Reviews (page 2 of 14)
London Calling has been with me my whole life. I can remember hearing the CD playing in the kitchen as a small child; then discovering it amongst my dad’s old record collection in the loft as a teenager (“yes!!”), then learning the art of turning a record over in my bedroom (a double album, so double the practice). It feels like a best of that spans a band’s whole career, seamlessly delivering you from one era to another - not The Clash’s third LP in three years. It’s crazy to think that so shortly before this album they were legitimately punk. While London Calling explores New Wave, Garage, Ska and Reggae, to my ears there is nothing punk on display here! While there are well recognised hits throughout this beast (and side B has a particularly high concentration) less celebrated track Hateful has always had a special place in my heart due to its peculiar vocal inflections which show a particularly odd and elaborate side to The Clash. I also love the breezy, super slick choruses of I’m Not Down - another underrated classic!
Low 5 for me, it’s everyone’s favourite punk band covering all bases and not a drop of punk is present, very Beatles White Album.
Number: 174 Date: 06/26/2026 Artist: The Clash Album: London Calling Year: 1979 Style: Post-punk Roots-rock Familiarity: Extremely (5) Rating: 5 Before: ======= I'm pretty sure it's a 5 for me but it's not my favorite album from 1979. I have it at number 5, between Buzzcocks "A Different Kind Of Tension" at 4 and The Specials "The Specials" at 6. During: ======= There are lots of 5's and 4's on the album but also a few 3's. After : ======= So, strictly speaking it evaluates as a 4 but for nostalgic reasons and because it's The Clash, I'm going to be generous and give it a 5. Maybe I', maybe I'll come back later and move to 4, we'll see. 4 my personal rating 5 suitability for this list 4 impact ----------------------------------------------- 4.3 composite rating
Whether it deserves the Rolling Stone moniker of greatest album of the 1980s is debatable but it certainly puts the Clash way beyond the tag of Punk stars and more like a developing rock band as exciting as anyone in the scene at the time, and Topper Headon's drumming gives them an extra dimension as well. Like all great double albums it completely immerses you in the band's musical world and it encompasses far more styles than their original roots. Critically acclaimed and considered one of the greatest of all time I was quite taken with how fresh and fried it sounded - I must explore it again soon.
Top 10 all time
Usually I try to listen to each album in one sitting, just to get the full effect. I tend to think more highly of the albums when I hear them as intended. With London Calling I had to break up my listening over two days, and you know what? It was even better than I remembered! I already knew it was a great album, but this made me appreciate it more. Also, ‘Lost in the Supermarket’ is one of my all-time favorite songs, but every so often I basically forget about it. This leads to the joy of rediscovering it, so I hope I never remember it, if that makes sense. (I also do this with The Wire and Slim Charles, in case anyone wondered about that specifically.)
You can see how this band has influenced the 90s sca music. I really loved it.
Excellent the whole way through. Punk with reggae. Really enjoyable and will listen again.
Just bangers, the beginning of Post-Punk.
Lots of good songs
Rate: 10/10.
Easy 10/10. My favorite Clash album, though "Sandinista!" is also great.
Almost perfect album bro its great but also the more punky songs are annoying ah hell
Well clearly I've not given this album the proper listen it deserves, what an incredible hour or so. So much better than "punk", this is musically brilliant and so much variety. Just a top band!
It's a classic for a reason
I always thought of The Clash as just another punk rock band. I knew their hits but not much else. I was shocked at the overall variety and non-punk vibes in this album…but still has some of that punk feel, primarily from the lead vocals. I can see now why the album is so highly regarded.
Perfect rock album.
The title track lights a fire from an imaginary broadcast tower, like a bleak postwar dispatch with lyrics about phony Beatlemania, a nuclear error and the wheat runnin’ thin, and it just expands from there into an astonishing variety of sounds and styles, all performed with verve and urgency. London Calling plays like a mix of the dominant underground U.K. sounds of the time — punk, two-tone ska, dub and reggae — and American rockabilly, R&B and other roots music that the band members obsessed over. Exquisitely paced and formatted, it expanded the palette of what punk rock could be by retaining its fiery core convictions while expanding greatly on its restrictive sonic rules.
Near perfect.
Much more going on than I remember every time I go back :)
Day #001 What an album to kick off my project. Well known as I listened to this a lot in my younger days. Fantatic mix of punk, ska, reggae and even snippets of soul and jazz . ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Album #182 The Clash: London Calling I fell to my knees and wept when I saw what my new album was. After a week of mediocrity, my anguish was resolved by Christ himself; his healing came in the form of a 65-minute replenishment at the hands of The Clash. A double album which refuses to be categorized; sure, at this point it is pretty much seen as the quintessential punk rock album, and those who just know it for the title track will continue to see it as that and nothing more; but this thing explores more territories than fucking Columbus. Punk, reggae, ska, rockabilly, new wave, pub rock, post-punk, the list goes on. The Clash cement themselves as a complete anomaly amongst the punk world. The whole genesis of punk music started from the idea of creating music that anyone could play: simple chords, repetitive songs, and an emphasis on passion over technicality; and The Clash’s response to that was to make punk rock, but whilst actually being incredibly diverse and talented musicians. London Calling is in some ways the natural successor to the band's two prior albums, their debut, which had a much more traditional punk sound, and their sophomore album, which delved deeper into other more melodic genres like reggae and ska; but truthfully no one could have anticipated London Calling. In some way, this might actually just be a pop album, in the sense that the song structures and melodies wouldn’t look out of place on any other new wave album of the time; yet there is such an undeniable edge that The Clash retains despite the accessibility. This is the unifying album between those who listen to music to relieve angst and grief, and those who just want to dance; and because of that, London Calling will always have a spot in my playlist. Best Songs: London Calling, Train In Vain, Spanish Bombs, Lost In The Supermarket, The Guns of Brixton Worst Song: None Score out of 10: 10
The only thing that can ever convince me that London isn't a place deserving of mass arson. Despite being the most British thing I will ever hear in my life (besides maybe John Oliver) the energy, the complexity, and the sheer variety make it an impossible album to turn off halfway through. I mean seriously, who else could pull off the absolute classic punk, breakneck paced Hateful and put it back to back with one of the most chill reggae songs I've ever heard in Rudie Can't Fail? It's weird, it's sloppy, and it's definitely not for everyone, but to me, those only add to the experience. As long as London Calling is playing, maybe I can reconsider torching the British Museum. Best: Revolution Rock Worst: Not a thing on London Calling Liked songs: 19/19 Low 5
Such a fantastic album—the greatest punk album of all time! There's so much to love about it. It's playful, political, full of catchy songs, fun musical ideas. They play so well, which does set them apart from many of their contemporaries. I can hit play anywhere on the album, and enjoy whatever is given to me. So much has been said and written about London Calling already—what more can I say?
Bangers!
Era defining. Quite simply one of my favourites of all time.
incredible incredible incredible. paul simonon is a bass god. the clash is amazing.
67 Definitely Isaac Loves this
Some reviews are questioning whether these guys are a real punk band or not. Are these guys manufactured and fake? Maybe Is this 17 killer tracks of sonicly diverse all killer no filler rock? Absolutely
Simply one of the greatest of all time.
Powerful basslines are coupled with one of the coolest and most ravenous voices in the game. I was pleasantly surprised by just how immediate this album was. It is fun and playful, and surprisingly concise, with fully fleshed-out songs compared to others in the punk genre. Is it a sin to say that I think it is just a tad too long? (Edit: Yes, Zach. Yes it is. Now Repent!)
"London calling, yes, I was there too And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!" Love it.
Probably my all-time favorite punk record (to be fair, I don't listen to a ton of punk). It does have a bit of nostalgia working for it, as my parents would often play this album when I was young, but I absolutely think it has withstood the test of time. London Calling is an incredible opening track that, like many other songs on the album, has aged phenomenally well. There's not a bad song on the album, and it has many stand-out tracks like Jimmy Jazz, Clampdown, and my favorite Spanish Bombs.
An all time great rock album. I find it so expressive. There is a great range of emotions throughout its four sides. A rare double album that I can listen to front to back without getting bored.
London Calling es el tercer álbum de estudio de la banda británica de punk The Clash, lanzado el 14 de diciembre de 1979, por CBS Records en el Reino Unido y en enero de 1980 por Epic Records en Estados Unidos. El álbum representó un cambio en el estilo musical de The Clash, incluyendo estilos como el ska, pop, soul, rockabilly y reggae, que no habían sido utilizados por la banda anteriormente. El álbum habla sobre temas como el desempleo, los conflictos raciales, el uso de drogas, y las responsabilidades de los adultos. Nota personal: Me gusta la portada. --------------- Despúes de escuchar: Muy bueno, con un tono mucho mas feliz del que pensé al ver la portada. Canciones/Sonidos extrañamente familiares. Spanish Bombs es un rolón. London Calling otro rolón. Siento que necesito escucharlo mas y entender un poco mas sobre las canciones y su trasfondo. Me gustó mucho.
He who fucks nuns, will later join the church
One of the few double albums that actually deserves to be as long as it is. It's so versatile, fun, and simply brilliant. All-time classic alert! 9/10
Just an incredible listening experience. Obviously the title track is familiar to millions but I enjoyed so much of this as a whole. Felt like a cohesive piece of art even with an array of genres covered. ‘Wrong ‘Em Boyo’ was my standout but would revisit this again and again but would it kill Joe Strummer to enunciate a little bit?
Great album
C'mon. It's a 5. Next.
It's unreal how consistently good and interesting all of the songs are on this album.
Coming off give em enough rope London Calling must have been perplexing for committed Clash fans at the time, first time I heard it I wasn’t sure what I made of it. The title track, Rudie Can’t Fail, Clampdown and Train in Vain have always been stand outs but over the years I have now grown to appreciate the album as a whole, it’s super eclectic in a way few albums are and shows why that clash were more than just a punk band. The covers of Brand New Cadillac and Wrong Em Boyo really are surplus to requirement in my opinion but the rest is strong enough to maintain classic status. 4.6
Yep. Haven't listened in ages but it still holds up. A great album containing some iconic songs from that time.
masterpiece
Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer I think he might’ve been our only decent teacher
Эта группа у меня совсем не ассоциируется с чистым панком 70х. Только их первый альбом был в таком стиле а ля пистолс. Но уже во втором они начали усложнять звук, добавляя элементы регги, блюза и джаза. В третьем же они продолжили расширять свою палитру звучания, в этот раз нанизав ее на структуру и мелодичность поп-песен. Получился альбом, где почти каждый трек мог бы быть хитом. Ультра насыщенный запоминающимися и цепляющими песнями релиз. Все это вкупе с одной из самых культовых и узнаваемых обложек с яростным басистом и внезапной отсылкой на Элвиса делает альбом маст-хэвом любого списка величайших альбомов. Буквально несколько филлеров, учитывая объем релиза, наверно можно было бы опустить. Сократить трек-лист хотя бы до 14-15 песен - и была вообще пушка-бомба. Но и так легендарно.
Пока всякие Клэптоны кричали со сцены расистку хуйню, эти гении играли лучшую музыку и выступали на фестивале рок против расизма. Альбом идеальный. Любимки.
This isn't punk. This jazzy, ska, reggae, rock n roll - with punk attitude
A nice surprise. I like the song about being lost in the supermarket because it's relatable to the everyday man (me).
One of my desert island discs. Great cover. Great songs.
Easy classic, punk that has variety!
As good an album as there is on this list. I've listened to it a bunch over the years. The Clash were pretty big when I started really getting into music. I remember hearing them on the radio a lot when Combat Rock was new. 19 solid tracks is no easy feat and the closer is an all timer. Really great stuff and dig the nod to Elvis on the cover art.
Can hear that is very influential album.
What’s left to say that hasn’t been said.
This has been a life long favorite album. I'm happy to have given it another intentional listen. It's been a while.
Just a brilliant album from start to finish. Not a moments rest, I love it
One of my favorite albums.
Det er fristende å si at det er her punken ble voksen, men det er ikke helt sant: Wire ga tross alt ut Pink Flag to år tidligere. Det som derimot stemmer, er at punken med London Calling fikk sitt første White Album -- og kanskje med unntak av Double Nickels on the Dime, også sitt beste. Tittelsporet stjeler showet for en førstegangslytter. Det er dystert, tungt som tusen tonn, og et av historiens beste tittelspor. Det som følger er derimot en kavalkade av party punk med power chords, skarpe texter, og masse ska & reggae innflytelser -- så mye at det passer like godt inn i new wave paraplyen som under punk rock. Det er en energibombe med et spenn man sjeldent ser innenfor sjangermusikken, og hvert lytt byr på en ny favoritt. Dagens? Vanskelig å overgå Spanish Bombs, ass. Men et spor som stod ut som jeg ikke har tenkt så mye på før: I'm Not Down.
Et av få dobbeltalbum som fortjener å være dobbeltalbum.
Every song on here is a banger, no misses. "London Calling" "Brand New Cadillac" "Rudie Can't Fail" "Lost In The Supermarket" "Clampdown" "The Guns of Brixton" "Death or Glory" and "Train in Vain" have been heavy in rotation for a long time now, but had somehow missed "Hateful" and "Jimmy Jazz" This is a fantastic album, not much more to say.
The album that got me into punk. I had enjoyed Never Mind the Bollocks, but it seemed like more of a stunt than a movement. I really liked the Ramones, but didn't feel connected to punks until I heard this release. I feel like I get a new appreciation for The Clash every time I listen to London Calling. The Guns of Brixton and Lost in the Supermarket regularly pop back into my head. And Rudy Can't Fail whenever I hear that name. These songs are deeply imprinted on my brain and its a blessing.
9/10
Great album! Liked every song.
Don't ya know that it's wrong?
letterlijk soms ben je verdwaald in de supermarkt
Might be the best Punk album
A ver classic album, I love it
Just superb. Despite being a whole 19 tracks long, London Calling is still so tight as an album. Not a single skippable track to be found, I loved the combination of punk and reggae with a little bit of ska thrown in for good measure, and the guitar work is properly catchy stuff. Already loved the Clash, but I'm glad to have finally listened to this legendary release in full. Favourite track: Spanish Bombs Least favourite track: Koka Kola
Ok
WOW JIR
Not only one of the best albums ever made, but one that is deceptively ambitious more than anything. Think about it, how many albums can you name that are; over an hour long, have a huge selection of super diverse genres and influences that work almost suspiciously well together, and is an absolute masterpiece. The answer is you can name one album that matches that description, and it's this one. Whether it's ska, punk, new wave, rockabilly, whatever the hell else they experiment with, every moment on this album is pure musical genuis. Using such a fun genre selection as a way to present some genuinely quite profound social commentary is something The Clash do better than almost anyone. This entire album is exactly as serious as it needs to be at any given point, giving you the exact perfect balance of wit, political commentary, and just some good ol' rock and roll.
Even the album art is perfect.
It's a double album, but I wish it was longer! London Calling is so much more than a punk album. It's The Clash exploring many related styles successfully, and at their peak. Liked Songs Added: London Calling Brand New Cadillac Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs Lost In The Supermarket Clampdown The Guns Of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo Revolution Rock Train In Vain
An absolute banging classic
The attitude is on point and they have a great feel for pop. They jump between genres and I love the connection to British rock, like in “wrong em boyo”.
Fav song: Lost in the Supermarket
This is really a step up in every single way from the other Clash album I had to listen to. It feels like they embraced the idea of making music that was more varied and less tied to punk as a genre, and it really benefits them a lot. There's so much interesting music on here, they really stepped into a lot of different sounds here and they all work. My only complaint would be that it's almost 20 songs, but I feel like they all work well enough that it really holds one's attention. Favorites: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Lover's rock
Great iconic album brings back alot of memories.
It’s a classic for a reason
Fantastic!
the Joni Mitchell’s Blue of phony Beatlemania biting the dust
One of the best. Perfect. 5/5
A sprawling record that somehow never feels unfocused. It moves through punk, reggae, ska, and rock and roll with confidence, not as experimentation for its own sake but as a natural extension of its voice. The songwriting is consistently strong, and the range adds to the sense that this is a band stretching its limits successfully. It stands out because it balances accessibility with ambition without compromising either side.
Classic.
Love the Clash. This is great
(7/7) some very creative instrumentation, at times; the hits are excellent and the rest of the content is strong
Imprescindible. Siempre te alegra el día. Mucho más que punk.
I gave 5 stars to “The Ramones” by The Ramones purely because of its influence on the punk genre, so it only seems fair to do the same here. Besides, this one has always spoken to me more anyway. A double album is objectively not very punk rock, but not including “Train In Vain” as an official track on the first release is actually pretty punk rock. We’ll call that a wash.
Essential post-punk listening. The consistency, originality, and variety here makes for a fantastically enjoyable listen . Some tracks stand out more than others, but even at over an hour, it remains thoroughly engaging from start to finish.
Classic album one of the best
No notes. 5/5.
One of my all time favourites and probably the greatest double LP of all time
4th best album we’ve heard so far, only the third best album by The Clash - bonz❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Five stars. Tom.
A defining staple of the punk genre for a damn good reason. Solid 5 Stars.
It’s a 10. I mean, it’s not perfectly structured (I would’ve flipped the last two tracks around) & it’s not without some nitpicks (a few longer / stagnant outros that rely on the chorus a bit too much), but the quality of each & every track here overrides any minor complaints I could possibly have here. I’ve never heard this album in full until today, but it’s been on my radar for at least 11 years. Back in 2014 or 2015, I distinctly remember an assignment given that was about studying album covers as art compositions; we were all assigned different covers, told to listen to at least one song from the album, and then we had to write a little essay about what the cover represents in relation to the music. I got this one. I don’t have that essay on me anymore, but I do remember that after listening to the title track (mostly because it was the first track & I was lazy), I wrote some bullshit about how the smashing of the guitar represented a changing of the guard from the Beatlemania of the 1960s & was ushering in a new era of defiant punk music. That’s all true, to a degree, but my younger self knew exactly what I still know now. The guitar smashing might be symbolic, sure, but… it’s just really fucking cool, man. Ignoring any kind of context, or without looking for any kind of deeper statement within, it’s just a great fucking photo. Obviously, with the entire album now in my ears, it’s one of those rare pictures that really does seem worth a thousand words. I can’t type THAT many, but… it’s less of a changing of the guard (although that Beatlemania line in the title track sets a stage) & more of an expression of pure, unabashed freedom. The guitar is smashed, yes, but it’s opening up a whole new world to them as a result. This album feels nothing like their debut, expanding their musical palate to higher highs that feel innovative as hell for 1979, and if nothing else, it’s all just tightly executed in a way that makes every track have at least one super satisfying moment. With 19 tracks, I can’t possibly write something for every single one, but with the pace of this album being as relatively breezy as it is, it’s just far easier to listen to it for yourself & find those satisfying moments; they’ll be different for everyone. There’s no bad tracks here – like I said, a few longer outros, but the core of each track, the progression within, the structures of the melodies & Joe Strummer’s vocals all work hand-in-hand almost seamlessly for the entire 65 minutes. I do wish there were more transitions, as they’re dynamic as hell when they do occur, but the sparsity of them makes them hit a bit harder. Ultimately, it is an album deeply worth its acclaim, even starting from just the cover art alone. I suppose we should thank Elvis for it, really, but I digress. I can’t think of anything more to say; people have analyzed this thing up & down for nearly 50 years as a landmark piece of music ushering in punk & beyond, and the eclectic run of genres & styles it goes through feels like it should’ve reshaped the direction of the entire 1980s, as opposed to being a swan song for the 1970s. At the very least, the people that this NEEDED to influence heard it, and you can hear this album’s DNA cascade into a lot of other classic albums. It is easily a 10, and thank goodness the entire thing sounds as impactful as its artwork looked. Just a stellar punk rock album.
Everyone knows (or should know) that the greatest music made in the 20th Century was made in England & this is one of the absolute best albums released anywhere (that of course includes England) in the 20th century. I imagine most on here know this album but on the off chance that you don't this truly is one album (unlike tons of crap that somehow made the 1001 list) that is a must hear before the grim reaper pays you a visit. Don't get lost in the supermarket!
Easy 5 stars. Very good album.
> the Beatles
Might be my favorite album I’ve heard so far (at least among those I had never listened to before). Punk at the core, but branches out to reggae, blues, ska, and just plain rock n’ roll. Fantastic album that I will be revisiting often.
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust, Strummer sneers, a trenchant swipe at all the imitators that had flooded the scene even before the birth of the Gallagher brothers. It's funny, then, that his band wrote some of the greatest British pop songs ever recorded in the shadow of Lennon-McCartney; the melody and lyricism work in Spanish Bombs is a truly mind-boggling. Be still, mi corazón. And there may not be a more affective lyric I've ever encountered than: "long-distance callers make long-distance calls." Parquet Courts made a career on Hateful, particularly that post-chorus slowdown. Rudie Can't Fail is practically alive. That intro to Clampdown! These are all on the first two sides, which is the album's biggest demerit. That's not to say there's not great, great cuts in the back nine, but neither the peaks nor the consistency is there. At least they save the best for last, with Train in Vain. That this band could write and record that song as a last-minute throw-in speaks to the unfathomably high level at which they were working. Like The Beatles, there's got to be some higher power involved. Tough to give this anything less than a five! (This is probably my biggest reappraisal of this album generator to date. I hadn't listened to it in about a decade, having decided it was a mediocre album with a couple of choice cuts. Couldn't have been more wrong.)
I love double albums. This one towers over most of them.
I've been waiting for this one!! My top 10 albums of all time.
I’ve never listened to The Clash before, but why? Very cool album and a great discovery
No questions asked. Hands down best and most creative punk album ever made. Might feature in best albums ever, at least it is mine. For how inkovative and alternative this album is, absolute no concessions were made on quality.
may 13 '26 nighttime perfect album when you wanna clean your room but it's the end of the world...
The Clash is more of a proto-new wave band than punk in my book, especially London Calling and onwards. Reviewing them as punk rockers makes them seem like hopeless posers. If I leave that linkage out of the equation they seem prescient, and in a nod to my project partner, make U2 look pretty boring. For me, London Calling is one of the double-album masterpieces
The list seems to be throwing out a lot of middling albums lately and/or stuff that I had no previous emotional bond. In this context, boy oh boy was this one a breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’ve listened to London Calling in its entirety since I was an impressionable teen. I’ve now listened to it five times in 24 hours. It put a bit of spark back into the project. More. MORE. MORE!
Rating: 4.8/5 Short Review: Raw, urgent, but way more versatile than just punk. It sounds like a band reacting to everything at once and somehow making it cohesive. Messy in the best way, alive the whole time. Favorite Track: “London Calling.” That bassline alone feels like something is about to go wrong. It never lets up.
Wow, really just banger after banger here. I can definitely hear this album's influence in like... early Gorillaz and so many other great bands. Never really a slow moment in this album, and the production just sounds amazing and definitely ahead of what I expected. So many cool ideas explored here too, and all of them were done so well. Every time I really focused on it, it was still steaming ahead at full speed. What an incredible feat. Favorites: Brand New Cadillac, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'Em Boyo, Four Horsemen
Maybe the best double album ever made? Doesn't have one below average (or even average song), and even The Beatles couldn't do that. This just straight up rules, so many places for Joe Strummer and the boys to stretch out on, and they kill em all. Also maybe the best album cover of all time.
Rudie can’t Fail is an all-time favorite
5/5
I haven't listened to this album in quite a few years. It's considered one of the greatest of all time for a reason, and it was fun to jump in after such a long time. I had totally forgotten how many stone cold classic songs are on here, and I smiled as each one started. There is so much going on here, with different styles and sounds and they all work fantastically together. I won't even list all of the standouts as there are so many, but Train in Vain is one of my favorite songs of all time and I'm not even sure it's the best song on the album. As a total side note, When I saw Bruce Springsteen in 2014 he played the song Clampdown. I heard them sound checking it and I was super pumped and it was awesome. Well last night in LA the E Street Band played it again for the first time in 12 years. Perhaps this was destined to pop up from the generator today?
Difícil decir algo en palabras que le haga justicia a este disco. Lo que más se le acerca es perfecto.
Long time Clash fan. This whole album is forever seared into my brain
The ice age is comin’. The first vinyl I ever bought, and still the best music to put on at a party. Nobody is ever unhappy. I always wonder if the Brooklyn-based store Jimmy Jazz was named after this. What I do know is that when they break down my door, my hands won’t be on my head. I once flew into London Gatwick. Being used to taking a car from the airport, I looked up uber and saw there’s no direct or quick way by car to central London from that airport. I did see, though, that the two hour drive went through Brixton. Wanting to see the namesake location of The Guns of Brixton, I chose to take the cab anyway. It was far cooler and less gritty than I imagined it’d be from the song! Then again, it’s been like forty or fifty years since London Calling came out.
One of my favorite albums, amazing punk/post-punk, genuinely zero skips
Eternal! ;)
Still a classic after hundreds of spins
Absolutely brilliant. Not sure how I managed to go so long without listening to this.
This wasn't just a punk album, this changed the music landscape for decades. A huge array of different sounds, beats and vibe just make this album almost perfect. There's not many albums better than this
the clash are one of the first English bands I ever listened to. I love this album, every song is so nice and they knew what they wanted to do with it
Undeniable classic
I have found out that I really don't like a lot of the punk albums on this list. I've heard and liked songs from this album before, so I'm hopeful. And it's great. A punk double album and it's getting a 5. So it's not punk I hate, it's punk albums where every track sounds the same and the band doesn't know how to play the instruments. London Calling is the opposite of that. 4.5 because it's still a double album and the send half isn't quite as good.
Have this, amazing album. But has double album syndrome. Could drop a few (tracks 2 and 3) and not lose anything. But then it wouldn't be a double album. Oh the humanity. 4.5 rounded up. Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes 62/252 (24%) Will I get: Already have
Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Masterpiece - An album I am intimately familiar with and possibly the absolute peak of punk rock in my opinion. The Clash go in so many different directions all while sounding very much like the same band. The title track is a classic but from there it just continues at the same incredibly high standard. The songwriting is mind blowing. The horns, the razor guitars, the snotty vocals, it's all just brilliant. Incredibly consistent throughout. What an album.
This is a favorite of mine. I am too old for The Clash, but my spouse and I went to see them at Red Rocks - we were among the few without braces and purple hair, but the show was fabulous. So many great songs on here. The Clash caught criticism for "betraying punk," but I say they got it right.
It’s just one of those albums you do actually have to listen to before you die
9/10
Sing Michael sing!
One of the few double records to reach that white album magic formula where the sum is greater than its parts
Some upbeat vibes mixed with the grunge
Love the swagger, drive, musical dynamics, for real expression of fucked up in partyland addiction and deeply felt experience, decent politics in the big and small ways, human strength and care in this record. All killer no filler. This was on repeat in my late teens and early 20s and got me through so much in my life. I know that's true for lots of folks. It's less for me now, and some parts have aged better than others, and yet in some ways totally it's relevant and fresh. Certainly irresistible to me. Beautiful damn fine album.
the best
10/10, all bangers!
#80/1001 🇬🇧🐐🏅 One of the best albums you will ever hear. I could write a disertation on this record. Its a double LP weighing in at 19 tracks in total, but doesn't drag. From the start of the title track, the menacing guitars give way to Paul Simonon's rumbling bass line, then there's Strummers snarling vocals, oow oow oow ooo's and the morse code bit at the end. From here we have a rollercoaster of reggae, rock, rockabilly, pop and even a more soulful sound on some of the tracks. There is so much to love here, turn it up loud on some good speakers and you will hear so much. Best tracks: London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, Guns of Brixton, Spanish Bombs, Hateful,
Sounds like the typical, yet classic, political punk rock of the late 70's. Definitely an essential punk album and an essential album by The Clash. Definitely has some influence of reggae and other genres that aren't really as heavy as punk rock. Wonderful album!
Cant believe I've never listened to this before it's awesome. Highlights are Death or Glory and Lost in the Supermarket. The title track is an all-timer but its been ruined by appearing too much in films and adverts. Surely this is the one thing these guys were trying to avoid. Found this list: https://letterboxd.com/the23rdjoker/list/movies-where-they-use-london-calling-by-the/
Iconic
The Clash started the album with one of the greatest song ever, and got even better from there.
Ai että. The Clash on yksi lempibändejäni ja London Calling on selkeästi heidän paras levynsä. Vuoden 1979 lopulla julkaistu kaksoisalbumi osoitti että The Clash kykeni paljon muuhunkin, kuin nopeisitten ja vihaisten kolmen minuutin mittaisten punkbiisien esittämiseen. Monet bändin parhaista kappaleista löytyvät tältä kyseiseltä lätyltä, ja jäsenet ovat kehittyneet soittajina että myös biisintekijöinä. Levyn vahvuuksiin kuuluu biisien monipuolisuus ja 14:n kappaleen aikana kuullaan mm. reggaeta ja rockabillya.
The Clash are rught up there - iconic
I mean, a lifetime personal favourite, a canonical heater, an album i grew up with in constant rotation in my home. This is it. This is a rock record made by cool normal guys with something to say. It's the thing!!!!
God Damn! I love this album so much. There's very little to say about the title track that hasn't been said already, and its staring-in-the-face-of-the-apocalypse sound that works so well. I also have to highlight the Guns of Brixton, probably my favorite song on here. The Reggae influence is as clear as the rage against police violence, and I think the incredibly dark sound works perfectly. I reaaaally enjoyed this throughout, with maybe one or two hiccups here and there that didn't land for me. Overall though, the genre blending on here really scratched an itch for me so it gets a light 5 stars.
great tunes throughout, some popular ones and some under the radar greats. the clash were the cutting edge and accessible ..
It’s between a 4/5 for me but there are so many classic songs that I love. Brings together all my favorite aspects of punk, reggae, r&b
There will be NO faster 5 star album for me...plain and simple. This is one of the greatest rock albums ever made, in instant classic - near perfection.Put it into my veins for all eternity. It might be my favorite album of all time and anyone who ranked this a 3 or less should get off this site, casue i have nothing for you.
Excellent. Not a bad song on this Album
Favorite track(s): London Calling, Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Guns of Brixton, Death or Glory, The Card Cheat, I'm Not Down, Train in Vain I know I said Entertainment! was one of THE punk albums, but that's only if you're a commie nerd. This is THE punk album for most people, including some of those commie nerds. Heard before Previous rating: 9/10
𝘓𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 feels like punk opening itself up to the world. The album moves effortlessly between styles — punk, reggae, ska, rockabilly — yet never loses its sense of urgency. That genre mix is exactly what makes it so engaging for me. The songs are varied but consistently strong, and the band sounds both tight and adventurous. Instead of sticking to one sound, they expand their range without losing identity. It’s this balance between experimentation and cohesion that makes the album stand out.
I've never liked The Clash as much as I thought I should, but this is an incredibly strong album, though I would have cut a few tracks.
Cheese Boyga!!!
Classic I’ve had since release
Look no further than London Calling for "Punk Rock". Everlasting legacy, continuous innovation, and something for just about any music listener out there. How can you hate The Clash?
There’s a lot of good tunes. A lot of punk/ska that followed takes its cues from here In other news, my album backlog is now in the hundreds
That is a very good album
One of my favourite albums.
Irreproachable
Don't know why it's been so long since I listened to this
I mean c'mon
4.5
There’s nothing I can say about this album that hasn’t already been said. However, I’m going to write a long review anyway. First off, there are very few albums where every single song is worth listening to, where the “worst” song on the album is still very good. This is one of those rare occasions. Every song sounds like it could be a single, or hailed as a classic. Not only that, every song stands out from the rest. This isn’t just a punk album, it has reggae, ska, and dub influences as well. And that really shows on this album. It’s really a wonder how The Clash made nineteen of these perfect songs, many bands can’t even get an album with ten of them. Next, the individual tracks. The title track is one of the best openings of any album. The apocalyptic tone sets it apart from all the other songs. The next song is Brand New Cadillac, a song that is short and simple, but still very good. Jimmy Jazz, after that, is such a great song that really isn’t that punk at all. Then Hateful starts, and it becomes such a banger track immediately. Rudie Can’t Fail is a good representation of the album overall, it’s kind of like the other songs summed up. Spanish Bombs is one of the highlights of the album, very good. The Right Profile is a solid song, but it gets overlooked by the next song, Lost in the Supermarket. Clampdown, the next song, is more generic but still great, and then The Guns of Brixton is such a unique track to the album. The second side continues the variety of outstanding tracks, with more punk songs such as Wrong Em Boyo, Koka Kola, and I’m Not Down. There are also slower, more rock-influenced songs like Death or Glory, The Card Cheat, Lovers Rock, and Four Horsemen. After this, the reggae song Revolution Rock begins, and it is one of my favorites, a five minute masterpiece. Then, there is the closing song, Train in Vain, which is my favorite song on the album. It’s a masterpiece, and a perfect outro to the album. When it ends, all I feel like doing is listening to it again. That makes it one of the greatest albums of all time.
All time classic and one of my top 5 all time favourite albums. Love the energy, catchy tunes, humour.
Being so early to punk and it sounds this good might be a crime.
Excellent Album! Really great to listen too and much more then just the title track!
what an amazing album. The title track does an amazing job setting the tone: you are about to hear something spectacular. Every song is special. Specific highlights for me: Lost in a Supermarket, Clampdown, Death or Glory, Wrong 'Em Boyo. Each song unique with clear influence from different genres. But all still with the punk sensibility. Tremendous!
“I'm all lost in the supermarket. I can no longer shop happily. I came in here for that special offer; a guaranteed personality.” Sheer perfection; much like the rest of this amazing gem of an album… Punk… or Post-Punk at it’s best!
excellent- hadn't listened thru before this. crosses a bunch of genres
🤘🏻
This album has more great songs on it than just about any other album has songs. It has energy, plenty of hooks, variety, a message and great musicianship. I'm not going to drop a star from all my other five star albums to give this one the credit it deserves but maybe I should.
No notes. Forever 5.
5/5 all time classic
A perfect pop punk album.
The best album from the only band that matters.
Punk, rock, reggae and even a little ska, that’s what the Clash gave us on this genre defining album.
Okay, getting out the way, this thing is long. For whatever reason I always lump this album in with Rancid's ...And Out Came the Wolves as the same experience and I think that is oddly valid here? This is such good song writing. Even the couple of songs that I don't really care about are incredibly strong. The hits obviously stand out (London Calling, Rudie, Death or Glory, Stand by me) but songs like Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, Koka Kola, Revolution Rock really stood out to me on this listen as like how am I not listening to this album like once a month at the least. They really did strike gold here and should be written off as just like oh yeah that bands great they made london calling and rock the casbah. There is a easy, direct line from this album to so many of the bands I love today, like Rancid of course but there's a lot of Jeff Rosenstock on here and by relation a lot of the current brand of Pop Punk on here (Prince Daddy, Pup, all those bands). If yesterday was a hesistant 5 this is a really solid, fully deserved 5.
Дуже легка п'ятірка. Один з моїх улюблених альбомів.
I’ve been waiting for this one! Finally. Thank god. It’s so good. I love a punk band with actual range. This is one of those few albums that has a relatively long run time without any of the tracks feeling like filler.
Fantastic album! A mashup of punk and new wave with a bit of other influences thrown in. Definitely in my top 5 favorite albums of all time.
Great Album.
Awesome early punk
sooo good
one of my favorite albums of all time since it came out, and still keep Spanish Bombs et al in the rotation today
1979, британский панк с рок-н-рольным вайбом. Третий студийный альбом, топовый. Треки: London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'Em Boyo.
I mean this is probably a perfect album. Can't really fault it for anything. Not really sure why it was considered punk, to me this album is more rockabilly with a little ska mixed in. Great album!
Has to be up there in the best albums ever. Especially as has 19 songs with such stylistic variety. Current top 3 of the album would be 1. Rudie Can't Fail 2 London Calling 3 Guns Of Brixton. But rich pickings indeed
One of the easiest 5s to ever give I dont think i can add anything particularly retaliatory to any sort of discord regarding this album. Its pretty outstanding Some of the highlights that go unnoticed; The Card Cheat is a great song. Wonderful use of a lot of different instruments. Lovers Rock is great Lost in the Supermarket is superb. One of their best songs.
Obviously the best cover of all time. Music is sometimes great, sometimes average, but don't think you could lose half of it to make a single album.
I'm questioning my entire life. Mostly, how did I get to the age of 38 without listening to London Calling all the way through? Well I finally righted that wrong and it's brilliant
Second album from The Clash on this list and one I’m only slightly familiar with from years ago. Excited for a relisten. Hear such a more complex sound than The Clash album I listened to a few weeks ago. That was just straight up punk. This is like so much more. It’s really amazing the growth from their debut album. This rocks and is so good. The reggae influenced Rudie Can’t Fail is so damn fun. There’s a classic Rock n Roll behind some of these songs. Fused with punk background. And some of that New Wave sound that developed later. The kind of album that proves that the best music doesn’t conform to one genre. This is just great music. The first side is great and it’s crazy that the great songs keep coming too. Back end of the album has a gem like The Card Cheat. And ends with Train In Vain, one of their most catchy mainstream songs. I think this is an album I’ve long over looked and never gave a proper listen. But this is probably the best thing I’ve “rediscovered” doing this list so far. Makes me want to go back and give lower ratings to other albums it’s so good. 5/5 and a new favorite that I think I will listen to again soon.
I'll search for comprehensive information about "London Calling" by The Clash to provide you with an in-depth review covering all the aspects you've requested. Based on my research, here is an in-depth review of **London Calling** by The Clash, covering all the aspects you requested. --- ## Overview Released in December 1979, *London Calling* stands as one of the most ambitious and celebrated albums in rock history. The Clash's third studio album marked a dramatic evolution from their raw punk origins into a sprawling double album (though originally released as a single LP with 19 tracks) that embraced rockabilly, reggae, ska, jazz, R&B, and pop. It was recorded at Wessex Studios in London over approximately six weeks and produced by the legendary but erratic **Guy Stevens**. --- ## Lyrics & Themes ### Apocalyptic Anxiety and Social Collapse The album's lyrical landscape is dominated by a sense of impending doom. The title track "London Calling" serves as the mission statement—Strummer rattles off disasters including the Three Mile Island nuclear incident, crop failures, and the Thames flooding, capturing the exhaustion of living through constant crisis . The famous line *"London is drowning and I, I live by the river"* reflects Strummer's genuine vulnerability living near the Thames, transforming personal fear into universal anxiety . ### Anti-Establishment Politics *London Calling* maintains The Clash's fierce anti-capitalist, anti-racist, and anti-authoritarian stance while adding nuance: - **"Clampdown"** attacks the cycle of institutional racism and the way oppressive systems co-opt the disenfranchised: *"So you got someone to boss around, it makes you feel big now! You drift until you brutalize, make your first kill now!"* - **"The Guns of Brixton"** (written by bassist Paul Simonon) confronts police brutality with chilling prescience—released just before the actual Brixton Riots of 1981, it asks: *"When they kick down your front door, how you gonna come? With your hands on your head, or on the trigger of your gun?"* - **"Lost in the Supermarket"** uses the supermarket as a metaphor for capitalist alienation and isolation, following an everyman character (based on Mick Jones) who *"wasn't born so much as I fell out, nobody seemed to notice me"* ### Historical Consciousness **"Spanish Bombs"** exemplifies The Clash's sophisticated historical awareness, juxtaposing the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s with modern Basque separatist struggles. References to Picasso's *Guernica* and Costa Brava demonstrate how the band wove cultural literacy into punk rock . ### Character Studies and Narrative The album features vivid character portraits: - **"The Right Profile"** documents Montgomery Clift's tragic decline into drug addiction through the eyes of gawking passersby - **"Jimmy Jazz"** delivers a theatrical, almost cinematic narrative - **"Death or Glory"** explores the compromises of aging rebels --- ## Music & Musicality ### Genre-Bending Expansion *London Calling* shattered punk's musical constraints. The album moves fluidly through: | Track | Style | |-------|-------| | "London Calling" | Punk-rock apocalypse | | "Brand New Cadillac" | Rockabilly | | "Rudie Can't Fail" | Ska/Reggae | | "The Guns of Brixton" | Dub/Reggae | | "Lost in the Supermarket" | New Wave/Pop | | "The Card Cheat" | Wall of Sound/Phil Spector homage | | "Lover's Rock" | Romantic reggae-pop | | "Revolution Rock" | Jamaican reggae cover | | "Train in Vain" | Motown-influenced pop-rock | This diversity wasn't random—it reflected the band's genuine musical upbringing. Reggae was ubiquitous in their London neighborhoods, Topper Headon brought jazz drumming sophistication, and their 1979 American tour exposed them to rockabilly and R&B revival scenes . ### Instrumental Evolution The musicianship represents a quantum leap from their earlier work: - **Paul Simonon's bass** became melodic and prominent, playing high on the fretboard to function almost as a second guitar. His work on "The Guns of Brixton" and "Lost in the Supermarket" created some of rock's most recognizable basslines . - **Topper Headon's drumming** provided metronomic precision that allowed genre experiments to feel grounded rather than chaotic . - **Mick Jones' guitar work** expanded to include rockabilly twang, reggae skank, and pop sensibility. - **Keyboards and horns** appear throughout, adding textural depth previously absent from punk records. --- ## Production ### Guy Stevens: The Unsung Hero The choice of **Guy Stevens** as producer was controversial. CBS Records opposed it—Stevens had a criminal record for drug offenses, struggled with alcoholism, and had a reputation for erratic behavior . Stevens' methods were unconventional and physical: - He threw chairs and ladders around the studio - He jumped up and down during recording to generate energy - He once wrestled engineer Bill Price under the mixing desk for adjusting the bass - He poured red wine over a £6,000 Bösendorfer piano while Strummer was playing it - Engineer Bill Price recalled: *"When we were mixing, he used to get so excited that I used to have to hold him down with one hand and try and carry on the manual mix on the desk with the other"* ### The Production Philosophy Despite (or because of) the chaos, Stevens created an atmosphere of creative liberation. His belief was that his job was *"to get the maximum amount of emotion on record"* through *"direct psychic injection"* . The band adapted by developing a division of labor: - Stevens handled the emotional/vibe aspects - Mick Jones stepped up as de facto technical producer for complex arrangements - Engineer Bill Price managed the sonic details ### Sonic Characteristics The production achieves remarkable cohesion despite genre diversity. Key techniques included: - **"The Card Cheat"**: Recorded twice and overdubbed to create a massive Phil Spector-style "Wall of Sound" effect - Warm, analog warmth that unified disparate styles - Space and atmosphere that allowed reggae tracks to breathe while maintaining punk energy Tragically, Stevens died of a drug overdose in 1981. The Clash paid tribute with the later song "Midnight to Stevens" . --- ## Influence & Legacy ### Immediate Impact *London Calling* transformed The Clash from UK punk heroes to international contenders. It reached #9 in the UK and #27 in the US—unprecedented for a punk band at that time . The album proved that punk's energy could coexist with musical sophistication and genre experimentation. As one reviewer noted, it served as *"the perfect bridge between the 70s and 80s"*—retaining organic instrumentation while hinting at the decade's sense of fun . ### Long-Term Influence - **Ranking**: Rolling Stone placed it at #16 on their "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" (originally #8) . Pitchfork named it the second-greatest album of the 1970s . - **Genre Liberation**: Demonstrated that punk bands could explore any musical territory without "selling out"—influencing post-punk, alternative rock, and eventually bands like Rage Against the Machine (Tom Morello cited "London Calling" as one of his favorite songs) - **Political Rock**: Established a template for politically engaged rock that was intelligent rather than sloganeering - **Cultural Preservation**: The album's embrace of reggae and ska helped introduce Jamaican music to rock audiences Mick Jones described the title track as *"like an umbrella, like the world in microcosm"*—suggesting the album's ambition to encompass everything . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Musical Diversity** | Seamlessly integrates punk, reggae, rockabilly, ska, jazz, R&B, and pop without losing identity | | **Lyrical Sophistication** | Moves beyond simple slogans to nuanced political and social commentary with historical depth | | **Musicianship** | Every member evolved significantly—Simonon's bass, Headon's drumming, and Jones' arrangements reach new heights | | **Production Energy** | Guy Stevens' chaotic approach captured genuine emotional intensity | | **Sequencing** | For a 19-track, hour-long album, it maintains momentum remarkably well—Side 2 in particular flows perfectly | | **Timelessness** | Themes of political anxiety, police brutality, and capitalist alienation remain frighteningly relevant | | **Democratic Songwriting** | Includes contributions from all members (Simonon's "The Guns of Brixton," Headon's instrumental input) | | **No Weak Tracks** | Despite its length, virtually every song stands on its own merit | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Length and Pacing** | At 19 tracks, it can be overwhelming; some listeners may find the genre-hopping disorienting rather than exhilarating | | **Cover Songs** | Four tracks are covers ("Brand New Cadillac," "Wrong 'Em Boyo," "Revolution Rock," "Police on My Back"), which some purists might consider padding on an album marketed as a major artistic statement | | **Inconsistency of Intensity** | The shift from apocalyptic punk to romantic reggae ("Lover's Rock") might dilute the thematic urgency for some | | **Production Chaos** | While the Stevens approach worked, it was unreliable—wine-damaged pianos and physical altercations aren't sustainable methods | | **Overambition** | The "last testament" concept (original working title: "The Last Testament") can feel pretentious; the album tries to be everything to everyone | | **Commercial Accessibility** | Some original punk fans felt the polished production and pop elements represented compromise with the mainstream | --- ## Conclusion *London Calling* represents one of rock's greatest reinventions. The Clash took punk's revolutionary spirit and proved it could thrive beyond the genre's narrow confines. By embracing reggae, rockabilly, and pop while maintaining their political edge, they created an album that feels both of its time and timeless. The collaboration with Guy Stevens—chaotic, destructive, yet somehow perfect—produced a record where every track could be someone's favorite. From the apocalyptic title track to the danceable "Lost in the Supermarket," from the menacing "Guns of Brixton" to the romantic "Lover's Rock," it's a testament to the band's range and ambition. Its flaws—primarily its overwhelming length and occasional inconsistency of tone—are minor compared to its achievements. *London Calling* didn't just break punk's rules; it demonstrated they were never rules at all, just starting points. As one reviewer observed: *"To all who say punk is one-note, brutish, uncultured, or dumb: I present you London Calling. Punk is culture. Punk is high art"* .
Iconic.
One of the bests
Desert island disk
This has to be in the top 20 albums of all time.
Epic album may be top 3 so far
Arthur's favorite album so far. Especially loves Rudy Can't Fail. I love this album so I really don't see faults in it anymore. It's probably to long but idgaf
Absolutely a top 10 for me. Such a great combination of other styles tied together
love me some punk, clash is amazing early punk
Variety on this album was fun. It was like the roots to all the bands I grew up listening to! Operation Ivy, NOFX, and Rancid as well as 90s and early 2000s ska like streetlight manifesto all echo of this album.
Come on
this album is heavy, lite, and everything in between, and goes seamlessly between them.
Ooh, the Clash. I am familiar with them but not listened to a whole album before. I love their combination of like classic rock with punk rock! Starts with a bang with London Calling and Brand new Cadillac. Also enjoyed Rudie can't Fail. Lost in the Supermarket changes the pace but is also an interesting tune. Guns of Brixton was also enjoyed. Wrong 'em Boyo is another one. Every song on this album hits!
Love it before I've even started. One of the best albums ever, 19 songs roughly 1 hour and every song is distinct and memorable. Love the amount of instruments along side the 4 piece you have keys, percussion sax. And again 19! Great songs in one album, da fuck?
Pretty good
Truly just a beautiful, brilliant album. Staying punk while simultaneously expanding the meaning and influence of the word, this is an album that sounds fresh with every listen, and holds something new to discover at every turn. I will say I would probably give it 4.5 stars if I could - I *do* think it runs a little long at 19 tracks - but given the significance and importance it played in the rise of my favorite genre of music, I'm happy to bump it up to 5.
Tough to give this anything other than 5. Classic and defining
Feb 6, 2026 - BABY'S FIRST THE CLASH ALBUM AND BOY IT WAS A GOOD ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! jonathan byers u are seen and heard! nancy wheeler i am questioning ur music taste
london is calling and I am answering
Already very familiar with this album but I will never shirk an opportunity to listen to peak
I'd already heard the famous songs from this album. Since I was a teenager I expected not to like it due to my distaste for punk - I felt like the cover told the entire story. Totally wrong, this album is great! The smile on my face when the saxophone first appeared.... For an album a little over an hour, there's barely a dull moment and every track has an exciting idea.
One of my favourite albums of all time.
One thing that makes London Calling great is how it effortlessly fuses global genres with punk rock. But a more important factor is how it does that. There's so much variety in how those genres, mostly ska and reggae, are used. There's the groovy "Rudie Can't Fail" and the sinister "Guns of Brixton." The huge "Right Profile" and the loose jammy "Revolution Rock." And of course there's the fierce, snotty punk of the title track, which puts an exclamation mark on the themes of punk in the 70s. With all this variety each song is a new world to explore, and while there are definitely a few I wouldn't miss there are no bad songs. It helps that the whole thing is a blast - "get that cheese grater going!" - and it ends on its strongest song with that irresistible riff. One of the best, if not the best, punk albums ever.
not sure why i have always turned my nose up at listening to this album, big mistake, huge. what a bloody album - i think because i had heard london calling too many times i didn’t want to listen to a full album that sounded like it but by heck the VARIETY! the RANGE! way more ska vibes than i had expected. loved it, solid 5 stars from me
A punk album that isn’t really a punk album that is the greatest punk album ever.
This album is so joyful, until you realise the social issues they're singing about. I was 8 when this was released, my oldest brother was 19 and a Clash fan, so for me this is what cool sounded like. It's the perfect soundtrack to how Britain felt in the late 70s/early 80s. The only problem this album has is that the highs are so damn high that some of the other songs get lost along the way. Guns of Brixton deserves the 5 mark on its own, it's a masterpiece. Lovely stuff.
Most double albums feel bloated, but The Clash not only manage to produce an album that maintains your attention, but that continuously surprises you with how diverse their sound can be.
It’s so amazing they went from straight punk rock to these wild, weird songs. So good.
One the greatest albums of all time.
Like witnessing a band fearlessly shedding its own skin. While it is technically a punk record, it feels much more like a sprawling, ambitious musical odyssey that refuses to be pigeon holed. I was struck by how effortlessly The Clash weaves together everything from the jagged energy of rockabilly and ska upstrokes to the deep, atmospheric grooves of reggae and lounge jazz. It’s a rare double album where the 19 track runtime actually feels earned, even the deeper cuts carry a specific, gritty charm that keeps the momentum from ever truly flagging. What makes the experience so resonant for me is the balance between Joe Strummer’s raw, shouty-sung urgency and Mick Jones’ sharper melodic instincts. Whether it's the apocalyptic howl of the title track or the surprising pop warmth of "Train In Vain", the album feels both politically charged and deeply personal. It’s an iconic piece of history that still sounds incredibly fresh, capturing a moment where music felt like a genuine call to arms to the faraway towns.
this was only ever going to be five stars
7 days in a row of 4 or 5 star albums
British Punk at it's peak with the opening track "London Calling". Then, "Brand New Cadillac" punches with some classic hard rock sounds, then switch down with "Jimmy Jazz" into soft rock straight after this. Neither thetransition wasn't jarring in any way, and the sounds all suited the band and Strummer's voice perfectly. A miniature musical odyssey in 3 tracks! One thing to be said is the technicality of the tracks themselves. There is nothing over 4m 5s, but a ton of them compared to other albums (19 tracks!) allowing for a huge amount of variety without nothing over staying its welcome. Probably the first album on my journey so far that I can confidently say this about. Overall, this album was a blast from start to finish and marked the first time I've given The Clash more of a chance beyond London Calling and Rock the Casbah. Can't wait to hear more.
So fun - amazing.
Classic. Still kicks ;-)
simply extraordinary and also deeply nostalgic. the way they blend rhythm and blues, reggae, ska, rock and roll, and all their other influences is 2nd to none
Didn’t realize this was a double album. I was between a four and a five and I think I’m just going to do a five. Tons of great songs, iconic album cover.
Now this is how you double album! London Calling keeps you on your toes with its genre bending twists and turns. Every single track on this album has something to offer. It’s been one of my favorites since I was a teenager and it’ll be one of my favorites til I die. 10/10 Favorite tracks- “Rudie Can’t Fail” “Spanish Bombs” “Guns of Brixton”
Amazing album, I loved it! 5 stars
Very well made. They practically founded punk and ska
One of the best albums ever made, and a personal favorite of mine since I first heard it back in high school. A true classic.
There’s punk. There’s post-punk and new wave. Then there’s… this. Something altogether different, and varied, and fun, and at times vulnerable. It was when Mick Jones started singing about childhood fears - lost at the supermarket, hearing “the people who live on the ceiling” - that I started thinking, “Did the Clash open up a new lane?” Apparently so, in one way or another, judging by reviews of the album in the 80s. In my view several musical streams converge here, effortlessly and successfully. In any case, it’s downright enjoyable.
The rare double album that is all killer. You could argue it is front loaded but it just makes the second half full of underrated tracks. Top 10 of all time.
WOOOOOOOW this album and this band. How am I today years old discovering them (at 42.5)? Before today, I knew way more about The Clash as an influence than a band worth following. My goodness, I'm glad this was delivered to me today. Demands a second listen.
Absolute classic. It sometimes leans a bit too much into ska for my liking, but 5/5 nonetheless.
This is the best album yet on the list after 100 plus albums.
I was really young when I heard this album for the first time and I loved it then. Love it even more now
4,5/5. Energético, político e vibrante. Roque tecnicamente primoroso e com produção de respeito.
This is not what I expected, but in such a wonderful way. I've never resonated more than with these lyrics "I'm lost in the super market, I can no longer shop happily, I was promised personality.
Seem to be on quite a nice run of 70s albums lately, with the exception of Steely Dan. I bought this album from a market stall shortly after Joe Strummer died. I knew a few Clash songs and that London Calling was widely regarded as the best place to start. At first I wasn't too sure about it, it seemed a bit too musically diverse though some individual tracks stood out but now I appreciate the fact they mix zka, rockabilly and reggae with more straight ahead punk. I think the first half of the record has more outstanding moments than the second half, but that said Death or Glory, The Card Cheat and Lover's Rock would be highlights on any other lp of the era, they just aren't quite on a par with Rudie Can't Fail.
bangers. make me want to riot. guns of brixton top
Love this album
It is their greatest triumph. A double album that goes through genre after genre yet neither drops in quality nor outlives its welcome. Essential.
I really liked this album!
10
This has so many classics on it, some stand head-and-shoulders above the rest of the album but the whole thing is fairly solid. I think it's a must listen from the 'Only band that matters'
Did not know any of the songs besides London calling - really enjoyed this lots of hits lots of jams! How have I missed this album so for long ? Long album but it didn’t drag on nor was it repetitive there was lots of variety and it was just good! Going in the rotation for sure
no-skip album right here, absolute perfection. love everything about it.
Really enjoyed this album.
Unique and familiar at the same time. Punchy, riffy, memorable, big. It's not overly one note and stagnant - it's actually rather dynamic/diverse. So many songs deliver their own vibe and it's makes this record really really enjoyable. It's also organized in such a way to maximize the diversity of these tracks. Keeps you on your toes the whole time. And I'm very impressed that they're able to keep this up over a 19 track album, even though I still find that to be too long for any album. It's everything from punk to big band to ska to classic rock, but it's all absolutely unmistakably The Clash. Wow. Instrumentally it's impressive and delivers on it's own, and the vocals fit in perfectly. The tones and performances are creative and intentional in a way that just works. I love the vocal back and forth between the Joe and Mick on a lot of these tracks. Hateful and Revolution Rock are standout tracks to me. Work of art right here. 4.7/5
It’s a ten. A great band at their absolute peak. Diverse and tight. Each subsequent listen is fresh and powerful.
perfect no notes
One of the best albums of all time
Aside from London Calling (the track itself, not the album) I haven’t heard much else from The Clash somehow. This was great.
5 Stars (14/15)
Awesome album. Had it for years. One of my favorites.
All time classic.
One of the things I love most about the Clash is Paul Simonon's bass playing. Great album! The songwriting is more complex and diversified. I like that they go reggaeways sometimes. Great instrumentation. Is that an accordian on Hateful? Is that a jaw harp in Guns of Brixton (one of my favorites!) This album has awesome rock energy and gets me groovin. Can listen to it over and over.
I refused to give the clash a chance when I was younger due to the perceived dig at the Beatles but this is a great album, more sensitive than I was expecting and some really impressive cohesiveness. Also the delivery on "dust" is incredible. 5
Jeff Tweedy says in his autobiography that the music journalism about this album is better than the record itself. I can see where he's coming from. Most of it doesn't capture the weightiness of the opener or the ferocity of the cover. But the first few songs are bangers. Then you look up 50 minutes later and it's still bangers. Spanish Bombs. I'm Not Down. Train in Vain. The propulsion of this thing, jesus christ. (Exception for "Revolution Rock," which is a drag.) The Clash weren't "the only band that mattered," but they were a truly great punk band, and with London Calling, they made a truly great rock 'n' roll record.
Great album, absolutely love Guns of Brixton due to the great bass lines
This album is weirder than I remembered. Wide variety of styles and instrumental sounds. There are a few missteps (surf rock??) but a run of bangers and just great inventiveness.
- I love this album… so catchy with so many bangers. Great melodies and instrumentation. - I almost always choose The Clash over The Ramones (even though I like them, too) when I want to listen to older punk - I find their songs tighter with better production, melody, and musical skill (and appreciation/variation in styles). - My only minor complaint is that it feels like it is a little long - there are a couple songs I would remove to make it tighter, but it’s a 5 for me!
An incredibly diverse sound I wasn’t expecting but is exactly what I needed? I think we need more hour long albums from in this world.
I can't conclude this is the best Clash album, but it's a 5 star one. Absolutely great songs, and nothing that drags or has an unpleasantness in it. Bangers on all four sides, plus deep childhood lyrics engrained in my brain.
Loved this. Will absolutely being revisiting this for a while. You can really hear where Green Day and other 90s/00s pop punk bands got their influence.
10/10 spanish bombs 12/26/25
Simple but emotional. The Card Cheat moved me.
Banger upon banger
One of the three or four punk rock bands that actually made a difference. Along with the Sex Pistols and the Ramones and possibly the Patti Smith Group, they helped to define punk rock. This might be their best album. I'll have to listen to Sandinista again.
I mean, it's the Clash. Sure, it's way too long and it's a mishmash of styles, but it's still amazing.
5 stars. Great energy but mixes things up nicely. Didn’t all sound the same but you always know it’s them. One banger after another really. It’s the Clash ! Let’s go!
fantastic album! never a miss
The Clash are one of the revelations of this project for me - knew I liked them but realising how truly special they are.
One of the greatest albums of all time. I wore this CD out when I first was introduced to the Clash in high school.
# Album Name: London Calling # Artist: The clash # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Banging album. Although not the punk rock you would expect. Definitely way more SKA on this album. # Top Tunes: LC / Guns of brixton / Lost in the supermarket / Train in vain # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Outstanding. The quintessence of punk. One banger after another 4.8
“London Calling” by The Clash is one of those iconic albums that pretty much everyone knows at least part of. I'm no different, and I had already consciously listened to it in its entirety about a year ago. I definitely enjoyed it, but at the time I had no intention of reviewing it. So here we go again. Even the title track “London Calling” isn't classic punk rock (but it's definitely very punk-heavy), and the rest of the album follows suit. There's a bit of blues and rockabilly here, ska and new wave influences there, turnarounds, saxophone solos... But despite all that, every song is unmistakably The Clash, with their familiar attitude evident throughout. “Clampdown” – of course you know it, as well as “Stand by Me”... but my highlights today were “Lost in the Supermarket” and “Guns of Brixton.” I often find it difficult to compare albums from different eras, but in terms of both approach and result, there are some parallels to an album that was released 25 years later. Unfortunately, I didn't notice it at the time, so now and here, let's reverse the comparison: “London Calling” is the “American Idiot” of the generation before me.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Sehe feines Album.
Elite
4.5/5
Classic Clash Collateral
All killer, no filler
Where do you start. Can't think of another album that's so varied and so consistently brilliant from start to finish. Sadly there are only 5 stars available.
A five star favorite album for me. I like punk, i like ska, i like the mix of textures this album covers and all while retaining the clash in the sound. It had possibly my favorite song of theirs Rudie Cant Fail. I say possibly because there’s plenty to pick from. Its an all killer no filler album. If I was being super critical think train in vain stands out as not fitting with the rest of the album but still love the song. What i had forgotten about the album was howgood thw drumming is. I dont rhink itqould be the album it is without the self-assured crossing of styles the drummer does so effortlessly. The drummer, mick jones’ guitar, this album show that punk can be so much more than people who cant play bashing out 3 chords with infectious youthful energy. Could listen to the punch of the clash’s guitar and drum interplay all day any day.
I mean come on .
This is one of my personal favorites and an all time great album. Not only is it filled with awesome bangers it’s also super varied from the more atmospheric Lost In The Supermarket through the raggae of Rudy Can’t Fail all the way to the anthemic title track, The Clash aren’t afraid to experiment with different sounds and ideas and it’s all so fun. I mean it’s so great from a band that’s so central to the creation of the original Punk sound to be ready to also be the ones pushing the envelope and the genre while making their best songs. A must listen.
5/5 - Easiest rating so far, one of my favourite albums of all time
I mean come on
It really is time for all of us to do what Joe Strummer trained us to do.
Automatic 5-star no skips. Classic.
Starting with an absolute favourite of mine is such a pleasure. No skips on this one.
Yep... this is the good stuff Best Song: London Calling Rating: 9.5/10 Stars: 5
Not a poor track to be found.excellent. quite a shift from the pink band they started off being
Classic. There's no arguing against it.
Better than I remember. What an album.
It's really long, but somehow it feels really short.
no skips! endnu en til bunken af "potentielle favoritalbums på listen"
Utrolig bangerparade. Lyder som en best-of-opsamling af et af de bedste bands nogensinde, ufatteligt at det bare er ét album.
Will gladly give this another 5⭐