I was looking at Rolling Stone's 500 greatest albums of all-time list, and I saw The Clash (A punk-rock band) and their 1979 landmark achievement, London Calling. I wanted 2 check out this out because I like The Police and their music. I heard that this album had a wide array of styles from pop to reggae. I also heard that there was another sprawling album they released back in 1980-81 called Sandinista, which was a triple LP that got some mixed reviews from critics because they thought that they could do every genre of music, even hip-hop. That's scary! Anyway, back to London Calling, I just want 2 know how good it is or should I go with Sandinista. Please help me!
[Edited 8/30/04 3:41am]
[Edited 8/30/04 3:41am]

Well...
The Clash...also known as "The Only Band That Matters"...were called punk, but I don't think they really were...I mean...they weren't "Johnny Rotten punk"...they were more like a l'il more harder edged U2.
London Calling is one of their best albums...as is Combat Rock...
pick them both up...great stuff...
...but, that's just my opinion...

London Calling is classic Clash...

silverchild said:

"London Calling" is one of the greatest rock albums ever made. Buy it NOW. Then get "Sandinista!" and "Combat Rock", because there you will find the greatest albums the Clash ever made.

Believe everything good you hear about The Clash and nothing bad - except for the stuff you hear about the very last album, "Cut the Crap" - but that wasn't the real Clash, that was Joe Strummer, Paul Simonon and people who looked like Morrissey's current backing band trading under the old name. They didn't last.

"London Calling" is coming out as a deluxe two cd/1 dvd edition next month. Buy that too.
[Edited 8/30/04 6:01am]

TheMadMonkey said:

The Ramones weren't Johnny Rotten punk either, but they definitely were punk. Sex Pistols punk isn't the only definition there is. The U2 comparison is a bit much.

London Calling is one of the fucking greatest albums i've ever heard in my life. Mick Jones is in my top 5 best guitarists ever list (in which Prince holds the #1slot). Talk about revolutionary for it's time, god that was an amazing band. I don't think they even released a bad album. They weren't afraid of any genre and they did every genre brilliantly i might add. To me that's what punk was all about. ORIGINALITY. Not all this Green Day cornball crap. Mick Jones' band Big Audio Dynamite used to do a killer cover of '1999' for an encore at thier shows back in the day. (god i'm old. wow. i should've listened to my mother. when i was your age... ) Another amazing band (BAD) Big Prince fans, the clash.

oh, buy it, please!

it's a great, great album.

In something totally unrelated to this post:

I was reading a list of greatest albums and saaw a Sgt. Peppers (?) on it be a beatles (?), is that any good?

wait until October special edition will come out ... 3 disc plus a dvd I think. rarities and outtakes

kdj997 said:

Grossly overrated. "Day In The Life" is great, but most of the album is puerile crap. And there's George H's attempt at Indian mysticism which winds up sounding like the theme for a bad BBC tv food programme on DIY curries.

TheMadMonkey said:

Urm, The Clash were punk, mate.

I Love it and SANDINISTA also. Excellent albums... The Clash were GREAT....

kdj997 said:

personaly this is one of my favorite beatles albums. u should get it.

Shapeshifter said:

what about lucy in the sky?? and getting better?? and fixing a hole??

violett said:

One word: Classic

violett said:

My personal favorite has 2 be their 1968 masterpiece, The White Album. That album is their greatest. And the cover is unbelieveable!

silverchild said:

agreed.

London Calling...simply one of the best albums of the rock era. All kinds of music, all done brilliantly. I LOVE this album. Clampdown is one of my all time favorite songs period. This is a must for any fan of music. Buy it NOW!

I like Sandanista! but there is just too much filler on it...like Emancipation, its in need of some editing. I think the 1st album is MUCH better than Sandinista!...almost as good as LC...but with a much rawer sound. Much more "punk" than any of the others.

Combat Rock is good but stay away from Cut the Crap.

...and while we're at it...Sgt Pepper's also one of the best albums of the rock era..there is no underestimating its impact and influence. However, I don't think its the best from The Beatles. Revolver, Rubber Soul, White Album, and Abbey Road are all better imo. Every song on each of those albums are perfect (well...except Revolution 9).

Now, if you ask me, Sgt. Pepper had that wall-of-sound style to it. To be honest, it was an all-in-all album, with good songs and bad ones.

Remember the movie, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band that The Bee Gees and Peter Frampton did back in 1979? That was ultimately the worst musical of all-time. And the soundtrack 2 the flim sucked.

violett said:

Like I said puerile crap.

silverchild said:

Agreed, The White Album is great, but my favourite is Abbey Road.

And Sgt Pepper's still crap.

=> with Spanish Bombs, Train In Vain , Working For The Clapdown... this album is a pop masterpiece

POOK said:

Since he mentions Police, I think the Clash will be punk enough.

London Calling is one of my top 5 rock albums of all time. True, not too punk. For that, listen to their first record. But London Calling has 20 songs, all great in my opinion. All different, too. Some of my punk loving friends actually like Combat Rock better, but I think disagree.

Sandinista could be a great record, but it is too long. Much song skipping involved! LC is great from start to finish.

Now, Pook does make a good point about hearing it for the first time. I've listened to this record since the early 80's, so I may have lost objectivity. But I think it's better than the Sex pistols because the songs are so varied.

Shapeshifter said:

what does puerile mean?

silverchild said:

Hey Silvechair, London Calling is excellent, but try to wait until after Sept 21 2004 because they found lost recordings and footage of the band in a storage locker. Will come with a special edition of London Calling. Maybe you can reserve a copy at Media Play or Best Buy or your local media store. Hope this helps you. Also check out the Clash Rudeboy DVD movie from england,make sure region(o).The Essetial Clash DVD and Westway to the World DVD.Also Joe Strummer and the Mescaleroes

What about Sandinista? How is that album?

silverchild said:

Lots of the songs are the same but with variations. It's probably worth your time to get it, if you don't like it you can always sell it. The Clash has a pretty loyal following . The Liberdeens are pretty good too