The Clark Institute
Home is Where the Heart Attack is
© 2004 James Clark (775020588028)
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Singer/songwriter James Clark confronts the ghosts from his past and puts them to song under the guise of The Clark Institute... while the voices in his head sing along in harmony.
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Canadian singer/songwriter/musician James Clark confronts the ghosts from his past and puts them to song on the clark institute's second CD release, Home Is Where The Heart Attack Is.
Planting his tongue firmly in his cheek, James takes his alias from Toronto's infamous Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. James finds inspiration in his personal traumas, twisting and turning them into witty pop tunes. Whether it's the delight of returning to prison to be with "bad" friends in "Home Again", the sting of a love's infatuation with insects in "Crawl and Creep", or the shame of a high school photo resurfacing to embarrass him in "The Worst Photograph Ever Taken Of Me", James exposes his own special perspective on life and love through his music.
The seven tracks on 'Home Is Where The Heart Attack Is' cross several genres, paralleling James's personal music history. He creates solid acoustic based rock songs, but his country and pop roots show through on the CD in "No One Like Me" and "House for Sale".
In 2005 'Home is Where the Heart Attack is' received airplay on campus radio across Canada and charted in Ontario. Tracks from the CD also received airplay and widespread recognition on several internet radio stations. 'The Worst Photograph...' hit #5 on MP3unsigned.com operating out of the U.K. and the CD reached #3 on the Pop Album charts of MP3.com.au based in Australia.
A versatile artist, when James is not drawing crowds, he's drawing cartoons. His artwork appears on greeting cards, music catalogues, gig posters and websites. He is currently working on an illustrated book of his lyrics.
As tHe cLark iNstitute, James can be seen and heard in clubs around Toronto performing as a solo acoustic artist or with his four-piece backup band. He has toured extensively throughout Ontario.
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feels like a catch-up with a loveably offbeat cousin
author: Narelle JacksonIf his lyrics (said to be inspired by his own ‘personal traumas’) are taken literally - James Clark’s path has been a rocky one. Bud & Lou tells of the loss of a close friend to an overdose, Screwed on Right is about coming to terms with an anxiety disorder, and Home Again celebrates a return to lock-up. Clark’s deceptively merry way of relaying these stories feels like a catch-up with a loveably offbeat cousin, who has never quite managed to get it together. Though this album was recorded with a backing band, the focus of Clark’s sound comes back to his voice and lyrics, leaving the overriding impression of only a man and his guitar – as caricatured by Clark himself (also a cartoonist). What Clark lacks in vocal range he makes up for with his sincerity and quirkiness. Ultimately a storyteller who, finding inspiration in things like insects (Crawl & Creep) and unflattering photos (The Worst Photograph Ever Taken of Me), Clark seems to have found a creative niche to please those who like their singer/songwriters a little off-centre.
Every song a musical gem in this well crafted collection!
author: Henry Van Der LindeA combination of solid song writing and musicianship that you haven't heard now in quite a few years, every song is a small polished gem. His influences, the great Rock/Pop artists of the past are all obviously there in the music but the album remains fresh and uniquely his own work. Do yourself a favour and pick this one up, you'll actually find yourself singing the songs to yourself afterwards which is more than I can say for most of the overproduced modern pop "product" on the shelves...