London Calling

Day 21 of Albums you must hear.. And I’ve got an album that took me a couple of days to digest, in order to give it its well deserved attention. 1979’s release from The Clash, London Calling. Described by Rolling Stone magazine as the best album of the 1980’s, and by many others as the greatest album of all time, London Calling was a real treat to listen to over and over again. I have never listened to London Calling before, and most of the songs that I recognize from The Clash would come out in later years. The Clash didn’t invent the wheel when it comes to British Punk Rock, they just put the GoodYear rubber on that bitch and got the most commercial tread from it. London Calling is considered a Punk album but when you really give it a listen, it’s a potpourri of many different styles and genres. I felt no listening fatigue, as each song is well, different. It’s all tied together with one of the most unique vocalists in Rock music, Joe Strummer. Even when his voice breaks and strains, it is pure Punk and melodic. I couldn’t get enough. There are so many different instruments used on this album that it’s a call back to The Beatles famous experimentation in the studio in their twilight years. London Calling is an album that deserves to be listened to on either a high-end stereo or headphones. If not you will miss out on much of the charm sprinkled throughout. My favorite songs are the title track London Calling (the lyric “phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust” gave me a good chuckle), Hateful has a great breakdown every few bars that I love and the chorus is addictive. Rudie Can’t Fail has a lot of reggae influence and has a call back, or forward, to I Fought The Law. The Guns of Brixton is pretty gangster for 1979 and is catchy as hell. Lovers Rock is smoother than a baby’s powdered bottom. My favorite song, Train In Vain, wasn’t even listed on the original album artwork in 1979, as it was added last minute and might as well be considered a secret track back then. Sure, it’s the most poppy track, but it makes me feel really good. Green Day must have taken a lot from this band, I see so many similarities in style and willingness to cross genre jurisdictions. London Calling is a large album, it was released as a double album, even though it cost the same as a regular album to the consumers, much to the chagrin of the record label. I’m sure the kids back then were super happy about the savings! When I first learned about how highly regarded London Calling is worldwide, I didn’t want to rush through it, and I’m glad I didn’t. This is a five star listening experience and deserves more attention from the average listeners of today. Please share your thoughts, memories and opinions!

Punk music, but the band knows how to play their instruemnts.

This is just the greatest fucking album. 19 songs, every single one of them unique and captivating in their own way. The sheer number of musical styles touched on in this one album is insane. Not something you would expect from one of the UK's original 'Punk' bands, but here it is. One of, if not THE, best album of all time in my opinion.

Easily one of my favourite albums of all time. Their third album in 3 years...and it's a double album... and it's all bangers. Just mind boggling. The Clash get lumped in with other punk bands, but the influences and genres that show up on this album are all over the musical spectrum. I finally listened to the original versions of the three covers: "Brand New Cadillac", "Wrong 'Em Boyo" and "Revolution Rock". The Clash versions are so great because they can inject their punk sensibility and energy into rockabilly, ska and reggae songs and create something new and exciting, whether it's covers or new songs that reflect their diverse influences. To me, this is emblematic of why this album is so groundbreaking and influential. (Not so) sleeper hit: "Spanish Bombs"

Not what I was expecting, and I reckon if I spent more time with this album it I would get more from it - but realistically I won’t do that as even getting through one full listen turned into an absolute chore

Not even kidding but I saw someone wearing a London Calling shirt while listening to this album in the Victoria and Albert Museum today. This is a perfect album. No, this is THE perfect album. When I get an album like London Calling, I instantly start to regret the other 5 star reviews I've given, as if they can't be put to the same standard. This album is a double album with the very definition of all killer no filler. Their "weaker tracks" are objectively great songs! Seriously, how did they write so many amazing songs? There are too many amazing songs, it's ridiculous. They're catchy and energetic with nothing less than a full, wild performance in each one. The vocals are strong, with two juxtaposing lead styles, and added harmonies used sparingly. The riffs are memorable. The production is clear, and they do all sorts of weird and interesting additions all throughout. They employ a unique style in each song so no two are alike, incorporating countless genres, such as rockabilly, jazz, power pop, and ska among others. London Calling: Perfect memorable opener literally howling at you about the doomsday of London. Such an eery vibe Brand New Cadillac: A psychobilly track, and one of the best of the era for sure. Starts off with a surf rock guitar hook with rockabilly vocals and lyric structure on a 50s subject. And the finish is so 50s! Short and sweet Jimmy Jazz: A personal favorite. A jazzy lounge track, catchy and memorable, with hilarious lyrics. Suck it coppers! Hateful: This one makes me want to dance and scream! Holy shit was an energetic and fast-paced track. I can't help but scream through the chorus (and even the verses). Love the back vocals, the beat, and that funny weird instrument in the background. Also, enjoy how the melody slows and speeds up whenever it wants. Rudie Can't Fail: Our first ska track! Such a fun track, and no you can't fail with that chicken skin suit. Gotta love the end where the sax thinks it's over and they're like "Nah fuck it, we're howling!" Spanish Bombs: SPANISH SONGS IN ANDALUCIA. That's enough to get this song stuck in my head. I'm obsessed with that pleasing guitar, so relaxing, and the organ is a nice addition. How do they make so many unique catchy songs? Oh, my core-uh-zahn. Right Profile: This one's weird... it's kinda like ska but also not. Either way love the combination of the sudden power chords with the sax interjections. And that rockabilly-like muddled guitar solo (that lasts just a few seconds) is weird too. There's a lot of weird noises throughout the song. Love it. Lost in the Supermarket: One of my favorite songs of all time. A reaction to capitalism I think. Love the mellow, groovy guitar and vocal style, catchy and melodic but still full of energy and personality. It's said that this was the first real indie rock song, with every indie rock band after trying to mimic this sound. I could only wish. Clampdown: Very punk lyrics I can get behind. Fuck the clampdown. Power pop in the harmonic vocal style (especially in the verses) and melodic power chords. Instrumentation gets interesting at the last minute, is it the distortion? Guns of Brixton: A highlight for sure. An eery reggae song with dark themes and a strange boing instrument. It's the little things like the creepy, agonizing back vocals that get me. Wrong Em Boyo: An underrated fun ska track! Simple and mindless, although it has strange production noises that all the songs have. Death or Glory: Another catchy power pop song with an inviting hook and an anthemic chorus. He who fucks nuns will later join the church. Koka Kola: A really fast and sudden punk song with hilarious lyrics and a slight rockabilly style. Card Cheat: One of the best piano ballads in rock history, full of power and emotion. Lover's Rock: This is where some people lose attention, and understandably since these songs aren't as loud and catchy as the earlier tracks. But this is a fantastic power pop entry, reminiscent of Big Star, with a fun latter half to dance to. Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh *plays the whistle, baby toy, and a snake* Four Horsemen: This one stood out to me when I first heard this album over a year ago but not sure why. I love the noisy chaos in the last minute, almost reminds me of Sonic Youth. Probably my least favorite track though alongside "Koka Kola." I like the transitions between these last few songs though. I'm Not Down: This one is an underrated personal favorite! Always puts me in a good mood to sing along and dance. A confidence booster for sure! I scream through the last half minute. And what a closing riff jfc. Revolution Rock: One last ska song before we close. A long one too at 5.5 minutes, so take your time, relax, and enjoy the groove. Train in Vain: One of the best songs of all time, and yet the most dreaded on the album because it indicates the end to a masterpiece we invested the past hour into. Can't help but sing along lyric for lyric as the music slowly dies down to a close. A perfect closer.

I actually thoroughly enjoyed this album. It was exactly what I think of as what punk music should be. I really liked the lyrics and the songs were super catchy. I actually want to revisit this album some more because of how good it was.

10/10 Best punk album ever.

Most likely the greatest record on this list.

Played in Rock Band 4. My high school calculus teacher once gatekept me for liking this album. I was wearing a shirt with the album art on it and she asked my favourite song on the album. I said Train in Vain (which fucking slaps) and she said "Oh, I prefer the more political songs like Spanish Bombs" as if I was some simpleton. She then proceeded to quiz me on the band member's names. I could only name Joe Strummer in the moment and was embarrassed but looking back, who the hell cares? I just loved every song on this awesome blend of punk, reggae, ska, and disco. It's still the only double album I've ever heard that completely earns both discs.

I thought this was a terrific album. Constantly changing on a track by track basis, but hardly a weak track on the complete album. Probably this and their first album was The Clash at their best.

It's London calling!

One of the greatest double albums of all time. Brilliant from start to finish.

It really is as good as everyone says it is.

19 songs and almost all of them a delight. 9/10 F.T: Train in Vain. NO, Lost in the Supermarket, no, Train in Vain, no-

The best album from the punk era.

British shouting

I used to think this would have been better as a single album, but listening again I can’t imagine a song to miss off from this set. The energy, the passion and the nous of this album is hard to beat, and often mimicked, Each play I have a different favourite, but enjoyed singing along to Spanish Bombs most this time. I wish most, if not all, tried so hard to make people think while also singing along. An all-time classic.

A classic album, no weak tracks, energetic, varied in its musical influences, never standing still, always fighting the good fight. Stand out tracks: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Spanish Bombs, Rudie Can’t Fail, look, at this rate I’m going to just lift all the tracks.

The first album I bought on vinyl 9 years ago. Still holds up from my first listen. The first half of the album is perfection, unreal songwriting. There’s a significant drop in quality towards the end of the album (minus Train in Vain), but the sound of each song is so varied and so fresh, this just works as an album.

The magnum opus of one of the best punk bands. Despite its length. The album goes by like a breeze. Great track after great track with no drops in quality. Brilliant album.

Was releasing a double album the most or least punk thing Joe and the boys could've done by 1979? Does it matter one way or the other? Could it have been cut down to a more potent single album? Probably. It's fantastic in any case, obviously.

What’s so cool about this album is that it bridges 70s rock and 80s punk almost perfectly. There’s some elements in here of early Ska music too, and I can even hear where current ska and punk get their sound. Overall enjoyable, some songs are skips but it’s hard for every song to be a hit.

Incredibly boring and overly long.

Timeless. Easy to listen. Groundbreaking still as it was way back then.

Very good, not too 40 of all time, as I thought but still top 100 all time for me with a bunch of classic songs and some of my favs like Spanish Bombs. It’s a 9/10

A lot going on here. I really like a lot about this album. London Calling, Rudie Can't Fail, Guns of Brixton all stand out to me. In a tier below I have Wrong 'Em Boyo, Death or Glory. But some of it hasn't aged so well and there's quite a bit they could have cut and strengthened the overall content, but when it is good, it is really, really, really good. Shame about the P-bass on the cover. Great photo but bit of a waste.

The only album you would need on a desert island. Also, 'Guns of Brixton' contains the best opening lines ever put on a record

It's been years since I've listened to this and I kind of expected to not like it as much as I did in college when I listened to it all the time. But it's still great. The only two songs I've never loved are "Brand New Cadillac" and "Jimmy Jazz," (songs 2 and 3). The rest are amazing. Punk filtered through half-a-dozen different sub genres. One of the best double-albums ever.

The range of styles on London Calling is incredible. Yes, it's a mess - but what a glorious mess that somehow holds it all together. It shows a band that was confident in mixing and matching, borrowing bits from their own upbringing and then trying to to piece it all together. The rockabilly, reggae and even elements of jazz have such a strong London street feel. You have to remember that music was so tribal at the time. Attempting to fuse together so many diverse styles is quite a feat. I also love the double album element, You wouldn't get any rock band trying to pull this off today. Experimentation now seems to be the preserve of hip hop with Kendrick, etc. Death or Glory still reminds me of Bill Joel's We didn't Start the Fire. But even this doesn't distract from an absolute masterpiece.

The definitive punk album of the late 70's, it is an iconic masterpiece. It's one of the records I can put on and sing along to fervently the whole way through. And I immediately feel 21 and invincible again. It's a straight shot of cocky optimistic joy, spitting in the face of the apocalypse and our slowly burning civilized decline. This is powerful stuff. Every single song offers something different, quirky, oddball, unique. These are punks with style, punks with attitude, but also punks with soul. Top shelf stuff right here, it doesn't get any better than this. Death or glory!! \m/

It is a disservice to the Clash to label them as a punk band. They incorporate elements of garage, ska, rockabilly, and emergent new wave sounds that would influence the next generation. Their lyrics are insightful and socially conscious which creates a sprawling whole taking the listener across various sonic landscapes

My All Time Favourite Clash Album. Uncle Joe and the Boys doing some great work, moving on from the pure punk power of The First album. Everything about this album is great from the Faux Elvis cover to the mixture of Punk/Reggae/Ska that oozes through the 4 sides. You realise how musically good this band was and what untapped genius was still in there when they split. Favourites here are "Jimmy Jazz" "London Calling" "Rudie Can't Fail" and "Spanish Bombs" But as I say not a bad track throughout so this is in my top 10 Albums of all time and a jealously coveted (by my Son) part of my record collection. He'll get it... eventually!

Really really fun album. I was surprised by the variation of influences that went into this thing, and The Clash pulls them all off so well. No complaints here. 9/10

excellent. another album on my regular listen list. punk bands are usually associated with 3 chord wonders with bad playing made up for by attitude. the clash display here they can properly play and write songs and still have more punk ethos than most. managing to do different styles of music and make it work. that's usually a recipe for a mess of an album but the punk band pull it off.

Variety and depth and rock and roots, up front or in the background. So much going on here. "Punk" is too small a word, The Clash were always far greater than that.

Listened to it quite a few times, such good vibes. I really hear a lot of hooks and stuff that sound like they could have been in modern indie rock music, so I suppose their influence lives on!

Loved it, great album. Reminds me of Dad. Makes me want to take down the government.

The greatest double album since "The Beatles" with as much diversity of topics and musical themes therein. This was as good as they got. Mandatory for any collection.

It's a bit cliche to be into post-punk at this point in my life, but I am. And this is a fantastic post-punk album, among other things. I could have sworn I listened to it before, but I guess that was just the title track and Spanish Bombs. And to answer the random RYM commenter: Yes, there is reggae. And God bless it.

I felt like I was Lost In the Supermarket drinking Koka Kola listening to this.

I like to imagine that the image of Paul Simonon smashing his bass on the cover of this record was taken while they were playing “Jimmy Jazz”.

I liked it so much, it's an "soft punk" to my taste. As a lot of people said, this album is "punk making music, knowing what they're doing"

Never heard the whole album before today, having absorbed a puritan disdain for the Clash, too eager to please, hopping on fads (punk, new wave, reggae), posers and poseurs. Now I think these objections are tenuous or immaterial. This is a mess of an album, but has a clutch of splendid songs, and was a happy presence to have around. Writing a day after a diatribe against The Arcade Fire and their weak, airy lyrics, I must add that while the Clash can be purposely vague, they smash out concrete images that linger, and their sloganeering has more ambiguity than I would've expected.

The clash is not my favorite punk band, but i alaways know their influences and their impact, especially with this reccord that i've never listen. First the cover is a reference to Elvis's first reccord, a nice wink to the fact that Elvis represent what the punk mouvement is, at his debut and he became phoney and famous. It represent Paul Simonon destroying his guitar, and its one one the most recgonisable and and the 9th best album cover picture. The titled track: London Calling with is icnnic riff really summ up the album with is lyrics that critised the world they live in with their punk vision, also critisied the fact that the punk mouvement is now too phoney (like beatlemania to their oppnion) Its a double album so their is a lot of track, icnludiong 3 covers: brand new cadillac that pay hommage to on of the first british rock and roller, the other is revlution rock and wrong'em boyo. The lyricals themes are very diverses, we have crime (Jimmy jazz, the guns of brixton) drugs, violence and very urbans problems, desilusion and depression are also important in the album, finaly their is some love songs. The album was release in 1979 so the punk wave was for the most part over, and now new wave is the new thing, The Clash embrace it, still connected to their punk style and attidute but musically they are clearly the most diverse punk just in the differend kind of music they made here, like there is not a lot of 100% punk song here, musically is ol' fashoned rock, jazz, ska, pop and i think reggea was the most present in here. Anyway i didn't apreciate all songs, but for the symbol that this album is, his cultural and musical influences its a punk masterpiece.

I came expecting something like The Ramones or more "Should I Stay or Should I Go". Reggae? Blues? Gangster lyrics? Bass lines were so interesting, drums were on point and super good. Could have cut a few songs and some of the extra chorus repeats, but otherwise awesome.

Sweaty musicians. Gobbing fans. Cheap nachos. Cheap nachos? Yeah, the kind with the pump cheese and pickled jalapenos. Convenience store nachos. Or, in my case, Chelsea Street Nachos. No, not the affluent area in west London; rather, the chain restaurant usually located in malls. Like the one I worked for in the early 1980s in Gainesville, Florida. I’m not sure which was worse at Chelsea St. Pub: the nachos or the live cover bands that played in the evening. But the best came in between sets, following tired songs like Bob Seeger’s ‘Down on Main Street,’ when the head bartender would often put on 'London Calling.' I had never heard anything quite like it- predominately rock (no longer punk like the Clash’s first two LPs that I would later enjoy too), but also a splash of reggae here and jazz there, and even a little disco/soul ditty at the end of ‘Lovers Rock.’ And, their commentary on the politics of England had broadened to include ideas about other places in the world as well, a theme they could continue on their next recording, 'Sandanista.' It was 'London Calling,' though, that would become their Magnum Opus. At a running time of over an hour, back then, it was long, an investment in time. And the late, great Joe Strummer and Mick Jones filled the music with tons of lyrics about people and places and events with which I was completely unfamiliar. Before that needle hit the record, I had to arm myself with dictionaries and thesauruses, maps and history books (this was waaay before the internet), Spanish to English translations- things I never needed while listening to Bob Seeger. And I’m intentionally using the word ‘armed’ because if 'London Calling' is anything, it is a call to arms, mostly concerning human and civil rights, but the title track even addresses environmental pollution. Clean up the world, the Clash were preaching, with a wide variety of applications. It has been said, famously, that ‘while the Sex Pistols wanted to destroy, the Clash wanted to unite people.’ Brings to mind John Lydon’s famous statement to the audience at San Francisco’s Winterland Ballroom at the end of what would be the Pistols’ final live performance. Closing with a cover of the Stooges’ ‘No Fun,’ Lydon addressed the crowd, ‘This is no fun, this is no fun at all.’ Then, when the song ended, right before he dropped the mic and walked out he stared down all the hippies and asked: ‘Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?’ I’ve been listening to 'London Calling' for four decades, 2/3 of my life, and it’s still fun. And I’ve never felt cheated

A punk classic effortlessly blending strongly politically loaded statements with surprisingly danceable music, more refined and smoothed out than its predecessors, for the better or worse

I approached this album with reticence, knowing it is almost universally critically revered, and not being much of a fan of the two singles, London Calling and Stand By Me, mostly because they were played to death at the time and The Clash were fawned over by the critics, who were gleeful about the death of prog and the ascendency of punk. But I have to admit, there is more to the band than I was aware of. The Clash were celebrated at the time for approaching pop with the energy and simplicity of early rock 'n roll, and that much is true. But what that doesn't get at is the degree of variety on London Calling. The Clash mine strains of reggae, rockabilly, and pop and mutate them into something new and elemental. Each song is different, but what they have in common is simple but distinctive hooks. The Clash may leave me cold, but I've got to give them credit. They succeed wildly in what they set out to do. I can't bear to rate London Calling higher than a 4, but it would be dishonest to rate it lower than that.

Historically, I have not enjoyed the radio hits from the Clash. Two of them are on this album. But there is also a wide range of offerings which have given me a greater appreciation of this band’s scope. However, I still dislike this type of lead vocals that seems so be so popular on this list: whiny, pissed off British boys.

2.5/5 I am aware it is regarded as one of the most important albums in history. However, it's not meant for me.

Classic good ol Brit rock

Great catchy energetic punk songs. Great fusion of genres like ska reggae and punk. Thought it would get repetitive with how long it was but I wasn't let down at all! Favourites- spanish bombs, lost in the supermarket

Well lfg The last Clash was right when I started this list in early 2021, meaning there’s been almost a thousand albums since. I was patient for a while, but like a few classic albums, I just had to see what the hype was about Anyway, I’m hopping on the Clash bandwagon, this is pretty great. Aside from the first and last song, I love the straightforward rock of “Clampdown” and “Hateful”, the reggae tunes “Guns of Brixton” and “Revolution Rock” and the polished gems “The Card Cheat”, “Spanish Bombs” & “Lost in the Supermarket”. December 6, 2024

Usually a 2 record set of any variety is just too much. This is an album that just keeps delivering track after track throughout. A classic from the moment the needle hits the vinyl. All killer, no filler.

Could use a little more black Cadillac and a little less lost in the supermarket but tough to critique this album much.

4.8 The only band that matters. I guess the only knock on this is that maybe the production is a bit polished compared to some of the live releases.

As one part of iconic punk duo Houmous & Chutney I know a thing or two about taking musical genres and making them appeal to the masses. Got to admire it when other people attempt it. 4.5

Un álbum muy divertido de escuchar, súper pegadizo, una producción muy coherente, a pesar de salirse a veces del punk rock explorando otros géneros, lo hacen muy notoriamente, pero matienen siempre la cohesión, nada se siente fuera de lugar. Siento que no estoy siendo muy objetivo, pero no me importa jaja

Sing a long shit

Stan : That's what they called themselves. Like, "The Clash". The only band that mattered. They called themselves that for a reason. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I have heard the full album a few times, but I'm mostly only familiar with the title track and Train in Vain. This album is really good. It's so diverse in sound and genre. It's catchy in all the right ways. It is definitely worth repeated listens.

Het beste rock-album ooit geproduceerd? Lijkt me niet eens een overstatement. Hij zit zeker bij een select gezelschap. Het is de uitzonderlijke mastery of de instrumenten, de coole - maar niet over de top rebelse - attitude van Joe en Paul aan de microfoon, de moeiteloze switches van genre naar genre, de catchiness van de songs zonder dat het verhaal of de boodschap verloren gaat, dat deze plaat naar binnen laat glijden - ondanks zijn behoorlijke afspeeltijd. Die lange afspeeltijd komt ook voor een deel op het conto van een aantal heuse fillers ('The Right Profile', 'Kola Kola', 'Four Horsemen'), maar zelfs die zwakke broeders hebben iets aandoenlijks. Toch denk ik dat íéts meer consistentie op een overwegend briljant album de perfecte score waard was, waardoor ik net blijf hangen op die 9,5. Maar desalniettemin moet dit voor eeuwig onthouden worden als een ragfijn, genre-fluïde album dat zichzelf tijdens je luisterbeurt constant opnieuw uitvindt en daardoor elke keer weer een energie-boost krijgt en geeft. 9,5/10 Highlights: London Calling Spanish Bombs (het contrast tussen de vrolijke muziek en de ernst van het thema is simpelweg geniaal) The Guns of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo (Beste cover op het album) Train in Vain (Stand By Me)

Iconisch meesterwerkje. Van albumhoes tot het tijdperk waarin het is gemaakt. De blend van genres en het heerlijke Britse gebrul. London Calling van the Clash is in de jaren 20 van deze eeuw de Punk-era ontgroeid. Het was natuurlijk al het album wat een nieuwe tijd inluidde en de punk-muziek behapbaar en muzikaal maakte, hedendaags is het nog meer een iconisch beeld/moment uit een ver vervlogen tijd. Ik vond het dan ook moeilijk om London Calling helemaal op haar eigen merites te beoordelen. Zeker openingstrack London Calling is zo ingeburgerd en hoor je tegenwoordig overal en nergens, dat staat niet meer voor punk en is vrij mainstream. Maar sowieso vind ik deze plaat groter/meer dan een punkplaat. Er zijn super veel genres geblend in de nummers, de tracks zijn allen uniek en zijn gelaagder en muzikaler dan de og-punk van de 3 jaar voor London Calling. Vandaag kon ik extra genieten van de reggae en ska nummers op het album. Zeker ook de covers zoals Revolution Rock, wat heerlijk en uniek gebracht. Punk-spanning en Reggae-ontspanning gecombineerd. Na meer dan een uur brits gebrul op soepele ska beats ben ik er wel uit. Deze plaat is en blijft uniek en een meesterwerk, ook los van de iconische status die het heeft vergaard. Joe Strummer is echt in topvorm en ik kan echt genieten van de de man op de cover, Paul Simonon. Volgens mij is hij verantwoordelijk voor veel creatieve inbreng, niet zijn muzikaal (hij kan niet eens bassen voordat hij bij the Clash kwam). Niet gek dat hij en Damon Albarn later dikke maten werden. Het blijft moeilijk om zo'n album een goede review te geven alsof je deze voor het eerst hoort. Status en vooroordelen zullen daarom altijd meespelen. Desalniettemin maakt London Calling gewoon weer indruk, en dus 5 ballen. 9/10 Highlights Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs The Guns of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo Revolution Rock Train in Vain

Absolute love of my youth. Only problem with this album is Train in Vain can’t be listened to eternally.

4,5 sterren maar ik ben gul

Easy 5 from me. It doesn’t fit with my usual tastes and I can’t really articulate why I love it. Maybe nostalgia? I’ve been listening to this since college.

Soft 5. I'm on the fence. I enjoyed a number of tracks. The Clash has some great instrumentals, but the vocals were really hit and miss for me. The energy is hard to deny though! 'Train in Vain' was an easy fave for me.

Well it's an absolute belter. I love this album. So many fantastic tracks, Jimmy Jazz, Rudie Can't Fail, Lost in the Supermarket, Death or Glory. I listened to this so much as a kid. I remember my electronics teacher saying the Clash were one hit wonders with Rock the Casbah. Such an idiot.

4.5 stars. Not just punk rock, so many genres (reggae, new wave, ska, even some jazz) work together to make a great sound that is more mainstream than typical punk. Catchy bookends ("London Calling" and "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)") are the highlights. A few too many total tracks but overall the whole listen is so good.

Another that I've listened to relatively recently and that I heard growing up from my parents. Pretty great album really. Nice mix of kinda messy punk rock, reggae, ska. Right up my street really. A couple of tracks reminded me a bit of the Libertines, particularly Jimmy Jazz, which I'd never noticed before..... But I guess there's countless bands that the clash influenced. Highlights: London calling Rudie can't fail Lost in the supermarket The guns of Brixton Wrong em boyo Death or glory I'm not down Revolution rock Train in vain The only reason I can think to not give this a 5 is that there is a fair bit of filler..... But 5 it is

Really great.

This was my most anticipated album on 1001 and it exceeded my expectations

Oh so THAT'S why people love this album. I only knew the title track and Train in Vain (Stand By Me), and maybe one or two others sounded vaguely familiar. I like all the Clash songs I know, but I'd never listened to this classic. I really enjoyed it, and it was a strong listen all the way through, with some of the back half songs being the best. Lost in the Supermarket is my pick for my playlist.

I thought this was going to be a solid 5 stars, then realised it was a double album. I loved it, but it was a bit long and, inevitably perhaps, included a few tracks not quite up to the standard of the others. Ah heck, I'm giving it 5 anyway, because it's basically the perfect blend of many of my favourite things: tunes, energy, fun (but not too much), swag.

YES!

Yaaaaaaas!

One of the most influential albums of all time. I will never tire of listening to it. RIP Joe.

It's a classic for a reason

one of the best ever <3 i have so much love for this album.

Iconical. Even my son has instantly recognized London Calling.

Fav songs: London Calling, Jimmy Jazz, Revolution Rock

My generation’s white album (if I was born 25 to 30 years earlier).

The Clash are undeniably an incredible band that created many an important single, potentially the most essential in the new wave movement, but I never considered them primarily a punk band. Their real strength, surprisingly, is their versatility. They could hit you with tracks inspired by hardcore punk, reggae, rockabilly and funk all on the same disc side. Of course, my favorite aspect of them is their knack for crafting these sugary, melodic, funky, (almost!) soulful pop tunes that stay stuck in your head for years. Rock the Casbah isn't on this record but it's a perfect example of what I mean! *On* this record there's a few songs I can point to: the very last track sums up why I love the Clash. "Train in Vain" is easily the best song Paul Weller never wrote; a short blue-eyed soul ditty about betrayal and heartbreak I've been in love with ever since I first heard it. The bouncy rhythm and driving harmonica riff keeps you hooked and coming back for more. "Spanish Bombs" is a delightfully jangly, ahead of its time piece of pop that wouldn't feel out of place performed by the Smiths or the Pixies. Overall, this album is just as good as I remember it being all those years ago. I think I've even underrated it a bit. It's not my favorite new wave album, but it represents a lot of what I love about music in the 70s and 80s. Carefree, eclectic, optimistic, pessimistic, real, it's all here. Me like. 9/10

Another album I was excited to see on my list!

not my type of punk typically but the stylistic blend is so far ahead of it's time

That's a Killer of a record ❤️❤️

On paper they should be terrible. Private school lads cosplaying as working class punks. Hypocrites and money hungry. On record though - the only band that matters. A fantastic truly great album. Dammit.

Always remember to laugh. I enjoy this album more with each listen. But it is too important to take seriously. Not just because it's British and good fun. I like imagining a Monty Mython-esque singer “thinging” Guns of Brixton & London Calling with comedic thick lisp. This Punk is already funky, catchy and so bloody fun. So on top of the nostalgia, why not a bit of pith-taking? Because this is sheriosh stuff. And it is. So much so , here is a <true> funny story to go with it. April 2006, on a Durham FLIGHT about to take off for LONDON, a 24 year old man <who deserves to be left alone so I wont name him here>, happily singing along to "London Calling"' ... was taken off his Heathrow-bound flight + detained by police for 3 hrs under the Terrorism Act. It turns out the lyrics - when mouthed by a man in a turban - freaked out a local - brits were very twitchy about bombs on planes back then). While funny now, I did re-read the first 6 or 7 lines of “London Calling”... I now smirk, but am careful what I mumble along to shops in airports and on planes. The more gleefully you sing that, or “Guns of Brixton” songs, the more likely you will seem nutty and troublesome. So... But I can't help smirk every time. I also blame listening to Nouvelle Vague cover versions too many times. Speaking of which... Their version of Guns of Brixton makes it sound far more sinister, and yet sexy than you'd every imagine. Now that’s on an essential sultry album. And good fun. I’d add them to any 1001 list. This one is far too serious. I'd igve this one a "fiver".

Apex album from the only band that ever mattered. People might have some things to say about Sandinista or Combat Rock, but saying this isn’t the most important album from The Clash is like saying you don’t like The Beatles.

Easiest five stars, and as soon as I saw I got this I knew it would be a five star record. Brilliant in every way

If only for two iconic tracks, opener "London Calling" and "Guns Of Brixton" (sung by bass player Paul Simonon), this album should be in the list. The first is a marvel, whether because of its evocative and cinematic songwriting, its sheer melodicism, or its timeless production values (Guy Stevens was a genius on par with the one of the band for this one). And the second is a killer composition that transcends its dub template into something both ominous and riotous, in all the senses of those two words Those impressive trees shouldn't hide the terrific forest behind, though. Minus one secondary cut, the string of songs that goes from "Hateful" and "Rudy Can't Fail" at the end of side one, to "Clampdown" and "Guns Of Brixton" at the end of the second is just pitch-perfect ("Spanish Bombs" and "Lost In The Supermarket" are perfect Clash songs in their own right, as much as the ones I've just quotes here, maybe even more). Besides, the third and fourth sides harbour three particularly memorable classic Clash gems as well: "Death Or Glory", and the Mick Jones-sung "I'm Not Down" and "Train In Vain". Going through different punk-adjacent genres (pure punk, reggae, ska, soul, classic rock'n'roll...) the tracklist of this double album is therefore sprawling, and yet feels very cohesive overall (this won't be exactly the case for triple-album *Sandinista*, very infamously, even if you have other very important songs in it). Joe Strummer gives terrific vocal performances throughout. The man is still sorely missed today: not many artists, whether punk or not, have had a knack for describing societal concerns in such a thrilling or poetic way. Admittedly, a patch of songs on the second vinyl is down a notch compared to the rest, but remember that The Clash managed to sell this double-album for the price of one at the time. So it's just nice gravy on an already very tasty cake. Oh, and that iconic artwork. Most people don't even realize today that its font actually references Elvis Presley's debut. When that sort of thing happens, you can bet your Doc Martens that pop culture was hit by a sheer phenomenon here, one that it will still need to be reckoned with for decades and decades to come... Number of albums left to review: 34 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 418 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 243 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 309

Discazo

Bloody love this. Very enjoyable and totally listenable post punk genre exploration.

It's really good Will I listen to again: 99%

masterpiece. one banger after another

Lots of good enegery and interesting songs. This was better than expected and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

one of the best albums of all time

Holy shit I'd forgotten how much fun this album is. I mean, I KNEW it was good, but damn, it's just non-stop.

I have to admit I wasn't ready for the ska sax, but it was very welcome. This is just an amazing album. Punk, but less angry, and played by people who can truly play their instruments.