The Clash
REVIEWS
SANDINISTA! , 1980
Record Rating: 10
Best Song: "The Magnificent Seven"
Worst Song-"Lightning Strikes"
Written by Jim Jagger
"The Only Band That Matters." A favorite saying of Henry Rollins and other assorted, pretentious critics, but they definitely backed it up. Nowhere is this any more apparent than on their seminal 1980 release of "Sandinista!" It's not just the unreal variety of genre's contained within, but the aura this triple-record (double album) gives off. Just like the Stooges "Fun House" is the aural equivalent of the early-70's "let's get drunk after the pep rally and cruise Main Street in our 65' Chevy" vibe, this album personifies the early 80's. Reagan's in office, Ayotollah's in Iran and the Russians in Afghanistan. Atari's are all the rage, crack is the new epidemic, the only thing to do is cruise Queens in your '78 Impala with some funk blasting out your boombox. I know, I'm a geek, but you can tell I wish I lived in that era. Listening to any decent modern-rock band today like Sublime, System Of A Down, even Nirvana, you can tell they took alot of pointers from their Clash albums. They were the band the "cool" kids listened to. Mainstream enough to get radio play, but too edgy to become truly huge like other fine early 80's bands like the Police, Rush, or the Cars. I can tell you for sure though, that rock music of the past 25 years doesn't get better than this or the previous years "London Calling." Their incorporation of hip-hop (a diseased genre today, in the mainstream that is) and reggae in their music came about at times when the genre's were still in their relative infancies and were still innovative, not in the early 90's when it was convenient. "Roll The Bones," that shitty Michael Jackson "Black And White" song, not to mention the crimes against humanity people call "rap-metal" bands, ugh! This is one of the few albums that can be dated to a definite time-period, the lyrics kind of give it away, but at the same time sound forever relevant. "Washington Bullets" still rings true in this tumultous age. The Clash were not a punk band, perish that thought forever. You can't pigeonhole greatness, which this album has in spades. They were definitely above-average on their respective instruments if that's any indication. A once-in-a-lifetime album like this deserves to get special reviewing treatment. I know, I'm nuts, *Readers of Music Babble nodding their heads* but the only proper way to review it is to give it a blow-by-blow account. You ready? "Are you in? The ceremony's about to begin" I say in my pretentious Jim Morrison voice. :
THE KEEPERS-
1. The Magnificent Seven-I'm not one to like any hip-hop song, but I knows what I likes and this song is definitely the shiznit. No average punk band could come up with that bassline or that rapped/sung vocal melody. The images of "cops kicking gypsy's on the pavement" and being "murdered by the other team" totally symbolize the early-80's for me. Think of this trip through the NYC working class as a funk rock treatment of "Rappers Delight" This definitely helped hip-hop gain mainstreem acceptance. I recommend you download this ASAP. It's that awesome.
2. When Ivan Meets G.I. Joe-Hands down one of the coolest songs ever. It's not just the space-Invaders effects that make it rule, not to mention the vocal melody, but the lyrical premise. It reduces the Cold War to, of all things, a disco dance-off. Huh? Cold War/Saturday Night Fever, makes sense.
3. The Leader-It's a rockabilly and it's under 2 minutes; so, therefore it rules. The chorus still rings true today. Tabloid journalism is as rampant as ever.
4. Something About England-I know jack-shit of the ins n' outs of internal English politics, which this song is about, just the major stuff, but I do know this gradually building pop song rules.
5. The Rebel Waltz-Lives up to it's title and then some. Romanticizes the futility of fighting for a guerilla cause? You hear that Hezbollah, Hamas? Well you should, it'd give you something better to do than attacking innocent Jewish civilians.
6. Somebody Got Murdered-Think of the mournful guitar line on "Spanish Bombs" and you got the right idea. Depressing power-pop before shitty emo-bands raped the genre.
7. One More Time-The hip-hop/reggae vibe returns in this hybrid. How was this not a hit? Hard not to get sucked in by "one more time in the ghetto, one more time if you please" refrain.
8. Up In Heaven-A blatant re-write of "Somebody Got Murdered," but it can't help but rule. It's got that same mournful guitar line. Substitute the "getting killed by drunk driving lyrics" of the former and throw in some "depressive state of inner-city London" lyrics and you got this song.
9. Corner Soul-A soulful call for gangs to lay down their arms. Don't you wish it was that easy? "Is the music calling for a river of blood?" Just somethin' to ponder.
10. The Sound Of The Sinners-Aims for the heavens and reaches its destination. Fast-paced gospel number features the memorable line "the message on the tablet was valium." Aces the gospel vibe to a tee and can be mentioned in such worthy company as "Shine A Light" or "Let It Loose"
11. Police On My Back-The hardest-rocking number on the album utilizes the siren guitars of "London Calling." and is arranged in the same way as their amazing cover of "I Fought The Law." Hard to believe this is a cover, but it was written by the same guy that gave us "Electric Avenue" (another awesome song). You've probably heard this cliche before, but if any song can cause speeding, it's this song. It's hard to not step on the gas when you hear "I'm running, police on my back...running Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday..."
12. Midnight Log-Not a hip-hop or reggae by any means, but this catchy number still gives off that vibe.
13. The Call Up-A huge highlight on this album. Starts out with some mournful sirens and never lets up. This haunting anti-conscription epic was actually a minor hit for them. Uses samples from military movies e.g. "hut, two, three, four, I am the Marine corp" for ironic effect. They would amazingly write a number even more haunting on their next album. Stay tuned.
14. Washington Bullets-The centerpiece and de-facto title track proves that the Clash didn't deserve to pigeonholed as a punk band. The lyrics in the xylophone-led verses (denouncing our hypocritical government for overthrowing democratic regimes that weren't in the U.S.'s interests. They even find time to denounce the U.S.S.R. in the last verse. Proves this band wasn't communist as rumored.) are definitely a plus, but not the only one in this song. Listen to that outro. Most people would pay attention to the subtle, but beautiful guitar soloing, but what you don't know could kill you. You hear faint sounds of an organ, but you don't notice it until it overpowers your wimp ass and floods everything in site. Then it's too late. Let's see the Sex Pistols or the Ramones come up with an arrangement this creative.
15. Lose This Skin-Even Geddy Lee loves this band. J/K, it's actually some nobody named Tymon Dogg, or T. Dogg for you hipsters. Would be a novelty if it wasn't so awesome. Good enough to be on any early 80's Rush album, that's a compliment btw. The Clash just provide the backing for his ambitions, but what great backing. Gots to love the viola jam.
16. Charlie Don't Surf-Possibly the best song on the whole album. You haven't fully experienced the Clash till you heard this god-like moody pop-song. I'm not going to give you a freebie and describe it for you, just DOWNLOAD IT.
17. Kingston Advice-That guitar-rock chorus totally makes this song. You never see this song mentioned in reviews, but it's only cuz' it comes at the end of the looonnnnggg album. Well, I'm changing that and doing you a service.
18. The Street Parade-The chorus once again makes this song. Shouldn't overlook this puppy either.
19. Version City-You know how I was saying that songs toward the end of this album tend to get overlooked, well this song is exactly my point. Just a pop song with bluesy-harmonica, but what bluesy harmonica. Extra points for those lyrics mentioning musical terms, e.g. "Accappella Pass, Gibson Town, Fenderville..."
THE FUN THROWAWAYS-
1. Hitsville U.K.-Sung by Mick Jones girlfriend. Just your average old-fashioned pop song extolling the virtues of being on an independent label. Gots a glockenspiel.
2. Junco Partner-Obscure reggae cover. Made worthwhile by the shuffly beat and the violin.
3. Look Here-Obscure early-60's cover. Nice touch of barrelhouse piano.
4. The Crooked Beat-Written by bassist, Paul Simonon. Can't hope to compete with "Guns Of Brixton," but few things can. The actual crooked beat totally makes this song. A little overlong, but, then again, aren't most reggae songs.
5. Let's Go Crazy-A fun reggae-pop song.
6. The Equalizer-Another call to lay down the arms. Most people would rate this higher, but it's overlong and too messily arranged. Still not filler by any means, but this reggae number didn't reach its potential.
7. Broadway-Relies on atmospherics to convey walking along a street at night. Needs a better vocal melody, but this is still adequate. Is saved from being filler by the end of the song where they have a little kid sing "Guns Of Brixton."
8. Junkie Slip-A low-fi rap in a hick voice. I don't know how else to describe it. Whaddaya expect from me, I'm not fuckin' Shakespeare.
9. Living In Fame-A living, breathing reggae song sung by one Mikey Dread. Listen closely for a couple seconds of feedback noises late into the song. Those rule.
FILLER-
1. One More Dub-Pointless dub version of "One More Time"
2. Lightning Strikes-Blatant rewrite of "The Magnificent Seven," but somehow it sucks. I'm not one to like just any random hip-hop with a generic bassline. It's got to have some hooks, which this definitely lacks.
3. If Music Could Talk-I don't have anything against reggae, but I definitely am offended by generic "dub" tracks.
4. Mensforth Hill-Apparently a backwards version of "Something About England." Fun to listen to the first time, then you can toss it.
5. Silicone On Sapphire-Dumb remix of "Washington Bullets." Replaces the vocals with some "computerized" voices.
6. Version Pardner-remix of "Junco Pardner." Only difference is some of the lyrics are removed and the violin is louder in the mix. Not bad to listen to, but pointless.
7. Career Opportunities (Child Version)-I thought the end of "Broadway" was cute, but a whole track of this is too much. The children don't even sound as good as the one that sang "Guns Of Brixton"
8. Sheperds Delight-Instrumental.
My Final Thought - Lessee, 19 ace tracks, 9 good background
songs, and 8 fillers, but only one of them's an actual song. Even the perennial
critic's favorite "London Calling" has only 11-13 keepers. Buy/download
this album today. What are you waiting for? Your only missing out on one of
the top-5 post-75 albums.
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