Vince White's book is more an unflinching portrayal of alcoholism than a Clash biography as such. It's kinda great though.
― kaleb h. (Everything You Like Sucks), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 01:38 (eleven years ago) link
Just checking this out for the first time. I guess we're experiencing a shortage of gimmick hungry yobs digging gold from rock n roll, because Death Or Glory is far, far too low.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 02:57 (eleven years ago) link
"I'm So Bored" is the 2nd of my top 5 to show up (way too low). I love the punchy syncopated rhythm guitar on the verses, and the blare and roar of the chorus. Maybe my favorite punk song (or at least part of a foursome with "God Save the Queen," "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "Oh Bondage Up Yours").
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 03:04 (eleven years ago) link
yeah it has that classic punk sneer and bop
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 03:06 (eleven years ago) link
― kornrulez6969, Tuesday, July 16, 2013
hey at least someone had the foresight to give it a #1 vote
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 03:38 (eleven years ago) link
Death Or Glory was my 2. I can't say my #1 cause it hasn't come up yet, but it's a lock for the top 5 and is just so immense there was no way I couldn't put it at the top.
― kornrulez6969, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 03:44 (eleven years ago) link
i didn't vote, so not complaining or anything, just noticing:
astonished and very very pleased that sandinista was #2 album. i always thought that album divided fans in a big way. astonished and a touch saddened that the debut album wasn't #1, but maybe the two versions split too many votes?
and i'm crying here over the terribly low ranking of the great mick moment "stay free."
― fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 04:49 (eleven years ago) link
as I noted in voting thread, written by Joe for Mick
so bummed this poll didn't happen next year
(but great to see fcc popping up for it!)
― eau de feet (sic), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 05:43 (eleven years ago) link
Xpost -- had no idea that was Pearl Jam until the end. I joined a friend's band onstage to cover it once. Great song and in my top 5. The echo on Mock's guitar there (and throughout combat rock) is a thing of beauty.
Surprise Armagideoj Time was not top ten. You know it would have made Joe's top ten!
― Marcus / Xgau - Whose Century? (broom air), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 06:24 (eleven years ago) link
anyone read this?
https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1312046823l/804111.jpg
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 06:25 (eleven years ago) link
Mick's (no disrespect meant)
Armagideon. Damn iPad. Stupid capital P autocorrect
― Marcus / Xgau - Whose Century? (broom air), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 06:26 (eleven years ago) link
Riot of Our Own is a must-read, though I think only covers a couple of years.
Don Letts' documentary was surprisingly disappointing. He directed the punk and the dance/hip hop episodes of the WGBH history of rock and roll and they are really worth seeking out. But the Clash doc imo is a bit too safe.
― Marcus / Xgau - Whose Century? (broom air), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 06:29 (eleven years ago) link
That book is great 'fun', and it had a lot to do with 'Return of the last gang in town' being much better. (Sorry, Josh)
― Mark G, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 06:40 (eleven years ago) link
I think it's aged remarkably well. It's taken decades for me to come around on it, but whenever a track from it comes up on shuffle I end up listening to the rest of the album from that point. I wish more bands could be as confidently shambling as the Clash. I guess Exile On Main St. was an outlier album for a long-time too.
― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 08:53 (eleven years ago) link
The lyrics are the big weak point for me. It sounds like it was put together in a hurry, which can be carried by a good groove and a great producer, but you can't paper over lyrics or tunes.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 08:55 (eleven years ago) link
I think the lyrics are amazing.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 09:07 (eleven years ago) link
Listening to it a lot over the past few weeks that's what has really stood out for me.
I'm kind of amazed by how excited I am about this poll. You all voted White Man #1 too, right?
― campreverb, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 11:51 (eleven years ago) link
shh.
― Mark G, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 12:39 (eleven years ago) link
If both versions of the self-titled album were counted together, that'd be #1 and knock everything down a spot, remember (assuming that there weren't a ton of people who voted for both)
― king of steens (some dude), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 12:46 (eleven years ago) link
I did not vote "White Man" #1, but I could have, and if it was today, I might have!
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 13:50 (eleven years ago) link
I didn't either, but I would be perfectly happy with it as a poll winner.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 14:14 (eleven years ago) link
Outside the top 5 would be a travesty.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 14:16 (eleven years ago) link
I can't claim to be unbiased (Clash fan and all), but I love the Letts documentary to pieces. It's got their warmest interviews, touches on everything I would, and has the momentum of their music. Julien Temple's Strummer doc is a perfect compliment. I saw that another doc screened in Minneapolis last year, but anything non-ironically titled the Rise and Fall of anything feels like bad news.
― Pete Scholtes, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 14:21 (eleven years ago) link
Bearing in my mind my poor track record of predicting poll results I'm going to say White Man #1, Train in Vain #2 and Guns of Brixton #3. A nice Joe/Mick/Paul Top 3.
― Deafening silence (DL), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 15:04 (eleven years ago) link
My guess would be "Complete Control," but I'm off on a lot of these too.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 15:08 (eleven years ago) link
Complete Control was my #1, iirc. Didn't vote Train. Or Guns, I don't think!
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 15:19 (eleven years ago) link
We're taking it to the top, then.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 15:28 (eleven years ago) link
My 100% track record of wrong predictions looks safe.
― Deafening silence (DL), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 16:07 (eleven years ago) link
All three of predicted top 3 are in my top 10, but Complete Control is my #1. TO THE TOP!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 16:09 (eleven years ago) link
*DL's predicted top 3
I don't even know how this is being scored - songs with eight votes scoring near double the total of songs with fourteen votes makes me think this might all look a bit weird up top.
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 16:37 (eleven years ago) link
I downloaded a vinyl rip of "Sandinista!" that breaks the album down into side by side blocks. It is a better way to listen than the double-CD, by far!
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 16:41 (eleven years ago) link
20. Bankrobber/Robberdub - 399 pts - 21 votes - 1 #1
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/7004/h92d.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:19 (eleven years ago) link
19. Career Opportunities - 406 pts - 26 votes
http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/6566/sewu.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:38 (eleven years ago) link
Promising start to the top 20 so far.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:40 (eleven years ago) link
Nice. I was never a huge fan of "Bankrobber" but it is widely beloved enough to be Top 20. "Career Opportunities, on the other hand, kicks ass and should be higher.
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:41 (eleven years ago) link
If there was one track that pushed me into liking dub, it was "Bankrobber". I love it.
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:42 (eleven years ago) link
Thought "Career Opportunities" might place higher.
"Bankrobber" was Top 5 for me, so glad it got a #1 vote. And since no one commented on it at the start of the thread....OMG @ that TOTP clip!
― The Butthurt Locker (cryptosicko), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:42 (eleven years ago) link
So far 14 of mine have placed.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:52 (eleven years ago) link
And yeah I would have thought CO would have placed higher too. It was my #4.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:53 (eleven years ago) link
Same here, including half of my top ten.
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
15 of mine have placed so far. CO wasn't in my top 10, but I assumed it was a lock for the top 10.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
clash are one of those bands where there are 15-20 locks for the top 10 tho
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:56 (eleven years ago) link
Only two of my top 10 have placed - CO and I'm Not Down.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:57 (eleven years ago) link
MY NUMBER ONE BETTER BE THE NUMBER ONE BECAUSE IT IS THE BEST SONG EVER PERIOD.
― Airwrecka Bliptrap Blapmantis (ENBB), Wednesday, 17 July 2013 17:58 (eleven years ago) link
18. Rock the Casbah - 441 pts - 25 votes
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/1607/5ply.jpg
― Gukbe, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
some big names being taken in the high teens
― Roberto Spiralli, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 18:03 (eleven years ago) link
Cool. Does that include votes for "Mustapha Dance"?
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 17 July 2013 18:04 (eleven years ago) link