For many Clash fans only the 1st three albums are considered 'classics', but Sandinista! for me stands up on its own merits and a fair share of typically strong Clash songs demand repeated listening. Much in the same way as The Beatles 'White Album' the bands creative experementation perhaps held back the album the critical praise it so rightly deserves. Sure there are a few dodgy moments on there ( Mensforth Hill and Look Here being two) but they merely show a band in full creative flow. The quality tracks far outweigh the poor ones though. Magnificent 7, Charlie don't surf, Police on my back, Crooked beat, the Call up, Lightening strikes, Junco partner & Something about england to name but a few. The best track however has to be Somebody got murdered. A classic in its own right. Sure they could have trimmed it down to double album length or even single but where's the fun in that? And if they hadn't had the guts to do it we'd have just ended up with London Calling part2. Whats the point of being in a band if you can't evolve or take different routes?
A FLAWED MASTERPIECE?
For many Clash fans only the 1st three albums are considered 'classics', but Sandinista! for me stands up on its own merits and a fair share of typically strong Clash songs demand repeated listening. Much in the same way as The Beatles 'White Album' the bands creative experementation perhaps held back the album the critical praise it so rightly deserves. Sure there are a few dodgy moments on there ( Mensforth Hill and Look Here being two) but they merely show a band in full creative flow. The quality tracks far outweigh the poor ones though. Magnificent 7, Charlie don't surf, Police on my back, Crooked beat, the Call up, Lightening strikes, Junco partner & Something about england to name but a few. The best track however has to be Somebody got murdered. A classic in its own right. Sure they could have trimmed it down to double album length or even single but where's the fun in that? And if they hadn't had the guts to do it we'd have just ended up with London Calling part2. Whats the point of being in a band if you can't evolve or take different routes?