RSSJoe Strummer [extended]
- Earthquake Weather [Epic, 1989] C
- Rock Art and the X-Ray Style [Hepcat, 1999]
- Global A Go-Go [Hellcat, 2001] *
- Streetcore [Hellcat, 2003]
See Also:
Consumer Guide Reviews:
Earthquake Weather [Epic, 1989]
A man without a context, Joe digs into Americana up to his elbows, up to bebop, up to Marvin Gaye, cramming obsessions and casual interests into songs as wordy and pointless as Ellen Foley's. Foley's absence is a relief, but with Joe emulating Gaye and Bird--crooning and murmuring instead of screaming and spitting, cramming in the syllables--not that much of a relief. New guitar sidekick Zander Schloss does what he can to make things worse. C
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style [Hepcat, 1999]
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros: Global A Go-Go [Hellcat, 2001]
sing-alongs for the international brotherhood of disenfranchised world-music punks ("Gamma Ray," "Bhindi Bagee") *
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros: Streetcore [Hellcat, 2003]
Joe Strummer mellowed brilliantly in life. He raised three kids, avoiding pimping himself, kept his ideals while modulating his anger. But he never focused that brilliance artistically, probably because focus wasn't his thing--the two-minute intensity of The Clash was an aberration. The Mescaleros' world-music wanderings proceed directly from 1981's Sandinista! and are best joined on 2001's Global a Go Go. This follow-up was largely complete when Strummer died in 2002, only without vocals on two reportedly rousing songs that are therefore omitted--and also, oddly, without much international color or guest flourish. Strummer is probably telling Bob Marley about its folk-rock skank right now. But there's small chance Marley will return the favor of his "Redemption Song" cover even for "Coma Girl," a lament for a lost youth culture Bob's grateful he never had to describe. [Blender: 2]
"Coma Girl"
See Also
- Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros: Streetcore [2003-11-01]
- Combat Rocker: Joe Strummer [2007-06-03]