Combat Rock

Description

Its not easy being the Worlds Greatest Rock & Roll Band (a tag the Clash inherited from the Rolling Stones, who had traded their emotional commitment for tax exile). What you do after changing the world with your first few releases? The previous SANDINISTA was the Clashs WHITE ALBUM, exploring just about every musical style they could think of over the course of three LPs. COMBAT ROCK, then, could be their LET IT BE, an attempt to focus on visceral, accessible material, kidney-punching instead of bobbing and weaving. Theres an increased focus on funk here, as on the unlikely hit Rock the Casbah and Overpowered by Funk. Naturally, theres also a pronounced political element to the lyrics (the anti-authoritarian rant of Know Your Rights, the post-Vietnam morality play of the moving Straight to Hell.) Despite the renewed sense of focus, though, theres still a high degree of artistic ambition revealed in both the polysyllabic lyrics and the textured, overdub-heavy arrangements.