The Bakerton Group

It's Clutch without the vocals (save for a brief part from Neil Fallon on "Work 'Em"), which means The Bakerton Group are free to work those heavy blues jams for all they're worth on sophomore album El Rojo. The self-titled debut surprised a lot of people for not only the out of this world musicianship and funked out sensibilities, but also for just how easily digested it could be. Let's face it, instrumental efforts typically only captivate a certain segment of the diehard rock community, but The Bakerton Group makes it impossible to control involuntary bouts of toe-tapping, head bobbing, and rump shaking.

This time the boys have enlisted the services of Opeth keyboard wiz Per Wiberg who drenches the compositions in molten organ lava, while the appearance of some equally white-hot saxophone playing really brings out the sleazy funk and sultry swing. Equal parts electric Miles Davis and Allman Brothers instrumental acid trips, El Rojo exemplifies the real muscle behind so many great Clutch albums. The smoke will rise when the play button is pushed.

—Scott Alisoglu
03.03.09