the james clark institute at IndieHeart Independent Music Showcase

Artist: the james clark institute

Click to Pop Up Player and Listen While You Surf

Full of sardonic bite and heartfelt sadness, the new james clark institute record is an exorcism of emotions felt after a long term relationship went south. What began merely as a therapeutic exercise in the fall of 2005, ‘Sideshow Unattraction’ took shape in early 2006 after 25 songs had been written. Conjuring up the same spirit as John Lennon’s ‘Walls and Bridges’; Frank Sinatra’s ‘In The Wee Small Hours’; Beck’s ‘Sea Change’ and Bob Dylan’s ‘Blood On The Tracks’, this farewell record to a lost lover/friend will be released in May 2008. Taking the sideshow theme one step further, James spent the late winter months of ’08 painting a full size 9’x6’sideshow banner reminiscent of the ones used in the vintage days of the freak shows. Incorporating several images and characters that are found in the new songs, the banner will be used as a backdrop for James’ live shows.

Contrary to what the name suggests, the james clark institute is only one person. Singer/songwriter James Clark, while confronting the ghosts from his past, puts them to song and twists and turns them into witty pop tunes. His strong songwriting sensibilities have been compared to Neil Finn; Elvis Costello; and Warren Zevon.

It was as a young boy in suburban Toronto, listening to his brother’s Beatles and Monkees records that the idea of playing music struck him. That desire was solidified when his father arrived home from his job at a toy manufacturing plant with a makeshift drum kit he had built out of industrial drums covered in a psychedelic plush wrap. When James wasn’t banging on those drums, he could often be found scribbling down the little songs that he was writing in his head. But it wasn’t until the death of his father years later that he began to take his songwriting seriously. He taught himself guitar and became much more introspective lyrically.

While spending six years as the drummer for Toronto’s western
Surf band The Sin-Tones, James was also busy writing songs of his own, some of which would eventually end up on 2004’s ‘Home is Where the Heart Attack is’. In 2005 that record received airplay on campus radio across Canada and charted in Ontario. Tracks from the CD also received considerable airplay and widespread recognition on internet radio stations around the world. The song ‘The Worst Photograph Ever Taken Of Me’ 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.

.

Artist Rating: the james clark institute has a rating of 4.00 based on 2 vote(s).

Members:

james clark

Location:

AMERICA NORTH: Canada: Ontario

Genre:

Rock

Send Artist An Email

Visit This Artist's Website

Click Here to View The Photo Gallery

Fans, Friends, and Favorites

jill no jack

The Sugar Dames

Will Derryberry

» Song Info, Lyrics, and Free Downloads (if available) «

» Lake Monona Last Night

Genre:

Folk Rock

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Unreleased

Credits:

James Clark

Download:

Get This Free Song Download Now!

Lyrics:

Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics

Image: WI-00200-C~Greetings-from-Madison-Wisconsin-Posters.jpg

Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
A twin engine Beachcraft in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of souls soul.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.

My heart sank in Lake Monona last night.
She made me walk the plank on Lake Monona last night.
She said to quote the song, shed been loving me too long.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.

Down down down like a song in the charts.
His crown was found by some record sharks.

My heart drowned in Lake Monona last night.
Not to be found in Lake Monona last night.
Submerged, it succumbed, like the silencing of Mr. Jacksons drums.

Down down down like this song in the charts.
His crown was found by some record sharks.

Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
Something crashed in Lake Monona last night.
December waters are cold, Lord have mercy on the king of souls soul.

Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.
Something crashed, something crashed.

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» House for Sale

Genre:

Pop

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Home Is Where The Heart Attack Is

Download:

Get This Free Song Download Now!

Lyrics:

Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics

Leave the grease and grime and erect a sign.
Drive it straight through my heart then you drive away the car.
Without me without you, things have come unglued,
And I get the feeling the ceiling's falling in on me...

In this house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood.
There's a house for sale, you know I'd stay if I could.
But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough,
'Cause there was never any love in this house for sale.

No electricity just like between you and me.
I'm in the dark with my ears, sounds like I've been there for years.
Now with eyes wide open I see a happy home that's broken,
And I get the feeling the ceiling's coming down on me...

In this house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood.
There's a house for sale, you know I'd stay if I could.
But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough,
"Cause there was never any love in this house for sale.

You need a change of address.
I need a change from this stress.
Home is where the heart... home is where the heart...
Home is where the heart attack is!

Without you, without me, the white picket fence is peeling,
And I cannot stop this feeling oh no, oh no!

In a house for sale in a very pleasant neighbourhood.
There's a house for sale, you know I'd stay if I could.
But there's just too many bad memories that hit me rough,
'Cause there was never any love, no there was never any love
Well there was never any love in this house for sale.

James Clark

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» Bud & Lou

Genre:

Indie

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Home Is Where The Heart Attack Is

Label:

Independent

Credits:

James Clark

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» I Breathe You

Genre:

Indie

Not Yet Rated

CD:

The Land That Tim Forgot

Label:

Independent

Credits:

James Clark

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» What Katy-did

Genre:

Pop

Not Yet Rated

CD:

The Land That Tim Forgot

Label:

Independent

Credits:

James Clark

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» Monstrous

Genre:

Folk Rock

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Sideshow Unattraction

Label:

none

Credits:

James Clark

Download:

Get This Free Song Download Now!

Lyrics:

Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics

MONSTROUS

The bees are bad this year. They buzz around my beer.
Making it hard to appear sincere but I am.
The stewardess was there. She let down her hair.
She was putting on airs though she was firmly on land.

Cindy Sherman’s ears must be burning.
This fairy tale’s turning monstrous.

In a cab on Williamson, it all came back with a grin.
While I reached in for $15.50.
‘Neil Young’s Greatest Hits’, and R.E.M. on cassette.
The soundtrack I won’t soon forget, believe me.

Cindy Sherman’s ears must be burning,
This fairy tale’s turning monstrous

You share the same qualities as the damsel in distress.
I wear the same monogrammed handkerchief as Jesus.

Yesterday I sat in a Vaughn Road Laundromat,
Accepting that that is that and washing you away.

Cindy Sherman’s ears must be burning.
This fairy tale’s turning monstrous.
Monstrous….Monstrous.

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» Nonetheless Happy

Genre:

Folk Rock

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Sideshow Unattraction

Label:

None

Credits:

James Clark

Download:

Get This Free Song Download Now!

Lyrics:

Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics

Nonetheless Happy

It’s the end of September, it’s the end of an error.
We put the game pieces away.
Attempts have all failed to get myself out of jail.
You took the money and away…

…you went tired and spent but nonetheless happy.

It seems you have a new opponent, one I have never met.
I’m not the competitive kind.
No strategy is the word; it’s why I’m always in third,
Almost every single time…

I play, a sore loser but hey you’re nonetheless happy.

While I’m nonetheless empty, nonetheless destitute.
Nonetheless bereft of anything remotely cute.
Nonetheless broken and I’m nonetheless blue,
And I’m nonetheless in love with you.

It’s August 12th, I’m back on the shelf.
Popamatic trouble indeed!
I’m off the board and your winning score
Has brought me more trouble than I need…

…today but I guess I’ll find a way to be nonetheless happy.
Nonetheless happy.

Meanwhile I’m nonetheless empty, nonetheless destitute.
Nonetheless bereft of anything remotely cute.
Nonetheless disheveled and I’m nonetheless blue,
And I’m nonetheless in love with you.
Nonetheless in love with you.

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» Sleeping In My Favourite Shirt

Genre:

Rock

Not Yet Rated

CD:

Sideshow Unattraction

Label:

none

Credits:

James Clark

Download:

Get This Free Song Download Now!

Lyrics:

Click To View Or Hide Song Lyrics

Sleeping In My Favourite Shirt

I can’t remember the last time the drapes were pulled,
Open to reveal the outside world,
And let the sun warm these shattered nerves.

I can’t remember the last time the sheets were washed.
I can’t remember the last time the teeth were flossed.
I can’t forget when and what I lost.

Now I’m sleeping in my favourite shirt.
I keep having dreams where I don’t hurt.
Sleeping in the bed I made,
And I’ll be sleeping for a thousand days,
Sleeping for a thousand days in my favourite shirt.

It’s been a long time since my face last showed up,
Reflected in your best plates and cups.
These days they’re down in the sink with my luck.

Because I’m sleeping and nothing is better.
When I’m sleeping there’s no better place.
If I’m slumbering the reasons are out numbering the creases on my face!

La la la la, la la la la la. La la la la, la la la la la.
Lullabies and good riddance.

‘Cause I’m sleeping in my favourite shirt.
I keep having dreams where I don’t hurt.
Sleeping in a bed I made,
And I’ll be sleeping for a thousand days.
Sleeping for a thousand days in my favourite shirt.

The neighbour’s dog howls outside my window.
Amongst the grass that remains unmowed.
And I’m oblivious to the world I used to know.

‘Cause I’m sleeping in my favourite shirt.
I keep having dreams where I don’t hurt.
Sleeping in a bed I made,
And I’ll be sleeping for a thousand days, sleeping for a thousand days.
Sleeping for a million days, sleeping for a billion days,
Sleeping for a zillion days,
Sleeping in my favourite shirt.

0 Reviews View/Hide or Add Review

» Messages From Fans And Friends «

jill no jack

10/08/07 23:00

Heyo James! I hope the trip to BC was nourishing to the soul, restful, energizing, and enriched with many pop-tarts. Because I want to hear that new CD soon. So get on it, would you? (Am I a pest or what?)

Jill

Username: Password: Remember Me I Forgot My Password \| Coming Soon: Create a Listener Page and Join The Fun!
Search Options: Search For: