I'm generally very patient whenever I have to wait for something. When it's for something not so fun - a doctor's appointment delayed, for example - I figure it will come eventually, so no big deal. I read, think, write and wait. When it's something pleasant, I tell myself it will be a pleasure whenever the big day is actually here, so I just look forward to it in a general way. I don't waste time and energy thinking things like: "I wish it were xyz date already!"
Now, as we know, May 6th is the date that Clay's upcoming album, On My Way Here, will drop. We have known this for a while, and I was very zen about it all, until just recently. Thinking - "right, early May, well, that's nice". Then... Amazon.com put online snippets of all 12 songs from the new album... and all of a sudden, I'm so excited! Looking forward to May 6th, planning when and where I will go to get my copy of the CD. Listening to the snippets over and over again. Deciding which ones are my favourites. Falling for Clay, once again. He never ceases to amaze me - and yes, in my opinion, he is still absolutely, far and away the best male vocalist of our times.
Amazon.com had the right idea - just giving us enough to enjoy and long for The Voice once again... teasers! On My Way Here is giving me chills of happiness, and so far, it feels like it might be my favourite Clay album yet. There is something hauntingly beautiful and moving about each of the songs on this album, as well as the overall album itself. It works. It holds together well, is mature and wise, though somewhat sad, in my opinion. From what I know of Clay these days, the message of this album truly reflects where he is and who he has become. It feels like Clay is speaking to us, generously sharing his feelings, his thoughts, his fears and hopes. In some ways, it almost feels like it's too intimate, as though I were seeing right into Clay's heart and soul. Because of that, I feel the need to protect him and this album, such that I don't want to hear negative feedback about it. I want to avoid like the plague, sources of anti-Clay talk or negativity. Clay is a beautiful soul and he's giving us a gift with this album. That's all I need.
One of my favourite lines, from the title track, is: "faith has conquered fear". It seems to me, from what I know and have heard of On My Way Here, that phrase sums it all up. Clay has dealt with a number of horrendous, challenging situations in the past few years, as well as good things like the love from us fans. He went through a time of great sadness and a sense of fear and overwhelm. He is still looking and longing for true love. And he has grown from all these experiences and feelings, moving through and beyond these challenges to reach a certain serenity. What a Measure Of a Man is our Clay!
Many of the songs on the upcoming album pull at my heartstrings, whether through the lyrics, the music or both. In particular:
- - On My Way Here - "I wouldn't change what I've been through... I did what I had to, on my way here"
- - Ashes - "...so I can rise up from the ashes"
- - Falling - "trying to hold on to something for so long"
- - The Real Me - "but you see the real me"
- - Weight of the World - "everybody gets down, down, down"
- - As Long As We're Here - "As long as we're here, alive on this earth, I'm gonna love you, for all that it's worth"
- - Grace of God - "there's gotta be some rhyme or reason why we turn away"
- - Lover All Alone - "on my own, it's hard to tell my heart it'll be all right"
- - the snippets on Amazon.com.
- - on Clay's offical Website, listen to the full title track from the album, On My Way Here
- - a video of Clay in studio singing "On My Way Here"
- - and for your viewing pleasure: pictures from the album photo shoot, online at Clay's MySpace page. I love the wistful picture of Clay from behind, with him looking out over the Hudson river and New York City. But my favourite picture is still the album cover picture, as I wrote in my last blogpost
-- ClayKat
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