London Calling

3.5

Awesome album - bought it on vinyl a couple of years ago and still one of my go-to's. Never gets old.

Great album

I used to LOVE this album when I was around I want to say a Freshman in high school? Not really sure how I found it, probably some Rolling Stone list, but I digress. So many great songs, “Lost in the Supermarlet” is a standout. 5 bagger.

I'm not entirely sure why it's considered one of the best rock albums of all time, but I liked it!

It was okay

Good sound from with a lot of different genres. There’s the obvious punk but also pop, reggae, jazz. I really enjoyed this album and there is some really fun stuff here as well as some deep songs with a lot of commentary.

Early 1980, and I was doing some freelance photography for the college newspaper, as a favor to my girlfriend's roommate. And to get access to their darkroom. One day I noticed a stack of records that had been sent to them to review. Nobody had claimed this one, so I jumped on it. I had the Clash's 1st album, and a couple of 45's / EPs, so I figured this would be worth having. That's a big win! This is one of the most iconic albums of the English punk rock scene, though it marks a big step towards the mainstream. It also an iconic album overall, ranking #8 non the original (2003) Rolling Stone list of 500 Top Albums of all time. This album still has some of the angry posturing of the earlier Clash, but it is tempered, and the rough edges are a bit more polished. And the heavy-handed politics of later Clash albums is largely reined in here. Their US commercial breakthrough, their first album to crack Top 100 (#27) with their 1st US Top 40 hit (Train In Vain at #23). The sound is great, the songs are great, there's a wide variety of stylings to keep it from getting monotonous (a minor problem with their 1st album). It is a bit long as a double album, but I'm not sure what you'd drop to shorten it. This is one of the few albums that I'd rate as IMPORTANT (TM) in the context of rock music. 5/5

Very good. Not at all punk, just good catchy guitar pop, rock, ska and soul. I think there's around 6 excellent songs, 5 or 6 good songs and the others are superior fillers.

Stilistischer Wanderzirkus mit Punk-Attitüde. Verständlicherweise relevant.

Seminal album that's grown on me. Only had heard London Calling before these two listens. Whole album is great. Punk elements, 70's rock, politics, ska/reggae vibes, it really has it all. 4/5!

I knew one or two tracks, and I like them, but I cannot listen to a whole album. It sounds too similiar.

The album cover drew me in at first sight. The music didn't fail to live up to the 'mistake' of a picture. Or so the photographer thought....

Better than expected but not my thing

Apart from "London calling", just a big standard British rock album 2/3***

First half felt very strong and I enjoyed a lot

This album fucks "London Calling" by The Clash, released in 1979, is a punk rock masterpiece that transcends the genre's boundaries. The album is a bold departure from the band's punk roots, incorporating diverse musical influences such as reggae, ska, and rockabilly. From the rebellious anthem "London Calling" to the infectious energy of "Train in Vain," the album is a sonic exploration that mirrors the socio-political turbulence of its time. The Clash's socially conscious lyrics and Joe Strummer's charismatic vocals create a sense of urgency and authenticity. "London Calling" is more than an album; it's a cultural landmark that defined a generation. With its groundbreaking fusion of styles and unyielding spirit, it rightfully earns a perfect 5/5 for its musical innovation and lasting impact.

It was alright

Easy British punk to listen to. Very distinct and notable sound.

Perfect. Energetic. Timeless.

Death or glory

Quite a bit I can say about this one. First, it was long. Also, it was varied. There was clearly a lot of varied musical influences here. Also the lyrics were pretty impactful. I didn’t find the lyric writing to be particularly good, but there was a variety of social and political commentary, as well as repeatededly using characters in the songs. Overall a pretty strong album. I kinda wanna try it again with good headphones to hear some of the small details. Low 4, maybe 3.5

Great variety album, very punk and classic

A good example of actually enjoyable punk rock, coming from a person that does not enjoy this type of music typically

so. fucking. good. pure diverse eargasm shit for an entire hour straight. genuinely not a bad track, some better than others but they’re all great. my first 5/5 album so far, more please!!

Enough said

They called them 'the only band that matters' for a reason

Great production.

Really great punk rock album. Maybe a little long, but it's hard to want to cut anything so maybe not.

An iconic punk - album

London Calling has been in my regular rotation since I first bought the vinyl in 1980!

Definitely not for me....

Very fun

It’s ok, plus points for being a huge relief after listening to terrible Portishead

A landmark album, reflecting the mood of Britain in the late 1970s - at least that's how the album is viewed through the lens of history, by people who weren't there. In truth, most of Britain was indifferent to the Clash by 1979: they were an interesting diversion from the more musical sensibilities of Elvis Costello, the Police, and Joe Jackson. The only people taking them seriously were weekend anarchists and public-school poseurs. The real working class preferred the Mekons and Gang of Four. A notable work, but not the seismic artistic statement its reputation suggests.

love the band and london calling

Listened a millions of times giving it a 5

you know what, i didn’t expect to like this as much as i do, but it’s pretty darn good and eclectic, there’s some songs i don’t care for, but then they grow on me or i just like them from the jump. idk if i’d listen to the whole album again, but i’d listen to individual songs for sure.

Fun, creative album. Quite diverse and interesting

Nice album!

The titlesong is an absolute banger. The rest of the album is a bit worse, but still very nice to listen to.

More diverse than i'd expected

The peak of punk rock, innit? The Clash's willingness to experiment, or even compromise to other genres, helped create a masterpiece punk rock album. Still punk at it's core, it happily dabbled in new wave, ska, reggae, jangle pop, and a few other sounds. The result is a multicultural punk representation of the UK in 1979. A double album, no less! IT rarely falter in quality and has plenty of standout tracks: Spanish Bombs, Hateful, London Calling, and Train in Vain comes to mind. Are there better punk double albums? I would argue yes, but this one set the bar.

2 good songs

Classic

Such a great flavor of pure English punk. Each song has a log of important messaging the reigns far ahead of its time. from London Calling to Lost in the Supermarket- i shoulda kept my eyes peeled for the dystopia we live in today. Catchy, fun and such a upbeat vibe

Enjoyed it more than I expected to.

Classic album, classic cover, brilliant Friday album

I would give it 6 stars if I could

Im happy this gave me a reason to revisit this album. Like it. Especially the lost in a supermarket song

absolutely every song on this is so fucking fun to listen to, yes it’s long but it’s worth being a double lp

Favourite tracks: London calling; brand new Cadillac; Jimmy jazz; right profile; clampdown; death or glory; train in vain

Great classic, on periodic rotation for the last 20 years.

Moved the needle. Innovative while still being good. Basic, yet complex. A definite 4.

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.

I appear to know all of this despite never playing nor liking it very much in the past. The Clash always seemed a bit phony/earnest to me, kinda like an actual punk U2, so I didn't find it very exciting when I first heard them as an irritating adolescent. Gotta admit there's a lot of good songs on here, even if I do strongly prefer Mick Jones's voice. A well-earned 3.5, with a bonus round-up from inspiring my middle kid to describe the habitual reggae guitar chirp as being "like a cat coughing up a hairball".

Classic punk!

Enjoyable, but not as punk as people seem to think

Liked this album enough! Pretty fun album with some less serious songs. Reminded me a lot of like early 2000’s pop-punk albums. Probably wouldn’t go back right away and listen again, but I did enjoy it!

Sometimes the lead singer sounds like he has cotton swabs in his mouth. Doesn't make them worse, just how it sounds. Highlights: Jimmy Jazz Rudie Can't Fail The Right Profile Wrong 'Em Boyo Revolution Rock Train in Vain (Stand By Me) A very good album overall. I really enjoyed the varying styles and sounds between different songs. I'm always a sucker for a brass section so those songs were highlights for me. If this album cut 4 or 5 songs it would be a 5 but a few of the songs were forgettable. I would seek this album out again to listen to.

What's more punk rock than exploring new sounds in the genre? The clash comes through with an epic album covering punk, reggae influence, jazz, ska, and more. Every track sounds unique, which for a punk band to pull off speaks volumes to me. While I thought it took a little time to hit it's stride (after the amazing intro track), the blending of genres combined with classic punk lyricism regarding The State, authority, drug addiction, self empowerment, ect created a very memorable piece of art. While I think they could have cut out three or four tracks to keep the album more focused on a specific theme I dont think the entire thing would have blossomed without it. I've listened to it plenty of times before and I'll keep listening to it for a lot longer!

This is supposed to be a landmark post-punk album. For me, it's just okay.

The Clash is one of those bands I've always thought was overhyped. There's just too much better punk and post-punk out there for me to want to listen to this.

An enjoyable listen I liked London Calling, Ride Can't Fail and Lost in the Supermarket the best.

Classic album. More songs than I thought - 4 sides? Some of these songs could be from the mid-late 90s. Did I just hear a backing orchestra on a punk album? I forgot Train in Vain is on this album. Hit me like a truck on the last song.

London Calling isn't a punk album, nor is it the greatest album ever: the tracks are too bright to be punk and the songs are too disjointed to merge together into one well-integrated cohesive whole. My view of the album remains clouded by these two misconceptions. I find it difficult to judge London Calling by its own merits, freed from the clutches of fawning critics ("The Only Band That Matters", my arse). There are decent tunes on here. Flourishes of ska, rockabilly, reggae and dub add flavour to good but otherwise fairly standard rock tracks. The further from the standard template The Clash venture, the better the tracks are. But then again, the brilliant Revolution Rock is a cover, so what does that mean? Should The Clash have just done reggae covers? I don't know. Is London Calling as good as Unknown Pleasures, which came out in the same year? Or The Specials? Or Entertainment!? No. Definitely no.

“Punk”

Oh Gott nope, so viel was ich nicht mag

This album has something for everyone: punk, pop, rock, jazz? Reggae? Ska? and a not insignificant amount of haunted house noises.

Top

Muzikale verrassing, wederom punk zoals ik dat fijn vind. Met verrassende muzikale nummers, waar de gitaar de boventoon blijft voeren.

a classic

I was surprised how much reggae tones and themes are on this album. Loved it!

Classic, influential, deserving of this list.

It is a classic look into the British punk scene. Still holds up today with some absolute bangers.

So many punk classics. The only thing dated about this was the vocal processing. Otherwise, v good.

Yes

Classic.

The title track, "London Calling", defined a generation, but the rest of the album - which is a strange mix of various musical styles - doesn't live up to the promises made by the title track.

Muy guapo

A banger ...

Very nice. 4 days into this journey and this is the 2nd album I have heard before. Love this album. It's got a good variety of sounds.

Iconic cover it's true but I never bought into the Clash. Maybe I was in the wrong place at the wrong time? I bought 'Give Em enough rope' and loved that but 'London Calling' is all about the title track (part from maybe 'The guns of Brixton' which was ripped off for Dub be good to me.) and the rest are a bit nothingy. They had gone past their best by this time.

Oh yeah! Instant 5 stars for the greatest punk album of all time in my book - maybe Rancid equal it with '...and out come the wolves' but they would not have even existed without the influence of The Clash. Every song is a hit and covers such a breadth of style yet every track is unmistakably Clash. It's 'punk' perfection from start to finish: singalong lyrics, great melodies, deep dubby bass lines from Paul Simonon, immortalised in one of rock n rolls most iconic images on the sleeve. Probably my favourite album of this project lt so far. *****

Very good stuff ive heard the more popular songs by the clash before but getting into one of their albums i had no idea that they also did reggae and ska type songs along with some other punk bangers on this album. A pleasant surprise

I enjoyed it, was expecting it to be a straight old-school punk record, but the sounds were very diverse. It combined so many musical genres, such as punk, reggae, rockabilly and some funk elements as well. Fun record to listen to.

Wikipedia says The Clash was billed as "The Only Band That Matters". Bullshit.

super

I had blast listening to this today and cleaning the house. I was really feeling Rudie Can't Fail and I'm Not Down. No notes, what a time!

Another exceptional album that I grew up with but didn't pay attention to.....! So many wide ranging influences here - rock, (pop!), reggae and punk among them. Definitely a 5 star album because it's epic.

They’re so fun :)

Очень драйвово. London Calling, Spanish bombs и I'm not down хороши.

This album was way tamer than I expected, given that I had only listened to the title track before. I definitely wasn't expecting such a wide array of sounds and influences. Some of the songs I didn't really care for, it was a bit too long, and I wish there was a bit more intensity, but I enjoyed this.

Jeg nåede ikke at du lyttet til hele albummet, men det er lytte til synes jeg var virkelig godt især sangen lost in the supermarked er virkelig god synes jeg og jeg skal helt sikkert finde tilbage til det her og lytte færdig.

I enjoyed listening to the last clash album from the generator. It was better or at least more enjoyable than this one for me. London calling is a classic song but I prefer a handful of others so ultimately this album isn't my fave but likely a fan fave for others.

Very groovy punk rock! I'd listen again.

A true masterpiece by the definitive punk band. Joe Strummer can do no wrong and his politics rock.

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.

Pretty catchy punk rock. I could see how they would be iconic for their time with standout vocals and instrumentals.

Some classics but too many duds to really enjoy

Es un muy buen disco. Tiene detallecitos que hacen la diferencia y aportan calidad. Pero es muy largo y sobre el final, se pone cansador y algo monótono.

I like the famous ones, the rest are ok.

- DAS Punk Album! - Wenn auch nicht Stilprägend (dafür ist es stilistisch zu divers), dennoch das wichtigste Album für eine ganze Musikrichtung und alles was nach London Calling kam, weil es das Genre aufzubricht und den Weg für etliche Subgenres ebnet -> u.a. Ska-Punk, New-Wave, Post-Punk, später auch Pop-Punk - Immernoch ein unfassbar guter und ausgewogener Sound! - Auf inhaltlicher Ebene politisch momentan wieder so aktuell wie lange nicht mehr - Kleiner Geheimtipp: Das Album hat ein musikalisches Kind gezeugt -> Red Skies Over Paradise von Fischer-Z (besonders der Titeltrack "Berlin") Rating: 4,75/5 bzw. (9,5/10)

- So long and yet so lively - captivating feel, unique sound, lyrically refreshing - various styles, but it doesn't feel experimental at all 4,75/5

- nice punk rock stuff - only knew some other song of this band (Should I Stay or Should I Go - thanks Stranger Things) - first track "London Calling" is a banger - rest of the album is mostly relaxed, though there are some songs standing out in between - love the influences of reggae (in The Guns of Brixton e.g.) a lot - after Wrong 'Em Boyo the rest ripples along a bit until the last track (Train in Vain (Stand by Me), that's super catchy again - maybe even a 4,5 / 5

Turning up the production value just enough to capture the punk to radio transition. Great album to have on if there’s a party.

The classics on here remain classics, but I was... pretty disappointed by a majority of the lengthy runtime here. The ska adjacent songs are an absolute bore, but the innovative punk tracks still hold up. 3/5

A bit of a mess of an album, like a lot of class albums it could be cut down a lot. first two sides and train in vain is enough honestly. that being said still pretty solid all around. I need more dark reggae post punk like the title track and guns of brixton

A punk rock classic that should be on everyone's playlist.

It is perfect

Punk rock classic, all time classic. This album inspired me to explore so many other great bands, it really is a fantastic gateway album. More than many other punk albums, it is truly a very fun listen every time, impossible to not sing along to almost every song. It’s also amazing that with 19 songs, there are really no low points, every song is memorable and unique, it plays like a greatest hits album. Arguably the best song is the last, but there are probably at least 10 classics it’s hard to decide which are the best. Such a great album.

Sticky tunes, nice for background listening, great Latin vibes on some titles

Reminds of Exile on Main St by the Rolling Stones. Solid throughout, but not much in the way of stand outs

London Calling is an amazing start to an album. Lots of other great songs too. Lost in the Supermarket is another strong one. Much more variation in this album than you might expect from (supposed) punk.

Instinctively, I assume that classic albums aren't going to be as good as people say, but this was really superb. I knew about half of it a little and I knew the title track and Train in Vain really well. But it flew by, it's absolutely jet-powered and the vocals are sublime. I also think that they offer a real lesson in being 'hard' without losing a sense of melody and of fun. You can see why the Manics were so influenced by them, especially in the vocal delivery.

1 Certified banger, rest is pretty good as well. 8/10

Solid start to finish. So many different styles of music jammed into one album.

Amazing. classic.

The variety of the songs was so nice and they were all great

Probably did not give it a good listen, but very similar to other albums

Nice

Way more boring and grating than I remember.

Great Fav tracks: London calling Lost in the supermarket Train in vain

Actually one of my favorite albums of all time. I have merch from this album. Fun Abbey fact that you don’t know but I love the clash. Favorite song is lost in the supermarket but London calling is a close second

Some stronger songs some weaker songs but overall a very enjoyable listen. I really enjoyed London calling, Spanish bombs, death or glory, and train in vain.

London Calling // I’m Not Down //

Langweilig, 2 Sterne

A longtime favorite that bears repeated listening.Energetic and Informed.

Aight. Somewhat overrated

Terrific, listened all weekend. Brand New Cadillac is the best. Classic.

I never really listened to the clash growing up, so it was mostly new to me and Abe really enjoyed hearing the start of punk, ska, whatever else they influenced. In particular very good album.

Classic

Ne’er a wasted chord nor breath.

Good album. Lot of cool, different songs. Ska influence.

My understanding is that The Clash were punk. London Calling is not a punk album, it’s much more than that. Pop, jazz, piano and obviously reggae influences are all over the album 7.4/10

Buahhhhhhh. Llevo un milenio sin entrar aquí y me sale esto. Es una señal fijo (PS)

Pretty much perfect, such strong songwriters.

Raskas viikko täällä

yks parhaista ikinä

Silakan kunniaks

Easy 5 star. Yes all songs might not be up there but all in all it is an amazing album. Have listened to it for over 35 years, never feels outdated in any way.

- Super fun and energetic. - London Calling and Lost in the Supermarket are absolute classics.

Classic album that deserves its status

5/5

So many different flavors - rock blues ska reggae

I've tried to give this one more time based on reputation. After ~2.5 listens I don't think anything is going to seem more appealing than it did. The title track is very good and there's a few others that are pretty good. Overall I don't care that much for London Calling. If I was in the mood for a song with similar vibes it wouldn't be anything from this album. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

Didn’t listen, didn’t need to.

This was my favourite album when I was in junior high school and it’s my favourite album now. When it came up on the list, I didn’t think “Oh yeah, this is a slam dunk 5”, I thought “Oh nice! A reason to listen to London Calling!”

Ok,

Astounding album. One of the best albums of all time and certainly an incredible album from the punk movement.

Pretty good

I feel like all the 80s music I grew up on somehow came out of this album. All it's songs sounded so familiar. The more I listened to it the more I enjoyed the music, you can hear the band's raw talent bursting through. Still, I don't understand how Rolling Stone rated this among the top ten albums ever made. It's good, but not that good.

Classic punk

Fun more ska and other influences than I expected

Absolute classic. Perfect album

British shouting

I like it..

London Calling and Jimmy Jazz top favorites. Want to listen to again, Listen to Sandanista as well!

This one stood on its own. 60% of it was good, 40% was great. The clash is an interesting mix of music that I find to be modern sounding still. My favorite thing was seeing a little reggae influence. Excited to listen to more of them. London calling, Koka Kola, I’m not down - quick top 3

This was great, every song is a banger.

Een leuk album wat vooral heel sterk begint. Tegen het einde wordt het namelijk wat langdradig en niet elk nummer was per se nodig geweest. Maar ik heb er genoeg plezier aan beleefd voor een 4.

I like how they bring in different genres - not a huge fan of the more punkish or skaish tracks. I liked Mick Jones‘ vocals in „The right profile“, they where fun. Overall I have the feeling that this Album should induce some emotions in me but it just doesn’t. This one‘s cool, but too cool for me.

Die hits bleiben hits. Bei den anderen; take it easy mit dem saxophon…

A lot of talent shines through in this; it feels like every track has a goal and it’s executed well. Everything comes together cohesively and it sounds much cleaner than some of the other rock I’ve been listening to (purposeful or not). I liked the variety in genre influences – it kept listening fresh (the reggae was very unexpected). Albums like these are the best chance for getting me to listen to more punk and hard rock. 6.5/10

This has been my longest stretch between 5-star albums. Twenty-nine days! This album is a big part of why I'm doing this challenge. Back in 2018 or 2019, I realized I'd never listened to London Calling before, and wanted to change that. As I listened to it and realized how good it was, I was angry at myself that I'd been missing out for all these years. I had been living in blissful ignorance that I was already aware of all the good music in the world, and suddenly I realized how wrong I'd been. I ended up listening to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours around the same time, and continued feeling like an idiot. Eventually I made my own list of albums to listen to on my commute to work, but the pandemic hit after about 35 of those albums (almost all of which are on this list, so apparently I picked well). It was great to discover this generator so I could carry on my goal of educating myself about great music. Cheers to the creator of this site! Anyway, there's nothing I can say about this album that hasn't been said before.

Enjoy the sound, can't always understand the lyrics

Kinda sca which I enjoyed. I added a few songs to my playlist. The main singer is very British and hard to understand at times. I would have had no idea this was considered punk had I not looked it up.

This is a pretty great record. Lots to love and there are some sleepers to go along with the hits. The title track is obviously a classic, and Train In Vain (Stand By Me) is to my ears the best track on the record. The rest of the record is interesting and surprisingly consistent for being such a long one. It gets a bit too 80's ska-y to me sometimes, but this is a killer record and worth anyone's time.

Silly lyrics ('I'm all lost in the supermarket'), hardcore lyrics ('he who fucks nuns will later join the church') and noise making ('lalalalalal hurhr huhriuaeh rsafhjd') all just as rockin'.

I did not care for this album it clashes with what I enjoy.

For a punk album, this was pretty good. Usually they're pretty rough, but this was mostly enjoyable. I could listen to more. 3.5/5

It's pretty much the definition of British rock.

It was ok I guess... no songs in particular stood out to me. Fun album regardless.

Ei kamala, jos nyt ei hyväkään. Sentään ei ärsyttänyt kuunnella tätä loppuun asti. 3/5

Tremendous album. One of my favorites.

Before listening: I love this album. After listening: I love this album.

This album was great! Lot's of variety, and the vocals grew on me the longer I listened. I really enjoyed it.

Throwback Friday for me. Was not my genre back in 1970-something, but a very good listen for today

4/5 Solid Rock Album

Crazy fun production and songwriting, sometimes its old mix can make it sound more samey than it actually is

Jimmy jazz I liked as soon as it started, melody is nice. cool to know this is some OG British punk rock, hateful kinda sells it Rudie can't fail has a pretty chorus that felt a little RCHP-y lost in the supermarket is a jam guns of brixton has a cool dub feel to it wrong em' boyo reminds me of streetlight a bit death or glory has a cool hook, drums feel good in it stand by me is a classic

Not my first listen of this album and won’t be my last. Love the sound and love what it paved the way for. Fav songs: Rudie Can’t Fail, Train in Vain (Stand By Me) and of course, London Calling

No thanks

such great memories whenever i hear this album. excellent selection!

I like much of the album but not something I will come back to listen too that much. I'm not down I had not noticed before and I really like that, the remaster sounds great too one of those If i could give 3.5 I would.

London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, And Train in Vain. The rest - meh

This album was the first Christmas present that my wife ever bought me. I was very Clash curious at the time, mainly based on their funkier Casbah stuff but this was very welcome. I can’t remember the last time I actually listened to it. I certainly didn’t remember it was 19 tracks. I think the best thing you could say is that it could have been released at any time in the past 4 decades and it wouldn't sound out of place. There are some absolute bangers, some production that is a bit weird, some tracks that are genre defining, some that are weird rockabilly pastiche. Worthy of its place as legendary, and nice to catch up with it after probably the best part of 20 years.

London Calling is the third album by English rock band the Clash. This is a double album that combines the band's traditional punk rock sound with their growing interest in new wave and rock & roll. Critically acclaimed, it's considered one of the greatest albums of all time - especially within the punk genre - and it's been certified gold in Canada & France, and platinum in Italy, the UK, & the US. London Calling has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, sits near the top of many "best of album lists", and is one of the most influential classic punk rock albums of all time. You can't get more rock & roll then this album. London Calling is an awesome album that will entertain listeners the whole duration of its hour-long double album. This may be the epitome of the punk rock golden years, and I'm glad I had the chance to listen to it.

it feels like a combination of a bunch of other albums/artists i like

I've listened to a few Clash songs here and there, but never really been a fan of any of them enough to seek out more of their material. This album has done little to change my opinion. I realize this is probably heretical to most music fans, especially punk fans, but it is what it is. Let's get to some details. Highlights: Jimmy Jazz - The most interesting songs to me on this album are the ones that sound the least like the Clash's signature sound. This mellow jazzy track was a fun listen. Rudie Can't Fail - This song is almost straight up reggae. Very relaxing sound and the singer's vocals fit with the reggae theme. Lost in the Supermarket - This is probably my favorite song on the album. The bass riffs are great. Somehow the vocalist learned what his range is. I'll be adding this to my playlists. Clampdown - Great punky, chunky guitar. Catchy hooks, vocals are on point here. The Guns of Brixton - More great bass work. The reggae style once again is a great match for The Clash's skills. I'm Not Down - I really enjoyed this one. Very upbeat punk sound. A trumpet solo away from early ska. Lowlights: London Calling - God these vocals are grating. Sounds like the guy has a sinus infection. Wrong 'Em Boyo - The intro to this track is brass with what sounds like a donkey braying over it. Vocals are awful. After the intro it redeems itself with a very early ska sounding jam. Four Horsemen - Awful vocals strike again. Guy sounds like Eeyore. Final Thoughts: Frankly, I did not enjoy this album. I liked a lot of the instrumental work on here, but God, the vocals are grating at worst and downplayed at best. The best tracks are consistently the ones with the most emphasis on the instrumentals themselves. Legitimately at times sounds like a donkey imitating human voice.

clashic

The band was never better and somehow they did damn near everything here.

Absolutely LOVE the Clash. I’m glad I got to revisit this album. I appreciate the variety in their songwriting and style. This album is more rockabilly than some of the other albums and Joe Strummer’s solo work.

Couple of my favorite songs here, I'll give the whole thing a listen

On comprend pourquoi c'et un classique, on s'en tellement d'influences différentes dans cet album et pourtant on sent aussi comment lui-même a été une influence majeure pour la scène punk. Je ne pense pas que c'est un album parfait, mais c'est définitivement une pièce d'anthologie. 8/10

Epic album. Classic.

Okay enough. Jimmy Jazz sucks. Didn’t bother to finish it. Though The Clash’s influence on later punk music is pretty clear.

Just a classic.

This album is really good and revolutionized the ganre

Lots of classics right here

Enige ska-achtig album die ik leuk vind, hateful is een van mijn favo nummers of all time. Zit vol met leuke momenten, en front to back gewoon een leuk album. 5

It's a classic. But I'm biased.

Post punk rock evolution with style and grace. Incredibly highly rated for a good reason.

They have a very specific recognizable sound. I imagine if I grew up around this period, with their new/unique sound, I would have been a fan. Some songs sound very similar - same structure (?) as their more well known songs- I.e- I fought the law. Think some of the songs could grow on me, others I can appreciate the composition/message, but they sound a little generic to a modern/uncultured listener. I'd still say the music has aged well. Reggae/Ska/Punk-rock influences. First listen 6/10-better than average. Could climb on repeat listens.

Classic but repetition of ideas and motifs throughout

The previous album had me questioning this whole list. I'll give it a little longer. This album slaps.

Listened only halfway through, but loved the first half

It's really interesting to hear a punk album that isn't predicated on the rejection of everything that came before it but rather the integration of it. There's rockabilly, reggae, dub, almost New Orleans jazz, roots and more throughout the record. Every song is so listenable, an immediate earworm. Clampdown might be my favorite this time around

I believe this is the first consecutive 5! This album showed the world that the clash was not just another punk band. Sandinista is really where they get experimental but you can already see them broadening their horizons here. So many hits.

Without a doubt, one of the greatest albums ever made! Definitely in my top 10 and maybe even top 5. A true masterpiece. People used to call the Clash "the only band that really matters". This album proves why. They actually have something to say. Is it punk? Yes, but with great lyrics and melodies. Really it's just great rock and roll. I'm really glad I got to see them live! 5+++++

Easy 5, showing us how good punk can be when the band actually cares about making music. There’s ska, early rock and roll and pop all represented here but underneath is clearly the punk band they started out as. 19 tracks and none of them are bad. Wow. Now here’s a British albums that deserves to be on the list! My favorite tracks are “Clampdown”, “Rudie Can’t Fail”, and “Train in Vain”.

All time great. Every track is an adventure. No notes

Like if a british punk band decided to be a reggae band instead. Somehow it works

:D

Not a single song that I liked.

7/10

Just an all time classic punk album! Great listen top to bottom. My mom raised me on this album and a bunch of British Punk and I am thankful for that. The way this album changed the landscape of music going into the 80s is indescribable. 5 stars all day!

Overrated but still monumental

Remastered doesn't sound as good a original

I like the sound but it's very repetitive. All the songs sound like I fought the law

One of my favourite albums ever, just proves that Joe strummer should be talked about more often when we discuss musical legacies, it’s how to bridges styles and ideas without letting go of what you believe in.

Simply Awesome!

Great to hear this again, it's been years. Opened to albums of the era and I loved these to.

Masterpiece post-punk double album and the peak of the Clashs career. It's their Physical Grafitti (That would annoy them!)

Not my music

BL: Had a big tie to The Clash since a young age. My dad always loved The Clash and I started listening to their hits when I was 9 or 10. Listened to their first two albums the whole way through but never this one. So will be good to hear it. AL: This album was very good, it had a massive range which I did not expect, especially the ska tracks. The album is full of twists and turns and still manages to flow incredibly well. I don't have much to say beyond that, but it was a good listen. FT: "Hateful", "Lost in the Supermarket", "The Guns of Brixton", "Koka, Kola" 4/5

It was a ok.

Haven't listened to the album in full before. The title track is a snarling masterpiece that you *all* know already of course and the rest is........ kinda underwhelming until Train in Vain.

This album was one that changed my musical projection in life. First thing that made me realize that Punk-Rock doesn't just have to be 4 chords, 1-2 beat and yelling.

Lyssnat på den flera gånger, har absolut sina guldkord.

Definitely a fun album. The Clash definitely redefined what rock should be and can sound like, with a mix of genres. The mumbling almost casual nature of the music is really interesting, and there are some really great tracks here. Not sure it's a favorite for me personally, but I think it's one I'll continue to come back to.

3.5

Eg e meir ein post-punker enn ein punker

My friend likes this a lot. I don't really know why.

Decent album with a few good songs

I have to be missing something, right? Like, there's no way I like their debut MORE than this? Well, I guess I do, but I reslly don't know why. I mean, this one is decent, but even the good songs I can't remember after finishing them, and his voice feels really grating when not doing proper punk tunes. There is enough here to be enjoyable, but that's probably because it's a double album that goes much longer than it needed to. Really mixed on this way, but I for sure don't see the hype.

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

Pretty much the best album ever recorded

okii 7.5/10

I think this album's just a little too close to Ska for me to really love it, but it ain't bad.

One of the most iconic albums of the late 70s

Absolutely essential. The first 3 Clash albums are brilliant and this is the crown jewel. They started losing it a bit from here on until outright being awful on their last. This is a 5 star album if there ever was one.

A perfect punk record, due to the fact that it uses its multi-dimensional genre-bending to advance the classic “punk themes”

Somewhere between punk and new wave The Clash put together a really good album.

Duh

Punk riffs, ska horns, reggae beats and soaring rock refrains are all on the color palette on “London Calling” and The Clash paint with the confidence of masters. The music stretches in a dozen different directions across nineteen songs and the band switches styles effortlessly. The songs are frequently pessimistic about the state of the world. Apocalyptic doomsaying, disillusionment over capitalism and oppression at the hands of the police are all part of the lyrical world of the album. But you almost wouldn’t notice given the frequently joyful and exuberant tone of the music. There would seem to be an inherent contradiction between the words and the music. Or maybe not. In punk, the realization that the world is awful can be liberating. It's the first step in a revolution: The government is corrupt! War is destroying the world! Now you know! Let's do something about it! And what better prophet of the revolution than Joe Strummer? His drunkard's howl and Cockney accent are a frequent focal point of these songs. He's a great rock frontman and he gives some incredible performances here. His vocals give an edge to the otherwise immaculately produced music. This might be the greatest double album of all time -- no filler! nothing but great songs! -- and, for my money, is a safe bet for best rock album ever if you absolutely made me pick one. I've spent a lot of time with this album and it never gets old. The album is fantastic front to back but I’m always stunned by the second half in particular. There are at least a half dozen tracks that could have been the album closer. But The Clash end with two entire sides’ worth of album closers! Incredible.

Feels crazy to say but this is my first time going through this album in one listen. I never really was drawn to their sound much which I think is weird as I like a lot of different types of punk (metal punk- bands like BLACK FLAG, crust punk- bands like HIS HERO IS GONE, modern classic punk- bands like GREEN DAY, classic punk- like MISFITS, BAD BRAINS, even modern pop-punk (a genre that I've historically not enjoyed)- bands like DURRY). For some reason I've always been avoidant of The Clash though. The title track is a classic and probably one of the better songs to share with someone if they show an interest in rock music or punk music or even just good music. I love a good second track of an album. For me this is typically a point in an album where I am going to start judging. The introduction phase is over, I am locked into the production style and choices, and I'm just listening now. This record has a real nice second track- "Brand New Cadillac". Great rock guitar that is almost rockabilly in style, and the same haunting and crooning punk voice over the top. This album rocks hard. Unfortunately I think it was overhyped for me and I never gave it the attention it deserves. It's a definite 5/5.

Still one of the best punk albums out there.

I recognised more on here than I was expecting, and lots of songs that have been sampled in more recent years

Better than I expected

The album grew on me as it went on...

People complain a lot about this list having too many British records that are non-essential. Well this one might be the quintessential British album, and the entire band just plays absolutely phenomenal. "I wasn't born so much as I fell out".

It’s hard to say what hits harder: London Calling or the Fender Precision Bass on the cover?

One of the 10 greatest albums every recorded fight me

favorite song : lost in the supermarket i love this album, it makes me think of last fall, the beginning of our last year of high school. i would wake up early just to listen to lost in the supermarket on my record player before going to school. life wasn’t hard and everything felt like it would last forever, i genuinely loved going to school and meeting my friends there, i loved the lack of pressure i felt even though it was the beginning of a brand new school year. i could say i miss it but that chapter is officially closed and i feel ready for a new story to begin.

Way to chaotic and all over the place.

Classic

A classic. Sounds like ska

My favorite Clash album. Some bangers on here; London Calling, Spanish bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, The Guns of Brixton, Death or Glory and Train in Vain.

Classic album with a legendary cover. It's well-rounded, but there are only four songs on it that are in my regular rotation. There are 19 tracks on the album, which isn't a great ratio, so I can't quite justify giving it a 5.

Interesting, varied, doesn't quite do it for me

Stone cold classic Cover art 5/5

Love it

London Calling - Not a fan, for some reason couldnt get into this track. Brand New Cadillac - Very catchy, upbeat and is generally a fun song. Makes me want to cruise down the street with a beer and a cigarette then crash a party and get into a barfight. Jimmy Jazz - Originally thought I wasnt going to like this song, but the beat + guitar licks are endearing. The brass towards the end is a nice touch, and is a foot tapper. As I’m getting further into this album, can’t get over this fucking accent though. It sucks. Hateful - Catchy and generally an inoffensive song. Almost seems like a song that would have been released early 2000s or late 90s. Ahead of its time definitely. Rudie Cant fail- fucking hilarious how this sounds like Ska. Is this the originator for ska? Not bad, it won me over halfway through even though I ended up not liking it at first Spanish Bombs - Pretty decent, dont have anything bad or good to say about it though The Right Profile - Forgetable, probably my least fav on the album. Lost in the Supermarket - Love this song, catchy and the lyrics are poignant and amazing. Very relatable and I found myself replaying this song a couple of times. Favorite song so far along with brand new cadillac. Clampdown - Kinda generic lyrics, but at least the instrumentals are good The Guns of Brixton - Great instrumentals, love the use of unique sounds in this track. Decent lyrics but i was blown away by the sound of this track. Wrong em boyo - was not a fan of this track death or glory - pretty good anthem type song, was enjoying it. koka kola - funny ass lyrics but forgettable the card cheat - really enjoyed this one, is definitely a fun one. lovers rock - this song sucks LMAO. nah for real tho its alright, just kind of corny. like they were throwing darts at a board and it went to “love song”. At the end theres a funny as fuck moan though

Punk lyrics sprinkled over various genres including reggae, rockabilly, blues, glam, and more. Can’t say I’m personally a huge fan of the album as it doesn’t really tickle my fancy sonically, but it’s easy to tell The Clash was definitely on to something interesting here. Favorites: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, Train in Vain (Stand by Me) Least favorites: I would say Death or Glory but the lyrics are really good so none.

This album shocked me. Very much a classic, I didn’t write a great review for this and it’s not as in-depth as I’d like. Nor did I look at the lyrics of many of the songs. It’s a very simple and clean punk album, from what I know this sound inspired the punk that we get still to this day and has left it’s cultural mark. In todays stands of listening a 7/10 for me.

Well I am surprised! Funny how time affects the senses! Nowhere near as loud, brash and heavy as I’d imagined - very lyrical & musical - great production! Why don’t I know more of these tunes? Maybe I was a little late to the punk party 🤣 - but can hear so much rockabilly, psychobilly and reggae - even a bit of Springsteen - really enjoyed listening…..took me down memory lane a little 😊

An iconic album from an iconic band - who could give them anything less than 5 stars? “Spa-nish BOMBS” was a definite favourite 💣🇪🇸

A few classics I already knew - generally quite samey but not in a bad way. Still a defining sound of British punk

Divertido, variado

Started fantastically, but got progressively worse after song 10. Really should have left it there.

London Calling? Best song so far. Thought it was called live by the river though lol Woah these songs are short First one with more than one above average song. Yeah its pretty good. Would be like 4 1/2 stars.

W album

You know me, punk is not my genre. But I do enjoy the Clash and they have some iconic hits here.

Every time someone would call The Clash punk I would cringe - they don't feel like a punk band, at least not the ones that I had always known. They were a little too soft and the sound was frankly anything but punk. However, after listening to this album multiple times to be rid of my preconceived notions, I finally understand the punk monicker. It's the lyrics that are punk - a pointed attack on the state of the world and the policies that have created the mess. The musical stylings to go along with the lyrics actually tie it all together as well, given the late 70s timeframe where so many different genres were reaching the mainstream. Not to mention, it's a "we the people" commentary, and the genres highlight the differences of the people while unifying with the lyrics. While I now appreciate the album and would rate it highly, I still can't say it's one of my favorites to listen to. Maybe in time this will become a forever favorite for me, but as of today it's not there.

B- London Calling 5 Brand New Cadillac 2 Jimmy Jazz 3 Hateful 4 Rudie Can't Fail 3 Spanish Bombs 4 The Right Profile 3 Lost In the Supermarket 2 Clampdown 2 The Guns of Brixton 4 Wrong 'Em Boyo 3 Death or Glory 3 Kola Kola 2 The Card Cheat 3 Lover's Rock 3 Four Horsemen 2 I'm Not Down 4 Revolution Rock 3 Train In Vain (Stand By Me) 3 Good work The Clash, you're not The Trash.

The highs on this record are very high. The lows are filler at best. It goes on for a little too long, but ends on a high note with 'Train In Vain'.

Yup.

Standout tracks: London's Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, The Guns of Brixton. Less of a fan of the more 'traditional' rock and roll-vibe songs personally, but a great record all round. Great 70s production and love the drum sound.

One of the true classics of late stage OG punk rock. London Calling by The Clash sits on the border of 70s punk rock and 80s new music. It's political but not without whimsey. It's hard core with tuneful pop songs. London Calling is full of Clash standards and is their best album. A two record set, it is best heard on the original vinyl (not a remastered reissue) so that you can hear its original intent. The last song on the album, Train in Vain, was not in the original song listing, instead being a sort of Easter Egg. Just when you thing the album is done, there is this awesome extra song to close out the album.

tbh I would not call this a punk album, and certainly not the greatest punk album of all time. so much more ska than i realised. regardless, very good of course.

The variety of styles on this album is pretty fun, although some of the more rockabilly and straight forward rock style songs weren't my favorite. Never been super into the Clash, but still enjoyed this overall.

I'm familiar with this album. Never loved it, but it's pretty good. I'm a big fan of some of the middle cuts that I don't think were ever singles(?), like The Right Profile, and Lost in the Supermarket. Wish it were a little shorter overall, but I enjoyed this listen. 3.5/5

I’ll admit, I was surprised that I’m ranking this so low, but a lot of the album is kind of middling. The best tracks are among the best punk ever made. It’s highly recommended regardless, but double albums are a tricky endeavor. B+

Some catchy songs but overall I couldn't connect with their anger and melody.

The title track is one of the best songs of all time, but I don't really care for the rest of the album. I think the genre change made sense for the band, and the exploration of different styles within this one record is impressive. But I just cannot get behind Britpop. Plus, many of the references are time and country specific, so I can't really enjoy them.

There's nothing I can say about this album that hasn't already been said

Så många bra och klassiska låtar. Nu är ju London Calling en ikonisk platta på alla sätt och vis. De låtar jag inte hört förut höll även de en väldigt hög klass.

I got into the clash later in my teenage years - shunning punk in favour of indie and metal throughout most of my formative years. Besides Rock the Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go - I heard nothing. The first ever band rehearsal I was invited to asked me to play London’s Burning - and I pretended to know of it - but was completely blank. The band did not last long. Finally a very cool friend had gifted me a compilation of sorts of clash songs and to impress her I tried to listen to it on my then Walkman. One listen got to two, to three, to many - the song that hooked me first was Straight to Hell - not from this record but still. Of course compilation is not the way to love a band so go course the albums came through recommendations from my other punk friends - Sandinsta came from the stoners - good but not the most varied - the debut album of course rocked and Give ‘em enough Rope was my personal favourite - but London Calling - oh my a perfect record even though it’s quite long - but like most clash song the whole record poignant, cheeky, rough, poppy or smooth - the Jamaican influence popping in most of these tracks and all of it is dead serious and heartfelt. This record opened up my life to punk - the local scene - the friends - a big influence on most of the bands I played in - which led me to my career and my home life. I’m sure most people have one of these records that propelled their life into a direction - and this, alongside another one, maybe two - can be traced on how it opened up my mind to ideas, people and more music, as well without exaggeration - these things leading to important life decisions. Sometimes we look at music frivolously - but here we are slogging to a minimum three year project because it’s important. And it is - no doubt.

Is there any other double album that gets as much universal acclaim as this one? It's a punk rock classic that goes well beyond the genre. You can dance to it, drink to it, protest to it. It's energetic and varied without a single dull track.

Ganz cooli Songs. Nix überwältigends, aber guet. Klassiker. 4 Stern.

When they kick at your front door How you gonna come? With your hands on your head Or on the trigger of your gun When the law break in How you gonna go? Shot down on the pavement Or waiting in death row You can crush us, you can bruise us But you'll have to answer to Oh, the guns of Brixton Solid album, great sound. Fundamental to what came after. 4/5

Hearing the roots of the punk rock scene was really interesting. Awesome album with a lot of solid songs.

Absolute masterpiece, this is what double albums should be. One of the very best

This album is incredible and a classic. I’m truly surprised how much I come back to this.

Fantastiskt album

Truly one of the greatest works of art of all time. Every single genre and feel that was attempted in this album was mastered by the band. Favorite track: Spanish Bombs

The greatest full on punk, and this is The Clash's best album.

This might be my favourite album of all time. Certainly top 5. I loved the album top to bottom the first time I heard it. There were so many things to like about it.  The raw noisy punk was tamed by fusing with multiple other genres that all worked so well.  Joe's politics were on display.  As a Who fan I thought the cover was killer good and,   If you are ever wondering how to spell the last word(s?)  of "The Right Profile"  the lyrics printed on the album sleeve confirm that the proper spelling is " ARRRGHHHGORRA BUH BHUV DO ARRRRGGGGHHHHNNNN!!!!"

It's been a few decades since since I've listened to this entire album. What stands out this time around is 1) the number of different musical styles you get hit with, like old time rock & roll, jazz, reggae and even soul 2) the great background vocals (led by Mick Jones) and the horn section that keeps popping up and 3) the number of guitar solos, very rare for a "punk" outfit, but they were saying goodbye to their punk roots and fans by this time. One thing that hasn't changed, Guns of Brixton is still my favourite Clash song.