The Clash (Drastic Plastic Reissue)

VINYL FORMAT. The self-titled debut by one of the most influential musical acts of the twentieth century and the best selling import record of all time, is finally available for the first time as an official US release. This release, taken from the original masters and produced for Drastic Plastic Records by Sony Records, recreates the original British track list and has been painstakingly reproduced as a beautiful 180-gram version for collectors and casual listeners alike. Edition of 5,000 copies pressed.

'The Clash's self-titled U.K. debut sees the band in its most primal, punk form. Despite Mickey Foote's low-key, lo-fi production, Strummer, Jones, Simonon, and Chimes mesh and unite with a snarling ferocity and energy. Raw, bouncy edginess pours out of each song, with new hooks popping out at odd angles by the second. The band isn't satisfied lingering in any one genre. "Remote Control" mixes Kinks-style fractured pop with pace changes lifted straight from Chuck Berry. "Cheat" sounds like the Ramones' "Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment" given a rockabilly makeover. "Police & Thieves" is a massively catchy take on the Junior Murvin/Lee "Scratch" Perry song and an early signpost for the future dub/rock fusions to come on Sandinista! "White Riot" and "I'm So Bored With the U.S.A." reflect the somewhat youthful, early quasi-political leanings of the band. Though they would come across as slightly amateurish years later, it's hard to deny their punchy charm.' - All Music Guide