Give 'Em Enough Rope
, for all of its many attributes, was essentially a holding pattern for
the Clash
, but the double-album
London Calling
is a remarkable leap forward, incorporating the
punk
aesthetic into
rock & roll
mythology and roots music. Before,
had experimented with
reggae
, but that was no preparation for the dizzying array of styles on
. There's
and
, but there's also
rockabilly
,
ska
New Orleans R&B
pop
lounge jazz
, and
hard rock
; and while the record isn't tied together by a specific theme, its eclecticism and anthemic
function as a rallying call. While many of the songs -- particularly
"London Calling,"
"Spanish Bombs,"
"The Guns of Brixton"
-- are explicitly political, by acknowledging no boundaries the music itself is political and revolutionary. But it is also invigorating, rocking harder and with more purpose than most albums, let alone double albums. Over the course of the record,
Joe Strummer
Mick Jones
(and
Paul Simonon
, who wrote
) explore their familiar themes of working-class rebellion and antiestablishment rants, but they also tie them in to old
traditions and myths, whether it's
greasers or
"Stagger Lee,"
as well as mavericks like doomed actor
Montgomery Clift
. The result is a stunning statement of purpose and one of the greatest
albums ever recorded. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine