What do you want, I entered into religion and the CLASH CLASH was my reason to live or not. I'm not naive enough to declare that it has changed my life, but it is certain that he helped to galvanize me, make me move forward, me cutesy teen without proven personality, borrowed Even so left on my worst enemy there, I do not want him to live a teenager who was mine. In this sense, it was certainly a life-saving therapy for me! I remember wandering the streets, flanked by my T SHIRTS bearing the image of the group, head high and so proud to count among their fans ...
Play the Clash was a great discovery and particularly Sandinista! some have unfairly ridiculed because of its length and, supposedly, his manager said they heaviness from indigestion I still wonder why? However, it allowed me to discover the Reggae, Funk, Soul and many other music whose musical pattern, I thought wrongly, repelled me. Also, he was a great educational opus and it reveals my hidden tastes. I can say that Sandinista! I opened the door of REGGAE, music that I became enamored.
The group has completed a Homeric and bitter struggle against their label so that this opus so at a really knockdown price. This inspires, in my case, a stratospheric respect. In England, it was sold at less than 6 pounds and France he could be tracked down to just over 70.00 francs. Do not forget that it was triple! Not content with this requirement, it has agreed to charge any royalties on the first 200,000 copies sold for such a purpose is achieved. Yes, you read that right, not 2000 or 20,000, but 200,000 for a disc by its format was not designed to make commercial cardboard. So there was no publicity stunt or contrived financial strategy related to this approach, which was completely integrated. Some then spoke of suicide in due form. Similarly, the world tour that followed was called "MISSION IMPOSSIBLE" outsourcers CBS did not want to support the group financially, so that at the end of it, it is out completely bloodless, debtor and disappointed, especially as he always scrupulously committed itself to pay the artists who provided the first part! Subsequently, Joe STRUMMER will be denied a home loan for the acquisition of a shack at the end of 1981.
The English press was merciless and so acharna and demolishing Sandinista! as it rarely did before and even after. The group was there described as "CLASH setter", "CLASH marshmallow". He was accused of having betrayed the cause and appropriately returned his jacket. But difficult to be more PUNK at the approach and intransigence, the quartet's trademark. One remembers that the group faced it with dignity and without deflate. Moreover, the welcome was reserved more positive including obtaining the price of rock critic in France in 1981.
After the shock of LONDON CALLING, the CLASH had to release a scoring drive and I think it serves its purpose well. Take the face 6. At the time, I was like yeah the CLASH have a bit exaggerated, with instrumental versions, these dubs riddled echo, these alternative times, yet truly sublime (VERSION PARDNER particular). But now, it is perhaps one of the faces I prefer. LIVING IN FAME is a reggae which we do not suspect the origin of musicians, white to boot. The rhythm section, and Simonon HEADON, is also a glowing incandescent stiff that passes from hand to hand feverishly in a studio lowland KINGSTON. Moreover, the Clash began to record some tracks in situ that could lead to an end because of the unprecedented violence and corruption that reigned at the time, marked by a campaign that smelled of sulfur . Only the fantastic JUNCO PARTNER has been etched studio CHANNEL one, legendary lair recording of this island with proven appeal. In fact, he expresses that frustration in the song KINGSTON ADVICE, inimitable piece and flamboyant style! At the time, many believed that the late MIKEY DREAD became the fifth CLASH. Indeed, it is bone on the disc and beautifully helped the group overcome its limitations by offering tidbits: ONE MORE TIME / ONE MORE DUB, one of the peaks of the disk and what top that he co-wrote with London 4. But not only, also appear LIVING IN FAME precisely which he is singing, IF MUSIC COULD TALK fabulous dub / reggae with lush brass, without forgetting THE EQUALISER. In addition, the experience continued on stage where he was cordially invited by the group to interpret the lyrics of Bankrobber ARMAGEON TIME and other huge reggae songs for a musical orgy very high class.
Well, you might say, and rock and roll in? It is present. Someboby GOT MURDERED, melodious with wish, the text is beautiful. He inspired STRUMMER after he discovered downstairs from him the commission of a horrible crime of a poor night watchman was murdered just for a few pounds. POLICE ON MY BACK highly successful resumption of EQUALS with these guitars that chime and call the emergency. Eddy Grant, the composer of the song, say that the CLASH had perfectly captured all the substance and the adoubera for this release. UP IN HEAVEN is also noteworthy, melodic and solar, THE LEADER provides a completely rockabilly movement, as well as LOG MIDNIGHT. We should also write a lot to discuss his 36 pieces! How, however, do not mention the magical Magnificen SEVEN whose pessimistic text foreshadowed working conditions that many are currently experiencing. To a lesser degree, although quite near musically, it is permitted to quote in LIGTNING STRIKES unbridled style funk / rap. THE CALL UP is a great song, anti militaristic. Pop is also emerging in favor of songs like STREET PARADE (the Beatles in their heyday could have written), CHARLIE DO NOT SURF whose melody is irresistible. These few initial piano notes announce a piece to the amazing structure: it begins with the chorus! REBEL is an amazing waltz WALTZ I associate the famous GOLDEN BROWN STRANGLERS in a frenzied tempo. There are also these securities to the Caribbean influence that LET S GO CRAZY who had to disconcert over a PUNK! WASHINGTON BULLETS and vindictive text to all dictatorships, whether of right or left. BROADWAY is a great song to jazz introduction harboring a black and depressive text. HITSVILLE UK is this chant pop, children's choirs crossing celebrating the arrival of independent labels in England. SOMETHING ABOUT ENGLAND pop in a beautiful expression is concerned about the rise of intolerance and setting the foreign index in the UK. VERSION CITY seems to go in all directions to finally reach the target: an intrusive melody that shimmers the most recalcitrant esgourdes! LOOSE THIS SKIN, played by Tymon Dogg, old accomplice STRUMMER, tu celtic punk rock crazy as funky POGUES lie down later on vinyl. FUNK also explodes, including IVAN MEETS GI JOE in an iconoclastic style, played by Topper HEADON musically in top form.
Finally, I find that this album has aged beautifully, who can boast an undated production, which is a guarantee of quality so much that it was produced by the group itself helped MIKEY DREAD . The last piece SHEPHERDS DELIGHT which closes the album is remarkable in a non-identifiable style almost. Is it perhaps an acoustic dub with crystalline arpeggios. It reminds me of nostalgia and brilliance of time passing. Overpower again and again 35 years later, I'm a fan of the Clash and Sandinista! retains a special place in my heart. So, objectively, how this album is full of bad bits? While it is probably not PERFECT, but it breathes the joy of living, the desire to create, to overcome the straitjacket of stereotypical rock and the will to move forward without turning on the past or attempt to capitalize appropriately. What good remake a bis LONDON CALLING? Of course, his detractors may thrive on this surplus, guilty in their eyes of a self mocking and inappropriate complacency. At least, they had the courage to go through with this process. However, all is a total success if we take into account also the will of the group to have made every effort, in DETRIMENT, to make available the largest number. No doubt he has not consistency from LONDON CALLING, nor his wit yet it goes beyond the music because of its openness, its unfailing integrity and his faith in that it offers an album truly unique and magnified by a cohort of styles that is breathtaking and sometimes admiration.
Even the object is beautiful in its vinyl livery. The photo of the black and white cover is the group photograph taken in a dark place of disused LONDON. A beautiful booklet containing the texts of words with BD as an illustration figure also there! A very beautiful object.
I would like to dedicate this column to Sylvie C emeritus English professor who introduced me and passionately love the CLASH. I also dedicate to my parents who are no longer with us and who have often shown great tolerance when I listened to this "crazy music", "us with his beard he CLASH" they said .. . May they be eternally thanked. And of course the group itself, responsible for making me spend real moments of happiness.
