London Calling Review: Punk Grows Up
10/10 — The Clash - London Calling (1979)
Pros
- Remarkable stylistic range
- Classic songs
- Fierce political passion
Cons
- Slightly overlong
- A few weaker cuts
London Calling, the Clash’s third album, opens with a nuclear-age warning and then ranges across styles for 19 tracks. It was produced by Guy Stevens and was a huge hit in the UK and, eventually, in the US.
What works
The title track, ‘Train in Vain’ and ‘Spanish Bombs’ are classics, and the sprawling variety, including ‘Rudie Can’t Fail’ and ‘Jimmy Jazz’, shows a band stretching beyond three-chord punk. The anger and conscience are everywhere.
Where it falters
It’s long, with a couple of tracks that overstay, and some purists lament the departure from raw punk.
Verdict
A bold, passionate and endlessly rewarding double album.
