Reviews (page 5 of 13)
Quintessential punk. You can see from the start that the Clash have their eyes set a little higher than their contemporaries; a lengthy multi-part track like “Police & Thieves” would not fly with punk purists; but it’s also easy to tell that their talent is way higher than the average garage band. A classic. Best song: Janie Jones
Awesome record.
Reminds me a lot of the Sex Pistols but probably actually evolve and improve
punk I grew with.
Never got into them beyond the radio hits. This exceeded my expectations. Kind of like the Sex Pistols but better musicians.
This is a fun album
The Clash is one of the most explosive debuts in rock. It takes the raw energy of punk and gives it focus, with songs that are fast, sharp, and politically charged. Tracks like “White Riot” and “London’s Burning” are pure bursts of fury, while “Career Opportunities” and “Remote Control” channel that anger into something more pointed, railing against unemployment, boredom, and authority. Joe Strummer’s vocals are rough and urgent, perfectly matched by Mick Jones’s guitar work that keeps everything tight but never polished. What makes the album stand out is how direct it is. The songs are short, punchy, and say exactly what they need to without wasting a second. At the same time, there is more variety here than a lot of early punk records, with touches of reggae and rock and roll showing the band’s broader influences. The Clash captured the spirit of its time with honesty and fire, and it still feels vital decades later. It is not just the sound of punk starting up, it is the sound of a band already carving out their own identity.
1001 Albums Challenge (5/1001) 1. Janie Jones (4/5) 2. Remote Control (4/5) 3. I'm So Bored With The USA (5/5) 4. White Riot (4/5) 5. Hate And War (5/5) 6. What's My Name (4/5) 7. Deny (4/5) 8. London Burning (4/5) 9. Career Opportunities (4/5) 10. Cheat (5/5) 11. Protex Blue (5/5) 12. Police And Thieves (5/5) 13. 48 Hours (4/5) 14. Garageland (5/5) Total (4/5)
What a debut, pure adrenaline!
This is a banger album
Not as good as London Calling, but still a fantastic punk record
First time listening to the album all the way through, instead of just the more well-known tracks. Definitely a more raw and less polished level of production than their later albums, which captures their youthful energy and is appropriate for the lyrical themes.
I don’t know whether to be amazed or depressed that a near-50-year-old album is relatable.
This is THE seminal punk album.
Just so good. Nothing compares to their sound. So iconic
Police n Thieves edges this into 4:territory
Hadn’t listened to this for many a year! Sounds a bit dated in places, and sometimes what it delivers is simplistically punk, but there’s enough on here to hint at the differential between the clash and many of their peers. I enjoyed.
Love The Clash. This isn’t my favorite album by them, London Calling, but it’s still great.
This starts off really well. Janie Jones and White Riot in particular stand out. It tails off a little towards the end, which is why I'm not giving it a five, but it's definitely a high four for me.
Raw. Fast. A voice that wants to be heard
It's The Clash I suppose.
Yeah man good record
A great start for a great band.
Very nice
This being the first studio album makes sense. It definitely sounds less polished, but in the best way possible. Raw energy.
Pretty good music, nice guitar use
Dziwnie mi z tym jak ten album nie jest w moim stylu i jak bardzo mi się podoba XD
i quite liked this one. very classic punk.
4 1/5. I should give it 5 stars but I think I’ve listened to it to many times.
Speaking of collected punk groups I think it was more then due that I talk about The Clash and their self titled debut album. When punk was blowing up around this time it was all focused on anger and rage, and reasonably so, but The Clash managed to add a bit of camp to it all that ended up becoming apart of the image most people think of when they hear the word Punk. Another thing I enjoy about The Clash is that they aren't super in your face, which is why I think so many people enjoy them. They still hold a torch to more traditional scream-y punk music but they are more cool about it all making it more accessible and open to the masses as kind of a stepping stone. I will say this album doesn't flow as good as some of the other The Clash albums but it is extremely consistent and solid all around.
Basically everything you want from a punk album. Chaotic and messy. Just docking a point for the length of the album
I forgot how many classics are on this album
Very solid punk tunes
Great album, love the angry voice. Janie Jones and Remote Control are my favorite
This album was just fun to listen to. I appreciate the fact that the rhythms and sounds are varied enough to not feel like it’s one long song. The only downfall is that I couldn’t understand many of the lyrics, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the album whatsoever. I just had to read along on Apple Music while I listened. With that said, Joe Strummer can yell-sing at me any old time; I love his voice!
As far as no frills, not hardcore, just straightforward punk rock goes, this might be the peak. There are all kinds of great melodies on this to enhance the snotty vocals and fast, simple songs. And there's political and social commentary, but it's not overwhelming. Despite all that my favorite song may actually be "Police and Thieves." It hints at the band's later work with its not-reggae-but-definitely-reggae-sounding-ness. There's only so much you can do with the simple punk formula and while the rest of the album is also great, it's nice to have a groovy left turn in the middle of it.
This hits right when your mood needs it. Always a favorite band from the punk era.
This one really surprised me. I didn’t care for their London Calling album but I really liked this and their usage of that rebel rock sound. Just short enough before it overstays it’s welcome.
London Calling is their best, obviously, but this one's probably the best album that the first wave of punk in the UK produced. Love the energy here, and appreciate how there's no shortage of songs to shout along to (in particular, "Career Opportunities" is always a crowd pleaser at the punk karaoke night).
Ég skil af hverju þessi plata hafi komið Clash á kortið. Góð frumraun, þó ég fíli svona sjaldnast.
Hell yeah the clash rules. Though not my favorite. London calling is more me but this is very good. It has such a fun almost pop sensibility. Its not ocean avenue but its more poppy that one would generally think. One of the tracks is kinda reggae or like dub. Neat shit for sure. What's not to like here? Just listen to some grandaddy fun punk
Punk classic never really listened to white riot for context
83% Best: Remote Control; White Riot; London's Burning Must-Hear? Sure
Much more my style than the last couple of albums. ★★★★
I love albums that are short and to the point - they know who they are and can show you without dragging it out. 4/5
Epitome of the English punk rock - great album
as passionate and melodic a slab of punk rock as can make me wonder why anyone bothers listening to the sex pistols. most everything here is a great and subtly intricate shout-along, by the time u get to police & thieves (the big stab at creative Ambition) it feels weirdly un-jarring cuz everything else has already done such a fine job introducing u to every instrumentalist's strengths...thus the Scalability of the sound is revealed, it can be tight and economic just as much as it can be decompressed and hypnotic. im not entirely green to the clash ofc but im glad this was the first record of theirs i ended up rolling for this project...will be nice to have this background in recent memory whenever i get to their more eccentric stuff,,,maybe its just speaking with the benefit of hindsight, but it does feel weirdly inevitable!
Not my favorite Clash album, but the one I needed right now.
You know what? I like this better than London Calling.
This is so good! I wish i hadn’t been turned off to punk by so many less talented imitators. There’s no *yelling* and raging and bad sound mixing here. Probably not going to be part of the regular rotation (I’m still not sold on the sound), but out of respect for their originality, creativity, and influence, it earns a 4.
They came out of the gate strong! Great debut album. The music is exactly what you would expect from that album cover. Great energy, punk tude without screaming, the more I listen to it the more I like it.
The greatest punk band. Not yet what they would become but the seeds are definitely there.
What a very good record. These are the songs I sing in the shower.
48 hours, Police & Thieves are early favorites. Enjoyed the album more on the second listen.
Superb.
Never been a fan of the sex pistols, and the Ramones are okay, but the Clash is always just right.
I, too, don’t want to know what the rich are doing
Still sounds great
If I went and bought this in 1977 and played it on a crackly, cheap plastic record player in my bedroom at the family home, it would've changed my life.
Surprisingly pretty good! Will listen again in the future
Punkalicious
Så oerhört lovande. Bitvis brilliant. Men inte i klass med senare mästerverk. Fyra plus
I like how punk rock albums are always like 50 songs with only 30 minutes between them
7/10 Favorites: Janie Jones, White Riot
Very punky and catchy, some really nice basslines on here
i had fun with this! i feel like because joe strummer kinda has a naturally yell-y voice he actually doesn't really have to actively yell much like in other punk. it was short enough that it didn't lose my attention but i can't say there was a particular song that caught my attention besides "I'm so Bored with the USA" but I enjoyed having it on the whole time.
I love the Clash. This is a great album. It’s 3rd in my ranking of Clash albums. Behind London Calling and Sandinista! . That doesn’t mean it’s bad I just like those other two more.
Pretty classic punk album, I like it.
Fave: White Riot
I’m so bored with the USA. Amen. I never explored The Clash in spite of every music nerd telling me I should. So many good tunes on this one. Lyrically and musically it is way more interesting than I thought it’d be. Guess I have to get into the Clash now.
Yes to these dudes doing their own thing—to Janie Jones & White Riot & London's Burning & Police & Thieves
It holds up in its simplicity. It’s sweeter than I remember too. But they should really annunciate.
half hour of power
77/100. The Clash’s self-titled debut is a gritty, energetic project that marks a very promising start for the band. It captures the spirit of early punk perfectly. While I personally prefer London Calling for its broader scope and polish, this debut is still a great.
innovator
Sick as hell
Raw, urgent, and unfiltered, 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩 still hits like a Molotov cocktail thrown at the establishment. While firmly rooted in first-wave UK punk, there are already hints of the melodic flair and genre-bending spirit that would define the band’s later work. Tracks like 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘙𝘪𝘰𝘵 and 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘖𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 capture the disillusionment of a generation in two-minute bursts of energy, while 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦 & 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘴 hints at broader ambitions. As Peter Silverton of Sounds famously said: “𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘩, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬 ’𝘯’ 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵. 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘥.” He’s right. This album may not be perfect, but its fire is undeniable.
Classic
I enjoyed. A good selection of Notable songs. The importance of the clash in the history of music can never be discounted. Janie jones and Police and thieves are the standout tracks, but I found I'm so bored with the USA surprisingly poignant while listening to this. Still relevant! 4 Stars
want excitement, don't get none, I go wild
Good Energy. solid songs. like
Sorprendentemente me gustó mucho considerando que el punk no es un género que me interese tanto. Los temas son pegadizos y tienen letras muy onda rebeldía y pegan bastante fuerte. En general como primer album de The Clash es muy muy bueno y settea el tone para los siguientes. Me gustó más que pink flag por ejemplo. Remote Control es un temazo. Me da un poquitín de gracia el acento british tan marcado.
never a bad song by the clash
More my style
You'd think out of 1001 albums I wouldn't get The Clash on back to back days, but I'm not complaining. This one isn't as great as London Calling. This one goes a bit harder and not all of them land. Still, it's my kinda jam and I have to rate their first album ~ 4.1 Stars "White Riot" will make it to the 1001 playlist.
Classic pop-punk album, catchy songs, good lyrics, pretty consistent and doesn't overstay its welcome. Police & Theives, Janie Jones, White Riot are highlights, the rest is still good. Easy 4/5.
Their debut album. Punk. A seminal Punk album. A lot of peole consider this Punk's best album. The musicianship is far superior to The Sex Pistols. However I prefer Never Mind The Bollocks energy. The Clash do have some slight elements of pop which I think is clever of them and widens their appeal. White Riot is a superb track.
A great debut album. One of the essentials from the first wave of British Punk bands
Hard to believe this record is from the 70s! With a timeless punk sound that bends genres, lyrics and topics that are still relevant to today, and a relatively condensed runtime, The clash S/T is almost a perfect album, just missing the infectious ear worms and tighter song writing that can be found on other records like London's Calling
Having only ever listened to The Clash’s big hits, I questioned their standing as a punk band, especially one of the founding members of the british punk movement. I realize now that I was completely wrong. This is some sharp, tightly written, and frankly fantastic punk music.
156/1089 - Solid debut. A bit simple and generic at times but some of the hits are very creative and show what the future has in store.
Another classic
Just a great album. Dripping with 70s punk and the songs just stand the test of time
3.75
A damned good album...full of the raw power of punk, but with definite hints of other styles (dub and reggae, for example.) It's obvious that this is where The Clash proved that they had the chops in the studio, as well as on stage. Recommended.
Catchy punk jams. Found myself humming along on first listen to some of them
Classic stuff, though some of the demos or earlier versions of these songs I prefer to the album ones.
It's the Clash, of course it's good.
Great!
Seminal punk
Very energetic, fun and with attitude. Liked how they merged the sound of the New Wave movement with punk, but I still preferred the punk-ish side to the catchy side of this album.
Punk chulo en interesante
Not their best but I love this stuff
This one looms large on the punk scene. It's got great energy and I love rawness of it, though if I'm just judging it on its own merits rather than its influence it doesn't land with me the same as some of the later albums it would be a model for.
Great album though I found London Calling a little better. Classic punk rock. 7/10.
Klassiker
Naisi🤩
energia!!!!!
I'm still trying to figure out this whole rating thing. If "London Calling" is an easy 5 (which it is), then by comparison, this is a 4. Fav track: Police & Thieves
Opening with a solo drum intro starts the album as it means to go on. It might be punk, but from the opening it is more melodic than English people shouting over guitar. You can understand how they inspired The Jam with the rhythm guitar on Remote Control. Police & Thieves is brilliant and White Riot is a standout, poignant message wrapped in a catchy melody that you can't help feel fuelled by. Perhaps more of a me problem but towards the latter half of the album it gets samey. There's only so many times you can hear ohohoh chants. Just because I said I liked the strawberry mousse pot doesn't mean it needs to be pudding for the next 6 months (ruminating on a conversation with my mum when I was 9). A band and album that shaped generations of music and despite the fatigue as it went on, a lot of these tracks would make it into a playlist. Just maybe not back to back.
Never truly listened to a The Clash album. This shit is rocking. I knew what they were about. Pretty badass album.
Janie Jones is one of my favorite british punk songs so coming out straight from the jump makes this album an easy listen. 1977 was an impactful time for music I can easily see why this is on the list
4.1
Great early punk.
What a blast! The debut of the only band that matters. They came out swinging.
Really good album, though being their debut feels really formative and like a lead up to bigger and better albums to come in the future
good, basic early punk. does what it sets out to do and does it well. also pretty sure this wouldnt been one of the earliest and most formative releases alongside the sex pistols? could be wrong there. anyway good album, only not a 5 because i think the genre became a lot more than this, but it's still definetly one of the better albums in the genre.
Finally some good fucking food. Or as Joe Strummer said in his breakout role in Lord of the Ring: The Two Towers, "Looks like meat's back on the menu boys!" This and Dylan back to back, have we perhaps left mid city? I sure hope so. Wasn't sure whether to round this shit up to a 5 or drop it to a 4. Very difficult. Ultimately the weaker songs namely the last three tracks of the album make the decision for me. 9/10
Lean and raw, fuck the Sex Pistols, without these guys and the Damned we wouldn’t have punk as we know it in the UK or USA. It lacks their big commercial hits that you would find on their later albums but as a proof of concept this is a good punk album, undeniably a watershed moment. If I were rating purely based on musical impact this would be a 5, but they’ve got better albums and I personally wouldn’t pick this over something like Combat Rock by them, or Machine Gun Etiquette by the Damned (or literally any west coast US punk). A couple of duds in the tracklist really weigh it down for me, if this were better balanced it would have probably been a 5. Highlights: I’m so Bored with the U.S.A., What’s My Name, Cheat, Police & Thieves
I know some of this album, but this is much earlier Clash than I've listened to. I've always enjoyed Combat Rock and I just love Sandinista so I recognize some of these tracks probably from there. Overall enjoying this, I think I'm at a 3 or 4 at the moment.
always fun
Hard-bitten punk rock, a lot closer to that than I'm used to with The Clash (only really listening to London Calling and the later stuff) - but still very good. An album that demands you turn the volume up!
The Clash’s debut self titled is easily the band at their most punk. What sets the clash apart from every other punk group at the time was how clever they were with their song arrangement. You can clearly see the bones of the pop-centric masterpiece of a follow up album being ‘London Calling’ with the use of vocal harmonies, catchy choruses and zany creative lyrics. Also it’s impossible to listen to this album without being taken aback by how British the band is. Like a band like ‘the Kinks’ and not a band like ‘the Beatles’ their Englishness proceeds every word they say and I always appreciate a band wearing their nationality on their sleeve, even if they have a thing or two to say about their own country or government. The balance between an all out punk thrashing and a sing along pop album makes it infinitely entertaining. Top tracks: Janie Jones, I’m So Bored With the USA, White Riot, Hate and War, Cheat, Protex Blue
Neato! Almost a 4
Genre defining punk. The second best clash album. Already more experimental than their peers - and the first full length UK punk LP. High 4 (9/10)
Nice garagy feeling, some good tracks, some screamy ones too
Still sounds fresh and relevant. Genre defining.
I’m not a big punk fan but this brings back memories as it was one of the first records I got into in my teens when I was stealing my Dad’s CD collection for the first time. A bit inconsistent but the tunes are there.
Great debut.
this is a classic. "police & thieves" is my fav.
Gritty debut album that really rocks.
Najs ju, klassiskt. Gött sound och kort. En fyra
Great, straightforward punk rock. There's a reason these guys are considered genre defining.
the clash are fuckin cool. 4
In eerste instantie vond ik het niks, maar je beluistert het zonder moeite nog een keer. Een mengeling van de kenmerkende 1980-verveeldheid en argressie, maar verpakt in een aanstekelijk ska-ritme en de heren hebben in ieder geval opgelet tijdens de muziekles.
So raw, can hear the start of what would be ‘London Calling’ in a few years . Outstanding !
My second time listening to a Clash album for the first time. This one is much grittier than London Calling. I actually went back and listened to London Calling after listening to this one. You can really hear how they matured tonally in two years. In one of the reviews I read while exploring London Calling the writer said it sounded “effortless.” I can’t think of a better description for both of these Clash albums. They’re either really really good musicians or they just groove really well together. Either way, every song sounds like they’re in the pocket and it truly sounds effortless. Can’t wait to explore more Clash. Viva The Clash!!!
Solid punk, London Calling better, end of review
A Clash ♥️ ne mogu biti objektivna ni škrta, pank 4eva 🥲 4/5, 7/10
i don’t think i can overstate how much i love the aggressively london accent - genuinely sounds like if oliver! was set to punk instead of whatever the showtunes genre is called. good stuff though i like it
Classics
Cmon, it’s The Clash I like I'm so Bored with the USA it should have more streams
This is pure punk, foundational punk. I think the Clash had better albums, but in terms of just fundamental punk this is a good album.
Always enjoy this album.
punk albums are fire for approximately 6 minutes, then you realise the rest of the album sounds the exact same
Normally, I'm not that big of a punk fan, but this was actually ok. I enjoyed it
OK, Not entierly my cup of tea
Random thoughts: * Somehow, despite owning both Combat Rock and London Calling, I never explored more Clash and especially this album. Shame on me. * Even from this first album, The Clash were different than other punk groups due to their melody and musicality. They still had the punk attitude and snarl but brought some real musicianship to the proceedings. * Stand out tracks for me are: I'm So Bored with the USA, Hate and War, and Police and Thieves. * Overall, this is a definitive must listen for it's importance and to hear the beginnings of one of the all-time punk groups.
Lots of energy in this album, as you might expect. I haven't heard this album, just a couple of their later ones. This one seems more even on tone than the others. Kind of cool to see the reggae cover of Police and Thieves--punk and reggae were hand in hand right from the beginning I guess. 4/5
Looking forward to a second listen where I can listen to it more closely. Love the energy and rebellion on this record
Alors que l'album London Calling me laisse de glace (excepté pour la pièce-titre), j'ai bien aimé cet album-ci, qui m'a semblé dénué de bravade et d'ostentation.
By perhaps the most iconic punk band, The Clash spreads a message that is a true today as it was in 1977
Really enjoyed this, just a nice early glance at the Clash’s songwriting skills. It was angry where it needed to be and had a biting raw edge. Rating: 4.0
Punky. Apparently not their best, but I’d listen again.
Clean punk. Refreshing.
- Ähnlich wie bei „London Calling“, kannte ich vorher nicht wirklich, war aber wirklich gut - kurzweilig, stimmig und einfach guter Punk, werde ich sicherlich mal wieder reinhören
Not as good as London calling but still good, I love remote control, white riot is literally the most punk song of all time, so crude and controversial it works well. Londons burning has a similar spirit to it too. Oh and we have the GOOD version of career opportunities… not the shitty Sandinista one Police and thieves, is like a hint towards what the clash would become Garageland as a closer is pretty cool too with the harmonica I like this a ton, the ‘true’ punk just before wimpier commercial bands like the sex pistols came along (who I do like too)
Great Clash album. All the songs were new to me
Good old first wave punk rock
Very good. Good stuff! Rock and roll 🎸
Idk, I guess it’s a classic.
London Burning was my favorite song when I was 12/13. Have not revisited it since so this was fun! Highlights: I’m So Bored with the USA, Career Opportunity, Police & Thieves, Garageland Feel I like I need to listen to this to absorb it properly. But it’s fun, makes me feel like I’m in high school several decades ago. Four stars for these working class hero lads
A+ classic jams for a reason, they are like the Bruce Springsteen of punk no matter how edgy they portend to be ….its really radio clash innit…. A garage band from garage land
Torn between a 4 and a 5. Love the lyrics. Musically, they got better after this album.
Nice debut from The Clash, it was perfect to ambient my house while I cleaned it, gave me force aganist the dust
1977 was a monumental year for punk music and this is one of the best albums the year has to offer. This is a classic. I think most would agree that this is the Clash's second best album after "London Calling". This thing has its good share of bangers. "I'm so Bored with the U.S.A." is such an ear worm, its always been a favorite from the Clash. Same with "Police & Thieves" which is a close honorable mention for favorite from this album. If someone was interested in getting into punk music this is the album I would recommend to them. Its very accessible but also high-quality and a good representation of punk music. Favorite track: I'm so Bored with the U.S.A.
A classic from my teen years. I loved it, then I thought it sucked, then I dug it again. A few duds - Remote Control, White Riot - but mostly killer tracks. Benefits significantly from the remaster - now you can hear Mick Jones playing as if he were in The Sweet or Queen. The UK version is missing two of my favorite tracks from the US version - Complete Control and White Man in Hammersmith Palais. Would get 5 stars if they were on the album.
A very solid fun punk album can’t go wrong
Wow! I mean I knew The Clash influenced a lot of punk bands, and I can totally hear a few in this album. Operation Ivy and Dead Milkmen to name a couple.
Pretty good
They were better songwriters than the Sex Pistols, but they weren't as tight and overwhelming. Nonetheless very successful and influential. Bands like Rancid wouldn't have been the same without this album. Favorite song: what's my name
Really good album but there are better ones to come from The Clash
Good album. I like “Combat Rock” more, though.
solid 8 .. loved just about every track
They offered me the office they offered me the job. This remaster ain’t it. The original is leaner and much better. I giving 4 stars because I’m adding I fought the law and taking out the extra songs.
That was fine, i guess? Listened to it once, like "police and thieves" cover, and a few others. Lead vocals are sure strange, but that's fine. Even fun, actually. Guess that's one of the reasons that allowed The Clash to come through on the scene in the first place.
***Remote Control, White Riot, Hate & War Funny to have to listen to this now since I should for work anyway lol. Been listening to so much UK post-punk recently, and have listened to London Calling before but don't think I've ever really given this a listen. Honestly kind of rules, kind of obvious to say but I feel like this is the template for like 55% of all punk adjacent music that came afterwards -- especially like 90s skate punk. I didn't realize how much the more reggae / goth elements style elements only came in later -- and also I didn't realize how sort of poppy these guys were compared to some of their contemporaries even. Either way glad to have given this a back to front listen and adding some of these songs to my playlists. NOTE -- just read the album summary notes, not sure if I listened to the original UK release or the US 1979 rerelease track order.... oh well
I haven’t even hear of this album or the artist before but it was a great listen, every song was pretty good, some better than others but everything all worked together pretty nicely.
Yeassss
Ок
Good Debut
Wasn’t expecting to enjoy this so much, usually not the biggest fan of punk but every song on here was good pretty much this feels like a much better version of the sex pistols album. High 4 (8.5/10)
I still remember where I was the first time I heard The Clash: 14, wide-eyed in front of the stereo. “Listen to this, this is great,” my dad had said, putting London Calling . Full of teenage cynicism, I’d rolled my eyes - yeah, right, old man - but it only took five seconds of those haunting air siren opening chords and I was hooked, the hair standing up on the backs of my arms. I went out and bought this album about a year later, once I’d wrung every drop out of London Calling. This is a more traditionally punk album, perhaps a slightly less sophisticated one, but it’s brilliant for all that. The first half blazes in with Janie Jones, Remote Control and I’m So Bored With The USA, all of which sound like they could’ve been recorded last week (esp the latter), and the bangers just don’t stop coming, at least until the slightly shaky Deny. The second half is a little bit weaker, but you can’t be too harsh on anything that contains London’s Burning, which is a classic Clash song for a reason, or Career Opportunities, which is another that could’ve been made last week. The highlight of this side for me is Police & Thieves, a cover of an old reggae tune which hints at what their sound would evolve into for London Calling. I bloody love this album. I haven’t listened to it since I was about 18, but I won’t leave it that long again. It’s a strong 4.5 at least for me and the only reason it’s not getting a 5 is because I’m saving that for when London Calling comes up.
Ooh the clash are a band I've always been happy to just listen to the greatest hits of so let's see what this bad boy has under the hood aye. These songs are all so short and idk how I feel about that. Like it's not a bad thing but for example Whats my name could have just repeated itself for another two minutes and I'd have been entertained. I'm not saying they all sound the same bc they don't actually but it would maybe feel more varied if there were fewer longer songs but that's not very punk. I don't mind them sounding similar at the end of the day but it does kind of back up my being happy with just the greatest hits. I love joe strummers voice tho. Chelp away boyo. You know what this is getting better + more varied in the back half. The bass on police & thieves sounds very fun. Also it's 6 minutes long so that's shut me up aye. Yeah okay maybe I was wrong on the greatest hits point there's some good tracks on here. I'll have to listen again to see if the front half/back half split is as dramatic as it felt. This sounds overly critical i like the clash a lot at least on the surface level, i enjoyed this glad I listened
Good! Different from what I listen to normally
I usually don’t like punk music but The Clash makes it pretty catchy. It was a good listen. I wouldn’t add any of the songs to my personal playlist but I would listen again
Not as good of an album as London Calling or Combat Rock, but still pretty great.
4 CLASSIIICCC, played this to death age 14, still do tbh. fave songs: janie jones, london's burning
Killer debut album by an amazing band.
Usually I’m not that into classic punk but this was actually great. Unlike the other bands from this time like the sex pistols and ramones I think it holds up pretty well today.
I dont think their best album, definitely got better/ refined their sound somewhat Still fantastic & a classic in punk
If I was a disaffected youth in 70's London I hope my anger would sound just like this.
I'm already a clash enjoyer so I knew I'd like this one, a few good ones i haven't heard before, not as good as london calling but as a first album it's solid so I feel like i can't be too hard on them. Spotify did autoplay a gang of four song after the album finished and made me realize how i do miss more technical punk songs. Sorry Paul but you're no Dave Allen.
This is a fun one. You can definitely hear things of whats to come, also at least to me the early influences of ska/reggae. At times a bit to samesy and probably not my favourite album of theirs but it was enjoyable :)).
An alright album
I was envisioning my 5 star rating as I listened with delight to the joyful rebellion of side one. The only downer was “Deny,” which was promptly rescued by “London Calling.” It turns out “Deny” was a bit of a harbinger as side two waned a bit. A little less joy here, a little less rebellion there. And interestingly enough, for the US version released a full TWO years later, “Deny” and other weaker songs were replaced with songs like “Clash City Rockers” and “I Fought the Law.” A stronger album…but not the original. Ironically, the US version is less “boring.” But still 4 stars for the UK and for a great band whose talent would expand in the years that followed.
Oh, wow! What a time in history to have rage and rebellion sound so good. I really enjoyed this album. While I have heard it before - multiple listens, it just hit me with fresh delight. It doesn't sustain across the whole album, but because it is so strong in the first half, I am happy to go along. And I feel that if Mick and Joe called and asked me to join in the revolution, I would jump! (this is saying something for a scrawny 50 something guy like me).
I liked this more than London Calling, whoops.
The Clash Self-Titled is just a fun, rambunctious punk album with radical politics (in a good way). There are lots of great tracks with great energy. Best Songs: I'm so Bored with the USA, White Riot, Police & Thieves Worst Songs: Hate & War
A classic. I like other albums a bit better, but this is where it all started.
It's hard to dislike this music. Simple but effective chord progressions and driving bass lines. The progressive lyrics are uplifting. I would spin this today.
bom album, manteve uma consistencia
Solid album! No real stand out songs but I would be happy to listen to this again if someone put it on.
Timeless and tight. A fun listen.
I listened to this album the day after Canada won the 4 Nations Hockey tournament, and I was, indeed, Bored with the USA. Great cathartic punk rock!
I'm so bored with the USA. Word, Joe. Word.
Love The Clash. Currently it is 2/21/25 and this kind of energy is precisely that I need in my heart.
Mijn pa was een punk fan in zijn jeugd, want ik herinner me dat ik al de albums van The Clash door m'n strot geduwd heb gekregen. Dus als ik White Riot hoor, denk ik spontaan aan autoritjes naar Disney Land of naar de Ardennen. Buiten dit positieve jeugdtrauma is dit natuurlijk een klepper. Hun minst goede album, maar toch nog altijd fantastisch, je moet het maar kunnen. 3.8
Preferred London Calling but still very good
Can't make up my mind if this is 4 or 5 stars. Let's say 4.5, but I'll round down because I know there has to be another Clash album on this list. Really great stuff, the recording isn't always great, but it's punk rawk so is shouldn't matter. What matters is I wanted to throw off the corporate yoke this morning as I was driving to work listening to this album. And just because it should be noted whenever Joe Strummer is mentioned...Henry Rollins states: This is not a time to be dismayed. This is punk rock time, this is what Joe Strummer trained you for. It is now time to go. You’re a good person. That means more now than ever.
Ooooh like the sex pistols but audibly musical. Not quite London Calling yet though
Clever and crisp rock with genre identity
obviously much more cerebral than the ramones, both in terms of the agit-prop lyrics and the sonic excursions. fortunately, this does not come at the cost of urgency or viscerality. the album consistently bangs. sonically dynamic, borrows from reggae heavily. not content with the punk ethos of pure all-encompassing negation (as embodied by ramones, sex pistols). instead, very much embodies an affirmative political/sociocultural program. of course, today, many things can be said about how that program was inevitably doomed, idealistic, that music is an impotent medium for affecting change, etc; but cannot begrudge the sincerity of conviction.
fun
look, it's a pretty good album. i like the clash. there are some really good tracks on here (i particularly like 'white riot' and 'remote control'). but we all know this is not the pinnacle of the clash. it's good! it's not great.
Decent punk album
Groundbreaking punk album that feels timeless
You can feel the energy boiling over in each song. Raucous stuff right here. Can you imagine listening to this as an angsty teenager? Here I am at my corporate desk job in the USA toe tapping like a buffoon, I certainly wasn't who the Clash were making this for.
8/10
Love the Clash, this album is great. Such a pleasure to listen to this album all the way through.
Proper decent
Loses a star cause every song is the same. But what a song.
I tend to not like punk and most punk albums I've had so far were not great. This album is not like those other punk albums. I can tell that they have talent as the instrumentals are great and so are the lyrics. This album shows a lot of potential that London Calling lives up to. Glad I got proven wrong on this album!
Fun
Some early throes of punk. I am also bored of the USA. Good album.
9/10
There seems to be a couple of different track listings but whichever one has (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais is what I would recommend because that song is an all time banger
I don’t even like punk, but this rules.
This is an awesome debut album. A classic, awesome rock album. Imagine reaching no.12 in the charts with a budget of 3 weeks and 4000 quid!
This was fun
Just great, foundational punk. The Clash: the only band that matters
Highlights include: “I’m so Bored with the U.S.A.” “White Riot” “Hate & War” “London’s Burning” “Career Opportunities” “Police & Thieves” “Garageland” Amazing punk album. And I thought “Rock the Casbah” was good…
Nice
I liked this a lot!
Great album. Standouts for me are Janie Jones and White Riot. The rest has great drive and variety, plays well.
I recall being underwhelmed by London Calling a bit, but felt the opposite way here. Actually enjoyed this one more, which is probably some type of heresy, but come at me.
Some good solid rock and/or roll. Good guitar drive and attitude. I feel like this album would call me a wanker.
I like this a lot. But listened to it a few days ago and don’t have much to say. I’m rounding up. 3.5/5
Favourites: Remote Control (beautiful chord progression), Liar (lovely bridge). Like the drumming (a lot of flams). Reminds me of The Who and other British rock bands, but the sound is more sparse/less abrasive, and simpler—a lot of major chords. By "Career Opportunities" the constant high-energy got a bit tiring. Love the sudden flanger in "Cheat". "Police and Thieves" is a nice change in pace. The bass on the verse is delicately pretty. "Garageland" was not too amazing, but it was a fine way to end the album—not underwhelming. Overall, most of the songs are fine-good, with quite a few noteworthy musical moments and catchy melodies and riffs. The lyrics are cool.
A punch to the face with the first Clash album, legendary sound and themes
Good vibe
I love the production and sonic quality of this album. It strikes me as ironic that such an early punk album was crafted this way, obviously there was an investment that wasn’t afforded to most in this camp. Listening is like looking at a really crisp black and white photo from way-way back.
Clássico, mas acho que pelo fato de ser ainda um punk muito reto e sem a experimentação com outros gêneros que o Clash faz posteriormente na sua carreira, acaba sendo mais fraco que outros discos. Isso não faz dele menos interessante, é um ótimo disco e talvez um dos discos seminais do punk que melhor envelheceram
Best Clash album. Punked it up nicely, with notes of Sex Pistols, Ramones, and their own brand of ska. I was never a big fan, but this one is true to form. All down hill from here.
you gotta lick the ground, but you are trapped in the middle, punk.
I had cake pizza and a capri sun for breakfast this kinda fit that
Not as good as London Calling but still fun to listen to. I like the clash a lot more than most other punk stuff I guess
The unquestioned #1 punk band all time. Though their later albums grew in so many ways, their debut is still great. A garage band indeed. Joe Strummer will always be one of my absolute favorites.
Edgy, classic punk that's unfortunately still relevant to today's issues. This album scratches my angry “fuck the government” itch. I like the beats and bass lines. Vocals are not polished but you can hear the anger/frustration in the raspy voice that adds to the punk feel.
Great Punk. I love it.
i usually dont like punk but i can get down with this. his voice is a little grading ngl but I fw the messaging on here
Fun, classic punk. I don’t even know what to add beyond it being a good time.
ACHEI DAORA
Nice album.
very good
Easily my favorite of the early punk albums I've been exposed to, and for one simple reason: these guys know how to write songs. Not only that, but there's a wonderful variety across the tracklisting, of tempo, of feel, etc. I still can't give it a 5 because I still struggle to love basic punk music, but this was really great, and I'd call it a must-listen. #56
Objectively one of the best punk albums out there, and an absolute trendsetter, only reason I'm not giving a 5, is simply because I'm not huge on punk.
I like the short to the point songs. Need more listens for the lyrics but the up-beat sound makes this album really enjoyable.
I guess London is burning
Better than good.
I'm nearly inclined to give this 5 stars because it's crazy how influential it was. There are sounds solidified on this album that resonated in punk and punk-adjacent music for 30 years. What I mean by that is, of course we're still hearing these sounds and ideas today but for 30 years after this album came out it was still part of the cutting edge and mainstream sound of punk rock. With the exception of maybe Nirvana, The Clash might be the most important band to debut after 1975. The only reason this album doesn't get 5 stars is because London Calling exists and does everything this album does, but better.
Hell yeah 4/5
The Clash really got it first try with their sound. It’s no London Calling, but it definitely hits all of the notes of angry cockney guys yelling about somewhat incomprehensibly Idk if it holds up against its modern punk descendants and is really the GREATEST punk album of all time, but boy is it fun and catchy. I also think it’s definitely approachable for people who may not be a punk fan.
Kedvenc/Favourite: London's Burning A brit punk mindig kedves lesz a szívemnek, kiforratlan szerintem (a későbbi Clash-hez képest is), de pont attól jó. Kicsit egybefolynak a trackek, de ebben az overall hangulatban van az album bája. Egyszerűen nagyszerű, pure punk. British punk will always be dear to my heart, it's unrefined in my opinion (even compared to later Clash), but that's what makes it good. The tracks are a bit one note, but in that overall vibe is the charm of the album. It's simply great, pure punk.
Awesome vibes, not as cool as London Calling though. Lovely
Good album! Bit same-y, but that's the clash!
Very pure punk album from before the Clash started experimenting with other genres and styles. Some very satisfying tracks, stripping back all of the pointlessness of prog and studio rock in the 1970s and criticising the state of Britain. White Riot and London Burning are now classics, but sitting here at the end of 2024 Police and Thieves is the standout, already looking past punk, which was always going to be a self terminating movement. The moments of dub are artfully executed given the otherwise handsoff studio production. Garageland is a great reflection on what was going on with punk (and maybe a shot across the bow of Malcolm McLaren?) Structurally there's a lot more going on than Never Mind the Bollocks or Ramones, it's not surprising that The Clash pushed boundaries for a longer time than either of the other two although ultimately it limits the impact of this album compared to the statement made by Never Mind the Bollocks or the sheer energy of Ramones.
I didn't love this album when it first came out but it's grown on me over the years. There are some classic songs and great guitar riffs but its hit or miss (like everything the Clash did).
It’s not quite London Calling, but a powerful debut. No bad songs really. Career Opportunities is one of my favorite Clash songs and of course you’ve got Janie Jones, White Riot, Police & Thieves. Still, it wasn’t as interesting as they were capable of. High 4 (again!).
Great first half with the first 3 tracks being standout songs. The second half feels like it blends into itself, but it's still a good listen. Garageland definitely ends things on a high note. I like later punk and never got super into 70s British punk, but this is solid stuff.
Good old school punk
Expert debut with all the charge and verve they would later perfect on London Calling when they added a bit more variety and craft.
Not a fan of the singing style in London's Burning. Otherwise, overall catchy album, good tunes.
Definitely an origin to the Punk Rock movement. Loved the loose feel of the album and felt that this was a fun listen.
I think I can feel the lyrics more than they can write themselves, as The Clash tries to be very basic on them in here. Sure, I can feel what the author has in mind, but he wouldn't spell it out for me. The music itself is enjoyable, even though you won't find anything complex here, and yet, there's a bunch of distinctly different songs. It's not the lyrics, it's not the melody that's selling the vibe, but you get it anyways. Wish the album wasn't so simple. It feels like a hesitant 4.
Punk, with a pinch of reggae.
Not quite at the level they would attain in later records, but you can hear the potential here.
kind of a banger
Nice, but similar to others
Not quite there yet, but gosh darn close
A long way from London Calling greatness, but still pretty good.
Classic
4 estrelas
As a rule of thumb I tend to be wary about punk as a genre, but these guys pull it off – and rather spiffingly at that. The Clash's self-titled debut record is definitely weaker than the follow-up London Calling, but that's not saying too much. The latter is a juggernaut album that's pretty difficult to top. Regardless, The Clash really nailed punk here. Fast, energetic rhythm sections underlying simple, catchy guitar riffs and poor vocals. What more could you want? The presence of the track Police & Thieves surprised me. I wasn't expecting The Clash to release such a strong "epic" track, especially when the genre they're typically known for defining is itself known for having incredibly short tracks (downwards of 2 minutes in many cases). And we get our fair share of those, in relative bangers like White Riot, Career Opportunities, and Protex Blue – but then Police & Thieves, a 6-minute bombshell, comes to remind you that not only can punk verses sound decent (not just the choruses), but tracks can get away with being three times their normal length. And to great effect. It's the best track on the album. 4/5 Key tracks: White Riot, Deny, Police & Thieves
Great!!
CATCH UP: NOVEMBER 12 Me being sick for a few days caused me to miss out on talking about another Clash album, this time their straight punk rock debut. I'll inevitably have to talk about the Sex Pistols' and Ramones' debuts and compare them to this, but one thing for sure is that the Clash are the critical favorites. Something about this record feels a lot smoother than the latter, not as pugnacious as the former: if you wanted to call this "pop punk" I wouldn't contest it. However what it lacks in breakneck aggression it makes up for in tight and effective songwriting, which ended up being the band's strength all along. I'd call it closer to the street punk I find myself being really into when I end up in a classic punk mood (thanks to it being what most of those street punk bands were trying to emulate in the first place). Thanks to this book for finally getting me to check it out! 7/10
i like this one; lots of intresting tracks and full of energy. Good musicianship at times trying to hide under the "punk" banner. The vocalist does annoy me sometimes when it feels like he is trying to put a voice on. Overall a really interesting and good album
A classic. Hard edged. Rockin stuff.
A self titled delight to a power house of the genre.
Good solid classic punk. I don't think I'd listened to garage land before.
What a day to have The Clash... I'm So Bored with the USA too!
Pretty good straight forward punk album. I liked Police & Thieves and how it foreshadowed their more reggae infused music they would create in their later albums. Besides a few songs, this album wasn't super memorable, but I still enjoyed it while I was listening. Low 4.
London Calling is their 5 star album but some good tracks on here too like Police and Thieves
Never mind the Sex Pistols, if you could pick only one album to be your introduction to punk rock it has to be this one.
An ethos can be hard to define sometimes, especially when there's multiple different ways to interpret it. Punk is no exception. The Clash's debut album shows that it was more of a political and artistic statement than an attitude. Sure, the album was recorded quickly and lacks overdubs, but the band members clearly care about sounding as good as possible. And, most importantly, they come out of the gate with a lot to say, and an unwillingness to pull their punches. That being said, it's a debut album. It punches above its weight, but the album lacks the general scope, precision or ambition of later Clash albums. It's still eclectic, but less so. Still, an amazingly solid start. Tangent: I much prefer the UK version to the US one. But that tends to be how it is; the only time I've encountered a US version of an album that was better than the UK release was Magical Mystery Tour. Fave: Police & Thieves Least Fave: Deny Strong Bad Demerit Count: 0
Rock solid punk.
It’s great but not their greatest
The Clash being more interesting than most of the genre right out of the gate - it's good stuff! I still prefer Strummer's solo stuff, but it's great to see where he came from. I might need to check out the UK version of this album - seems it has some tracks not on the US version I find myself with. Fave tracks - I mean, the covers "I Fought The Law" and "Police & Thieves" are probably the stand outs, here, but let's pick "Clash City Rockers" and "White Riot" for the originals!
++: Janie Jones, Remote Control, White Riot, What's My Name, Deny, London's Burning, Career Opportunities, Cheat, Protex Blue, Police & Thieves, 48 Hours, Garageland +: I'm So Bored with the USA, Hate and War 9,5/10
Can you believe I've always claimed to love The Clash never listened to this in full? Such a poser. It's really good but I still have more of a taste for Sandinista! and Combat Rock, I guess I just love weirdo post-punk Clash best. But this is still pretty good. The bass lines are killer too. White Riot and Hate & War and What's My Name back to back to back is some of the best punk music ever written. I wish I liked it even more than I did but I guess the coolest thing about The Clash to me was always how eclectic their tastes were and I find myself missing that. Though I do love how much stripped down Clash reminds me of The Jam. Still good shit!