Pick four songs from any band and you can tell a lot about their sound. This summer, I’m featuring #RockBlocks, four picks from bands across various genres. They might be wildly different from each other, but what binds them together is the fact that they’re all a part of my life soundtrack.
The fact that London Calling is universally hailed as one of the greatest rock albums of all time is a well-known fact. But what may not be as obvious is why. What the casual fan may miss is that this was not just a record by a punk rock band transitioning to new sounds. This was an album that helped build new genres from the ground up. Some say it was the first post-punk album, many describe it as a seminal new wave LP. And about halfway through it, “Clampdown” laid down the gauntlet.
In many ways, “Clampdown” sounds like the antithesis of punk rock. There’s still that Clash grit, but with it comes an unusual finesse and instrumental nuance. It’s not just an incredibly catchy song, it’s a foreshadowing of the new wave invasion. It’s an introduction to the early sounds and sensibilities of the genre with eerie resemblances to Talking Heads and Elvis Costello. What “Clampdown” made clear was that The Clash actually never lost their punk roots. Instead they brought their punk agenda to the masses.
“The men at the factory are old and cunning. You don't owe nothing, so boy, get running. It's the best years of your life they want to steal.”