Joe Strummer, Mescaleros - Global a Go-Go
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Free Music Notes for Global a Go-Go
Free Music Review: We missed ye, Joe!
Hit: 4 Stars
"Global A Go Go" is the second solo album of Joe Strummer's post-Clash career, an era of time marked most by his notable absence from the music scene. It's also one of the most interesting albums to come out this year, one that brings with each listen a new discovery in addition to it's obvious wealth of ideas. Starting off with some delicate acoustic picking paired with a bubbly electric piano, the lead track of "Johnny Appleseed" quickly comes to life with the appearance of that familiar raspy voice before exploding into a jovial bouqet of guitars, flute, violin and singalong voices. That's when it becomes clear that this is most certainly NOT Radio Clash-but the words and ideas of a veteran punk who is ready to grow up but not grow old. At least not without a good'n'proper fight. He's broadened his musical tastes and wordly ideas without losing the attitude or edge that made him punk rock's only live wire who was smart enough not to let his ego do him in. Pairing his ideaology and intelligence with the eclectic musicality of the Mescaleros, songs like "Cool'n'Out", the title track, and "Bhindi Bhagee" are both lyrically and musically accomplished. There's even a gorgeous ballad(!) with "Mondo Bongo". Like his 1999 recording with the Mescaleros "Rock Art and the X-ray Style", this undertaking is sonically ambitious but also considerably more focused. It must be said that album occasinally makes a mess out of itself. The songs are so heavily produced they sometimes tend to fall over one another sometimes, but if it's a mess then it is a glorious mess. Listening to this album, it's hard to believe this is the work of the same guy who led the Clash through snotty-but-socially-conscious tunes like "Career Opportunities" or even the same guy who masterminded (or actually disasterminded) the band's reprehensable swan song "Cut The Crap". No, Joe Strummer is clearly not concerned with his past glories but rather with future accomplishments. The fact that there aren't as many people listening doesn't seem to deter him-the people that ARE listening are the only people he's making music for.Free Music Review: A chapter in one of the great unwritten stories in music
Hit: 4 Stars
In the US at least, the spectre of the 1960's still prevails as the last important era in music. Yet many of these artists dried up creatively by the mid-1970's, and have since made do with nostalgia tours and mediocre albums. Across the pond, by contrast, the punk and post-punk generation is still making quality music, all while ignored by the American music establishment. Billy Bragg, Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Lloyd Cole, Elvis Costello, and the like are still full of ideas and great tunes. This album is indicative of this. The cd lives up to its name - it pulls in influences as discrete as reggae, Celtic, and even Hindi (in Bhindi Bhagee). But it's not a parody of world music (like, say, John Tesh's One World cd - wait a minute, why am I mentioning Joe Strummer and John Tesh in the same paragraph?); it's still Joe, with his cigarette-molded raspy voice, and his knack for great music. The Mescaleros are in fine form, and from the first song (Johnny Appleseed - great straight-ahead rock song) to the almost-18-minute long Minstrel Boy (which doesn't bore you - it mesmerizes you) you'll enjoy this album.
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Free Music Review: Joe and His Mescaleros Make Good
Hit: 4 Stars
Former Clash frontman Joe Strummer delivers the goods (with his boys The Mescaleros). Not since the days of The Clash have we seen Joe in such fine form with his music. He has come into his own distinctive sound, and maturity in Joe has produced some brave new sounds for him. The result? We get the folk rock song: "Johnny Appleseed", the ethnically diverse: "Bindee Biaghee" and a reminescent taste of what the Clash could sound like today with "Coolin' Out". By the way Rolling Stone Mag. featured an article in its Dec. 2002 random news column that Mick and Joe were seen rockin out together at a November charity benefit in London. They played some great old favs like: London's Burning, White Riot, and Bankrobber. I really wish these guys would just put there differences aside and get back together (hint, hint)!! They don't need to do the same exact music as before but we'd all love to see what they could come up with now. Anyway kudos to Joe and his boys for a job well done on "Global A Go-Go". Do yourself a favor, and pick up a copy. There are no regrets.Free Music Review: Bhindi Bhagee Rides Again...
Hit: 4 Stars
Strummers third solo album, (lets not forget "Earthquake Weather"), takes us for a wild ride with a swirling blend of ethnic percussion,folk, reggae, and celtic music. Joe doesnt loose his message of freedom in all this, and his cool savvy Clashish style remians. Maturity is a blessing for Joe, who is the only member of the Clash brave enough to still be "Cool-N'-Out". Way to go Joe! I gave this album 4 stars because I still have a hard time understanding the lyrics to some of his songs, (I think he uses his own language), and Minstrel Boy was an intersting idea,(esp. since Joe sang with the Pogues), however I felt like it could've been shortened, and yet still would've made it's impact on the album. All in all, Global A Go-Go's music was Strummers best yet, and I look forward to his next album.Free Music Review: Mescaleros Mature
Hit: 4 Stars
Ah, Joe, nearing 50 are we? I've grown up with Strummer and didn't realize how much I missed him in the decade hiatus between "Earthquake Weather" (which is better than many give credit for) and "Rock Art and X-Ray Style". On the Mescaleros second outing, the sound has matured and Joe sounds as confident as ever. Most appealing is that he has lost none of his wit or candor over the years. Great CD!To correct a previous reviewer, Strummer was NOT resposible for the Clash swan song, "Cut the Crap". His manager Bernie Rhoads grabbed some demo tapes and studio musicians to hash that monstrosity out while Joe was on holiday. If you've ever heard a Clash II bootleg or seen them live (as I did), you know that even without Topper Headon and Mick Jones they were a band to reckon with!