The Clash - London Calling Appreciation Thread

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 10:24 am

Should have been quicker on the draw with this, but this post needed to be made after blastmaster got out-of-pocket in his Elvis Costello thread. This album > Elvis Costello's career.

I don't know whether this album is the best album since the late 70s, like some people claim, but it's easily in the top 10. It houses three timeless hits (the title track, "Rudie Can't Call," and "Train in Van (Stand by Me)") and some of the most engaging songs about youth and political rebellion and poverty ever made (the immediate urgency of the "London Calling," the swinging "Spanish Bombs," the straight-rocking "Death or Glory," the rude boy defiancy of "Guns of Brixton," or the melancholy anthem "Lost in the Supermarket").

The thing about The Clash though is that while they're known for their politics they would of been popular if they just sung about pop subject matter because they make good music, plain and simple. Mick Jones' guitar, Joe Strummer's songwriting, and their rhythm section are impeccable.

Here's the album:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/4io07q

Here's some sample tracks:

"London Calling" (the best album opener ever?)

http://www.zshare.net/audio/01-london-calling-mp3.html

"Rudie Can't Fail"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/05-rudie-cant-fail-mp3.html

"Train in Van (Stand by Me)"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/19-train-in ... 3-2fr.html

"Spanish Bombs"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/06-spanish-bombs-mp3.html

"Death or Glory"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/12-death-or-glory-mp3.html

"Guns of Brixton"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/10-the-guns ... 3-my0.html

"Lost in the Supermarket"

http://www.zshare.net/audio/08-lost-in- ... t-mp3.html

Seiko Flossberg · Post by **Seiko Flossberg** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:36 am

Icesickle wrote:This album > Elvis Costello's career.

I'll have to go ahead and cosign this.

GM Dizzy Skillespie · Sat Apr 07, 2007 12:54 pm

anyone ever feel that this album is too long??

I love it, just started listening to it because of this thread.
but I've always felt it dragged.

Deadguy · Post by **Deadguy** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:48 pm

hate this shit

Steezel Weezel · Post by **Steezel Weezel** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 5:51 pm

Deadguy wrote:hate this shit

Don't hate it, just don't really like it. Some stuff on it is all right.

Moolah · Post by **Moolah** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:09 pm

London's calling......and it's calling you gay.

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:45 pm

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:45 pm

Album upped.

Moolah · Post by **Moolah** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:51 pm

Chill Winston it's from an anal cunt track.

7. Rancid Sucks (And The Clash Sucked Too)

SKA IS GAY, REGGAE IS GAY
YOU'RE FUCKING GAY, AND YOU'RE NOT PUNK
YOU SAY YOU HATE CORPORATIONS, BUT YOU WHERE ON NBC
London's CALLING AND THEIR CALLING YOU GAY

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

IF KENNY G. HAD A MOHAVK, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF YANNI HAD DUMB TATTOOS, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF GARTH BROOKS PIERCED HIS NOSE, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF LIBERACE SOUNDED LIKE THE CLASH, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 8:56 pm

Reggae's not punk? Oh rele.

Sounds like a bunch of kids that are mad cause they're not as popular or talented as The Clash.

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:17 pm

Big Audio Dynamite > The Clash

There isnt a dick that Joe Strummer wouldnt have sucked.

They dissed Led Zepplin. The called Van Halen "hamburger rock" and called them out for not bussing poor people to their concerts and questioned why Iron Maiden "sang about that shit" all while writing songs about how life sucks as a poorly paid worker from their parent's West London flats.

London Calling is unfocused self-indulgent faggotry. Terrible drumming. Laughable community college lyrics. Fuck this shit.

Combat Rock is a much better and more complete album.

I dare any of you to sit through all of Sandinista! at once.

Listen to Crass.

cascarrabias · Post by **cascarrabias** » Sat Apr 07, 2007 11:25 pm

Yeah not a big fan.

Mo Cheeks · Post by **Mo Cheeks** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:17 am

Moolah wrote:

Chill Winston it's from an anal cunt track.

7. Rancid Sucks (And The Clash Sucked Too)

SKA IS GAY, REGGAE IS GAY
YOU'RE FUCKING GAY, AND YOU'RE NOT PUNK
YOU SAY YOU HATE CORPORATIONS, BUT YOU WHERE ON NBC
London's CALLING AND THEIR CALLING YOU GAY

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

IF KENNY G. HAD A MOHAVK, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF YANNI HAD DUMB TATTOOS, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF GARTH BROOKS PIERCED HIS NOSE, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF LIBERACE SOUNDED LIKE THE CLASH, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:05 am

blastmaster wrote:The called Van Halen "hamburger rock"

Only a Michael Bolton fan would diss a band for for dissing Van Halen, and then call have the audicity to call their music "self-indulgent faggotry."

London Calling is unfocused self-indulgent faggotry. Terrible drumming. Laughable community college lyrics. Fuck this shit.

Combat Rock is a much better and more complete album.

Let me guess: you like War & Peace better than Death Certificate too.

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:01 am

Icesickle wrote:
Let me guess: you like War & Peace better than Death Certificate too.

Another great Icesickle analogy....

The tension between Strummer and Jones is pretty evident on Combat Rock, and the album better for it. Its still "experimental", but its not as all over the place as London Calling or Sandinista!. There big sounding riff-based songs, and funky groove heavy ska/funk songs. While I do think that is still sucks, the album is a better listen than the previous two.

And yea, "Should I Stay" is a banger.

"Innoculated City", "Overpowered By Funk" and "Death Is A Star" are almost good songs, which is more I can say for the majority of London Calling.

Synth-Pop Disco > Castrated Psuedo-Punk

Liking The Clash is fine... If you dont like Punk, or were never into Ska.

Congratulations. You have forced me to think about the Clash more than I ever wanted to again in my lifetime.

Listen to Crass, d-bag.

Myjah · Post by **Myjah** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:02 am

lost in the supermarket is one of those songs that explains life so perfectly. I love it.

Y@k Bollocks · Post by **Y@k Bollocks** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:38 am

Moolah wrote:London's calling......and it's calling you gay.

Ha ha. Indeed.

mud · Post by **mud** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:03 am

blastmaster wrote:
They dissed Led Zepplin. They called Van Halen "hamburger rock"and questioned why Iron Maiden "sang about that shit"

all 3 bands suck

mud · Post by **mud** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:04 am

Mo Cheeks wrote:
Moolah wrote:

Chill Winston it's from an anal cunt track.

7. Rancid Sucks (And The Clash Sucked Too)

SKA IS GAY, REGGAE IS GAY
YOU'RE FUCKING GAY, AND YOU'RE NOT PUNK
YOU SAY YOU HATE CORPORATIONS, BUT YOU WHERE ON NBC
London's CALLING AND THEIR CALLING YOU GAY

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

IF KENNY G. HAD A MOHAVK, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF YANNI HAD DUMB TATTOOS, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF GARTH BROOKS PIERCED HIS NOSE, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK
IF LIBERACE SOUNDED LIKE THE CLASH, HE WOULDN'T BE PUNK

RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO
RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS RANCID SUCKS AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
YOU'RE GAY, YOU SUCK
AND THE CLASH SUCKED TOO

mud · Post by **mud** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 6:06 am

peace to strummer's cover of redemption song though http://youtube.com/watch?v=TRwmZ2bp_B0

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:59 am

blastmaster wrote:
Synth-Pop Disco > Castrated Psuedo-Punk

Liking The Clash is fine... If you dont like Punk, or were never into Ska.

They're bad cause they don't fit into any previously defined category and they break the mold. Got it.

The Beatles and The Clash suck, but Paris Hilton and Michael Bolton are music gawds. My bad, my mind must have been fucked up for a second a I thought up was up.

I'll go listen to Crass, and their powerful protest songs about...the Falkland Islands conflict.

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 12:14 pm

Icesickle wrote:
blastmaster wrote:
Synth-Pop Disco > Castrated Psuedo-Punk

Liking The Clash is fine... If you dont like Punk, or were never into Ska.
They're bad cause they don't fit into any previously defined category and they break the mold. Got it.

The Beatles and The Clash suck, but Paris Hilton and Michael Bolton are music gawds. My bad, my mind must have been fucked up for a second a I thought up was up.

I'll go listen to Crass, and their powerful protest songs about...the Falkland Islands conflict.

Yes, Icesickle.

Money Gripp · Post by **Money Gripp** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:03 pm

While I don't think that The Clash is the worst band of all-time, they are notoriously overrated by critics and people who don't know what the fuck they're talking about. They were once proclaimed "the only band that matters" which is laughable (probably another reason a lot of people loathe them).

There were hundreds of punk and hardcore bands that were way more original and powerful and IMPORTANT than The Clash who flew under the radar of the mainstream rock community during that time period. The Buzzcocks, for instance, destroy The Clash. They were flat-out amazing and one of the most important bands from the early days of English punk rock. I fortunately got a chance to see them when they played a reunion tour, but they played a moderately-sized club to a few hundred people and not Shea stadium. You will not hear any of their songs on your local Clear Channel radio station nor will they be on any VH1 countdown of the Top 100 rock bands of all-time.

The Clash were basically a self-important bunch of rich kids with a bit of talent (I won't dispute that) that had the *OMG* revolutionary idea of singing about political topics and dabbling in reggae and other musical forms. When you just listen to the music and forget all that other bullshit, you come to the sober conclusion that they wrote a few good songs (mostly contained on their first album), some very dull songs, some that straight-up sucked, but nothing that would ever make your jaw drop.

End of story.

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:08 pm

^^^

Difference is that I think you're judging The Clash as a punk rock band, rather than just a band.

Judged on their own merits, I don't see how you can say "London Calling," "Rudie Can't Fail," "Lost in the Supermarket," "Spanish Bombs," "Death or Glory," "Stand by Me," or "Card Cheat" aren't great songs.

TeenageMoustache · Post by **TeenageMoustache** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:08 pm

Seiko Flossberg wrote:
Icesickle wrote:This album > Elvis Costello's career.
I'll have to go ahead and cosign this.

London Calling is one of the few albums that's as good as I remember it being when I was a kid.

I couldn't sit through all of Sandinista! at once, though.

Money Gripp · Post by **Money Gripp** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:20 pm

Icesickle wrote:^^^

Difference is that I think you're judging The Clash as a punk rock band, rather than just a band.

Judged on their own merits, I don't see how you can say "London Calling," "Rudie Can't Fail," "Lost in the Supermarket," "Spanish Bombs," "Death or Glory," "Stand by Me," or "Card Cheat" aren't great songs.

Nope. Music is music to me. I wouldn't put any of those songs in the great category. "Stand By Me" could have easily been a hit song for Dexy and the Midnight Runners, but the fact that The Clash wrote it somehow makes it this masterpiece. It's a lame-ass song and it doesn't matter if it was made by The Clash or Phil Collins. The Clash are just very middle-of-the-road and don't have the electricity that separates a great band from a merely competent one. I could care less if they called themselves rock, punk, or queercore - on the whole they're just a very dull and unspectacular band.

Perhaps we have different standards for music, but I expect a great song - whether it be by James Brown or Joy Division - to kick me in the ass. That doesn't mean it necessarily has to be loud or fast or even have guitars. But it must succeed in moving me on some level beyond some sort of objective response like "oh gee that was a nice chord change" or "that was a good lyric". The Clash just don't move me, brother.

Steezel Weezel · Post by **Steezel Weezel** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 2:44 pm

I have respect for The Clash because they caught on early to hip hop music. Had Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five open for them in NYC. I think ESG too? Man, pretty keen musical sensibilities, which unfortunately are not evident to me in their recorded output.

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go" is trash - one of the worst songs I've ever heard, easy.

TeenageMoustache · Post by **TeenageMoustache** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 3:16 pm

Speaking of Elvis Costello...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejeFHI13Z0c&NR=1

Icesickle · Post by **Icesickle** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:53 pm

TeenageMoustache wrote:Speaking of Elvis Costello...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejeFHI13Z0c&NR=1

"White Riot" Live at Victoria Park in London (pretty "live" Money)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9eLeZS9OeY

blastmaster · Post by **blastmaster** » Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:00 pm

And...

The song is a lot better without a Wesley Willis sound-a-like struggling through it.

Icesickle fabricated this rivalry out of a comment I made regarding the saliency of the two artists political commentary, based on a strange desire to continuously argue with me. Its not like The Clash and Elvis had real beef...

Wait and see who turns up for tribute shows when Elvis dies.

The Clash - London Calling Appreciation Thread

The Clash - London Calling Appreciation Thread

Re: The Clash - London Calling Appreciation Thread

Re: The Clash - London Calling Appreciation Thread