Since its formation in 1991, the band line-up has included Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Tim Sult (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Maines (bass, backing vocals) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion). To date, Clutch has released thirteen studio albums, and several rarities and live albums. Since 2008 the band have been signed to their own record label, Weathermaker.
Clutch (originally called “Glut Trip” and stemmed from “Moral Minority”) was formed in 1991 by Dan Maines (bass), Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), Tim Sult (guitar), and Roger Smalls (vocals) in Germantown, Maryland. Smalls soon departed and was replaced by Neil Fallon, a longtime schoolmate of the other members at Seneca Valley High School. The band quickly gained notice through constant touring. The 12" single “Passive Restraints” on the Earache label was Clutch’s first commercial release, garnering attention from other labels. Their debut LP, Transnational Speedway League, was released in 1993. It was followed by a self-titled album two years later that gained Clutch mainstream exposure. The band moved to the larger Columbia label for the 1998 album The Elephant Riders. They followed it in 1999 with a self-released groove-based album Jam Room.
On April 28, 2009 Clutch released Slow Hole to China, a collection of unreleased tracks.
On June 10, 2012, the band released a new single, “Pigtown Blues”, on iTunes, backed with an acoustic version of “Motherless Child” from Strange Cousins from the West.
On March 16, 2013 Clutch released their tenth album Earth Rocker which entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #15 giving Clutch their highest chart position to date. It would remain on the chart for a total of 5 weeks. The album also reached #4 on iTunes’ overall Top 100 album charts and was #1 in their rock chart. Earthrocker won “Album of the Year” 2013 from British publication Metalhammer, and was rated highly on many rock/metal magazines’ and websites’ end-of-the-year “Top Tens”.
In an interview on January 7, 2015 with music and entertainment company 88 Miles West, Fallon stated that the band was heading to Dripping Springs, Texas, to record their upcoming eleventh album. Fallon states the venture to Texas was due to the relocation of record producer Machine, with whom they worked on Blast Tyrant and Earth Rocker, and who recently opened a new studio there. He stated in the interview that “Septemberish, give or take a couple of months” is when they hope to release the new album.
Their eleventh studio album is titled Psychic Warfare, and was released October 2, 2015. Fallon said the concept is influenced by science fiction author Philip K. Dick. “His general philosophy and questions have always crept into my lyrics, because I share an interest in it,” he adds. “On Earth Rocker, ‘Crucial Velocity’ was definitely a Philip Dick song for me. On this record, ‘X-Ray Visions’ certainly is.”. Gaster described the new material as more diverse than ever.
In April 2018, Neil Fallon announced through the radio station The Eagle Rocks that the band's twelfth studio album would be titled Book of Bad Decisions. The album will be released on September 7, 2018. The album was recorded at Sputnik Sound Studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and engineer Vance Powell.
On November 13, 2020 Released The Weathermaker Studios Vol. 1. A collection of re-recorded hits and 4 unreleased covers and songs.
On September 16,2022 Clutch released their 13th Studio album: Sunrise on Slaughter Beach.
Between 2004-2018 Clutch created seven straight top 10 releases on Billboard’s Independent Album Chart.
Neil Fallon – vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, keyboards, percussion
Tim Sult – lead guitar
Dan Maines – bass guitar
Jean-Paul Gaster – drums, percussion
Hustle
Clutch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Master arithmeticness, light it up, light it up.
I got the heat in both feets, snake handler's hands.
Come back with slickness and do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
An international phenomenon, light it up, light it up.
I cause eclipses with a wave of the hand.
Let them hang in ellipses and do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
I got your number. I steal your thunder.
I got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm.
I drive out daemons. Can I hear an Amen?
Now say my name.
Lay hands on screaming heathens. And do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
The lyrics of Clutch’s song Hustle depict a confident and self-assured narrator who boasts about his smooth and subtle charm, which he refers to as his “hustle.” He states that he is capable of quickly picking up new skills (“pick it up, pick it up”) and has a mastery of arithmetic (“master arithmeticness”). The singer further claims to possess a unique talent for handling dangerous snakes, exhibiting both bravery and confidence. He repeats that he is able to do it all again with the same slickness.
Furthermore, the singer is now the media’s darling, and he believes that he is an international phenomenon (“an international phenomenon, light it up, light it up”). He can also effortlessly cause a solar eclipse with a wave of his hand and creates an ellipsis with his actions that leads him to do it again with the same subtle hustle.
In the final stanza, the singer reveals that he has a tattoo of his mother's maiden name on his arm, portraying his devotion and love towards his family. He can drive out daemons with his touch and even lays hands on screaming heathens. He concludes by repeating that he lets his subtle hustle ride on smoothly like his mother's butter.
Overall, the song "Hustle" describes the singer's charismatic nature, his confidence in himself, his ability to pick up new skills and handle any dangerous situation. It also speaks of his love for his family and the power he has over anyone when he uses his hustle.
Line by Line Meaning
Back again with a quickness, pick it up, pick it up.
I'm back again quickly, let's pick up the pace.
Master arithmeticness, light it up, light it up.
I'm good with numbers, let's get this started.
I got the heat in both feets, snake handler's hands.
I'm skilled and have the energy to handle tough situations.
Come back with slickness and do it all again.
I'll come back with more skill and confidence to do it again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
My approach to success is subtle but effective like butter from a loving mother.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
I continue to let my success ride on my own skills and hard work.
Now I'm the media's darling, pick it up, pick it up.
I'm now the media's favorite, let's continue to make headlines.
An international phenomenon, light it up, light it up.
I'm an international success, let's keep up the momentum.
I cause eclipses with a wave of the hand.
I have tremendous power and influence with just a small gesture.
Let them hang in ellipses and do it all again.
Let the competition wait in suspense as I continue to succeed.
I got your number. I steal your thunder.
I know your secrets and I steal your spotlight.
I got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm.
I know everything about you, even your mother's maiden name.
I drive out daemons. Can I hear an Amen?
I have the power to overcome any obstacle or challenge. Can I get some support?
Now say my name.
Acknowledge my excellence and success.
Lay hands on screaming heathens. And do it all again.
I have the power to silence my critics and continue to succeed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAN MAINES, JEAN-PAUL GASTER, NEIL FALLON, RICHARD TIMOTHY SULT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bowragak
Back again with a quickness, pick it up, pick it up.
Master arithmeticness, light it up, light it up.
I got the heat in both feets, snake handler's hands.
Come back with slickness and do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
Now I'm the media's darling, pick it up, pick it up.
An international phenomenon, light it up, light it up.
I cause eclipses with a wave of the hand.
Let them hang in ellipses and do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
I got your number. I steal your thunder.
I got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm.
I drive out daemons. Can I hear an Amen?
Now say my name.
Lay hands on screaming heathens. And do it all again.
My subtle hustle, smooth as mother's butter.
I let it ride on, I let it ride on.
@yoursatan
I wrecked my car to this song... I was on my way home from work, The same road I have driven literally thousand times before! I just forget to take the corner... I was so busy singing and dancing that I forgot to keep my hands on the steering wheel... I went nose-first into a pond, Broke a rib, my left arm and had a big concussion. I learned one thing! As long as you listen to Clutch in a crash, you won't die!
@sterlingjackson2165
Ride on ride on!
@rangusj
smooth as mother's butter, brother
@BigWheel.
Dayum.
@insertpithycomment
Met Neil a few times, 1st he gave me a Guiness, then offered me food...the other guys offered me other stuff. Very down to earth.
@serenityMMM
I'm a relatively new Clutch fan........I'm addicted....can't get enough...........thanks
@ArtRockBS
This song is awesome.And this is one of best rock cd ever
@jellydibby
this is by FAR the best song by clutch. no matter how many times i listen to other shit, i always come back to this<3
@gentelmanjunkie542
Still jams as hard as the day it first dropped. Daaaaaaaaaaaamn.
@KainCooper
I only started listening to them about a week ago and I can't stop!