Reviewed By: Pete
I'm obviously a few years late on this one, but with the release of the Joe Strummer movie this week I figured this would be kind of topical.
In the dictionary of phrases (if such a thing exists), next to "Going Out With A Bang" there should be a picture of this record. This is an excellent release which proves definitively that Joe Strummer was one of the greatest rock and rollers of all time. The album starts off with a straight up, guitar driven, rock songs in "Coma Girl" and jumps right to Strummer's famous style of reggae in "Get Down Moses." The band slows down the pace with "Long Shadow" which has a Johnny Cash feel to it, but with even more of a snarl. (which includes one of the best lines of Strummer's career, as the song comes to a close he adds, almost as an afterthought,: "Somewhere in my soul....There's always Rock and Roll")
The band puts the brakes on halfway through the record, but slow isn't bad. The songwriting and lyrics are still enough to keep your ears perked, including the haunting chorus in "Ramshackle Day Parade" and the brilliant cover of "Redemption Song". The six minute "Midnight Jam" truly lives up to its name.
Strummer died unexpectedly during the recording process of this album and it makes it much more meaningful. It also is depressing, and yet awe inspiring... In awe of Strummer's ability to continuously release relevant and highly exciting music, but depressing because there are no more new Joe Strummer albums to be released. Which brings us to the last song "Silver and Gold" , which is almost tear inducing. Mr. Strummer sings to us about everything he wants to do before he dies. As we know he went off to punk rock heaven in 2002, so he may not have achieved all of his goals, but imagine writing and recording something like this, and it ends up acting as your legacy. Not too shabby. Well Done Mr. Strummer.
High Points
Pretty Much the whole thing.
Low Points
Pretty Much Nothing
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros' Streetcore
Released 2003
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