The Clash

[amicold]

The band is considered so great because of what they did during their time. Combat Rock is another great album. Spanish Bombs is a song worth checking out as well.

 

[Platypus]

They made punk accessible to the mainstream. They also could play their instruments unlike the boyband known as The Sex Pistols. The Clash were not the first or best punk band on the scene, but they did for the punk scene what the Beatles did for the British Invasion. Arguably The Who was the first punk band.

If we're talking punk bands that redefined the genre, I would put The Dead Kennedys in that outfit. They were one of the best bands to speed up old surf rock records and create what was to become the first glimpse of modern punk.

All in all, the Clash combined the fresh message of punk (at the time) , the voice of the counterculture, with music that didn't sound awful.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
A large part of the respect they get is for when they did it, and their influence on musicians after them.

A lot of the Beatles' material is dated and not too impressive if you hear it without knowing who they are.

For punk I'm more of a fan of Oingo Boingo (try Only A Lad), X and the Sex Pistols than the Clash but as with all music that's just personal preference.

I did lighting design and operation for them during the '80s in SF.
< eligble for 6 degress / Kevin Bacon

Oingo Boingo was great nand Danny Elfman is considered to be a genuis (he does a lot of Musical Scores for Movies and TV shows (like the Simpsons)

 

[Platypus]

Another shoutout for Elfman and Oingo Boingo!

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Well back in the days Punk really wasn't about musicianship. The Clash were one of the first to combine good musical ability with the rawness of punk.

Q
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[CallMeJoe]

Like many bands, the Clash had some weaker songs on their albums, but had some truly great songs, especially in comparison with the dreck being released by the big commercial bands of the day.

Give another listen to Clampdown, Train in Vain, Guns of Brixton and the atypical Hitsville, UK.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: CallMeJoe
Like many bands, the Clash had some weaker songs on their albums, but had some truly great songs, especially in comparison with the dreck being released by the big commercial bands of the day.

Give another listen to Clampdown, Train in Vain, Guns of Brixton and the atypical Hitsville, UK.

Will do. Thanks, everyone, for the input.

 

[dwell]

Essential Clash:

White Riot
Remote Control
Clash City Rockers
I Fought the Law
London Calling
Brand New Cadillac
Jimmy Jazz
Rudie Can't Fail
Spanish Bombs
Guns of Brixton
Wrong 'Em Boyo
Death or Glory
Revolution Rock

 

[torpid]

I'm not a big fan of the Clash, but what you are missing is what they contributed to music. You don't have to like them to understand their influence and impact on music.