Resuming the series of reviews in which a critic is wrong-footed in real-time, with Garry Bushell giving a measly two-stars to the record that Rolling Stone would later anoint as Best Rock Album of the Eighties (even though technically it came out in the 1970s, at least in the band's native land, and at the very end of the decade, the last weeks of '79).
But, thinking about it, I don't even like London Calling. And all the reasons why Rolling Stone would rate it so high are exactly the reasons why Gazza finds it so boring - the relapse into Presley-Stones-etc rock's rich tapestry-ism.
And within five years Strummer himself would be in resounding agreement with Gazza and would attempt to restage The Clash debut with Cut the Crap.
Yes, despite various attempts over the years, I've never clicked with London Calling, apart from the title track single, and "Lost In the Supermarket," which I find affecting.
The rest bypasses me.... it's like the Clash submitting belated candidacy to be part of the Last Waltz line-up.... a truce between New Wave and Old Wave.
I prefer Sandinista... on points.... but also because they sound confused and dispirited...
The spiritedness of the Clash is one of the things I find least appealing about them - probably why I never clicked with the debut either.
(That's why I'm endeared towards "Lost in the Supermarket" - a Strummer song, and Strummer sentiment-admission of fraility - even though it's Jones who sings it, with trademark wetness).
"...attempt to restage the Clash debut with Cut the Crap."
ReplyDeleteJesus, have you heard it? It's fucking unlistenable! The argument that This is England is the last great Clash song is fanboy bullshit. Is it played on a Bontempi?
But you have a real, undeniable point with London Calling. The American-led interpretation of the Clash as superior rock band only demonstrates that Americans never got punk's potential. An object lesson in Marcuse's point that capitalism subsumes everything.
I'm not saying it's as good as the Clash debut (which I don't even like). But it is definitely an attempt to go back to go back to basics, to where they started. Only to sound like Angelic Upstarts on a bad night. It reeks of Strummer's desperation and nostalgia.
Delete(The exception on the album is "This Is England", which is something different - more like Strummer's parallel to Costello's "Pills and Soaps")