The Clash finest album was “London Calling” and it was called “the greatest rock and roll album ever manufactured anywhere” by American music critic Robert Christgau.
When Rolling Stone voted it as the greatest album of the 80s in 1989 while in 1985, the UK music weekly Sounds voted it as the greatest album.
The album was originally much popular in the UK, reaching the Top 10. It would only sell more in the US, that’s why it managed to go platinum and remains as one of the most iconic albums of all-time in rock music history.
London Calling not just a great album, but one of the most important in the history of music. It was even featured in Dick Hebdige’s critical text Subculture (1979), speaking of the “style” of England’s youth subcultures beginning from 1950 up to the punk era. the “style” of England’s youth subcultures.
With the album, The Clash transformed themselves from punk rockers to one of the best rock bands ever. The album itself covers many things, musically and the band themselves was never thought of something people could get into at the time.
Some people though were bothered why this album was so acclaimed as it is but many rock fans claim it as a straightforward rock album and one of the best they’ve heard.
Overall, the album goes beyond what it really represents. Loaded with political irony and street wisdom – a hopeless but positive record about the times of anger and poverty, of the hard times that must change at the stroke of our own actions. The Clash certainly shouted our rage for us.