The Clash- London Calling

 

London Calling was and still is a highly influential and well regarded album among many fans of contemporary music. Though the clash were primarily a punk group, this album includes several other musical styles, including reggae, ska, and rock n roll, without straying too far from the band’s roots.

The album was produced by Guy Stevens, who had been associated with bands like Mot the Hoople and Free, and was performed by Joe Strummer (vocals and guitar), Mick Jones (Guitar), Paul Simonon (bass), and Topper Headon (drums)

Despite the exploration of musical styles on the album, the band keeps their trademark sound. Gritty guitar riffs from Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, warm, reggae influenced bass lines from Paul Simonon, a tight sense of rhythm with the drums, and Strummer's distinctive, almost slurred vocals are still intact. Songs like the title track, “I’m not down”, “Hateful”, and “The right profile”, are the best examples of this.

However, the reggae and dub influences the clash always had are clearer on this album, with songs like “Guns of Brixton”, and “Revolution rock”, being almost straight up reggae songs. “Brand new Cadillac” pays homage to rock n roll, (as does the album cover, specifically Elvis) and “Wrong 'em Boyo” borrows a lot from ska. The albums lighter, more melodic songs like “Spanish Bombs”, and Train in vain (Stand by me) show the bands musical versatility while still keeping their raw, punk-reggae edge.

Lyrically, the album deals with a wide range of themes. “London Calling” deals with the idea of apocalypse, predicting the various ways in which the news has said the world could end, including war, “nuclear error”, and an Ice age.  “Guns of Brixton”, (sung by Paul Simonon) is about gangsters in the area of Brixton where he grew up. The song also reflects the tensions and sense of alienation in the area that lead up to infamous riots which took place in the 1980s. "Hateful", meanwhile, tackles the topic of heroin addiction.

The main reason I enjoy this album is because it is so varied and yet it keeps a distinct style. It also keeps a lot of musical elements in balance. The fact that the melodies of the songs are strong yet the style of the instrumentation and lyrical themes are gritty and powerful is what makes the album so memorable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vHvzybkqfo

Pixies – Doolittle.

 

 Doolittle by the Pixies was one of the most important albums in the development of alternative rock. It influenced several iconic bands, including Nirvana and Radiohead, and was one of the albums that effectively made the Pixies “godfathers of Grunge”. It was produced by Gil Norton and featured Black Frances as the vocalist, lyricist and songwriter.

 It is an album of contrasts, both in dynamics, subject matter, musical style and production.

While the songs are upbeat and often positive sounding instrumentally, the lyrical subjects are often dark and morbid in contrast. Wave of Mutilation, for example, features lyrics about Japanese Businessmen committing murder suicides due to failing at business, according to vocalist and lyricist Black Francis. This is clear in the extract, “cease to resist, giving my goodbye, driving my care into the ocean”. However, the song has an uplifting tone instrumentally. The same goes for Debaser, which is a positive and energetic sounding song, with surrealist lyrics which at one point mention “slicing up eyeballs”. The dynamics and sometimes contrasting nature of the songs, lyrics, and production all help to make the album balanced. The production manages to be clean and clear without being overproduced or overly glossy. The vocals are often melodic yet edgy and unhinged, going between the loud quiet dynamics the pixies are well known for. The instrumentation has similar aspects to the vocals; there are melodic, poppy sections which contrast rough, noisy riffs.

Lyrically, the album manages to cover a wide array of subjects, including surrealist film (Debaser, based upon the film chien adalousa), environmentalism and religion (Monkey gone to heaven), and even straight up love songs (La La Love You).

The reason I enjoy this album is because of the distinct musical style, song writing, lyrics, melodies, and instrumentation. The band manages to be offbeat without being unfocused, and keeps the songs varied and at a good time and pace. The different range of songs on the album is also impressive. There are raw, punk inspired tracks like Crackity Jones and Tame, that fit in well with more melodic songs like “Wave of mutilation” and “Here comes your man”. I also admire the way Black Francis matches dark lyrics with often upbeat songs. When I hear Debaser for example, even though I know the lyrics are about a surreal film in which someone’s eye is apparently slit with a razor, I can’t help but experience it as a happy song, mainly because of the melodies, both instrumentally and vocally, that fit together so well. The energy of many of the songs and contrasting dynamics is another thing which really defines the style of the pixies. Bands like Nirvana were really inspired by the “loud-quiet” approach the band took, so much so that Kurt Cobain was concerned that his song “Smells

Like teen spirit” would be considered a rip off of the band. If nothing else, the way that the pixies combine unusual musical elements that don’t seem likely to work together and make them work brilliantly is why I think Doolittle is one of the best albums of the 80s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yHrEykOGpo

Radiohead - OK computer

 

 

Ok Computer, by Radiohead, was one of the most well-known and seminal albums of the 90s. It was also known as being a musical change of course for Radiohead towards a more electronic and less melancholic sound compared to previous albums like The Bends.

It was produced by both the band themselves and Nigel Godrich, who is often described as being the sixth member of the band, and has worked with artists like Paul McCartney and R.E.M.

Musically, the album is a combination of electronica, alternative rock and experimental styles. It also has more implicit influences such as Miles Davis.  Opening song “Airbag” is influenced by DJ Shadow, combining a mixture of electronic and acoustic drumming, with a wall of sound effect created by the rhythm guitar. “Paranoid Android” is one of the most dynamic and energetic songs on the album, and is influenced by The Pixies, and Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. In contrast, Climbing up the walls is sound-scape of ambient synths, drums, and experimental guitar textures, with Thom Yorke’s distinctive falsetto over the top.

The albums lyrics are often fairly abstract, but generally cover social isolation and alienation, political unrest, death, and anti-capitalism. “No Surprises” has a fairly happy tone, but lyrically covers the topic of suicide. Karma Police speaks about fate, and also has anti-capitalist overtones, evident in the fact that Thom Yorke said it was “a song against bosses”. Electioneering is influenced by the writings of Noam Chomsky, who no doubt influenced the bands political leanings in general. Ok Computer is not a concept album, but there are themes which tie the songs together, such as the subject of opening song “Airbag”, which is about a car crash, and album closer “The Tourist”, which is about reckless driving leading up to a car crash.

The reason I like this album is because of the combination of electronica and guitar based rock elements. The band executes this style with a wide variety of songs, from the energetic paranoid android to the ambient climbing up the walls. I also admire the use of vocals and lyrics, as well as the way the band cover a wide range of topics and themes on the album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lv7pCotRIo