |
| Singles from Blak and Blu | ||
|
||
Blak and Blu is the first major label studio album by Gary Clark, Jr., released on October 22, 2012.[1] It charted at #6 on the US Billboard 200 album chart, and #1 on the Blues album chart. The album touches on a wide variety of traditionally Black genres including soul (“Please Come Home”), hip-hop/R&B (“The Life”), Chuck Berry-esque rock and roll (“Travis County”), and Clark’s trademark, the blues (“When My Train Pulls In,” “Numb,” “Next Door Neighbor Blues”). Blak and Blu netted Gary Clark, Jr. his first two Grammy Nominations, one for “Best Rock Song” (“Ain’t Messin Round”) and the other for “Best Traditional R&B Performance” (“Please Come Home”). This marked the first time that an artist was nominated for both of those categories in the same year.[2]
Critical reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
| Chicago Tribune |  [4] |
| Antiquiet | [5] |
| Ventvox | [6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Sputnikmusic | [8] |
The album was awarded a 3.5 star rating by Rolling Stone and was listed at #27 on Rolling Stone's list of the top 50 albums of 2012, in which the author said "Clark's brain-frying guitar solos are more about noise nuance and phrasing than speed-trial note-spitting."[9][10] Not all reviews were entirely positive, however. The Chicago Tribune gave the album a 2.5 out of 4 review, stating that the album lacked cohesiveness and consistency due to the wide variety of genres featured.[11]
In 2013, Blak and Blu was nominated for a Blues Music Award in the 'Contemporary Blues Album' category.[12]
Track listing
- All songs written by Gary Clark, Jr., except as noted.
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Ain't Messin 'Round" | 4:09 | |
| 2. | "When My Train Pulls In" (Gary Clark, Jr., Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Don Robey) | 7:45 | |
| 3. | "Blak and Blu" | 4:06 | |
| 4. | "Bright Lights" | 5:24 | |
| 5. | "Travis County" | 3:38 | |
| 6. | "The Life" | 5:05 | |
| 7. | "Glitter Ain't Gold (Jumpin' for Nothin')" (Gary Clark, Jr., Doyle Bramhall II, Justin Stanley, Ali Tamposi, Mike Elizondo) | 4:18 | |
| 8. | "Numb" | 5:26 | |
| 9. | "Please Come Home" | 4:16 | |
| 10. | "Things Are Changin'" | 3:59 | |
| 11. | "Third Stone from the Sun/If You Love Me Like You Say" (Jimi Hendrix, Little Johnny Taylor) | 9:37 | |
| 12. | "You Saved Me" | 6:11 | |
| 13. | "Next Door Neighbor Blues" | 3:01 | |
Total length: |
66:55 | ||
| Deluxe version bonus tracks[13] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length | ||||||||
| 14. | "Breakdown" | 4:11 | ||||||||
| 15. | "Soul" | 6:15 | ||||||||
Personnel
- Gary Clark, Jr. - lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, drums, programming, trumpet, percussion, congas
- Zapata! - rhythm guitars
- Mike Elizondo - bass, fuzz guitar, keyboards, percussion, programming
- Zac Rae - Keyboards, hammond organ, wurlitzer, piano, vibraphone
- J.J. Johnson - drums, percussion
- Scott Nelson - bass
- Satnam Ramgotra - tabla, percussion
- Danny T. Levin - trumpet, trombone, flugelhorn
- David Moyer - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
- Stevie Black - strings
- Recording engineers: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
- Mixing: Adam Hawkins, Doug McKean
- Assistant engineers: Brent Arrowood, Chris Sporleder, Russ Waugh
- Mastering: Ted Jensen
- A&R: Lenny Waronker
- Creative design, direction and photography: Frank Maddocks
Charts
| Chart (2012–13) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| scope="row" | Australian Albums (ARIA)[ 1] | 34 |
| scope="row" | Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[ 1] | 38 |
| scope="row" | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[ 1] | 30 |
| scope="row" | Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[ 1] | 69 |
| scope="row" | Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[ 1] | 23 |
| scope="row" | French Albums (SNEP)[ 1] | 93 |
| Dutch Albums Chart | ||
| scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[ 1] | 6 |
| scope="row" | Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[ 1] | 52 |
References
- ↑ "Listen To New Music & See Gary On Tour". Retrieved 17 October 2012.
- ↑ http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Gary-Clark-Jr-Receives-Two-2013-Grammy-Nominations-20131211
- ↑ Deming, Mark (2012-10-22). "Blak and Blu - Gary Clark, Jr. : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ "Gary Clark Jr. album review; Blak and Blu reviewed - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ "Gary Clark Jr. Claims His Blues Crown With ‘Blak and Blu’ @ Antiquiet Reviews". Antiquiet.com. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ by greg (2012-10-19). "Gary Clark Jr.: Blak and Blu:: Review". Ventvox.com. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ "Blak and Blu | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ "Gary Clark Jr. - Blak and Blu User Opinions". sputnikmusic. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/blak-and-blu-20121023
- ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2012: Gary Clark Jr., 'Blak and Blu'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-10-22/entertainment/chi-gary-clark-jr-album-review-blak-and-blu-reviewed-20121022_1_blak-album-review-blues-savior
- ↑ "Blues Music Awards Nominees - 2013 - 34th Blues Music Awards". Blues.org. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/next-door-neighbor-blues/id560652745?i=560652778