Sandinista - The Clash

Well no-one could accuse the Clash of being lazy. After releasing three albums in three years (two of which were excellent) and the third a double-set they then produced this the following year: a TRIPLE album. Three records average out to two CDs, the first 71 minutes long and the second 74. Now that adds up to one loooooong album. The funny thing is I wouldn't necessary say it is too long. I think part of the appeal of this album is the fact that it is so vast and sprawling, not to say ambitious. Yes, yes, yes, if it had been condensed into a single album it would have been of higher quality, no doubt, but in the process it would have lost some of its mystique. I ...  Read the complete review

'Sandinista!' is an album where no musical genre, no matter how obscure, has been left out. it starts with an almost anthemic rap track, 'the magnificent seven' which is then cushioned with 'hitsville UK' directly after it which is a gospel track. It shows Joe Strummer's peak of lyric writting, and then putting those well crafted, politically ironic lyrics to music with his unmistakeable vocals, which, are an aquired taste to say the least. However, when mick jones sings lead vocals on tracks such as 'Smething About England' he acts as a bridge, a light relef, for Strummer's bleak political outlook on the world. ...  Read the complete review

Sandinista has been critically panned over the years for being over ambitious and self indulgent, but what do critics know, eh? (However I guess I'm in a critical capacity now, but i digress). Sandinista does have some duff tracks, 36 is a little excessive, 24 would have been better. However, in all the experimentation there are many outstanding momements. Basically what i like about it is that its the most disorientating album to listen to, it goes all over the place, and of course its flawed. Its the atmosphere of utter breakdown, confusion combined with moments of complete coherence. The confusion of Midnight log to the sheer confidence of Mag ...  Read the complete review

An interesting idea which, in theory, should be one of the best albums of all time, but sadly is one of the most disappointing. The idea is sound - make a huge triple album in which all the members of the Clash could allow all their influences and experimental tendencies to run riot. And so we get dub, reggae, swing, doo-wop, soul, hip-hop, disco, folk, show-tune, infant children singing 'Career Opportunities' (honest), and every other style of music in the history of record sound. Unfortunately, with the exception of a few tracks ('Magnificent Seven' and 'Somebody Got Murdered' being the best), the quality here is average at best, and at worst - ...  Read the complete review