S/T or London Calling?
RAJ
tenacious local 7,782 Posts
That is the question.
RAJ
tenacious local 7,782 Posts
Comments
US or UK?
I bought "The Clash" the week it came out and I still love it, but I think "London Calling" is their most complete and enduring record. It was also the one which finally made a lot of the people who hadn't previously taken them seriously sit up and pay attention.
It's worth noting that the US configuration of "The Clash" is significantly different from the UK version and, imho, it doesn't work as well. The o.g. is a more faithful picture of where they were at musically at the time and, although the US version includes many of the classic 45-only joints like "Complete Control" and "White Man In Hammersmith Palais", you don't get quite the same sense of the rapid musical development that came between the first two albums, and which was marked out by those stand-alone singles.
Guns of Brixton is one of my all-time favourite songs - inspiring and haunting like almost nothing else in that realm, but Bored/USA, White Riot, Hate and War, Career Opportunities are a little tuffer than anything on London Calling, you know?
AK! Draw!
Please be serious.
'London Calling'
Nah, there's some great songs on that record, but it's by no means a better album than the first or LC.
not a dig at "London Calling," which is an incredible album, but come on.
raw energy > studio polish
... and Stiff Little Fingers "Inflammable Material" is better than both of them
Oooooooh...controversial. It certainly has more raw energy.
I'm partial to S/T, but I have the US version, so what the hell do I know? The length of London Calling is a bit much for me, so that factors into it. More good material is a good thing, but if I can't finish it in one sitting, I feel that detracts from its value as an album.
Oh, he di'int...can't hate on "Inflammable Material", but it wouldn't have even existed without The Clash.
"Police and Thieves" by the Clash >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Johnny Was" by SLF. You must deal.
Returning to the original topic...
Greater creative range b/w original edge > raw-boned enthusiasm.
I ride for both albums, so I can't really argue too strongly in favour of one over the other. I prefer LC for specific reasons, though - they were simply a better band by then.
Haven't heard their self-titled in a long time.
"Sandinista" is by far the greater offender there, though - inside a triple-album weighed down by too much filler, there's a classic single album struggling to get out.
[Laughs and ducks.]
Yup.
Yea, have to go with that one. I worked with a guy who used to blast London Calling all the time and it never grew on me.
Obscure Fact : Johnny Rotton hated The Clash, but was friends with them and let them know how he felt about thier band. As if John doesn't tell everyone what he thinks about everything.
It's no London Calling by any means, but...I RIDE.
True in that it's a good record either way, but the domestic version pales in comparison.
Too bad London Calling has more better songs than either, but just by a nose. And yes, I said "more better".
That gets me thinking...I'm not sure if I would like them and the rest of their music as much as I do if it weren't for that first one laying the ground work and context.
I sure hope nobody mentions the Style Council over in the "In The City or All Mod Cons" Jam thread...
lol - I almost mentioned Beat Surrender - which is a couple of short dance steps off from SC - but decided against it. I think I'm getting better at sensing your threshold lol.