Claytown Troupe - Out There (1991)

I really don't understand why Bristol's Claytown Troupe didn't head into the '90s and end up at the fore front of British alterno rock. Considering how grunge and the likes of Pearl Jam stripped metal of its image, and yet somehow supplied countless people with dreary entertainment,I was shocked to find that Claytown Troupe, who were far more rewarding with than the dreary grunge invasion, only lasted two albums. They supported Pearl Jam in the UK, and enjoyed minor success with a couple of top 100 singles, but that's about as far as it goes. Strangely, these guys should've enjoyed some success, their Cult-like swagger was obviously way too cool for some, but when one consideres just how many 'alterno' metal bands bit the dust, I guess CT were just another victim of an ever changing scene. Even so, CT sold out the shows they played in the UK, vocalist Christian Riou could well have become a pin up for a generation, again, especially when you consier the type of bands the record companies were promoting and who the fans were liking. 'Out There' boasts a number of cool, uptempo tracks, but it seems, judging from some reviews that the Cult comparisons weighed them down, but for me these gusy could've replaced The Cult as Goth rock's new leaders when one consiers who dull The Cult became after 'Electric.' Riou does have a little bit of Astbuty in his vocals, especially on the shimmering 'Ways Of Love' with its infectious chorus, and the thump of 'Skybound' which features a cool sassy, sleazy riff but the track is more Soundgarden than Cult rip-off. Maybe Claytown Troupe couldn't make their minds up what they wanted to be, and because of that they ended up in no man's land, like so many of the early '90s 'metal' bands, crushed under the weight of grunge. Give me this over pearl Jam and Nirvana anyday. 8/10