Clutch

Clutch is one band that music listeners either love or hate, and lead singer Neil Fallon admits that it has to do with his sense of humor. Fallon has this innate ability to meld humorous and intelligent lyrics over a bed of guitar-driven, funk-laden rock, something he established on Clutch's 1993 album Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes and Undeniable Truths. "A Shogun Named Marcus" is a prime example: It's the story of a "New World samurai, and a redneck nonetheless." The best lyrics are a bunch of nonsense in the middle of the song: "Beebopalloobopawopshamboo/And domo arigato if I got to." Clutch's latest CD, Blast Tyrant, continues the humor.

"I think that's one reason some people really like us or really have no use for us," Fallon says. "There's a sense of humor to the lyrics that some people like to hear. For other people, heavy rock is a deathly serious thing and there should be no fun involved. To each their own."