Il lavoro d’esordio dei Clash rischia di essere frainteso. Sbaglia chi lo considera un fratellino minore di “Nevermind The Bollocks” e sbaglia chi lo considera un disco sfrenato e rivoltoso. Certo, è ruvido e le parole lo sono ancora di più; ma è già distaccato dal punk dei Pistols. È un’evoluzione di quel punk. Sotto il profilo strettamente contenutistico, questo disco potrebbe essere tranquillamente considerato il migliore disco punk. Ma giustamente non è considerato tale, proprio per quella filosofia punk che diceva “meglio un fiasco chiassoso che un inutile successo”. Infatti questo disco è troppo ben riuscito per poter aspirare ad essere il massimo rappresentante del punk. Concessi i testi e l’approccio rivoltoso, ascoltando attentamente il disco, si può notare un’evoluzione rispetto al punk originario. Nella sua potenza e sfrenatezza, c’è già un gusto estetico e una capacità di variare i temi musicali pur rientrando nei canoni del genere, davvero notevole.
Al fianco dei pezzi più spaccaossa come “White Riot” o ”London’s Burning” ce ne sono molti altri davvero originali e freschi più di qualsiasi brano punk mai fatto, come“ (White Man” In Hammersmith Palais” o “Police & Thieves”. Altra caratteristica fondamentale è la sincerità. “The Clash” è più che altro una raccolta di inni di battaglia. Il gruppo non ci pensa nemmeno ai suoi guadagni; mette tutti i suoi brani migliori (fino a quel momento) in un unico lavoro, noncurante del marketing. E questo è molto punk! Si parte con “Clash City Rockers”, riff secco, voce aspra e velocità. Ma non è il punk mefistofelico dei Pistols. È veloce, ma anche melodico ed orecchiabile. Insomma sembra già punk-rock. Il miglior punk-rock di sempre. “I’m So Bored With The U. S. A.” accentua le tematiche politiche del gruppo. Altro riff ad alta tensione, altra melodia perfetta. Il refrain sembra davvero un inno di rivolta. Con “Remote Control” si inizia a delineare chiaramente il forte gusto melodico del gruppo. Non è un pezzo leggero, è forte e ben scandito, ma si fonde con la melodia allettante in modo esemplare. “Complete Control” è ancora meglio. Una fusione impeccabile di chitarre sferzanti, motivi godibili, ritmica incalzante e momenti suggestivi di dolcezza. Ah! C’è anche un assolo! Il tutto in circa tre minuti. A posteriori, risultano chiari gli sviluppi (vedi London Calling e Sandinista!) dell’epopea Clash... “White Riot” è un brano come dire… rivoltoso! È una scarica di elettricità. Si avvicina più ad un coro popolare che ad una canzone. Rappresenta l’anima ribelle dei primi Clash“ (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” risulta strana a sentirla le prime volte. Un’ondata di chitarre (bellissima), unita però a dolci coretti. Tutto il brano segue quest’ibrido suggestivo e ben riuscito. Canto spezzato, a volte aspro a volte dolce. Punto massimo quando entra l’armonica e si fonde con la trama sonora della canzone. Piacere puro. Perfetta in tutte le sue parti. “London’s Burning” è un pezzo incisivo. Non come “White Riot”, ma comunque trasmette rabbia e sudore. Sincero e genuino come tutte le canzoni dei Clash. “I Fought The Law” inizia con un rombo di batteria. Ha un bel ritmo deciso ed una melodia ancora meglio. Tra le canzoni dei Clash più famose. “Janis Jones” è un continuo crescendo che si chiude con cori spensierati. “Carter Opportunities” è un pezzo veloce. La batteria ha un ruolo fondamentale nel dettare i tempi ma soprattutto negli stacchi tra una strofa e l’altra. Naturalmente i Clash ci propongono l’ennesima melodia superlativa. “What’s My Name” è il brano più fiacco del disco. Ma comunque non male. “Hate & War” si avvicina al rock più classico, mantenendo la forza della musica punk. “Police & Thieves” è tra le canzoni più belle del disco. Davvero originale. Ruota intorno alla batteria; la chitarra abbozza qualche nota qua e là, condita da coretti e il canto che ricorda vagamente il reggae. “Jail Guitar Doors” è allegra e scanzonata. Pur non essendo il massimo dell’originalità, non risulta ridondante. Come succede spesso nei dischi dei Clash l’ultrima traccia è riassuntiva dell’intero disco. “Garageland”; melodia accattivante e con varie sfumature di tono, cori, chitarre elettriche, ritmica forte fanno di questo brano una degna chiusura per un disco sensazionale.
Non aspettatevi da “The Clash” solo nichilismo punk, perché troverete molto altro. I Clash nel ’77 dimostravano già la loro vena melodica e la loro capacità di variare e quindi di non stancare mai. Ma se cercate questo, ascoltatevi prima gli altri lavori del gruppo perché qui la cosa fondamentale è una sola: LA RIVOLTA!!
Elenco tracce testi samples e video
01 Clash City Rockers (03:49)
And I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
You see the rate they come down the escalator
Now listen to the tube train accelerator
Then you realise that you got to have a purpose
Or this place is gonna knock you out sooner or later
So don't complain about your useless employment
Jack it in forever tonight
Or shut your mouth and pretend you enjoy it
Think of all the money you've got
And I wanna liquefy everybody gone dry
Or plug into the aerials that poke up in the sky
Or burn down the suburbs with the half-closed eyes
You won't succeed unless you try
So don't complain about your useless employment
Jack it in forever tonight
Or shut your mouth (shut it) and pretend you enjoy it
Think of all the money you've got, yeah yeah
Yes, I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
You owe me a move say the bells of St. Groove
Come on and show me say the bells of old Bowie
When I am fitter say the bells of Gary Glitter
No one but you and I say the bells of Prince Far-I
No one but you and I say the bells of Prince Far-I
And I wanna move the town to the Clash City Rockers
You need a little jump of electrical shockers
You better leave town if you only wanna knock us
Nothing stands the pressure of the Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
Rock rock, Clash City Rockers
02 I'm So Bored With the U.S.A. (02:25)
Yankee soldier
He wanna shoot some skag
He met it in Cambodia
But now he can't afford a bag
Yankee dollar talk
To the dictators of the world
In fact it's giving orders
An' they can't afford to miss a word
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Yankee detectives
Are always on the TV
'Cos killers in America
Work seven days a week
Never mind the stars and stripes
Let's print the Watergate tapes
I'll salute the new wave
And I hope nobody escapes
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do?
Move up Starsky
For the C.I.A.
Suck on Kojak
For the U.S.A.
03 Remote Control (03:02)
Who needs remote control
From the Civic Hall
Push a button
Activate
You gotta work an' you're late
It's so grey in London town
With a panda car crawling around
Here it comes
Eleven o'clock
Where can we go now?
Can't make a noise
Can't get no gear
Can't make no money
Can't get outta here
Big business it don't like you
It don't like the things you do
You got no money
So you got no power
They think you're useless
An' so you are - puuuuuuunnnnnk!
They had a meeting in Mayfair
They got you down an'
They wanna keep you there
It makes them worried
Their bank accounts
That's all that matters
And you don't count
Can't make no progress
Can't get ahead
Can't stop the regress
Don't wanna be dead
Look out' those rules and regulations
Who needs the Parliament
Sitting making laws all day
They're all fat and old
Queuing for the House of Lords
Repression - gonna start on Tuesday
Repression - gonna be a Dalek
Repression - I am a robot
Repression - I obey
05 White Riot (02:00)
White riot (I wanna riot)
White riot (a riot of my own)
White riot (I wanna riot)
White riot (a riot of my own)
Black man gotta lot a problems
But they don't mind throwing a brick
White people go to school
Where they teach you how to be thick
An' everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
An' nobody wants
To go to jail!
All the power's in the hands
Of people rich enough to buy it
While we walk the street
Too chicken to even try it
Everybody's doing
Just what they're told to
Nobody wants
To go to jail!
Are you taking over
or are you taking orders?
Are you going backwards
Or are you going forwards?
08 I Fought the Law (02:41)
Breaking rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I needed money 'cause I had none
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I killed my baby and it feels so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
Robbing people with a six-gun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I lost my gun and I lost my fun
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I left my baby and it feels so bad
I guess my race is run
She's the best girl that I ever had
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the
09 Janie Jones (02:07)
He's in love with rock'n'roll woaahh
He's in love with gettin' stoned woaahh
He's in love with Janie Jones
But he don't like his boring job, no...
He's in love with rock'n'roll woaahh
He's in love with gettin' stoned woaahh
He's in love with Janie Jones
But he don't like his boring job, no...
An' he knows what he's got to do
So he knows he's gonna have fun with you
You lucky lady!
An' he knows when the evening comes
When his job is done he'll be over in his car for you
He's in love with rock'n'roll woaahh
He's in love with gettin' stoned woaahh
He's in love with Janie Jones
But he don't like his boring job, no...
An' in the in-tray lots of work
But the boss at the firm always thinks he shirks
But he's just like everyone, he's got a Ford Cortina
That just won't run without fuel
Fill her up, Jacko!
He's in love with rock'n'roll woaahh
He's in love with gettin' stoned woaahh
He's in love with Janie Jones
But he don't like his boring job, no...
An' the invoice it don't quite fit,
There's no payola in his alphabetical file
This time he's gonna really tell the boss
Gonna really let him know exactly how he feels
It's pretty bad!
He's in love with rock'n'roll woaahh
He's in love with gettin' stoned woaahh
He's in love with Janie Jones
But he don't like his boring job, no...
No
No
No
Let them know
Let them know
Let them know - how you feel
10 Career Opportunities (01:53)
The offered me the office, offered me the shop
They said I'd better take anything they got
Do you wanna make tea at the BBC?
Do you wanna be, do you really wanna be a cop?
Career opportunities are the ones that never knock
Every job they offer you is to keep you out the dock
Career opportunity, the ones that never knock
I hate the army and I hate the R.A.F.
I don't wanna go fighting in the tropical heat
I hate the civil service rules
And I won't open letter bombs for you
Career opportunities are the ones that never knock
Every job they offer you is to keep you out the dock
Career opportunity, the ones that never knock
Oi
Bus driver, ambulance man, ticket inspector
They're gonna have to introduce conscription
They're gonna have to take away my prescription
If they wanna get me making toys
If they wanna get me, well, I got no choice
Career opportunities are the ones that never knock
Every job they offer you is to keep you out the dock
Career opportunity, the ones that never knock
Careers, careers, careers
Ain't never gonna knock
11 What's My Name (01:41)
What the hell is wrong with me? I'm not who I want to be
I tired spot cream an' I tried it all I'm crawling up the wall!
What's my name naaaame...naaaame....naaaame....
I tried to join a ping-pong club, sign on the door said all full up!
I got nicked, fighting in the road an' the judge didn't even know
What's my name
Dad go pissed so I got clocked
Couldn't hear the Tannoy so he lost the lot
Offers Mum a bribe through the letter box
Drives you fucking mad
What's my name
Now I'm round the back of your house at night
Peeping in the window - are you sleeping tight?
I laugh at your locks with my celloid strip
An' you won't know who came
What's my name
13 Police & Thieves (06:01)
Police and thieves in the street
Oh yeah!
Scaring the nation with their guns and ammunition
Police and thieves in the street
Oh yeah!
Fighting the nation with their guns and ammunition
From genesis to revelation
The next generation will be hear me
From genesis to revelation
The next generation will be hear me
And all the crowd comes in day by day
No one stop it in anyway
And all the peacemaker turn war officer
Hear what I say
Vocal ad lib
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
From genesis oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Scaring, fighting the nation
Shooting, shooting their guns and ammunition
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Police, police, police and thieves oh yeah
Here come, here come, here come
The station is bombed
Get out get out get out you people
If you dont wanna get blown up
14 Jail Guitar Doors (03:05)
Let me tell you 'bout Wayne and his deals of
cocaine
A little more every day
Holding for a friend till the band do well
Then the D.E.A. locked him away
Clang clang, go the jail guitar doors
Bang bang, go the boots on the floor
Cry cry, for your lonely mother's son
Clang clang, go the jail guitar doors
An' I'll tell you 'bout Pete, didn't want no fame
Gave all his money away
"Well there's something wrong, it'll be good for you, son"
And so they certified him insane
And then there's Keith, waiting for trial
Twenty-five thousand bail
If he goes down you won't hear his sound
But his friends carry on anyway
Fuck 'em!
Jail guitar doors
54/46 was my number
Jail guitar doors
Right now someone else has that number
15 Garageland (03:12)
Back in the garage with my bullshit detector
Carbon monoxide making sure it's effective
People ringing up making offers for my life
But I just wanna stay in the garage all night
We're a garage band
We come from Garageland
Meanwhile things are hotting up in the West End alright
Contracts in the offices, groups in the night
My bummin' slummin' friends have all got new boots
An' someone just asked me if the Group would wear suits
I don't wanna hear about what the rich are doing
I don't wanna go to where the rich are going
They think they're so clever, they think they're so right
But the truth is only known by guttersnipes
There's twenty-two singers! But one microphone
Back in the garage there's five guitar players
But one guitar, back in the garage
Complaints! Complaints! Wot an old bag
Back in the garage ...all night
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di RingoStarfish
The Clash erano i miei zii, il mio disagio adolescenziale quando gli altri ascoltavano i Led Zeppelin.
La chitarra diventa la vera arma da usare, la musica uno strumento dell’impegno, non solo un mezzo per scandalizzare.
Di poison.mind
Clash City Rockers è la prima canzone ad entrare in scena, diventando uno degli inni più memorabili del punk.
Secondo me questo album non può mancare nella collezione di un qualsiasi punkers.