Reviews (page 8 of 14)
There’s a 5 star album in here if they cleaned up the track list a little
🤘 I too, am lost in the supermarket.
9.5 Defo one of those albums that changed me. First punk album I ever heard and I’d never enjoyed anything that sounded so ugly and messy before. Feel like a lot of the impact it had on me bled into a lot of later things I got into and changed the way I felt about a lot of other things I enjoyed. Formative! Still think the closing 4 songs are my fave album exit ever. Shame about brand new Cadillac tho.
If I were asked “what rock album do you recommend listening to this” I’d probably answer this album. It’s a fascinatingly interesting album with great hits and an overall high quality across it. Third time listening to this album tho LMAO
What an album, these British ska punk rockers know how to define a genre. Usually, not a big punk fan, but there is something about these guys that creates such fun and engaging music. The drummer, Headon, is incredible and is instrumental to this album's glory. Need to give my praise to Lost in the Supermarket, underrated hit.
Great album. Very approachable and easy listening for a punk band. A lot of different styles are covered here, but with attitude and some grit.
Great album
These guys took some punk and used it to write timeless songs and helped forge the 80s. Thanks, y'all.
I really enjoy early punk and seeing the evolution of the sound.
Good album. Will write more
Nearly all great tracks
Great album - super easy and enjoyable listen. Loved the reggae and funk elements to it. A very solid classic album that feels definitively like a classic to listen to.
Album No. 0024 on my list. "London Calling" is one of the albums I definitely have mixed feelings about. On the one hand, I don't particularly like many of the songs on it. On the other hand, there are some of the greatest songs of all time on this (especially the title track). Then again, I don't particularly like the overall sound of the album. Yet, I'm fully aware of its great influence and significance. By far the greatest track on this album is - of course - the aforementioned title track. "London Calling" is, to me, one of the greatest songs of all time. Other songs that I particularly like are "Brand New Cadillac", "Spanish Bombs", and of course "Train in Vain". The rest of the songs are not particularly bad, but I also don't enjoy most of them - especially in the latter half of the album, things got a little redundant for me. In summary, I still have divided opinion about this album and am not sure whether it holds up to its great reputation. Yet again, there are certainly some incredible songs on this, so it's still a 4/5 for me.
Absolute classic
Pretty good album. I feel like I'll need to revisit 'Inlisten' several more times.
Pretty, pretty, pretty good. Pretty good.
Fun listen, glad to have given it a try
Liked it. Jimmy Jazz was good.
I wish I'd heard this album when it first came out. It wasn't what I expected. Punk - but so many other things too. Almost the polar opposite of the Sex Pistols. They could play their instruments for a start. I'm not sure it's 5 standard and I think in a fight I'd back the Stranglers but this is still pretty good.
Shocked to find so many influences throughout, Blues, Raggae, Pop. End-to-end 3 minute catchy tunes, although Strummer's naggy punk voice kinda wears halfway through. I've only ever know their hits. Glad an intentional listen opened up this classic album for me.
I think there's a 5 star album buried amongst the chaff. But in the balance it comes out closer to 3.5.
I like The Clash. I have paid money for most of their albums. But this album is overrated. That's not to say it's not good. Just over-hyped. Some of the reviews on here say every song is perfect and nothing could be removed. As for me, I start getting bored in the 2nd half of the album. The songs in the latter half aren't bad, but they're not amazing either. If this double album had been released as two albums, I might give the first half 5 stars and the second half 3. Overall, 4 stars.
Wow I like the Clash way more than I thought. London calling isn’t actually like the rest of the album?!
arguably top 3 british bands
Definitely a very influential album.
Punk rock reggae. Who would have thought. Amazing album. 4.5/5
London Calling, Hateful
En af de bedste punk albums nogensinde
Man, goes to show preconceived notions can be wrong. Not that I thought this would be bad, but of the little I know of The Clash, I was expecting just standard old-school punk, similar to Ramones or The Sex Pistols, just better. And it being a double (although a short double), I thought that would wear thin past the 30 minute mark. But almost immediately, they go off the rails and launch into a bunch of different styles and genres, whether its surf punk, new wave, post-punk, reggae, ska, etc. Just all around fantastic stuff. Great little licks, production ideas, added instruments everywhere to really flesh it out. Even on the punk songs like Clampdowm which does sound like a song that wouldn't be out of a place on a Ramones record, there's guitar licks, cowbells, synths and whatnot that'd never get in a hypothetical Ramones version. I will say, it still does run a tad long, but great album.
So much going on in this album. Listened through twice and I feel like i have barely touched the sides! Obviously knew a few tracks already, but id never listened right through start to finish and I really enjoyed the experience. Really raw sounding with so many different genres / styles, but it all comes together beautifully. Each track sounds like it could have inspired the sound of a different band. Its not just punk - its funk, ska, reggae, rock and roll, indie. There is brass. There are really modern sounding guitar solos. Some lovely organ, crunchy guitar, tight drums. Some of the melodies are so recognisable even though ive never heard the songs before which makes me think that parts of these songs have likely been 'borrowed' many times. Favourite tracks - i loved Rudie Can't Fail followed by Spanish Bombs. I'm Not Down is great and I really liked Lost in the Supermarket. Great listen 9/10
total vibe, can't remember a single song but would listen again.
Own it.
One of the best album covers of all time Great stuff, just a little too long, could have a little bit of fat trimmed
alrighht
Brilliant album, still holds up. A few less amazing tracks but the nostalgia carries through
On makee levy. Laulaja ei osaa oikein laulaa eikä lausuakaan, mutta biisit ovat tasokkaita kuten myös sanomapuoli. Nimikkobiisi on heikoimmasta päästä levyn lauluista
Imagine if you were so creative and such a good musician that you could break out of a "writer's block slump" with a double album spanning multiple genres with varied riffs, instrumentation, etc, for your casual third album in as many years! If only the singer didn't sound like he just got a novacaine shot in his tongue, and they cut out some of the "pretty good" tracks in the middle, this would be a 5. Maybe on repeated listens it'll get up there. A solid sonic onslaught of 65 minutes.
Yep. Obviously, this is on the list.
Is good
Can’t beat the clash!
Undisputably legendary, but falls flat for me a lot of the time. When it slaps, it slaps, though
I found this one pretty enjoyable.
We’re than I remembered. I’d always liked the rockabilly of Brand New Cadillac but found Strummer’s vocals a bit grating over a whole album. Well, more fool younger me as it’s an album full of playful musicianship and righteous anger. Just clicked for me on this playthrough, not sure why. Good stuff.
Fun album, managed to feel varied throughout. Would definitely listen again although I think it’s one where I need to be in the right mood. Fav song: London Calling - also liked Jimmy Jazz, The Card Cheat and Train in Vain Least fav: Koka Kola
Think this got bonus points because I listened to it while in London. Some of the early songs weren’t my favourite but a really strong finish. Also love the one that riddle kicks sampled. Specific rating- 4.0 Fav song- London calling Least fav- the card cheat
Just a really good album which manages to be varied without ever feeling disconnected. There were a few moments of repetitivity and some songs where the talk-singing annoyed me. A lot of songs that I'll be listening to again! Favourite song: Hateful (or Wrong 'Em Boyo) Least: The Right Profile
Had some good, catchy songs on it I suppose
Довольно разнообразно, есть весёленькие песни, но чего-то из ряда вон я не услышал.
Aye I'm back and so is a punk album! Okay last clash didn't do much to disprove me on only needing their greatest hits but this is The The Clash Album right. So let's go. I am finding that I Love an album that opens with its lead single. I guess you can't really know when releasing music what will become your best known song but it just really works for me idk do your best ig. I love the clash's style of ska it blends in really well with their more conventional shouters and also the like faux rockabilly thing they've got going on in places. Love the mix of influences honestly it makes for a fun experience but one that you've got to be in the mood for. The right profile is a mad one. 'I wasn't born so much as I fell out' yep. Joe Strummers Voice!!!!!! 'Who are your favourite vocalists? This soul singer? This classically trained singer songwriter type?' Well one of them is this shouting boy with ten nationalities and a lisp Is it petering out a bit somewhere round the card cheat... like nothing wrong with these songs in and of themselves but could they have pared it down a bit.. idk.. I'm appreciating all this random percussion on lovers rock. I'm not down also a banger if a bit twee.. maybe ignore me. Yeah okay I was talking shit with the greatest hits wasn't i. Banger. Tbh like I love it but I'm surprised its got as high an average rating as it has. Like I can see why people would hate this. I don't its fuckin good.
This was excellent I have to say. I only managed a single listen as it was pretty long, but each song sounded distinct and clever and original. On some albums the songs tend to drift into one massive clump that sounds very similar. I definitely need more listens but super impressed.
Many moons ago I met my better half and seeing her room in staff accommodation for the first time I was impressed by her selection of music posters - Joy Division, Led Zeppelin and The Clash - London Calling. Jackpot, she’s beautiful, showed interest in me AND had a great taste in music. For Christmas I bought her a selection of CDs inspired by her poster selection. Turns out it was 3 for £10 from HMV and were used to decorate her room as the colour aesthetic matched. Still, I’d already invested in the CDs so 15 years later we’ve got a house and 2 kids. Decent album. Worth the debt and financial commitment of children - 5/5
Familiar with London Calling and their style. It was fun, I enjoyed it.
Let me start with this, one of my favorite album covers but never listened to the album before today. I enjoyed this one a lot, even more the second time as Im currently listening to it for the second time. Lots of songs to love and they dip their toes in many different genres, this makes the album very interesting to listen to. This will be an album I revisit multiple times and im glad i got to listen to it. Favorites: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, Spanish Bombs
Prior to listening to this album I only knew a few radio singles by the Clash. I loved this album and have a newfound affection for this band. This is what makes the 1001 album project so enjoyable. Thanks Stu 👊🏻
I realized I'd never listened to this album, and I've to say, I was incredibly surprised by the range and humor. Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket...it's a fun ride with lots of twists.
Easy listening overall with a couple of songs I've heard before and enjoy.
So good again - very high 4
This album is a great example of how to play with different sounds and genres and still have cohesiveness and a good sound, without being pretentious. It is such a pleasant listening and feels fresh even decades later of its release.
Classic Clash with some amazing radio songs.
I hadn't listened to this since highschool. I can hear so much of their influence in other modern punk and pop punk artists I listen to so I know it's culturally important. I didn't remember them using brass so prominently but it was enjoyable to revisit. There are a few songs on this album I quite like and would revisit again, but overall it's not a vein of punk that vibes perfectly with me.
Loved it
Amazing album with great lyrics and meshing of so many different styles
Punk and post-punk rock. Clear precursor to later alt rock/post punk - Hateful sounds like proto-Pixies! Some ska influence too (Rudie Can't Fail), seems to presage pop punk/3rd wave ska (e.g. Offspring) Actually more variation and interest than I expected. Some Cure-like parts too. Does start to sound samey after a point Best track - Hateful or Rudie Can't Fail Bit samey but still 4 stars for quality of standout tracks
4 stars
Klassiker und finde ich tatsächlich auch auf Albumlänge cool, genug Abwechslung ist vorhanden.
I guess I forget how many hits The Clash have and how many of them are on this album. This doesn’t even have the Casbah on it and I still recognized and enjoyed over half this album without ever having listened to it before. 8/10
Classico
I really enjoyed this one. It's easy listening, it varies enough to not get old on the ears, the remaster sounds great, and I just had a good time. It didn't blow me away by any means, but I'll likely listen again.
Classic! A great album.
It's the Clash, man! Love this band. Great, great album, if not a little longer than it should be. I wasn't prepared for just how much the album tracks stand out among the more popular cuts. "The Right Profile" and "Death or Glory" are fantastic songs that get very little acclaim. I will return to this.
It sounded like the band was having fun creatively. The album was all over the place with the different musical styles. It was really hard to pick up on some of the lyrics sometimes. I will definitely will give it another listen.
I liked this! Was fun to have in the background of my note taking.
Loved it. Great to expand my musical views.
Solid 3,5
Lots of bangers
Well crafted with good variety
They can take away our freedoms. They can beat us in the streets. But they’ll never make music like this. They can brutalize their way to a fake veneer of power but they will never know the power of creation. The magic of art is ours and we can weaponize it to protest and protect. Punk is my armor.
Very good! Although a bit long
3.9 2x remastered version classic
Loved it
Great punk rock record. If you want to know where Green Day, Bad Religion or Blink 182 got big part of their inspo for their music, this is it. Great sound ahead of its time.
Such a well rounded album
i understand this really changed things - i really liked it!
As a rule, I very much enjoy Thatcher-era music, and this is no exception. It's fantastic! There's a lot going on and yes, it's a bit long, but it all works.
3,6/5
I know this album. I knew OF their self-titled album as well. This will be cool to check out. This is a great album so far. 5 or so tracks in. This is a great album!
It wasn't bad. There were no songs that were like "wow" or was a banger, but it wasn't a bad album and I enjoyed it as background music.
A classic
Enjoyed most of it. A lot of very catchy songs on it. Some poor songs which stops it being a 5. More than a good few stand out songs
Classic
So cool. So many twists I did not expect. “Lost in the Supermarket” is outstanding and the primitive elements of so much good post-punk that came after this.
oh yeah, this album definitely belongs on this list... not many skips and a lotta great bops! It was perfect to put on during a home improvement project – a lot of energy, some all-time greats and even the ones I didn't love were still good, minus the skips but let's be honest, this album is probably 3-4 songs too long anyway. dunno that i ever listened to it front to back so i was glad to have done so today PS The Card Cheat has to have come out of jamming on I Fought The Law. It's literally the same rhythm and came one year after the famous cover, so that's the story I'm going with. Also it kinda sounds like Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band doing their version of I Fought the Law.
A tad long but there are a few real gems in there.
Evident in its excellence from bar one, furthered elevated by sneakily staggering songwriting: “I wasn’t born, so much as I fell out.” WOW. YES.
One of my all time favorites. But I have to give it 4 because it's needlessly long and the back half is not as good. If this ended at Clampdown it'd be a perfect album.
Pretty good songs all across the board, enjoyable and replayable
Marginally too long to be a five
probably been 15 years since i listened to this ... its good ! i like this band and their politics... good shit!
An iconic head banging, heart pumping, lovely piece of music. It's dysfunctional yet somehow it works so well. sign of the times
Cool. Good songs. Minor gripe: Never got the respect they got for incorporating different styles into punk. Just seems like thats what you do. I mean the stones put bossa/reggae/disco in ordinary rock.
Æ hadde sett for mæ at det va litt mer gitarknusanes på alle vis, men man skal visst ikke dømme albumklassikera på omslaget, så den gang ei. Det e beint fram trivelig og æ kommer aldri mer til å ta en mann på alvor om han sier han like det her :) (neida, æ hadde ikke tatt han alvorlig uansett, musikken har ingenting å si)
Pretty good rock
This was such a solid punk rock album! I really dig the clash so I was excited to give this album a listen and discover new songs by them! I would definitely give this another listen and recommend it to others!
Mein viertes Album von der Liste, das ich schon einmal gehört habe. Besser und kürzer, als ich es in Erinnerung hatte, konstant gut, London Calling, Train in Vain und Lost in the Supermarket sind 10/10 Songs.
Very fun album, not repetitive at all
I liked this album. I could see myself listening to Lovers Rock with the windows down on a nice summer day.
Classic collection of great songs. Not all perfect but damn, Guns of Brixton alone
Fun album, love the diversity of styles
Har høyrt veldig mykje på denne, men det er ei stund sidan sist. Framleis ikkje så glad i side 4.
Punk music but they actually know how to write real music and real lyrics instead of sperging out on the microphone for 2 minutes.
This is a meaty album. I was a little worried going in as I wasn't particularly familiar with any of the songs par the title track, but for the most part it delivered on the hype. No bad songs, a fair few great ones.
Let me start by saying that I am not a huge Clash fan. I enjoy their biggest hits (Rock the Casbah, Should I Stay Or Should I Go, Train in Vain), but I'm not crazy about their typical sound in general. So I started this album not really excited about it, but by the end I was pretty impressed with their range as a band. The lead singer has a very distinct voice -- which I really don't like -- but if I ignore that, I think that these songs were actually quite listenable and even enjoyable. I guess I just wish they had a lead singer that didn't sound like a moron on heroin or something, haha. The writing, instrumentation and production were all top-notch and I really enjoyed listening to the music (minus the vocals). Four stars.
1. London Calling - 4.5 2. Brand New Cadillac - 3 3. Jimmy Jazz - 2 4. Hateful - 35 5. Rudie Can't Fail - 3.5 6. Spanish Bombs - 4 7. The Right Profile - 3.5 8. Lost in the Supermarket - 4 9. Clampdown - 4.5 10. The Guns of Brixton - 3 11. Wrong 'Em Boyo - 2.5 12. Death or Glory - 4 13. Koka Kola - 3 14. The Card Cheat - 3.5 15. Lover's Rock - 3.5 16. Four Horsemen - 3 17. I'm Not Down - 3.5 18. Revolution Rock - 3 19. Train in Vain - 3.5 Album Overall - 3.5
Neato, no strong opinion but it sounded nice and varied
This was one of my best discoveries of my parents' CD collection, way back then. I'm surprised they even had this album, as they were not punks at all. But I guess this isn't a punk album, really. It's a hodge-podge of different strains of New Wave, most of which quite accessible. So many good songs on here, a double album (double on vinyl, single CD) that can sustain the quality throughout its runtime. And If you think this is a long album, check out the band's 2h+ follow-up Sandinista!, that one is great too. Key tracks: London Calling Hateful Spanish Bombs Death or Glory
9/10
Classic old school rock 4/5 Mick Jones the goat
Their best album
Really 3.5. It was basically the same song in different genres, but I can see why it was supposed popular and groundbreaking.
Fabulous album.
Classic UK punk
8/10…britischer punk - rock
Excellent punk album!
A bunch of 5/5 songs. Hateful was my favorite. If this album was 5 songs shorter, it could've been 5/5. But it droned on about 15 songs too long without adding any differentiating bops, so 4/5
This album is fun. I like the vibes on it even though it isn't my typical form of music i would listen to.
I appreciate this more now than when I originally got it.
9/10 I'm grateful that this came up on this list for the title track alone. 'London Calling' is a phenomenal song that I've always liked but am only now fully appreciating as one of the best songs ever written. With an opening track of that calibre, the rest of the record has an awful lot to live up to, and it does - but not consistently. Songs like 'Jimmy Jazz' are catchy and undeniably fun to listen to, but feel out of place relative to the highest points on the album. It is really cool to hear the diversity of styles employed on the album - far beyond anything I would've expected going into it - but for as much as this may have been a huge part of what made this album just so influential, I'd probably have preferred an album that sounded more like the opener. I would argue that the following 10 song album would be a perfect album: London Calling Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs The Right Profile Lost in the Supermarket Clampdown The Guns of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo Death or Glory Train in Vain (Stand By Me) Standout songs (that I didn't already know): 'The Right Profile', 'Wrong 'Em Boyo' Admittedly, had I been a teenager when this was released as a double LP for the price of a single album, there's no way I would've been quibbling over the length, that's very much the quibble of a listener in the age of music streaming, and either way, this album is clearly deserving of its place in the music pantheon. Listens: 2
Who are they calling? Classic material
This is the sound I think of when I think new wave/punk of the late 70s and early 80s.
Finally, a super solid UK punk album.
It is fun hearing this as context for history. Punk rock with more overt Caribbean influence - it’s like you can hear where ska and pop-punk diverge
Nice album. "London Calling" and "Guns of Brixton" are classics, the rest is also really good.
88/100. A fantastic and iconic rock record that masterfully blends punk, reggae, new wave, and more. It’s an incredibly dynamic listen, shifting moods and styles while maintaining a strong identity. Tracks like "Revolution Rock" feel like a mission statement, capturing the bold, genre-defying spirit of the album.
This isn't a punk album, it's just music. All kinds of music, and loads of it! Favourite tracks: London Calling, Guns Of Brixton (taught me a lot about bass), Spanish Bombs, The Card Cheat, Train In Vain, Lost In The Supermarket
Really enjoyed it. Feels like something I haven't really heard before, kind of like a soft rock genre
Great album
I was expecting this to be more punk than it was. Kind of a weird review, but I thought they were almost too good musically. I liked it though. All the songs were interesting, and a handful of standouts.
7/10 Definitely an extra star for its influence. At times it's excellent, at others it just sounds a bit rubbish! One of the many double albums that would have been a solid 5 ⭐ single album.
good as far as british rock goes
Classic Clash album. Classic punk rock.
A classic, is it really punk though… it’s good old fashioned rock and roll? Same happened with Pearl Jam in the 90’s… are they grunge… no, good old fashioned rock and roll. Anyway…. What ever it is London Calling is a classic!
Did this album become chill over time, or did music in general become more agro
Such a good record!
And it wants its country back.
2 out of 1001. will come back later tomorrow morning okay i forgot to do this. sorry. also all my old notes disappeared BOOO - standouts. uhh. london calling - hateful through spanish bombs was crazy. three new bombshells have entered the villa - lost in the supermarket was kinda real for that - the springy boing noses in the guns of brixton were funny as fuck i’m sorry - the card cheat was lowk fire - kinda disassociated during the second half. but it sounded good! solid 4. also will be going into my library
Train in Vain +1, the intersection of politics and pop, tad overrated
Already knew this album but solid album
Varied in genre, very funky.
My review won’t fit in this text box. Too much to say and not enough to say it with.
I like "Hateful", "Spanish Bombs", and "Death or Glory". Overall kinda a banger album, I could see these songs playing while at the Bluff or something.
круто
solid classic
No bad songs on this, which is impressive given the total # of tracks. Somehow I had never listened to this start-to-finish until now, despite being familiar with several songs already. Glad I finally gave this the time of day!
A lot of classics with a lot of lesser known, to me at least, rippers too. The Clash are goated for a reason.
Classic punk. Not my favorite but a fun ride
When the law break in, how you gonna go? Shot down on the pavement, or waiting in death row? You can crush us, you can bruise us, but you'll have to answer to OOOOOH, THE GUNS OF BRIXTON!
Lots of diversity in the songs but can tell it’s punk at the core. All band members doing their thing
A titanic album that (briefly) established the Clash as a huge and important band. It’s probably a little too big for its own good, and a couple of the genre experiments don’t really work, but it’s a great album that still sounds fresh and raw. Best song: Spanish Bombs
4/5
Pretty catchy album, lots of good songs that I have never heard before. Probably need to be in the right mood to listen because it isn't exactly chill music. It's not terribly aggressive either though and not tiring to listen to. I'm sure I will listen to this again even if I don't seek it out.
Oke dan
Not sure what genre this counts as, but it’s a fresh listen that feels “light hearted” in the way it’s written and sang. Great album for a weekday feeling up and in a good mood.
Extremely good album by the clash with alot of hidden gems, though i would say combat rock is a little bit better.
Sjukt varierande musik. Det är i sig rätt imponerande. För det mesta är det bra. Ibland riktigt bra. Bäst är Lost in the supermarket. Det är rätt lite "punk" vilket är hyfsat positivt. Det var totalt en positiv överraskning, jag har inte lyssnat på the Clash ordentligt förut. Kan tänka mig att ett antal låtar här följer med framåt.
Absolutely brilliant album. My experience of the clash has always just been the well known ones really. So I was interested to experience a whole album and it didn’t disappoint. Will definitely listen again.
One of my faves!
The eclectic sound gives the message of the songs a varying degree of melancholy, essential in a timeless classic. It features lush use of modulation on the guitar to keep the sound from going dry like with some contemporaries. The vocals are a style that normally does not click with me at all but here it works adequately and lends an unrefined charm. Certified good for work and road trips.
Classic
This album was a surprise to me I likes it more than I thought
Train in Vain
I enjoyed most of this, but the choice to make it a double album keeps it from greatness. There's far too much redundancy and filler here. If you're going to produce a double album, variety is critical; and this definitely doesn't have enough. Had it been a 9-10 track fare, it would have been a 5.
Man this was one of the hardest decisions so far. So many good songs - London Calling, Train in Vain, Guns of Brixton, Clampdown, Rudie Can’t Fail. I know it’s a double album, it just loses my attention at the end. So for that it’s a 4 by the barest of margins 4.5/5
Probably one of the most seminal punk rock albums ever. And despite that, it's anything but standard! The Clash pull from all sorts of rock 'n' roll roots; incorporating reggae, rockabilly, and plenty of brass all throughout. Thematically, the usual anti-establishment and socially conscious lyrics (namely from London in this case) you'd come to expect from punk music are here. As a result, it all makes for a smooth and effective product, bringing a familiar yet fresh entry to our ears. Best tracks: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, Train in Vain
Great album, listen to the whole thing and not get bored
now that’s a hit! classic
One of those generational albums almost everyone with even a fleeting interest in music has heard of. The Clash was alternative without being too alternative for the mainstream crowd, and mainstream without being too mainstream for the alternative crowd. A band who came at just the right time in history and thus became a defining act of their era. I've listened through this before so I know what I'm getting into, but it's still fun to revisit since I feel I've grown a lot as a music listeners in the many years since I've last heard it. Kinda sad that there's only the remastered version available on Spotify, but will make do. London Calling For many probably the go-to Clash song. An outright classic that paints a picture of the sensibilities of the late 70s and what was going on in Britain at the time. It still remains commercial and accessible enough to not be confusing for a casual listener. A simple sound and a great charismatic performance combines for a timeless, eternal sort of song. A punk-rock anthem that has stood the test of time. Iconic. 5/5 Brand New Cadillac Following up "London Calling" would always be a difficult task, but I think they really went in the right direction with this one. Just a fun tune with a heavy punk sound, great riffs and a crazy energetic vocal performance. Great. 4.5/5 Jimmy Jazz The song surprisingly takes its time setting up its premise. The chilled out tempo really allows the song to evolve upon itself naturally. There are some jazzier elements to the song, not surprising given the title. Having a bouncier bassline and featuring brass instruments is an idea I really appreciate on a track like this. It was really helped by a strong guitar performance, and the eclectic vocals add a sense of whimsy to the track. Intriguing. 5/5 Hateful I think the song is structured in an interesting way, the way they play with the tempo sets it apart. The main guitar riff is infectious. I appricate the catchyness of the chrous. The backing vocals throughout the track are a fun way to give some multi-dimensionality to the track, even if its used sparesly. Had a lot of fun with it. 5/5 Rudie Can't Fail Not sure about the mix on the split vocals. I also think the drums sound a bit muted. Dancable track, definitely a mood lifter. Fun chorus. The track kinda loses itself towards the end. Could've used a different idea for the ending. Decent. 3.5/5 Spanish Bombs A political song I assume, references I'm not fully getting. Not my favourite chorus of all time. Seems to be mimicking marching songs in some way. Instrumentally it doesn't go in too many interesting directions. Without knowing the context I'm not getting much. Fine. 3/5 The Right Profile I'm having fun with the instrumental. Charismatic and likeable. Had to look up the context - the song suddenly turned really dark. Seems a commentary on the lives of public figures, and the obsession with their darker moments. I learned something. 4/5 Lost in the Supermarket Great intro. Strange concept, sinister undertones that might get lost on a casual listen. Oddly relatable, even more relevant today. Commentary may be a bit on the nose. The guitar echoing the vocal melody on the chorus redirects the listeners focus to the vocals. Great bass playing. Great. 4/5 Clampdown Not sure about the spoken-word intro. The overall sound of the song from the first verse towards the chrous is a bit generic. Then the slowed down passage comes in and adds some depth to the track. Can't say I'm too enamoured with this track. The anti-establishment sort of attitude does resonate a bit, and I do think the chants of "work" are amusing. Fine. 3/5 The Guns of Brixton Now reggae is a musical blindspot for me, can't really commentate much on it. The goofy sound effects contrasts heavily against the lyrics. Works well as a protest song. The singer is a bit monotone for my tastes. The bassline is probably the highlight here for me. Decent. 3.5/5 Wrong 'Em Boyo A cover apparently. Not a fan of the organ. The old school rock and roll vibe is fun. Simple message. Fine. 3/5 Death or Glory Great guitar riff. Anthemic chorus. The simplicity of the track is a welcome listen this late in the album. I'd like to add that I think the drummer does a great job here. A fun rock track. Decent. 3.5/5 Koka Kola As long as it needs to be. Cocaine and the business world goes hand in hand. Calling out the establishment and the movers and shakers in the advertising industry. Feels relevant. Short and Sweet. 4/5 The Card Cheat The piano is a nice surprise. I don't think the vocals are mixed well. Sounds a bit muddled, drowns a bit in the instrumental. The vocal performance is great. I think the instrumental sets it apart from other songs on the album. Written really well. Good. 4/5 Lover's Rock The opening guitar sounds great. Cheesy backing vocals. Cheesy pauses. I detect a bit of sarcasm. Doesn't feel so serious as many of the other tracks on here. Gets a bit annoying. Overstays its welcome. Fine. 3/5 Four Horsemen Generic, not really much going on. Don't like the drum sound. Uninspiring chorus. The ending is at least a bit interersting. Average. 2.5 I'm Not Down Great bass. Funky guitar. Empowering lyrics. Not overly complicated, but executed well. I think the vocalist sounds convinced in himself. Decent. 3.5/5 Revolution Rock Reggae influences prominent. Apparently a cover. Uplifting. Sounds triumphant, also humourous in a way. Strangely works. Gives slight drunk-uncle-on-a-cruise-ship vibes. Not sure why I like it. 4/5 Train in Vain (Stand By Me) Catchy. Dancable. Fantastic rhythm. A classic. Sweet and nostalgic tune. Enjoyable. 4/5 Can't say I love every single song on this album, but there's not a single moment that is actively bad. There's a real quality to the writing on this, where most of the songs have really interesting inspirations behind them. The playing is tight throughout, and the production rarely oversteps. For me it peaks in the first half, then stays consistent at mild enjoyment for the second half rarely veering outside of it. It does feel a bit long, but not so long that it feels bloated. It is a classic however, and it really shows why. Staying this consistently good over that length is really impressive. Would recommend, close to full score but not quite. Fave track. Jimmy Jazz Least fave track. Four Horsemen
Solid album. I've heard London Calling tons of times but never listened to the album as a whole. Punk is generally doesn't do much for me but I can see revisiting this again.
Classic punk good vibes throughout especially when listening on a sunny afternoon in Camden Favourite song: London Calling
Sorprendentemente bueno y versátil Rating: 8.7
1. Train in Vain 2. Guns of brixton/london calling 3. Jimmy jazz/lost in the supermarket/death or glory
Very solid album. You can hear the beginnings of post punk here.
I really appreciate how every song is pretty different, and individual. It does kind of make the album feel like it's missing an identity, though? Okay, I wasn't really paying attention while listening to the first few songs. I went back, and I'm very glad I did. It made everything feel a little less disjointed and just helped raise the floor of the album for me. Because they're doing so many different things in so many different styles, there's a couple of songs that are a little odd or just fall a little flat. I think in most cases, it works out in their favor, but not on all of them. The success of this album is, imo, all due to how well they're able to bounce between styles. Favorite Song(s): London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Death or Glory
A classic album that I assumed I would be giving 5 stars … but on re-listening, half the album is faultless, the other half has very much a B-side feel. Shame it wasn’t a 10-track masterpiece.
She’s an icon Favs London calling Brand new Cadillac Jimmy Jazz Spanish bombs I’m not down
It’s still got it
I was a clash hater my whole life. But this is great, totally polished and prim punk rock. That almost genre blends into alternative and indie/ new wave.
Great album diverse listing
Great
A good album, didn't realise that 'Lost in the Supermarket' - Over the Hedge, was originally by The Clash. Would definitely go back and listen again, although seemed very typical UK early punk/rock - ish.
Banger after banger, cannot complain. Not a lick of enunciation in sight, but I’m here for every second of it. Mumble-singers unite. Good fun all around to be honest, a real upper sort of album.
Classic punk rock album, classic punk rock frontman voice! With all the modern fight/protest music that's usually characterized by angst and anger, it's easy to forget that rebellious music could also be catchy and nice to listen to. You feel the urge to fight the power and also nod your head along and smile while doing it!
Still a fun and exciting listen. No longer revolutionary. But so what.
I had one of their albums before but this one was actually really fuckin good
Fave Tracks: London Calling, Rudie Can't Fail, Lost in the Supermarket, The Guns of Brixton, Train in Vain 4.2/5
🫡
I normally am not a fan of punk rock, but this is one of the better ones I’ve listened to. I appreciate the diverse musical arrangements in each song and good lyrics. Thank goodness no screaming.
4.5
I like it a lot, and I love a few songs, but I don't quite love the whole thing.
Classic British punk!
4.5/5
Quite cool. Only knew a couple of songs but I ended up listening to this record four or five times.
Really enjoyed this one. Dont think it was quite perfect but a very enjoyable experience nonetheless. 4 songs saved to listen to again + London Calling which was already on my list.
Chad. Definitely one of the best punk albums ever. It's a little too long though. Ez 4.5
straight-ahead punk never really interested me, and it's obvious it didn't interest most of the enduring bands to come out of that after a while.
Classic, fun album with surprising variety.
There's some awesome stuff here across multiple genres. There's actually barely any punk at all. There's also some shite, and it's 65 minutes. Happily get rid of tracks 2, 3, and a few random tracks of the 7 after The Guns of Brixton and before Revolution Rock. Then you've got a five star record.
banger alert
Legendary band, legendary album. The genre variety is surprisingly huge - almost to the point that it might warrant listening piecemeal as opposed to the whole album front to back, to properly engage with each individual style being thrown at you. Cool stuff.
This is really good, interesting and easy to listen to. I always thought this would’ve been more punk-ish. They got into a lot of other styles.
Lots of fun stuff on here, a solid album with little filler.
classic of course
This is an incredible album. Combat Rock is my favorite Clash album, but London Calling is an absolute classic
Every song is listenable, fun, has merit, and is directly about "something". For me, there are songs that are skippable but that's probably just a matter of taste. I don't like Ska.
Meilenstein der das Fenster der Punk aufmacht in die Welt der Musik.
One of the few albums that deserve to be a double album. Very diversified and entertaining with almost no fillers. Worst: "Revolution Rock" 4,5
Like the clash - really enjoyed this
To quote someone else on this site: "punk, but they know how to play their instruments" Cool brass, musicality. Punk I've actually enjoyed listening to. Lots of ska here too. Highlights: london calling, train in vain
Another great album!
Maybe the most consistent punk album of all time. It doesn’t give you ear fatigue either!
I guess it's been a long time since I've listened to this whole album, but it's better than I remember. I guess I usually think of it as the hours with some filler, but that's not really fair. The whole thing really works, and there's not much I'd lose.
Really enjoyed listening to this album. Several stand out songs which I've heard before and had me singing along (with a clenched power fist!) Love the melodies, passion and, at times, righteous anger that Strummer brings.
I am already familiar with this record and have always felt that this should not be a double album. There are not enough good tracks to justify 4 sides worth. There are around 8 or 9 songs that would make a very good 5 star Clash album e.g. London Calling, Rudie, Spanish Bombs, Lost in Supermarket, clampdown, Guns of Brixton, I'm not down and train in vain. The rest is at best filler. Ask yourself this, and be honest, would you want to see the Clash play Jimmy Jazz live instead of something like white riot or janie jones? The answer is no, of course not. Why would you deny yourself this just to make a cheap point. This is mainly because the likes of jimmy Jazz are not up to scratch; and certainly not punk. Given the songs I have listed above, it is 4 stars despite the weaker songs. If this album was reduced to 2 sides it would be definite 5 star album and arguably up there with the very best. But alas this isn't the case. The album cover is iconic and probably the best of the punk/post punk/new wave era. But you can't judge a book by its cover.
Admission time - I've always had an unwarranted bee-in-my-bonnet about The Clash. Johnny Come Lately who grabbed the sales while more interesting bands languished in obscurity. A fresh listen to London Calling slightly changes that. While not a New Wave as others, the is originality and a particular voice to the whole thing. Obviously, the title track has been overplayed whenever there's a Remember The Seventies feature, but that are some damned good tracks here. Spanish Bombs is one of my preferred songs... but definitely an album that's worth a listen.
It's the most elaborate, imaginative, genre-fluid and tightly-performed rock album one could ever create. It's not a personal favourite of mine, but I respect it immensely, both by its own merits and for its ability to create the biggest critic circlejerks possible in spite of itself.
8/10
LOOOONDOOOOOON CAALING
A classic
Legendary and with good reason. It's interesting how some of the rawness you get from their punk contemporaries is missing, but they more than make up for it with a genuine ear for excellent music.
Absolute classic punk, this is the quintessential british punk that so many other albums on this list try to copy. Album overstays its welcome a bit for me, but awesome
Amazing how they went from their debut to this. There is some genuine songwriting and music going on
Energetic, fun, creative and just unique enough throughout that you never get bored. Doesn't get 5 stars cause i don't really feel like relistening to it again. Also sick album cover.
London Calling — третий студийный альбом британской панк-рок-группы The Clash. музыка с элементами ска, фанка, соула, джаза, рокабилли, регги оч понравилось, буду слушать еще, вторая часть альбома понравилась даже больше первой, там он как будто полностью раскрывается, заглавная песня очень крутая! еще про магазин понравилось
Good album, holds up well after all this time.
4.5
The Clash despite being such a referenced bad haven't really been in my orbit that much. I know the classics and this was fun to get a more comprehensive insight. Good stuff!
A classic stomp through a angst ridden youth - you can see (and hear) how it has influenced others
Holy hell what an album. What a completely beautiful body of work.
Great rock album. Didn’t know I’d like the clash that much
A deserved classic. Favourite songs were: London Calling Spanish Bombs The Card Cheat Train in Vain (Stand by Me) Making Elvis' iconic album cover even more iconic.
Good Listen
T
I like the Clash, and this is a good album, but I've just never been able to get into it.
7.5/10 I’d only heard the title single, I think. Totally not what I expected, certainly not a punk record, very interesting Punky, yes, but influenced by a pile of genres including reggae, soul, American rock Much more poppy than I expected Best: The Card Cheat
pretty good
Love this album.
I own a copy of London Calling, but, I confess, I almost never play it. I read somewhere that The Clash's S/T album was generally regarded as their best until a 1989 Rolling Stone article crowned London Calling as the greatest album of the 1980s, having barely qualified for inclusion with a delayed US release in January 1980. And the critical praise piled on from there. I remember reading the Rolling Stone article, and many more that followed in US and UK publications alike, like the single Mojo issue in 1994 with a brace of hagiographic articles about London Calling (favourite photo caption: "Piece of piss. Next one's a triple!"). I was swept away by the tide of critical love, and generally parroted the line that London Calling was, in fact, clearly and obviously, the Clash's meisterwerk. But that Rolling Stone article tells you so much about what is wrong with Rolling Stone. London Calling is not the best album of the 80s. It really isn't an 80s album at all. It's clearly an American-style (or at least strongly influenced) rock album. They aren't a punk band at all by this stage; London Calling owes far more to the Rolling Stones or Springsteen than to the Sex Pistols. Rolling Stone magazine loves that kind of shit, and couldn't resist given them the crown, because (secretly) they didn't like 80s music. The most revealing song on the album is, to my mind, Death or Glory. Is it Strummer's rock star critique or his secret fantasy? Worse than either, it's his accidental prophecy for his own band that started out as British punks and ended up more interested in doing coke and shagging models in the back of the limo in America. There are still remnants of leftist politics, but the political outsider stance has morphed into rock'n'roll outlaw posturing. I was never convinced by Strummer's shaky grasp on politics, which might most generously be described as ham-fisted but well intentioned. But, considered on its own terms as a rock and roll album, it's pretty damn great. The band is super tight and knew how to smash it out in the studio. The production is not overly polished or overdubbed or fussily cleaned up. There's a pleasant amount of grit in the recording, not least in Strummer's howling and occasionally gargling vocals, which are more spit and vinegar than good singing, per se, but pretty rock'n'roll. There are some great tunes, powerfully played. I can't really ever remember hearing a convincing cover of a Clash song, which is a testimony to the strength their performance. Special mention to Topper Headon, whose drumming lifts the excitement in everything he plays. Not everything works (Jimmy Jazz is notably awful), but that is always a problem with double albums. They were at the height of their powers as a live band and songwriting unit, yet to disappear down the rabbit hole of self-indulgent and unedited experimentation ("Next one's a triple!"), then to be followed with egotistical infighting and "musical differences". And I'll bet they were a fucking great live band.
Fun album. Gets you in a good mood. It’s nice to look back to these moments in time when music radically changed. You can hear the liberation and the fun and the pride. And nothing was the same afterwards, which is fascinating
ate 70s punk rock mixed with other styles. Iconic title track. Amazing energy. Very varied. Joyful. Poppier than expected.
Innovative, a great blend of punk and outside influences. I just don’t love those outside influences lol
better and more diverse than only the titel track
Great album with some weaker tracks. 4/5
One of the classics.
It's The Clash, I mean come on
Their debut album hooked me from the opening licks all the way through to the end. Honestly, on my first listen or two to this album, I really only noticed the big singles London Calling and Train in Vain, which open and close the album. It wasn't until my third listen that I really started to appreciate the songs in between. On sides one and two, Brand New Cadillac, Jimmy Jazz, and Lost in the Supermarket aren't bad - kinda fun. Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail, and Spanish Bombs are pretty good. Clampdown I probably should have taken note of right from the first listen - great tune. On sides three and four, Wrong 'Em Boyo is another one I probably should've rated highly right from the get-go. Great little ska-punk diddy. Death or Glory and Revolution Rock are pretty good. The Card Cheat isn't bad. All in all, I still think their debut is superior. It is definitely tighter, but that's what can happen with a double album here. Still, I am probably a fan of 75% of the tracks, and there aren't any I really dislike. Plus this album has so many different styles beyond pure punk. So you have to give them credit for that. I felt myself moving towards a 5 but I think deep down I view it more as a 4.
A truly iconic album that for whatever reason I’ve never hugely clicked with. The title track is fantastic as are Guns of Brixton and Wrong Em Boyo, and it’s incredibly diverse for a punk record without anything ever sounding too out of place, but it just feels a bit overlong for me and a lot of the second half doesn’t grab me. A beloved album by many for good reason, just not quite perfect for me
It’s a great rebellion album and fascinating to listen to . We are still dealing with issues that they bring up in their songs. Do I love it and want to listen to it again? Probably not. Is it an important album that makes me appreciate when it was made and what it meant? Hell Yes. it’s worth another listen just for the lyrics.
I went into this thinking that The Clash was "OK." I am an old school punk fan and maybe get a bit snooty about punk bands that reach a more mainstream appeal. But to be honest, I was really way more impressed than I thought I would be. They are still punk, still old school, still edgy, but they have the range to reach a wider audience, they do not sell out to do it. So really, they do something remarkable: they keep it real but still manage to draw in a larger audience. Yes. I came in assuming I knew a few of the mainstream radio songs and would otherwise be disappointed but came out feeling like the radio hits simply suppliment their body of work.
87% Best: London Calling; The Right Profile; Lost in the Supermarket; Clampdown; Wrong 'Em Boyo; I'm Not Down; Train in Vain (Stand by Me) Must-Hear? Sure
Not my fave clash album but train in vain slaps
Pretty good. I'd award 3.5 stars if I could because I liked it for background listening but wasn't in love with any specific songs.
Love the Clash! Funny story - always thought it was so cool and edgy, then my daughter's 3rd grade chorus sang "Train in Vain" as part of an eighties tribute!
Classic punk rock! Great energy
Great intro
Definitely very good, a bit overrated in my opinion.
album incrivel!! sempre ouvi falar dele mas nunca tinha reservado tempo para escutar antes, e com certeza devia ter ouvido bem antes. é um album muito divertido e que tem um som bem animado em todas as músicas. tem uma ou outra ali que acabam passando sem muito destaque, mas em conjunto ficam absolutamente ótimas e eu me vejo voltando para ouvir boa parte das musicas e até mesmo o album completo de novo, apesar de ser um album grande.. curti bastante!!
already knew i loved the clash, but i've never listened to this entire album, so it was really nice!
Longer than I remember.
Love this album. Stand by me
Really liked the vibe
Considering this is a punk staple, it's pretty tame. Still, amazing songwriting/lyrics, a variety of styles explored, and just a good sense of what sounds good... this album is legendary (the first half at least). It does go on a little long towards the back half. Nonetheless, I consider this album a classic and I am still nostalgic when I hear it.
jo london callin isch en riese banger wirdmer na es ziitli nalaufe jimmy jazz sehr funny und recht vilsitig es isch villlll villsitiger als ich erwartet han, nüt haut mi jz mega um aber han mega e gueti ziit WRONG EM BOYO death or glory findi sehrsehr geil, vhli post punk mässig aber für eimal ghörtmer de punk REGGÆ ja das isch arsch sorr ja so lang müssts album nöd sii aber finds sehrsehr solid und mega fun
i've always viewed The Clash as the aging punk's Led Zeppelin: a collection of white guys taking cues from traditionally black music being revered as the only band that really matters -- the last bastion of Reel Rawk before it was pussified, removed of its bite, London Calling being a shining example of said Rawk. which is strange, because London Calling isn't a particularly rock-y album! it's mostly a pop album! if The Clash lacked the hype they had, if it was ANY other band, this would be seen as a bit of a betrayal. if you were so inclined, you could make a case for this being an overlong sell-out album. why isn't that the case? well, there's a lot of good songs on it, stupid. maybe the first few songs of the project is a bit off-putting: following the title track with a kind of generic rock song doesn't set high expectations, and i cannot get down with "Jimmy Jazz", but "Hateful" and "Rudie Can't Lose" make up for it. London Calling wins you over, and i think that's why it's been so well loved over the years. it's got hooks for days and great production, and for a double album, it's definitely got a good pace and a lot of variation to make the time feel a lot shorter than it actually is. "revolutionary pub rock" isn't a genre, but if it was, it'd be this album and a bunch of cheap imitators. hell, i think most of the ska songs are essential. i don't think there's a single non-ska artist with multiple ska songs you can say that about other than the Clash. London Calling is good. controversial, i know.
Classic
That's some good energy
i didnt run, ill never run
not really my jam in most cases but bot howdy this was good! outside of running long and getting repetitive in places its a solid entry to this list. Wrong Em Boyo sounds like a weird proto-ska track to me, it threw me for a loop. a lot of diverse tracks here and great song writing.
Really enjoyed this album. Lots of big hits and even though it’s too long it’s still a jolly good time. Rudie Can’t Fail is a friggin bop!
无敌
As a young punk, I used to be snotty and bratty, and I used to argue that London Calling was wildly overrated. Sure, the singles and the opener where great, and there was a couple tracks here and there that I loved despite myself – “Spanish Bombs” has long been my favorite song by The Clash – but most of the album was boring. That rockabilly shit was corny, the ska shit sounded dated even in 2008, and this was far from anything I’d personally label as punk, so it definitely wasn’t the high water mark of the genre overall. While I’m now older and wiser, a part of me gets what younger me was trying to say. And to be honest? She kind of ate… Like, I was still totally wrong about this album. London Calling is a great album. There’s no obviously weak songs on here, and definitely no bad songs. Now that I’m a bit more mature, I can appreciate the rockabilly, the ska, and the reggae sounds they’re pulling from; they are definitely trying to go ✨beyond punk✨, but at least they sound good while they do it. And when I think about other great punk albums – The Shape of Punk to Come, American Idiot, Mystery, etc. – they’re all stretching beyond punk’s sound while retaining its aesthetics. That’s because of London Calling. And I respect that. And I respect it because the individual songs are strong, even the ones that aren’t specifically what I would label punk. What I think younger me was trying to articulate, though, was not that the vision of London Calling was too expansive, but rather, the sheer amount of material itself was too expansive. As a whole package, London Calling feels bloated. It’s excess that goes beyond even the normal critique of a double-album being long. Because again, there isn’t a particularly bad song on here. I just wonder if there’s a tighter vision, an edited version that I’d prefer that cuts out the more obvious diversions from punk overall. The cover of “Brand New Cadillac,” the pretty bland cover of “Revolution Rock,” the heartland blues-based “Lover’s Rock,” the drunken blue-eyed soul of “Wrong ‘Em Boyo,” even the less good songs like “I’m Not Down,” “Jimmy Jazz,” and, dare I say it, “Rudie Can’t Fail.” Again, nothing on this album is bad, it’s all great, but if I want to split hairs, there are a batch of tracks that I would personally have left on the cutting room floor. Not that it would have been an easy decision, but I do sincerely think these songs are maybe too outside the scope. Now, I know there’s an argument that these diversions are the *point* of London Calling’s vision as an album, and that’s fair. However, if that’s the case, well, I like all of these songs less than the rest of the album, so if they’re the core of London Calling, then that edited version is one I like less than even the current version. But even in its current form, London Calling still suffers from double album bloat. Side B is an incredible side, and Side C is pretty good, although I’d rearrange the track listing personally. My real issue is Sides A and D. The former has good songs, but I think it pulls away from punk too soon; I get the point of a cover via Track 2, but I then have a hard time coming back around. Meanwhile, almost all of Side D feels like B-sides, minus “Train in Vain.” And maybe that’s the runtime exhaustion talking, too, but “The Card Cheat” into “Train in Vain” would be a much stronger way to close this record out. Finally, back to younger me’s original critique: London Calling isn’t punk. And I know that’s the point. But like, it *is* annoying to then call it the high water mark of the genre, and that praise is really hard to shake when you’re listening to it. Like, I walk in every time expecting, well, punk music, and I get ska and blue-eyed soul? Like, I *know* that’s what I’ll get, and I’m still a bit shocked by it. And I just can’t really shake that as an issue when I actually listen to London Calling. Which feels like a weird critique when the music isn’t bad, but like….I want to go out of my way to listen to a punk record, not punks doing old-school soul music. And I don’t think that’s unfair to say if it lessens my experience with the album overall. Younger me was wrong, I’ll willingly admit that, because London Calling is a good album. However, she wasn’t wrong about my own subjective tastes. Even with age, I’m not really revisiting London Calling. Maybe some of the high points, but overall, it just isn’t what I want to listen to, ever. It’s still good, but its bloated scope and runtime push it down. Plus, I’m not subjectively enamored by it. I just think at this point we can move on from thinking that punk peaked with London Calling. Good record, sometimes even great, but a great double album that pump fakes its genre isn’t going to be something I find flawless.
A really great album! Just remove Rudie Can't Fail (it's a bit dull, isn't it) and the album would be 5 stars. Koka Kola is the sleeper hit of the album!
The Clash is better than I thought.
Bellino ma dall’hype un po’ esagerato
The Clash is so much more than the average British punk band, and this album proves it impressively. There's punk, ska, reggae, rock, rockabilly, jazz, and so many more styles and genres mixed and mashed together in this double album and each track is unique.
Very thick and versatile album. Not what I was expecting from what I had heard of it before, but the sound was really good through the different genres.
What a banging set of tunes.
Ooh..For some reason I thought I didn't know this band but I know "London Calling." which meant i stuck around to listen to the rest of the album.
That is a stone classic album cover. Like, damn. That being said, having grown up on slightly more modern "angry" music, it's hard to imagine getting that worked up while playing any of the songs on this record. Not knocking it, just an observation. There's several songs that I really like on this record that I'd never heard before. There's also several songs that... I could do without. The reggae flair on the punk/rock songs is fun and lifting but this isn't a reggae band and the flat out reggae songs don't work for me at all. But I'm biased 'cause I don't much care for reggae. Overall, this isn't an album I can listen to top to bottom but it's got at least half a dozen excellent tunes. As an aside, the production quality really illustrates how deep the divide was back then between the well funded major label records and the relatively low budget stuff like this. By the standards of the last 20 years or so, this would be considered nearly unacceptable production quality even for a basement recording but, 45 years ago, this would've been far beyond the reach of anyone without established backing or very deep pockets. For better or worse, we've really come a long way.
at first i thought this would be a hardcore punk album based off the album cover alone, but i was surprised when i heard some playful-sounding ska(?). 4/5.
I’m sort of torn here. Honestly nothing on this album goes as hard as that cover art would leave you to believe, and I can’t help but feel like this has been way over hyped. But I can respect that this influenced a lot of great music and def enjoyed it.
Lot of diversity and great songs on this. Good listen all the way through. Doesn’t hold the top status for me as it does for others but I can’t blame ya for eating higher.
A raw, energetic punk masterpiece, London Calling is more than just an album; it’s a cultural touchstone. The Clash seamlessly blend punk, rock, reggae, and ska into a cohesive and rebellious sound. Tracks like "London Calling," "Should I Stay or Should I Go," and "Train in Vain" are anthems that still resonate today. While its sprawling nature might not appeal to everyone, the album's impact and influence are undeniable.
A very strong 4. Even there lesser know or weaker stuff is great. No holes. Just not epic.
Close to peak Clash, post punk and covering more styles.
This is an album that I didn’t fully appreciate till I was in my late 20’s, I always enjoyed this bands singles when I was younger but didn’t start diving into their albums till later. Once I started exploring the music beyond the radio singles the importance of this band quickly became apparent. Oddly enough, one of the album’s standout features to me is its rich "ear candy," which, due to the minimalism of the songs, feels particularly pronounced. This is something I notice on their other albums too, it just sounds like something this band had a lot of fun with in the studio. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones's intricate guitar layers are crucial to the rhythms more than any added percussion would be, as a guitar player I was heavily influenced by this approach. Strummer’s raw vocals have influenced many singers for years to come, I keep thinking of Rancid’s Tim Armstrong in particular as I listen. The album is filled with catchy, anthemic choruses that stick in your head for hours after listening. The Clash explore a variety of genres, including reggae and new wave, with impressive -tight yet aggressive- drum work by Topper Headon and memorable, dynamic bass lines by Paul Simonon. The horns contribute significantly to its sound providing another layer of excitement and energy when utilized. I really enjoyed revisiting this essential album as it’s been a while. Favorite tracks include "London Calling," "Jimmy Jazz," “Hateful,” "Lost in the Supermarket," "Clampdown," "I’m Not Down," "Revolution Rock," and "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)."
Somehow lost my write-up from yesterday. Anyways, it basically said, "Clash good! Innovative! More genres than just punk!"
This is exactly the kind of thing I had in mind when I began this project, checking out more from a band I already enjoyed a few songs from. So I enjoyed this listen. Punk music that's a little more chill, and you can dance to it. A lot of the songs had a real rhythmic quality to them that went beyond the drums. This album hit that sweet spot between raw and polished--not as raw as some punk, but still raw enough to be kind of punkish. I was vaguely aware that they had a lot of reggae & ska influence like a lot of other British bands from that time, so that was cool to hear, and also the rockabilly elements.
I really liked this a lot and intend to listen to it a lot more. I thought it was a very solid album. Joe Strummer has a unique voice that has some edge to it and is not the classically nice sounding voice like a Bono type, but his melodies are really cool and catchy and done along to some really cool sounding music. I always liked the song London Calling and is one of the songs I liked at first listen. This was my first listen to this Clash album and I was amazed at all the genres on it. It's like punk that is danceable with a some rockabilly twists. I didn't know that they had a heavy reggae influence, but it makes sense given the era when this came out and because probably people like Strummer had grown up 'lang side' West Indians who had migrated (like one of my aunts in the 1960s) to the UK. I was familiar with Guns Of Brixton from Jimmy Cliff covering it on one of his more recent albums.
Really enjoyed this.
madcap collection of tracks, absolutely loveable and so clearly the blueprint now that i'm more familiar with new wave...but could it be a little shorter? probably 8/10