The Clash
November 23, 2006
"The Clash (US Ed.)" by The Clash
1979
One of punk rock's defining statements and one of the best rock albums of its era (for my money the US edition is better, but the argument is null as both are readily available in some form or other. This review is focusing on the US edition, as that's the one I'm listening to on vinyl while writing this), this album proved a few things that needed to be proved at the time: "Punk" did not automatically equate to "amateur"; rock music still had something interesting to say; The Clash were one of the best rock bands alive. Taken out of its historical context, the album is still a powerful piece of work. Opening with the solid "Clash City Rockers" then going straight for the throat with "I'm So Bored With the U.S.A." (and its wonderfully anthemic chorus), the album's track listing is like a litany of British punk rock's greatest hits. From the devastating "(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais" to the reggae bounce of "Police & Thieves," the band covers more ground on this album then most punk bands would in their entire catalogs, yet it never feels forced and all of it is tied together by fierce blasts of rock 'n' roll. "White Riot" and "Janie Jones" are almost danceable, while the hyperactive "London's Burning" is one of the best rockers of the early punk era. Their astounding cover of Sonny Curtis' "I Fought the Law" approaches rock perfection and is heads and tales above any other version of the song (it also shows the band's, or more specifically Joe Strummer's, obsession with 1950s/early 1960s rock that would come to a head on "London Calling"). Anyone interested in punk will get to this album eventually.
[ Back to Review-o-Matic menu ]
This page is part of www.zombieunderground.net. If you're not seeing a menu on the left, please click here to reload.
Everything on this site is the © author (please see the "About" section).