Reviews (page 4 of 15)
Me da vibes a los smiths, pero no llegue a conectar tanto. No me guardé ninguna canción, igualmente le voy a dar una segunda oportunidad.
It's a classic, but I always end up slightly disappointed when I listen to it. It's like the album cover doesn't quite match the vibe of the songs or something.
favs: the card cheat train in vain (stand by me) rating 0.5/5
I liked a lot of the instrumentals in this one. I was excited to listen to this because my friend actually mentioned London Calling to me the other day so it was quite coincidental that this is on the list.
me gusta lo revolucionarios que fueron The clash en su momento, tanto que hasta el dia de hoy siguen sonando rompedores.
I have listen to this
better than expected tbh lost in the supermarket bangs
Truly better than expected. I've historically wrote off the clash, today I see that was a mistake.
The title track is iconic, and the album version I listened to on Spotify was bookended nicely by the catchy pop tune Train in Vain (Stand by Me, which I would have imagined the title to be—it was very different in character and production from the other tracks). In between, there were catchy hooks and rebellious punk sensibilities, some better than others.
It's a fun listen, and there's nothing not to like. I find some songs less memorable but I commend the band for the breadth of the music and the inclusion of some of my favourite Clash songs such as The Guns of Brixton and Train in Vain. It's a classic for a reason.
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!
Great album, thought I think a bit overrated compared to Clash's other stuff
i made it halfway and i think i got the gist. i fw it! its very dad music and sometimes a sunday afternoon hits that vibe.
Me gusto que fuera con un estilo base reconocible, pero algunas se volvían repetitivas. Aunque me llevé un par de canciones a la playlist, el álbum esta bueno y creativo.
Such a banger. From start to finish, this album keeps on coming.
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.
I expected more from 'the only band that matters'
The title song is a classic. It's all decent
Milo loved it too, fun new wave learning
More valuable for its place in history than its actual musical value. Very good but not the single best clash record.
muy buen album que arranca con una energía increíble para terminar de una manera mas calmada a lo que the clash acostumbra
This is easily worth at least 4 stars. But i don't get why people hype up the clash like they’re the second coming of jesus. I can think of like 10 better punk albums off the top of my head
I've been putting off this album for the past few day, I don't know why I'm so nervous to give this a listen. In order to move on with the list tho I've gotta give this one a listen. I don't think I've heard anything by these guys other than the song that was featured in Stranger Things 1. London Calling - Oh, I really like this one. Really cool storytelling and I like the sound and vocals. 2. Brand New Cadillac - Eh, this one is okay I guess. I'm just really not vibing with it. 3. Jimmy Jazz - This one is okay, I like the guitars but there's nothing really pulling me in 4. Hateful - Okay, I like this one! I like the organ, it makes for a really interesting sound. I also just really like the production overall. 5. Rudie Can't Fail - This one is okay. It has a fun groove. 6. Spanish Bombs - Oh, LOVE the guitars at the start omg. I really really like this one. I need to learn more about the subject matter, the Spanish civil war is a blind spot for me, but this is really cool 7. The Right Profile - This one is pretty cool, not a fave so far but I'm vibing with it 8. Lost in the Supermarket - I really really like this, it's super cool 9. Clampdown - This one is also really cool, I like the sound of it a lot and obviously the lyrics are good 10. The Guns of Brixton - Oh, that bass at the start is really nice. This one is cool 11. Wrong 'Em Boyo - This one is okay, not really my vibe 12. Death or Glory - Oh, I love the start. Oh, I really really like this one! 13. Koka Kola - This one is okay. 14. The Cheat Card - oooooh, I really really really like this one! 15. Lover's Rock - Interesting song, kind of a vibe. It's hilarious all the men on genius lyrics are arguing over what this means tho lmao. 16. Four Horsemen - Interesting song 17. I'm Not Down - This one is really fun, I really like it. I like how positive and, well inspirational isn't quite the word I want but it's the only one coming to my mind right now. 18. Revolution Rock - Meh, this one is okay. Not really hitting me tho 19. Train in Vain - Ooooh, I really really like this one! It's so fun and dramatic, I love it! So, this was different than I was expecting it to be. I was expecting more harsh sounds, more grimy lyrics, causal sexism, songs that all kinda sound the same, etc. Things that are typically, but not always, found in punk records. I was pleasantly surprised by this. I don't mind harsh sounds or whatever but this was more melodic and rhythmic and fun than I thought it would be. There's diversity in the musics inspirations which ends up creating a cool sonic landscape. I can honestly see myself coming back to this. Now the rating... I think I'm gonna go with a 5 (4.75, in all honesty). I really really enjoyed this.
Rudie can’t Fail is an all-time favorite
5/5
the album sets up an expectation with “London Calling,” then it doesn’t deliver on that, instead giving songs that sound like a road trip in the rolling hills of Hertsfordshire or something i dont know im not british.
some hits, most not.
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.
Arranco muy ameno y entretenido, pero al final sentí que eran muy similares los temas
Long time Clash fan. This whole album is forever seared into my brain
культовый альбом но никак меня не цепляет все эти регги ска даб приколы в моем панке панк это панк аминь
Pretty fun! But somehow less punk than I had imagined, having not really listened to The Clash much before.
Swanked
There were a couple decent songs but it was long and boring and I don’t like his voice
Standard album, but I liked Spanish Bombs and Lost in the Supermarket.
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
Pretty classic/solid punk album, I mostly enjoyed it (wasn’t crazy about the more ska-influenced tracks)
Absolutely brilliant. Not sure how I managed to go so long without listening to this.
London Calling 4.4 Brand New Cadillac 4.6 Jimmy Jazz 4.1 Hateful 4 Rudie Can't Fail 4.6 Spanish Bombs 4.2 The Right Profile 4.1 Lost in the Supermarket 4.4 Clampdown 4.2 The Guns of Brixton 4.3 Wrong 'Em Boyo 4 Death or Glory 4.2 Koka Kola 4 The Card Cheat 4.2 Lover's Rock 4 Four Horsemen 4.1 I'm Not Down 4.3 Revolution Rock 4 Train in Vain 4.1 Score: 4.2
This is another one that I'm surprised, hearing the style, that it's from so long ago. This totally sounds to me like 2010s/2020s alternative rock. Which probably makes it foundational to some degree. It was fine, I was never unhappy, but kinda like background music in the car, not something I'd be excited if it came on.
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
Recibí un llamado desde londres. Me dijeron que allí se encuentra el punk en su estado más puro.
Undeniable classic
good
Pure unstoppable genius.
A classic!
Long and very varied
loyal ot its own style
Decent. Classic
High Schooool calling
3,5\5
This one is just fun and good. It’s a classic for a reason.
Great stuff! ★★★★
London Calling is an album when a seemingly through-and-through punk band decided to mostly drop the punk sound, in favour of messing around with some of their favourite genres. The double album is just littered with anthems left, right and centre and it also has a very high consistency on songs. It literally feels like a greatest hits album which is borderline maddening for a DOUBLE album. As mentioned earlier in the post, it's very eclectic. The styles include post-punk, new wave, reggae, ska, pop rock, and some remnants of their punk rock sound from their first two releases. Side B of the album is my favourite portion of the album, it's just completely stacked! "Spanish Bombs", "Lost in the Supermarket", "Clampdown", "The Guns of Brixton", all right after each other is straight killer, like my goodness gracious. The title track has a vibe that no other songs here manage to replicate, it's simply just immaculate and is very Joy Division-esque. This album is in my top 10 music albums of all time. Some last notes are: the album cover is superb and one my favourite of all time, the crow noises in the title track and "Death or Glory" are funny as hell and I hope everyone gives this album (who doesn't like it) a fair listen, which really does deserve one. Highlight Song/s: "London Calling", "Rudie Can't Fail", "Spanish Bombs", "Lost in the Supermarket", "The Guns of Brixton" and "Train in Vain"
I
Not my style. Title track is excellent though
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
yep, i know this one pretty well already, not much to note on. the bops remain all timers as you'd expect. emblematic of a time when punk rock could be fun, and the bite didnt have to take you out of that fun.
Listened months, or maybe a year ago. It was alright, better than a lot of music I’ve heard.
Me gustó
Meh reconozco a Stevie wonder que es un seco una eminencia pero no conecte, solo la primera canción por temas de recuerdos pero nada más alla
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
Dit voelt altijd als een ontzettend bekend en belangrijk album. Misschien een beetje omdat er een festival naar vernoemd is. Ben in elk geval wel benieuwd hiernaar! Heb nog niets van The Clash gehad, maar weet wel dat dit een hele bekende en belangrijke band is geweest. Gezien de cover en de reputatie van de band verwachtte ik een heftig punk rock album, maar verdomme ik hoor op nummer 3 gewoon een trompet! Dit is sowieso niet een punk rock album, de nummers zijn daar veel te 'lang' voor en daarnaast zit er bijna geen overstuurde gitaar op. Eerlijk, ik ben best positief verrast, had hier wel wat verwachtingen van, maar dat was voornamelijk omdat dit zo'n bekend album is. Blijkbaar is dit wel een punkrock album, maar je hoort duidelijk invloeden van jazz maar vooral ook van ska. En ska is zo'n genre wat best geinig is in moderatie. Een heel ska album is al snel te veel, maar een nummertje of 2, 3 is prima te doen. Niet elk nummer klikt even goed en het aloude probleem met een dubbelalbum komt ook nu weer om de hoek kijken. Want waren er 19 nummers en ruim een uur nodig voor alles? Lastig te bepalen als een groot deel wel gewoon dikke prima is. Ik merk zelf althans dat rond Koka Kola ik mijn aandacht een beetje begin te verliezen. Dat komt ook doordat het nummer daarvoor nog echt sterk is, maar het daarna een beetje gevolgd word door een blok van wat mindere muziek. Laatste nummer, Train in Vain, is dan wel weer een erg lekkere afsluiter. Absoluut een goed album, altijd fijn als de hype een beetje waar gemaakt word! Misschien toch maar eens kijken naar dat festival... FAVO: Jimmy Jazz, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the supermarket, Death or glory, Train in Vain
Bernie Rhodes' little bitches, a sanctimonious nepo-baby boy-band.
Quand j'étais au lycée, j'écoutais pas mal les chansons les plus connues, mais invariablement, depuis, quand j'essaye d'écouter un album en entier, je n'accroche pas. C'est tout bêtement ça. Donc écouter un album de plus d'une heure d'un groupe auquel on accroche que très moyennement, c'est pas une expérience très plaisante. Mais ok, je comprends que dans son style, cet album est très bien, il est original et pour du punk, c'est plutôt accessible au grand public, ce qui aide vachement à sa popularité. Mais c'est pas mon truc.
Sing Michael sing!
One of the few double records to reach that white album magic formula where the sum is greater than its parts
There are a couple of really great songs on here. The rest all kinda sound the same to me, which is how I’ve always felt about The Clash.
Started out strong with the song London Calling but after that I found myself fairly underwhelmed with the rest. It didn't have quite the anger and aggression I was expecting from an early "punk" album.
3 - A bit bloated and I don't like it as much as I feel like I should.
Classic. A strong 4. Might be a 5 - a little too long though.
Good album. Don’t think I’ve ever listened to the whole thing. Apparently most of the Clash songs I know are not on this album.
One of the best ever albums - and an all-time punk top 5, however, I think this album could've been a single album. Pitchfork: 10 (25th Anniversary re-release) Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #16 Best Songs London Calling Hateful Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs Lost in the Supermarket Clampdown Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
No pude conectar con ninguna canción
These dudes should NOT be singing in Spanish.
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 Clash really were the most boundary pushing of the straight-up punk bands. Most of the punk albums of this list is pure balls-to-the-wall mayhem for 30 mins, but the variety on this album really shines. The ska/reggae influence is great and there’s a few all time classics. Is EVERY song amazing? No. But to be able to hold attention for 19 tracks and over an hour is a feat in itself. Nice work guys.
the best
Das war damals recht spannend. Aber nie so richtig mein Musikgeschmack
It's a The Clash double header! First time on this list I've had two albums by the same group/artist back to back. The Clash clashes with The Clash. Which album wins?? The debut album has a straightforward punk sound and a tight run time. London Calling sprawls, both in time and its influences. It isn't "just" punk. There were surprising musical twists and turns. Brass bands? Country? Reggae?? The eponymous album is a grittier introduction to a band seeking their place. The cleaned up vocals, production values, and creative space to explore on the double album are proof positive of the band's success. I have a preference toward the clean simplicity of the earlier Clash, but this album is one of those high water marks that can't be denied. It's been said that people remember the first and last things you say. This record reflects that in its hour of explorative punk, bookended by London Calling and Train in Vain. The radio won't forget this album, beginning or end. (Out of all the blends, reggea + punk was my favorite. Revolution Rock for the masses. Chili chocolate for the ears.)
10/10, all bangers!
I came to punk by way of the blasphemer: metal. So OBVIOUSLY my opinion is null and void, but hell, I think I would have been better served uninitiated. NOT the punk knife fight I was expecting. I actually spun this a couple times a decade ago, but clearly I've smoked myself into a thick lavender haze, cuz I don't remember SHIT. For a band with their reputation, there's a surprising amount of polish, range, and musical sophistication here. Instead of beer bottles full of piss shattering across my face, I got reggae, rockabilly, pop, and a band flexing how versatile they are. DECENT.
The bouncy ska beats are making me smile. I expected Punk to be more… angry and “f you” energy? Color me surprised at this borderline pop mishmash of genres. And maybe the lyrics are angry and revolutionary, but the fun silly energy disguises the message like a Trojan Horse.
2.5
No
- I knew this was a early punk classic, but never listened to it in full. - Lots of things going on here. Influences from all kinds of other genres. - American Punk > British Punk in my biased opinion as a huge Ramones fan, but still an awesome record!
Interesting album with some 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,
I’ve never understood the appeal of this band, and this album does nothing to reform that opinion.
Somehow I’ve never really listened to The Clash. I’ve seen this album’s cover all my life and assumed this was a raucous, edgy, punk band or something. It is not. It’s just a bunch of pop songs sung by a vocalist that I imagine as having Down syndrome. Many of the arrangements are cheesy as hell, but I do like the late 70s production. This was also a very long album—I was relieved when it was over.
Me gusto, me parece que tine un buen sonido, hay buenos temas
Me gustó mucho el álbum no lo había escuchado antes. Las canciones que más me gustaron eran las más tranquilas no tanto las rockeras le doy un 7,50/10
Be tos pagrindines dainos nelabai paliko įspūdį bet vis tiek nieko blogo.
This album took a bit to grow on me but I've become a big fan of it. I think there's more variety here than other early punk acts like the Ramones, Sex Pistols, X-Ray Spex. Maybe because it was their third album they blended more blues and rock elements.
6/10 Las primeras canciones me gustaron, buen ritmo y movedizas, con una voz tranquila pero acorde. A medida que fue avanzando el álbum fue decayendo, casi todas las canciones con casi la misma base y sin sazón, las ultimas canciones malardas.
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!!!!
Really good. Opened by a classic track and continues in that grain. Liked the different sub styles towards the end and the instrumentation was top class. Very good album, maybe slightly too long.
6.5-7/10 - this one took awhile for me to come around on. Extremely varied but I can find some songs tedious at times. The amount of English Rock and Rambling on this list certainly doesn't help in this case
Fun fact - I went to see an American band called Mother Tongue (check them out) ages ago in a club (maybe 300 people when sold out) in a small-ish German city called Bielefeld. Mick Jones was present that day, as the excited lead singer/bassist announced, and you could see a shy looking Jones wave and smile from the side of the stage. This is a great album. I'm not a huge Clash fan, but this is great, and despite being British and vaguely punk (of which there is too much on this list), I really enjoy it. Not necessarily desert island material for me, so it's 4/5, but a rock solid one.
Still learning what sound "Punk" actually is, it seems to be more about the lyrics and tempo than anything but keeping an open ear as best I can. They are lauded as a very influential punk band and based off the lyrics I see that they were speaking from very personal places about politics, life and drugs. They also have a lot of positivity at the heart of it though, it is not about destruction because of the world imbalance which is interesting and kind of refreshing. Also liked that they change their sounds from Rock to Reggae when it serves the song (or when they felt like it). Favorite tracks were London Calling, Clampdown, Death or Glory and Train in Vain.
get me out of reggae/ska jail.... please..... i'm begging for clemency. i feel like a broken record but half the tracks here do absolutely nothing for me aside from make my eyes glaze over. i recognize the historical importance of this album given the timing of it (and the hyperbolic accent as ana explained to me, which Makes Sense with britain's classism, but he sounds like he's singing drunk), but i'm not british so it's not something i really appreciate. i feel like i got baited here because the opening title track is *really* good and i was thinking i'd enjoy this a lot, but then there's the REST OF THE ALBUM. it's torture!!!! where's my 8th amendment!!!!
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.
It was not as good as I expected love London calling but the rest was uninspiring
Less punk than expected. Some songs gave ska vibes
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
Oddly disappointed with this one. Probably hyped it up too much in my head. Plenty of fun, catchy songs here but not much that really connected with me or left a big impact. Favorites: "London Calling", "Lost in the Supermarket", "I'm Not Down" Least Favorite: "Revolution Rock" Mid 3.
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.
Aight
I don't get the love for the Clash. Were they just the most pop punks at the time? I like some of the songs, but it's not for me overall.
Whatever this genre is, I’m not a fan of.
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.
There are so many genres that they were playing with here, which is very fun! The best songs are the opener (London Calling) and the closer (Train in Vain), everything between them was kind of a mixed bag.
I'm looking forward to reading some non 5-star reviews of this album, because those people grew up under very different circumstances than I did and I like being reminded that it's a big world out there. In my world it was not for you to decide if you liked London Calling or not. That wasn't an interesting topic of discussion to anyone. Actually, it was not the kind of thing where it even occurred to anyone to possibly even have an opinion. This album is like air or water. Elemental. It would be like having an opinion on favorite law of thermodynamics. I never even owned a copy until recently. Everyone else already had it, so I didn't need to get it. And I love musical misunderstandings. Such a mindfuck and this album delivered one of the very best when we were idiot stoned teenagers and my friend Miles waxed on and in about how unusual Guns of Brixton is compared to the rest of Paul Simon's songs, and not only that, but also how mind-blowing it was for The Clash to be covering Paul Simon in the first place. It shows that great art transcends genre or some shit like that if I'm remembering correctly. If I wasn't laughing so hard - at first I thought he was crafting an elaborate joke - I woulda felt bad shattering Miles's fairytale when I got to explain that Guns of Brixton was written by Paul Simonon, The Clash's bass player, not Paul Simon, Garfunkel's better half. Honestly, when was Paul Simon ever in Brixton?!? Could he even find it on a map?!? I want some of whatever Miles was smoking! 😂😂😂 But mainly what this record reminds me of is this one New England autumn where I was delivering pizza to frat boys who more often than not would tip in beer or weed or even LSD. This tape was basically stuck in my shitty car's shitty car stereo and I didn't mind at all. It provided the most excellent soundtrack for this lonely, quasi homeless loser driving around his boring hometown after everyone else I knew had moved on to bigger and better things and generally feeling sorry for himself all the time. And for good reason, if I'm honest. Lost In The Supermarket, so to speak. And maybe the very best moment in modern American politics - at least for Gen x - was about 8 years ago when perennially losing Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke accused his opponent Ted Cruz of working for the clampdown. Probably only half a dozen people noticed and even though I wasn't the biggest fan of his politics, I was ready to move across the country to vote for Beto. Really, I would have been voting for The Clash and for London Calling, but casting that vote would absolutely be worth moving to Texas for. No brainer. So on that, we'll let Mr Strummer's immortal lyrics from side three's Death or Glory take us out: "Every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll Grabs the mic to tell me he'll die before he's sold But I believe in this and it's been tested by research He who fucks nuns will later join the church"
Listening to this album made me realize that, aside from the fantastic and very familiar title track, and maybe a few other songs from this and other albums, I haven't heard much Clash until now. I was pleasantly surprised that this album wasn't chock full of angry punk tunes--a particularly daunting expectation given that it's a double album--and while I suspect this polarized some of their fans, it's nice to get a decent amount of variety across the two discs. Some of the tunes reminded me of early The Specials (especially the more politically oriented songs) or Elvis Costello (for the new-wave/rock-n-roll tunes), but not in a derivative way. It seemed a bit uneven at times--tunes like "Jimmy jazz" or "Lover's rock" don't work all that well, and a number of songs sound like variations of each other (e.g. "Rudie can't fail")--but it's still a strong album overall despite its length. Among the unfamiliar tunes, I particularly enjoyed "The guns of Brixton" (especially since it showcased bassist Paul Simonon's writing and vocals), the jaded but truthful "Death or glory" and the perhaps-too-reggae "Revolution rock". I'm not sure it ranks up there as one of the greatest albums of all time, but it's a *lot* more interesting than I expected and clearly influenced a lot of bands who followed.
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.
Um rockzinho moderado bom de ouvir enquanto faço coisas da faculdade, álbum bom
Lowkey so geillll meine möse juckt bei manchen Songs wirklich (positiv gemeint!) Ich würde mir bzw. Werde mir auch andere Alben anhören!
Little too long good songs tho
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
155/1001 Punk music or music by punks? A lot of different musical styles on this one. I never fully embraced this album but it’s gets a play every so often. 6/10
Fails to reach the height of it's opener for the rest of it's runtime.
This is actually pretty great. Even the cover art has them enthusiastically employing luthiers, real friends of the working class!
Nice things going on but the album still felt dull and meh. Not the worst but definitely not something I'd pick and listen to.
This is the kind of punk/post-punk I can get into. A lot more melody, no screaming lyrics, the music is tighter and more cohesive, and I enjoyed the mix of different genres/influences this album had. It was too long so it seemed a little repetitive at times, but all the songs were good ones.
A punk influenced rock album. It’s mostly edgy in lyrics and beats, but there are spells of calmness peppered throughout. It’s rebellious in nature but some of the songs are sneakily defiant. London Calling is the star of the album, but I have no complaints about the rest of the tunes. A good listen and I can see why it was added to this project.
If Martin Scorsese made a 3 hour movie about fishing, would you watch it all the way through? What if Emeril Lagasse did an extended series on braising cabbage? You in for the whole ride? That’s the kind of question that this album asks of me. It gives me masterful artists that I really appreciate, but going on journeys that I’m not sure I want or need to follow. While the band is tight and their chops across the styles are deft, it feels like variety for variety’s sake. Look now it’s punk, then ska, reggae, rockabilly, straight rock, pop, power ballads. I understand they were searching for a new sound, but, maybe pick a lane or two and give this ride some focus. Where’s the producer here? Oh, he’s busy getting high and throwing ladders around? Well, that explains it. Beyond London Calling and Train in Vain, there are some real exceptional standouts on this album like Spanish Bombs, Clampdown and Lost in the Supermarket. Because it succeeds on so many levels, it deserves a high rating, but it also needs some editing. Unless you subscribe to the theory that punk IS excess … in which case, it just might be perfect.
Exhibit A that Punk is more than just a sound, it's an attitude. The Clash are a perfect example of this, perhaps the best example. There are a range of styles on this album, but they all flow together beautifully because the Clash, at their core, are Punk. That attitude is in each song and you feel and hear it. That attitude is what brings everything together into an all time classic album. This may not be their best album, but it's their defining album, and it was a joy to break out and give a listen. It had been far too long.
4.5
Heard of the clash but never an album. Top 100 on Apple so high hoped. Cool opening. Super British vocals, well written tho. Brand new Cadillac is very 70s, pretty forgettable. Cool guitar on Jimmy jazz. Fine other wise. Hateful is fine. Nothing special. Cool guitar again I guess. Tudor can’t fell is fun but again nothing special. Have not been blown away so far. Interesting switch up to Spanish. I think this is pretty cool. Song is just ok again. The right profile is my fave so far. Really good production on this one. Great song writing. Lost in the supermarket is fun music wise but I’m realizing I hate the singers voice. Goofy lyrics too. Clampdown is pretty cool. Catchy chorus. Very 70s. Good production again on the guns of Brockton. A lot of sounds I’ve never heard before working well together. Much better vocals on this one. Wrong em boyo is fire. Great horns. Great keys. Just a really good song. Followed by death and glory which is another banger. This one is all abt the guitar. This is what I thought the whole album would be like. Got busy with work so missed a couple, but the fact that I didn’t have any notes means they’re pretty forgettable. Lovers rock is cool but over produced. Whistles and slide rock thing are bs and over done. I do like how all of the songs Flow into the next. I’m not down is pretty cool. Nothing special again. Revolution roc is very yacht rock. Sounds like a Jimmy buffet song. Kind of goofy. Cool horns that’s it. Train by vain is a banger, great way to close the album out. Very up and down album. Some really fun/good songs and some songs I never want to hear again. Certainly not in my top 100. Completely average album. 2.6 stars.
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!
i didn't have very high expectations for this but i liked it! but it's pretty long so i did not finish. but the ones i listened to were like pretty good
Its okay, the title track is probably the best
Fine
Way more Elvis Costello-esque than I expected. Some songs are incredibly odd, especially if you think of The Clash as a punk band, which I did before hearing this album
I see why this is a classic. While not a fave of mine, the influences on other band (Green Day came to mind a lot) is super clear.
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!
Exceptional album
The Clash really start to show their range on this the 3rd LP. The track London Calling is probably played more now than when it was released. The album is great rock n' roll with dashes of punk, reggae/ska and rockabilly. Top stuff
Classic double-album from The Clash. I knew most of the record, but it was my first time listening to it end-to-end. It was a perfect backdrop to the hint of spring weather we had today. Classic punk rock with ska elements was a great backdrop for the sun, with a perfect edge to take some of the pain of the news today.
If I had to take a moment and think to myself of options for "best punk album" (not considering post-hardcore or any other subgenre, just pure punk), this is on the shortlist. A complete smorgasbord of musical directions and influence - think of just the first 3 songs on the album, we go from punk to rockabilly to lounge and it flows seamlessly - which manages to come across more like admiration than desecration which seems like an attitude that was missing in a lot of this music around this time. Understandably beloved.
The title track is an absolute classic that I love but for some reason I never really looked deeper in to The Clash. That was until today and this album. There aren't any bad songs on the album but other than London Calling no other hits that I really loved either. A solid rock album that I would have on in the background but not the main focus of what I was doing. I'm happy I listened through it but not something I will seek out I think.
This is mostly good and sometimes great, but I'll be a little contrarian here. This would be even better if it would be a single album. I don't really think they really needed to remove reggae influented songs and few filler songs. Title track, Train in Vain and few others are undeniable classics. And let's be realistic. The only band that matters? If we're talk old british punk, Pistols were only band that mattered, whether you love them or not.
Interesting, before I knew only Clash from Stranger things
dope
Klasika ama lowkey mid ova slushanje
Brought back memories of high school and binging MTV. I'd kind of forgotten the "rockabillies" sound many of these New Wave bands had. Fun!
“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!
I liked lost in the supermarket
Opa looks like I’ve found another cup of tea that isn’t mine!
excellent- hadn't listened thru before this. crosses a bunch of genres
this is all over the place 😭 but still feels kinda cohesive in a way
🤘🏻
Very much of its time, difficult to listen to with vocals that have become a caricature of themselves. 1/19 liked
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.
Way ahead of its time, some really good songs mixed in and I really like how songs jump between genres of punk, grunge, and some ska/reggae.
If you listen to this as a kid it makes you weird
Joe strummer is both underrated and underappreciated
An important album for punk. Liked it more than I expected to.
No notes. Forever 5.
This is probably one of the only true punk rock albums and bands that I can tolerate. Most of them really are just noise for the sake of noise, in my experience, but you can tell The Clash is comprised of actually talented musicians. One review states "Punk music, but the band knows how to play their instruments" and I agree.
Not what I expected at all. Too polished and overproduced. Expected more grit. A couple songs that probably translate better in a live setting.
Amazing! (although a little bloated in the middle imo)
5/5 all time classic
I wish I was a person who listened to London Calling or the Clash in general and got what all the critical fuss is about. I remember being in high school and seeing in an old Rolling Stone at the library (on microfiche I believe because that's how I rolled back then) named this the best album of the 1980s, and then I checked out the cassette from that same library, and I didn't understand why. I appreciate it somewhat more but still don't understand.
Feels like a real watershed album, had punk elements but also fair amounts of ska and reggae, felt like a lot of other bands would be influenced by it massively. Would be interested to see what comes after it in the UK music scene
I like this album so much I'm thinking of officially changing my name to Brix.
The Clash выпустили «London Calling» в декабре 1979 года — двойной альбом, который группа продавила у лейбла CBS по цене одного. Панк к тому моменту уже превращался в позу, и The Clash просто записали то, что хотели: ска, рокабилли, регги, джаз — всё в одном месте, без потери энергии. Джо Страммер писал про реальный контекст — нефтяной кризис, безработицу, ядерную тревогу в Британии конца семидесятых. Альбом звучит честно и сейчас, именно поэтому и NME, и Rolling Stone держат его в топах лучших альбомов всех времён уже сорок лет.
Jimmy Jazz sounds so much like Blur and Guns of Brixton like Gorrilaz lol. Revolution Rock and Spanish Bombs are my favourites on first listen.
Good but long
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.
Класичний альбом, кросжанровий (як і вся творчість клеш), ще й просто канонічна обкладинка, однай з найкращих евер. Я ніколи не був великим шанувальником клеш чи сольного Страммера, але дуже і дуже поважаю. Слухати їх завжди приємно.
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.
Excellent blend of British punk and reggae. London Calling, Guns of Brixton, and Train In Vain are top notch
Kannte nur allererste Lied, mal gucken wss ich vom Rest halte Bisher schnell, anstrengend, def kein easy listening aber geht rein
Every song was really fun to listen to.
I mostly don't like mainstream punk because it sounds sort of bland, but I like this ok, it has some reggae elements to it.
Great Album.
Awesome early punk
really enjoyed this! very solid all the way through
It was ok.
This album is really good. I was really impressed with how much reggae there was. I was expecting everything to be similar to "London Calling" and I was wrong. "Spanish Bombs" was so much fun. I see why this album is a classic. Liked Songs: "London Calling" , "Brand New Cadillac" , "Hateful" , "Rudie Can't Fail" , "Spanish Bombs" , "Lost in the Supermarket" , "Clampdown" , "Wrong 'Em Boyo" , "Death or Glory" , "The Card Cheat" , "I'm Not Down" , "Revolution Rock" , "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)"
2.5
Had The Clash kept this to a single LP featuring only the better cuts from these sessions (e.g. "London Calling", "Train In Vain (Stand By Me)", "Lost In The Supermarket" and "Clampdown" among others), it would stand a good chance at being a five-star record. As it is though, this double album is bogged down with b-side quality stuff (pretty much all of sides 3 and 4), diluting its overall impact and dragging down its average. (Yes, the band was expanding its sound on this album but a lot of this turned into little more than genre experiments rather than true innovation.)
sooo good
Man, what a great album! I was familiar with the hits but not the rest. I had no idea it was a double album and had no idea the variety on it. Definitely worth another listen!
So good
Such a good album, but the second half can't stand up to the first. After an explosive start it starts to drag. Would be one of the all time greats if it was a single rather than a double
Good album overall.
omg the clash hiii FAVS (top 3): hateful, the guns of brixton, lovers rock mençoes honrosas: brand new cadillac, spanish bombs, the right profile, clampdown eu curti tava meio com pe atras mas ate q é um album divertidinho nota final: 3.5/5
one of my favorite albums of all time since it came out, and still keep Spanish Bombs et al in the rotation today
Guess I haven't listened to this entire album before. It's way more boppy and calm than I expected.
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.
Tuttu albumi ainakin pääpiirteissään. Tutustuttu lukioaikoina, kun punk oli itselle kova juttu, piti tutustua skedepunkin lisäksi myös britti- ja Suomi-punkkiin sekä hc-osastoon. The Clash on jäänyt ehkä pitkäaikaisimmaksi bändiksi -70-luvun brottiosastolta, jota edelleenkin kuuntelen. Onhan tämä sillisalaattia ja nykymittapuulla pitkä albumi. Mutta rohkea, erilainen ja tunnistettava. Ehkä kuitenkin yliarvostettu, ei tämä sentään mestariteos ole. Perushyvä, vähän erilainen rock-levy wanhoilta ajoilta. Hyvä +. 3/5
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!
Great opening song, then 3 rock and roll / rockabilly tracks before into the reggae/ska influenced Rudie Can’t Fail. Lots of influences reflected and lots of reminders of those later influenced. Card Cheat has a bit of Bowie and Motown, Wrong Em Boyo a ska lite track, Spanish Bombs is an early taste of Big Audio Dynamite. The horns on that Montgomery Clift song reminded me of Boo Radleys. Maybe a tiny element of filler but 19 tracks is some going. And a cracker to end the album. Need to revisit and analyse the lyrics a bit more but did like this line ‘No man born with a living soul can be working for the clampdown.’ Very close to a 5.
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
Perversely the deeper I get into this listen-athon, the more I seem to appreciate double albums. Another good 'un, especially liked the dub influences.
This is one of the few double albums I can tolerate. Hell, I actually like it. Unlike most double albums, 1h 4 mins flies by. Fun, consistent, and timeless. A most solid of solid 4 stars. Dubtastic!
I enjoyed this one, passed me by back in the day.
A mainstay, and one of the first albums that comes to mind when I think of punk rock.
I can hear why London Calling is considered such an important album. It feels both structured and experimental at the same time. The band stretches beyond punk into reggae, pop, and rockabilly, yet the songs are carefully arranged rather than chaotic. The famous cover image suggests pure destruction and raw energy, but the music itself is more thoughtful and deliberate than that image implies. It’s not just rebellion — it feels like an attempt to expand what punk could be. I like the title track and especially “The Guns of Brixton,” where the bass and tension create a different kind of atmosphere. At the same time, I sometimes feel that understanding the historical and political context might deepen the experience.
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.
I mess with it, the use of brass instruments is something I didn't expect but yea its pretty good. 6.8/10
Some stand out songs, but unfortunately not much else. The mish-mash of musical styles makes this tedious to listen in a single sitting. Their later work is much better compared to this one.
Very familiar with this album. I'd argue it's iconic but overrated.
Eins von den guten
On vinyl
It was a decent album. I like the head line song, but in general the music did not resonate with me. I enjoyed the upbeat songs more than the more dramatic ones.
Es increíble que pese a ser una banda que me gusta, nunca haya escuchado el álbum por completo. Es un buen álbum, lleno de exitos, incluso de los más conocidos de la banda. Sin embargo, siento que muchas de las canciones tienen la misma estructura rítmica, lo que hace un poco repetitivo el álbum
London calling is a masterpiece
Only knew London Calling, which I enjoyed even to this day. The rest of the album? Oof
Weirder than I expected for a punk album. Very interesting, some of the songs weren't great but overall a good time.
It could be better I guess or I wasn't in the right mood, but it was alright, I like the vibe. Maybe they have better albums :)
me gusta mucho el estilo punki, jimmy jazz increíble pero el resto me aburrió un poco, no tanto mi estilo, igualmente álbum espectacular
8/10 London Calling is the point at which The Clash dragged punk out from it’s classic style, pulled in a load of influences from new wave, reggae and ska, amongst others, to create something with a development of the punk attitude, blended with the rhythmical sensibilities and musicianship of those other styles. It’s a really good record that ducks and dives through those varieties of styles and does it fairly effortlessly for the most part, while always still sounding like The Clash. They clearly have a great ear for a melody and Paul Simonon and Tipper Headon provide a rock solid, and sometimes undeniably groovy backbone for Strummer and Jones to get stuck in to. There’s a clarity of production and quality of musicianship that wasn’t present in the early days of punk, but it still has that edge of grit bubbling underneath that ties them to their roots. There are some absolutely classic tunes on this record, from London Calling via The Guns Of Brixton and ending up with Train In Vain. Those three tracks alone form a high water mark for the album. It does lose a tiny bit of focus here and there are some times when it felt like it had begun to drift along, but it would normally pick itself back up again within a track or so. In all honesty, I feel like this could have been a superb 35-40 minute album, but as it is, it feels a little too flabby and some of the more mundane, less developed tracks do drag it down a tiny bit. I wasn’t there to experience it, but looking back more than 45 years, it feels like this was a point at which a wider array of genres really exploded out of the punk scene and the rock music of the 80s probably owes a lot of debt to this record. This is one that I’m going to have to spin a few more times to get a stronger grip on, I think. London Calling - A classic. The bass line is great, they shift the emphasis of the beat around beautifully, and it’s so atmospherically charged. There’s the core punk attitude to it, but it’s got enough clarity of tone to the production and performance quality that it moves beyond more traditional punk. There are the hints of reggae influence in here that would expand further into the album, but this is a great stepping stone between the two sounds. Brand New Cadillac - Now we get a bit of a new-wave, surf rock sound, but again, there’s still a punky attitude and drive present. It’s a fairly simple blues structure underneath, but the production values, tonal mix and attitude help make it remain a very Clash sound. Jimmy Jazz - And now we get a slow stroll of a track. It’s pretty stripped back and relaxed, but there’s some really great playing both from the guitar and horns. It’s super chilled, but has got enough going on to give it a groovy bit of swing and enough nice bits of instrumental work to keep it interesting and fresh throughout. Hateful - This takes a bit of the groove from the previous track and brings it forward a notch. It’s rhythmically engaging in quite a poppy way, but they do good work between sections to add musical interest and prevent it from being too basic. It manages to sound just gritty enough, but the production allows everything to be presented with clarity. It’s a strong composition too. Hooky and engaging. Rudie Can't Fail - There’s another tilt into reggae groove territory here. It’s a bit rhythmically skittish in places, but it’s musically interesting and doesn’t always take the expected route, which is nice. I’m not sure it ever finds a really satisfying hook to centre the rest of the song around entirely, though. Spanish Bombs - And back to a more clean-tone punk effort now. It’s a solid track with some really nice harmonic choices. It’s quite smooth in places but sharp in others, which is a nice blend. The central motif is melodically good, but is perhaps a little over-used. The Right Profile - This feels quite like a prototype of ska-punk. I think there are some great elements to this, the rhythms are nice and the horns are great, for example. But it just feels a little unrefined and underdeveloped aside from the main section, which is good but overused. Not that keen on the vocal which jars a little too. Lost In The Supermarket - Another almost new-wave groove now with a decent bit of pace. This has got a great feel and a solid melodic hook. There’s a lead guitar part that sounds particularly good. The bass is great too, but could do with a bit more low end in the mix. Clampdown - This is a solid punk track with some great backing vocals. The central pulse of the rhythm section is really good and there’s some good depth of sound over the top. The organ and some of the lead guitar stuff is subtle but quality. You can almost feel them pulling more adventurous musical ideas out from their punk roots as they go and it’s great. The Guns Of Brixton - This is another classic. The vibe and ambience of the production is so good and is echoed in Ghost Town from The Specials that would come along soon after. It’s got a really hooky chorus and the rhythm of the groove is super infectious. The drumming is so good on this one too. Lovely stuff. Wrong 'Em Boyo - And now we’re into full on ska. It’s a fairly formulaic sound, but boy is it fun. There’s a lot to love about this. The groove is solid, it’s got some great melodic choices and the whole sound is so coherent and engaging. The call and response vocals are top notch too. Death Or Glory - We’re really striding along now. It’s a superb punk rock chorus, but it’s got so much musical skill and nuance around the rest of the track that it just elevates that art to something new. The vibe of this is perfect. It’s got a solid melodic ear, has harmonic interest and it the chorus hook is brilliant in its simplicity. It’s stuffed full of attitude and the drumming is fantastic too. Koka Kola - This is quite staccato and frenetic, only taking brief moments to gather itself, but it works with the theme of the song. And it’s such a fleeting song that it all works really well. The Card Cheat - And now we’re in more Elvis Costello territory! It’s stylistically quite different, but there are some nice compositional flourishes in there. All together, it’s a little bit more on the dull side though and doesn’t necessarily offer enough hook or range to really keep my focus us well as some of the better tracks. Lover's Rock - And we’re back into the groove again now. It’s got a real smooth flow to it that ebbs and flows nicely. It’s got a slightly grubby edge to go along with that groove, which is a nice blend. The rhythm section is great and there are some tasty bits of lead guitar to add flavour. It gets a bit distracted towards the end though. Four Horsemen - This is more of a trad punk track, although there’s a more broad instrumentation to it. The guitar that swings across the stereo field is really nice. It’s a simple but effective track that takes the attitude and structural simplicity of punk and adds an extra layer of development and musicianship to it. Solid. I'm Not Down - The vibe from the previous track continues here, but it throws in an edge of ska to the sound here and there. It’s a song that shifts really nicely through different movements, each of which are satisfying in their own way, but it all holds down to a really solid and engaging groove. There has been the odd dip here and there, but it feels like we’re on steady footing towards the close now. Revolution Rock - Another great reggae edged groove and a solid, hooky chorus. The shifting, skittish rhythm of the drums and percussion is really cool here and the bass rolls around beautifully to anchor it all. Love the organ too. It’s a really fun and engaging sound that’s hard not to groove along to. Train In Vain - And they finish off with another classic. This is so hooky and rhythmically engaging. It shifts the groove around brilliantly to transition through the different sections, but calls back to that central motif expertly time and again to keep things centred. Again, the rhythm section hold this down so tightly with a super funky groove, and it’s a hell of a way to round out the record.
Good album, not there best but solid.
Great album but a bit too long
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.
classic but somehow i am not tht into it
Its a classic better than remembered
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
British people
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.
Not bad, kinda boring after a few songs.
I don't know, I thought I would like this one but I just kind of ended up bored. It's not bad, I guess, but I found the album to be uninspiring and overly long. Favorite track: "London Calling"
Title track not the best. Was rating better until the racist cultural appropriation towards the end...
Solid 4 star album. The length isn’t a huge problem either; they manage to keep standards up throughout, more or less. I still think the Clash are very overrated, but this album is only slightly so. It would be easy to pick holes in motivations, attitudes and strategising around the band at the time, but it’s not worth it because when all is said and done, they made a quality album here. Not all time top 20 (Rolling Stone) not even Top 200 afaiac, but I do enjoy it every time it comes out for a spin.
not a bad sound but too repetitive for me highlights: Spanish Bombs
lool old
I know a little Clash, but I was never a punk guy, so I didn't know it that well. I have to say, I really liked London Calling and was excited for more. Then it seemed to be just okay the rest of the way. Very 2.5-ish, but I'll bump it to 3 on the strength of London Calling.
It's 1979. The world feels bleek. War is still humming the after effects, there's no jobs, garbage in the streets, and the paint is peeling on my flat. Do I know? Absolutely not I wasn't born yet, but I can feel it in the lyrics and the music of punk. So I took 3 entire days trying to love this album, but sitting in 2026 where my kids friends are all shouting K Pop lyrics and I'm reminiscing on bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppin and, more modern lyrics, Bright Eyes, Amigo the Devil or Benjamin Tod, I am not screaming with the Clash for social change. I'm more avoiding the astounding amount of over exposure to world news issues and drinking my mediocre pod coffee while debating when my washer will be fixed. Ah 1979, you could have been so...
The Clash are another band for my most overrated list, especially their crappy “reggae” stuff.
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
It's alright.
It's definately a good album, just not my kinda thing. Too catchy and happy and easy. But you can def hear how raw they were for their time.
Was expecting something special but was disappointed. Overhyped. 2.5/5
Desert island disk
This has to be in the top 20 albums of all time.
Not a punk album. A mix of rock, soul and dub reggae. The cover rips off an Elvis Presley cover - this is not an accident. Guns of Brixton is the standout track, for the baseline and the stone cold lyrics. RIP Joe - too soon
Well honestly this feels like a 4 after first listen and thats my rule, 1 listen. Ive got a good feeling im gonna have some earworms tonight though and I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. Edit: I called it. Hateful was the papa earworm
As a big fan of both Fugazi and Blur, I knew at some point I would need to take on The Clash. I of course knew them from Combat Rock’s early MTV days hit Rock the Casbah, which scanned as something of a novelty song, vaguely knew of the I Fought the Law covers, and of course BAD II (not knowing there was a BAD I). So around age 22 I decided to listen to nothing but London Calling for weeks while living in Germany, figuring the immersive quality and expanse of the album would hold my attention. But, I didn’t quite get what Strummer and Jones were up to with the throwback “classics” which formed a lot of the first half, whereas I gravitated to the modern material. To be clear, I still find the throwback stuff a real chore, although a large part of The Clash’s appeal is their facility with genre. It’s so start/stop: amazing lead track, then 3 fun, but forgettable diversions, then 2 forever classics, then a skip, then 3 more classics, and so on. And a hidden track beloved by everyone! Maybe the quintessential double album? Would it work pared back by those 8 or so genre exercises I don’t vibe to or would it be too samey?
3.5? idk. maybe ill give it a relisten at some point bc this did nothing for me
Epic album may be top 3 so far
Such a classic and fun to listen to
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
It was okay
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.
Such a classic ! London calling is my favorite. But the album is really long so i got a little bit bored toward the end, I still loved it though
Come on
I think I’d rate this a 4 if it was 20 minutes shorter
London calling what a song but I really did get bored of the rest of the album pretty quick.
Sort of seeing between really really enjoying this and being really bored by it. Might have to revisit and re-evaluate
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!
Classics are classic for a reason!
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?
classic album
Punk music just ain’t for me. This is good for punk though