Due to their ever-growing popularity, the Clarks have re-released their 1998 live album, The Clarks Live.

Newly enhanced and remastered, the album was originally recorded back in '98 at Nick's Fat City in their hometown of Pittsburgh. Also on the re-released album are three new live tracks recorded back in July of this year during a performance at the IC Light Amphitheater in Pittsburgh.

The newly recorded songs are off of their most recent album, Let It Go, released last year. Their most popular album yet, Let It Go sold over 50,000 copies and helped expand their fan base all over the country.

For fans of a more upbeat rock sound, along the lines of Barenaked Ladies, The Clarks Live proves to be a fantastic compilation of songs that displays the best the band has to offer.

The vivacious "Mercury" kicks off the album, setting the mood for over an hour of a continuous cheerful sound. Lead singer Scott Blasey's voice will immediately remind listeners of the higher-toned melodic sound of Stroke 9's vocalist, Luke Esterkyn.

"Penny on the Floor" tells the tale of a man reflecting on a former lover who's left him behind. Easy on the ears, the song is appreciated by long-standing supporters of the band and can also be enjoyed by newer fans. The track is one of the Clarks' more well-known songs that has helped attract many of their followers over the past decade of the band's existence.

One of the newly recorded tracks, "Born Too Late," tells of Blasey's admiration for many influential and important people throughout history. "Jimi show me how you play that thing/Elvis will I ever be a king/and Jerry all the joy and love you bring/I was born to sing." The lyrics illustrate how Blasey is content with the present state of his life and career and gives reason to the band's general energetic and upbeat behavior and style.

For those looking for new Clarks material, the wait won't be long. The band is currently recording an album of all-new material set to be released in 2002.

— Reviewed by Jason Cox