What I learned to play
So yeah. Tanis beat me to the punch, but its the seventh anniversary of Joe Strummer’s death. Which totally sucked.
I remember the day, I remember reading the news on the internet. I remember feeling bad that I hadn’t listened to the Clash more. That’s my situation: the Strummer legacy for me, aside from London Calling, consists mostly of his late 90’s/early 00’s semi-solo output.
I remember living with Tanis in our basement apartment in Manitoba, blasting Global A Go-Go, the most recognized of Strummer’s work with the Mescaleros, from time to time. I remember how much we both loved that album, though I don’t remember if we ever really talked about it at length. I remember how excited I was when it first came out, having fallen in love with previous release Rock Art & the X-Ray Style. I loved its simplicity, its bare-bones vaguely-world music arrangements, a soundscape worlds away from the even the Clash’s most far-reaching sounds. He just sounded so joyous in those songs, like he was being reborn.
See, London Calling has an incredible legacy and is a record that the everyone ever should be familiar with. But I’ll admit, I don’t own any other Clash records. I’ve never seen a need. I know London Calling is their apex. I’ve heard the rest, but they don’t stack up. I don’t know anyone who disagrees.
But I adore Strummer’s work with the Mescaleros. I don’t know how they found each other but there’s a synergistic musical kinship that sews their three albums together in a magical way. There’s nary a bad note in the bunch. Even the 17+ minute “Minstrel Boy”, which closes out Global A Go-Go doesn’t get the skip button.
Its a sad day but a beautiful legacy to enjoy, regardless of what era you prefer. I guess that’s the point I’m trying to make.
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - X-Ray Style [4:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Get Down Moses [5:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - the Road To Rock and Roll [3:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadGet your Strummer/Mescaleros albums from Anti- Records.
Aw, I remember those nights, too. Taco nights. Also, I love that though we both used different tags, we both managed to use “legend.”
Joe is the shit.