Classic Track Thursday

this song, as well as the ass kickingly spectacular debut album it derives from, is so much fun to sing along to. when I go on Clash binges, I seriously ponder getting knuckle tattoos of "h a t e & w a r"

I'm glad I'm so broke, otherwise I'd have a lot of permanent reminders of how whimsical I can be. and how unemployable ; )

The Clash - Hate & War [mp3]
from The Clash (1977)

because the Clash will always be cooler than you and your grandmother too. also, this happens to be my favourite dance album. I realize that it isn't "dance music" per se, but punk music >>> house music, any day of the week.


PS I think my favourite bit of Westway to the World was hearing about their DIY clothes XD

Joe Strummer is law...

...you are crime

The Clash - Spanish Bombs [mp3]

this post was just an excuse to flaunt my love for London Calling.

The Clash's drummer discusses "Rock the Casbah"

via Rolling Stone:

Topper has no memory of his original lyrics, though former Clash co-manager Kosmo Vinyl told us it was a filthy ode to Headon’s girlfriend. "He had really pornographic lyrics for it if I remember correctly," Vinyl says. "Very, very pornographic lyrics."

Strummer decided to take the song in a different direction. His inspiration came from the Clash’s other manager, Bernie Rhodes, who asked the band, "Does everything have to be as long as a raga?" after a particularly long take of the track "Sean Flynn."

"I got back to the hotel that night and wrote on a typewriter, 'The King told the boogie men You gotta get that raga drop,' " Strummer said shortly before he died in 2002. "I looked at it and for some reason I started to think about what someone had told me earlier, that you get lashed for owning a disco album in Iran."

you can even stream audio of Topper playing the different parts of the song on a piano, which is pretty cool.

The Clash - Rock the Casbah (live, Shea Stadium) [mp3]

The Clash- Westway to the World

there's an employee at the Rasputin record store in Berkeley who loves The Clash. months ago, she recommended that I watch the documentary about the only band that matters called Westway to the World, and wrote down the name on a slip of paper for me. I recently found the paper, and last night I watched it.

the film is quite excellent, it starts at the very beginning, before Topper joined the band, and it even goes into why Mick and Topper were both kicked out. it has loads of ace live footage and is vital watching for any fan of the Clash, casual or obsessive. I consider myself in the latter category and I still learned loads

the entire thing can be viewed on YOUTUBE. check it out!

The Clash - Guns of Brixton [mp3]
this track off London Calling has always been one of my favourite Clash tracks. it was written and sung by bassist Paul Simonon (whom I still have a massive crush on), reflecting his ongoing fascination with reggae tunes.

NME reveals the stories behind 25 bands names

it's an interesting read. I knew a lot of these stories already

my favourite, by far, is the first one

"The Clash's name came to bassist Paul Simonon when he was reading the paper and kept noticing the word 'clash' cropping up in news reports. Prior to that, the band had considered calling themselves either The Weak Heartdrops or The Psychotic Negatives."

thank goodness for newspapers!

The Clash - What's My Name [mp3]

happy sexy awesome Obama day everyone!

FINALLY.

now, there are plenty of patriotic songs floating the internets in honour of this glorious day, but I am going to post something different. something that is sexy and awesome, like PRESIDENT OBAMA.

may I present...

my favourite Clash song.

THE CLASH - ROCK THE CASBAH [mp3]

Band of the Week: The Clash

Ok, I'm cheating. Band of the week is about exposing you lovely readers to obscure indie bands that actually make tasty tunes. But I've been listening to nothing but The Clash ALL WEEK. I've been humming "Rock the Casbah" for ages (I love that song particularly because I was raised Muslim and my parents HATE my love for "the rock n roll"). Hot damn this band is the coolest. By far the best punk act. London Calling is a fucking masterpiece.

So if you guys have not yet worshiped this band, I suggest that you start very very soon. Download one of their songs below and go out to your local record store and get their eponymous debut on vinyl. Or I'd recommend this compilation -> The Clash - The Singles. But vinyl >>> everything else so yeah.

One of my favourite things about this band is the timelessness of their lyrics. Another is how they pack so much punch in such short songs.

Here's a cool website dedicated to all things Clash.

The Clash - Cheat [mp3]

fucking sweet guitar solo.

ahh frustration

gah I'm studying like crazy for my Shakespeare midterm...I really want Neon Bible and Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer but I must resist...I have far too many unopened CDs as it is and I don't have time to do them justice. plus I'm broke. *le sigh*

once my exam is over on Tuesday, I will party-hardy (it's my roommate's birthday that day hurrah!) and then get around to reviewing the Division Day and Music for Animals concerts...ah and I want to read The Struggle That Must Be...and I've gotta start my history paper sometime soon...it's due in a few weeks (and I must research for it...)

but, let's look at the bright side: I found a ticket for the Vampire Weekend show at Rickshaw Stop! and then there's MCR, Panic and The Hush Sound, The Honorary Title, The Dodos, SSLYBY and the Morning Benders to look forward to! sadly, DCFC tix sold out before I even woke up last week. but oh well live music is live music. I am pissed that The Kooks aren't coming to SF for their US tour though.

anyhow, this is a music blog after all, so I'm including a playlist of mp3s that I feel appropriately describe my mood.

The Clash-White Riot [mp3]
Weezer-Why Bother[mp3]
Arctic Monkeys-Brianstorm [mp3]
The Vines-Get Free [mp3]
Babyshambles-Fuck Forever [mp3]
Kings of Leon-Red Morning Light [mp3]
The Strokes-The End Has No End [mp3]

enjoyyy