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I've Got Rabies From the Dogs of Love for This Album!

sgtpeeper | 04/03/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the first review of an album I've done on Amazon. I'm listening to it right now, and I'm just driven to tell everyone.... this is awesome! I love it. It is a must for fans of Joe Strummer. Don't expect The Clash. This is nothing like any Clash album. This is very Beatles-esque for the most part. It shows a lot of early, leather-clad rock influence.



BTW, I bought the club version, which is manufactured for BMG. I was worried about that a bit, but no longer. Sounds awesome, and the packaging is excellent, with liner notes and lyrics. I was also worried about the anti-piracy notes on the back which are not present on the non-club version. I burn backup copies of my cds not to pirate, but to use in my car. I have successfully burned a backup copy of this and other club cds."

3 STAR R 'N R

Cromulus | Rome | 01/31/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The chances are good that most people who will look to get this CD are Clash fans or Joe Strummer fans and as such, they will be pleased to know that this CD has some highlights that make it worth owning. The first cut on the CD, "letsgeatabitofrockin'" is a righteous rocking cut that has Joe channeling early Lennon and McCartney though instantly recognizable as the future voice of The Clash.



Included is an early version of "Junco Partner" and the keen ear will recognize bits of songs that ended up being used on other Clash tunes (vocal line to "Julie's in The Drug Squad" and "Jail Guitar Doors").



There are a number of live cuts here - A Van Morrison cover - It's little wonder that most punkers chose to cover "Gloria". It's a simple song to play but Strummer's band is more than capable of moving beyond the three cord formula which they prove on their fast and rollicking version of Maybellene and their version of The Stones' "Out Of time".



The CD is an interesting footnote to Strummer's career and I'm glad to have found it but it's not as good as the first 4 Clash CDs are (not much out there is) and Joe became much, much better after forming the Clash. Perhaps that's why very few of these songs were ever cannibalized for the Clash catalogue.



Bottom line is this: Worth owning for all Clash, Strummer and diehard punk and rock 'n roll fans. Everyone else should move on to something else (like the first 4 Clash, first 4 Ramones, first 10 Rolling Stones, etc)."