The former frontman of The Byrds really came into his own in the late '60s and early '70s, so much that many music historians now hail him a songwriting genius. Of course the genius' curse is that their greatness goes largely unnoticed in their time, and such was the case with Clark's 1974 album No Other. Before studio wizardry became a recording staple, Clark was one of the first to utilize the sonic effects, backing singers, and multi overdubbed percussion that would later become the norm. Even though it bombed following its release, years later No Other would be compared time and again to Van Morrison's Astral Weeks, perhaps because it was another rare case where the innovative production matched the stellar songwriting. And the songs here are as beautiful as they are sublime. Clark wrote the entire album from the bay window of his Mendocino home where he once stated that he would just stare out at the Pacific Ocean for hours at a time to come up with the ideas and melodies. The beauty and strength of the sea truly sounds channeled in the poetic "Silver Raven" and especially in the flowing "Strength Of Strings."