Title: This is punk's "White Album"
Review: I must admit to being only a recent devotee of The Clash, but I must also take issue with the incessant shoehorning of the group into the "punk" category (especially prevalent in every news story following the death of punk pioneer Joey Ramone). While their debut LP may certainly fit this label, it should have been quickly shed by this, their third release. Like The Beatles' "White Album" jack-of-all-pop-trades before it, "London Calling" defies typecasting, offering a glimpse into The Clash's future of weaving even more musical styles into their music. Here, we get the new wave/Elvis Costello-ish "Spanish Bombs" (my favorite Clash song); "Lost in the Supermarket," which sounds like a page from the Difford/Tilbrook Squeeze catalog; the pure power pop of "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)"; Marley-ish reggae ("Revolution Rock"); as well as good ol' under-two-minutes (1:48 to be exact) punk like "Koka Kola."THIS is the true sound of Radio Clash.
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