Punk was all about year zero, but you can't really have that, much as Malcolm Mclaren and others may have pretended otherwise. 'Hate And War' comes across as something of a considered song, displays to me that The Clash really thought about the songwriting process, taking in classic Rock n Roll from the past. 'White Riot' is aptly named, less than two minutes of sheer energy although the bass line pipes through noticeably here. The song is something to sing-a-long with. 'I'm So Bored With The U.S.A' opens with a CLASSIC punk riff, very typical punk riff but even listening years later, the energy still shines through. Joe Strummer sings 'Janie Jones', Mick Jones adds his voice to 'Remote Control' - a slightly poppier punk song although still retaining 'punch' in places. 'Janie Jones' is accomplished Punk music right from the start, punchy guitar lines and a chorus with one gigantic hook. And yeah, that's a good thing, this debut, although still screaming out '1977' from the rooftops so to speak, has to my mind, stood the test of time better than 'Never Mind The Bollocks'. The power and image of The Sex Pistols may have defined UK punk at the time, but 'The Clash' has a bunch of songs that are nearly always enjoyable without the sense that here is a tank coming to crush all in it's path. Still, The Clash have the better melodies if we're talking debut albums. Rivalry? The Clash were the marginally more 'musical' of the two groups, although lacked The Sex Pistols ability to delight, frighten and disgust an entire nation in quite the same way. There was The Sex Pistols, and then The Clash. Janie Jones / Remote Control / I'm So Bored With The USA / White Riot / Hate & War / What's My Name / Deny / London's Burning / Career Opportunities / Cheat / Protex Blue / Police And Theives / 48 Hours / Garage Land

The clash sandinista review