Album Review: Combat Rock

I have wanted to do a Clash album for a long while now. It's hard when there are only 5 and a half Clash albums to review. The Clash were well known for giving you music worth your money, relevant in their last two releases London Calling and Sandanista!. Indeed, this was to be a double album as well before they decided to just do a single album release. And what a single album it is.

This is very much their Abbey Road for them, as this was the last album they all did as a foursome before they split: a solid album going back to basics and giving the fans what they wanted and saying farewell on a high note. Except it didn't start out that way. Between Mick Jones(the most unsung guitar hero ever) fighting and acting like a rock star and Topper Headon( the most unsung drummer ever) battling a raging heroin addiction, the worlds most important(and best) band was coming apart(probably good for the sake of U2). This was both their last albums before they were fired, but not before they both created two of the greatest Clash and rock songs ever, 'Rock the Casbah'(Topper) and 'Should I Stay or Should I Go'(Mick). The rest of the songs are great pop rock songs, with lyrics of the punk rock that made them famous. You may recognize more songs off this album them you realize.

But the crowning achievement of the album, and of the Clash is the 6th song: 'Straight to Hell'. This song, so unlike the band, is the song that the band members were most proud of. Take a listen to it, and tell me if you've heard it before. It proved to be the bands last classic song.

Overall, as a final album it proves that the band may have been greater then the Beatles. The Clash were able to get fans a following, respect, a reputation, great records, fame and a legacy unmatched by any band of the last 25 years. All in 5 years. Not even the Beatles could do it that quickly. And given what happened to the Beatles, maybe it's good it wasn't so quick. The Clash, I salute you.

Rating: 4.5/5