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The Clash - Sandinista! Audio CD

A fair review of the The Clash "Sandinista!" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Clash reviews here, or go back to the The Clash tabs.

The Clash Band: The Clash
Title: Sandinista!
Rating:
Release Date: 2000-01-25
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Magnificent Seven 2: Hitsville U.K. 3: Junco Partner 4: Ivan Meets G.I. Joe 5: Leader 6: Something About England 7: Rebel Waltz 8: Look Here 9: Crooked Beat 10: Somebody Got Murdered 11: One More Time 12: One More Dub 13: Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice) 14: Up in Heaven (Not Only Here) 15: Corner Soul 16: Let's Go Crazy 17: If Music Could Talk 18: Sound of Sinners 19: Police on My Back 20: Midnight Log 21: Equaliser 22: Call Up 23: Washington Bullets 24: Broadway 25: Lose This Skin 26: Charlie Don't Surf 27: Mensforth Hill 28: Junkie Slip 29: Kingston Advice 30: Street Parade 31: Version City 32: Living in Fame 33: Silicone on Sapphire 34: Version Pardner 35: Career Opportunities 36: Shepherds Delight

The Magnificent Seven, indeed
Something About England, One More Time, The Sound of Sinners, and Midnight Log are okay. I would say that out of Sandinista's 36 tracks, only 7 actually qualify as good: The Magnificent Seven, Somebody Got Murdered, Up in Heaven, Police On My Back, The Call Up, Washington Bullets, and Charlie Don't Surf. Perhaps with these 11 tracks, Sandanista would have been a more cohesive- but still not great- album. Unfortunately, there are 25 other tracks, most of which are practically unlistenable.

I don't mind a band expanding its sound and going experimental, as long as they remember to keep themselves in check and don't over-indulge. Remember, less is more. I've read the stories behind the creation of this album, but in the end, it's the music that matters, and in this regard, Sandanista is simply awful. .


Rebels just wanna go crazy
Definitely great. Bumped to three LPs in an effort to stick it to Bruce Springsteen, "Sandinista!" is excessive, like they say, messy, like they say, but not self-indulgent, like some say. It doesn't get old for me: I don't mind being carried off by the experimental dubs, since the obvious stand-outs, of which there are quite a few ("Somebody Got Murdered," "Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)," "Broadway," and "The Street Parade," to name some of my favorites), make stalwart buoys. Maybe if one were to cut these 36 tracks into one record's worth of songs, it might be a better album, but it wouldn't be nearly as interesting. Call it punk's "White Album" if you have to. I'm very happy with calling it "Sandinista!," forgetting all the coulda-been-shoulda-been's and just letting the music play.


Hall of Fame, No Question


OK, maybe I got a little carried away there, but as I listen to Somebody Got Murdered on a hot NYC summer night, it wasn't much of a stretch. Leave aside the silly lefty romanticism with the wretched Sandinistas, leave aside the reality that some of the songs really don't measure up, and remember instead the outrageous ambition (36 songs! 3 albums in vinyl!), the commitment, the rage against Thatcherism, and the ability -- on an amazing number of tracks -- to channel all that into music as vital nearly thirty years on as on the day the tracks were first laid down. Here's the evidence, aside from Somebody, Magnificent Seven, Hitsville U. K. , Junco Partner, Ivan Meets G. I. Joe, Something About England, Crooked Beat, Corner Soul, Sound of the Sinners, Police on My Back, Charlie Don't Surf, and -- the one that knocks me out every time I hear it -- Lose This Skin. So that's a dozen and I didn't even stop to think.

This is for all time. .


Kind of a Mess
This album had the misfortune to be the follow up to London Calling which of course is the Clash's masterpiece in every way. Way too long (the original release was 3 full length LP's!) and way too inconsistent. There are many great songs on here no doubt (it's The Clash) but you've got to wade through too much filler to get to them. Maybe this album is rewarding to those who had the patience to stick it out. In the almost 30 years since it's release though, I've never been able to understand why this album is highly regarded by anyone. If I were just building my Clash repertoire, I'd start with the first one, go to London Calling, then do Combat Rock. Come back to this one if you still haven't gotten your Clash fill. The music on here will last you a lifetime no doubt.


A real surprise! A gem!
When I finally mustered up the courage to give it a listen, I was both elated and embarrassed: elated because the songs are outstanding and flow so well and embarrassed because I let my prejudices prevent me from listening to this album sooner. I put off listening to this album because of all the negative reviews, though I heard a selection of songs included on The Essential Clash.

Do whatever you need to get your hands on this album. It'll make you feel like a man.


You can see a complete list of all The Clash discography, or go back to the The Clash tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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