By 1982, were The Clash past their prime? Probably - I'm saving London Calling and Sandanista for later, as their (in my humble opinion) finest albums. In fact, I don't think I had this on vinyl until long after it came out, and always felt it a disappointment after the classics which had preceded it. But, for a quid in the charity shop the CD appeared on my shelves.
Opening with the banging Know Your Rights, a great song which starts well, but seems to run out of steam, while Car Jamming plods along in a staccato fashion, likeable without being amazing. The treat you've been waiting for follows with the hit singles, Should I Stay Or Should I Go, Rock The Casbah, and Straight To Hell, all still as strong and powerful as they were 40 years ago, bookending the 'improves with listening' Simenon vocals on Red Angel Dragnet.
But after these bangers, it all feels very limp. Overpowered By Funk has a certain appeal, and Ghetto Defendant is a great example of Clash reggae but there really isn't the consistency in the lesser tracks.
The album has the sound of a band not really knowing which way to turn, and it's no surprise that Jones and Headon weren't long for the band by this point. But there's enough absolute Clash classics to drag this album up from the bottom of the pile.
3* - No album with the greats on it can be considered anything less than good, but there's something of the curate's egg about this album
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