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Fans Album Reviews For:

THE CLASH
(3 reviews sent in so far)

London Calling
by Darius Henry
December 22, 2009
Rating: 9.0

For awhile, I love listening to the Clash. I’ve heard so many Clash songs and they were all great. So I bought London Calling. I’ve heard many great things about this album, saying that this is the best album of the '80s (despite the fact that it was released in 1979, therefore it is not a 1980s album). Boy was I hugely disappointed by this album. Don’t get me wrong, this is an excellent album. But it is way far than the best album of all time. And since this is a double album (actually it just one CD, but two LPs), I’ll keep my review as short as possible.

This album starts off with the title track, which is one of the best songs the Clash has ever done. It’s a great way to start this album. Great song about nuclear error. Great bassline and guitar guitars. Love the vocals. The next song, “Brand New Cadillac”, is a great Rock & Roll cover of Vince Taylor (a guy who inspired David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust). Love the guitar on here and love the vocals. “Jimmy Jazz” is when this album goes into the wrong direction. I still like the sax and the piano, but there’s not much into this song. “Hateful” is another great Punk song. Great Bo Diddley rhythm. “Rudie Can’t Fail” is a reggae song that a lot of people love, but I truly dislike. I mean, it’s great when you’re skateboarding, but that’s about it. “Spanish Bomb” is another song that I truly like for unknown reason. Maybe it’s because it sounds more Punk than any other songs on this album. Great story about Spanish Civil War. “The Right Profile” is another excellent song about a fallen actor named Montgomery Clift. Love the saxophone in this song. “Lost in the Supermarket” is another song that I like. Love the bass on here and love Jones vocal on here as well. “Clampdown” is one of my favorite songs on here. Great lyrics about fighting the status quo. Great guitars on here and love the vocals between Strummer & Jones. “Guns of Brixton” is a reggae song by bass player, Paul Simonon. Many people love this song, but it is one of my least favorite on here. IDK, I guess this album sounds a lot like reggae and I’m not too much of a fan of reggae.

“Wrong Em Boyo” is an excellent tale of the old story, Stagger Lee. It sounds little more reggae than punk, but still a great song. The vocal is cool. “Death or Glory” is another song that a lot of people like, but I’m not a huge fan of. I like the music, but not a big fan of the vocals or the lyrics. “Koka Kola” is a cool song. A little bit too short, but it’s still a good song. “Card Cheat” is a strong fan-favorite. I admit, it’s a cool song with its excellent piano, but it certainly not my favorite on here. “Lover Rock” is another cool love song. I definitely love the music on here, especially the ending. Strummer’s vocal is cool. “Four Horsemen” is a cool song every now and then. “I’m Not Down” is a great Punk song that I truly love. Love the middle section and love the whole song. Love the vocals by Jones and love the drumming. I truly dig the guitar. “Revolution Rock” is one of the weakest songs on here and I can honestly say thank God this isn’t the last song on the LP. It’s still an OK reggae song, but there not much to it. This album actually ends with a hidden track, “Train in Vain”. It’s a great song, though I disagree that this is one of the Clash’s best. Still, great vocal by Jones.

OK, maybe this album is not bad. As a matter of fact, this is an excellent album. It is still overrated and it is not a masterpiece. But it’s certainly a must-have album.

London Calling
by palacerevolution
July 29, 2003
Rating: 10.0

An absolute masterpiece. The Clash's "Exile". Not as hardcore punk, and not yet the dub, reggae feels from Sandinista. Straight good rock with horns. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones both sing lead. Great diversity in the writing: anthemic rock in "London Calling", "Clampdown", "Four Horsemen", "Death Or Glory". Dubgrooves in Paul Simonon's "Brixton", "Lover's Rock" and "Rudy Can't Fail". the horns are used very well in "Right Profile", the droll "Jimmy Jazz" and the irresistible "Revolution Rock". My personal faves are "Card Cheat" with  Jones testifying as well as a British white boy can, the cool "Brand New Cadillac" and the "Spanish (???)" "Spanish Bombs". Very tight rhythm section through the album with Topper all over the place. Inventive and original drummer from the Reggae school. Simonon, one of the premier bassists of the time. Jones hard, edgy and cutting on leads and making more and more of a mark as a writer. Joe Strummer, one of the best Rockfrontmen ever.

To listen to some sound clips from London Calling or to buy it, click on: London Calling or London Calling (Bonus Tracks) (w/ Bonus DVD)

The Clash (US Version)
by There There
November 5, 2004
Rating: 10.0

When people are listing off the greatest albums of all time, it is extremely rare for this album to pass through someone's lips. If the Clash make a list at all, the album in question is usually London Calling. Of course, that album is also a perfect 10, but I think that the Clash's debut album deserves more recognition. Not only is this a ballsy and bold album, but the riffs are awesome, the message is clear and the band isn't afraid of anything. Such anthems as "I'm So Bored with the USA", "White Riot", "Clash City Rockers" and "London's Burning" are precursors to the apocalyptic songs on London Calling. But the album isn't completely comprised of politic punk anthems. The Clash's reggae influences are already apparent this early in their career, as seen in songs like "I Fought the Law" and "Police & Thieves" (which packs one of my favorite bass lines ever). Simply put, the Clash are one of the greatest bands ever to grace this Earth and their debut album proves why they are so fondly remembered as punk pioneers. They dared to bring up topics other bands wouldn't touch and they did in damn catchy songs that will have you pumping your fist and searching for an authority figure to piss off.

To listen to some sound clips from The Clash or to buy it, click on: The Clash [US] or The Clash [UK]

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