Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Hellcat Records - Hellcat Records
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Release date: 1999-11-02
Audio CD
Folk-Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock Music, Popular Music, Rock, Rock/Pop
1. Tony Adams
2. Sandpaper Blues
3. X-Ray Style
4. Techno D-Day
5. The Road to Rock & Roll
6. Nitcomb
7. Diggin' the New
8. Forbidden City
9. Yalla Yalla
10. Willesden to Cricklewood
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Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Date undefinedBelieve everything good written about this album. Believe everything bad as well. One of my favorite albums of all time but typically hard to find a friend that agrees. When I pull this album out I listen to it over and over 20 times before I put anything else in the CD player. Some beautiful music on this album. It can remind you of the neighborhood you grew up while also reminding you their is so much more world out there.
Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Date undefinedJoe Strummer & The Mescoleros-Rock Art And The X-Ray Style **** 1/2
Joe Strummers first album with The Mescoleros, and first since his retreat into his 'wilderness years' several years before.Yes in 1999 Strummer came back and with force. His band, The Mecoleros was the strongest he had ever assembled, since The Clash of course. The players are fantastic, however this would not be the final lineup of the band as it would change with their next to albums, Global A Go-go, and the bands finest release, Streetcore.
Some may be thrown off by the choice and style of music heard here. This is not your standard punk album, no 1977 Clash sound here, nor the attitude, this is more subdued and laid back, plus it's world music. The sounds from around the world that Strummer was listening to at the time like Indian, Middle-eastern, and European styles are all hear here. I've hear people say this is him selling out, but how and why? Because he is making music he wants to that he knew wouldn't get played on the radio and that would only sell moderatly? I hardly concider that selling out. This is Joe Strummer people, he is the most pure as the come, he couldn't sell out if he tried. Yes I know he had identity crisis in the early days but his convictions were always there. And with a little research people would realize Strummer has loved world music his whole life and even incorporated it into The Clash, (does no one remember the London Calling, Sandinista!, and Combat Rock albums?), so it seems assinine to me.
From the mellow groove of 'Tony Adams' a plea for a new day, rolling through the not so bluesy 'Sandpaper Blues' to the semi-rocker 'The Road To Rock 'N Roll' to the chanting 'Yalla Yalla' to the last notes of 'Willesden To Cricklewood' Joe Strummer And The Mescoleros never dissapoint. That is as long as you are not expecting another Give 'Em Enough Rope, which you shouldn't because this is nothing like it and wrong to assume that after twenty some years that Joe Strummer might not have grown as a musician which he clearly did. Besides, one look at the album cover should tell you to throw all expectations out the window and to open your mind.
The style may have changed but the style and conviction is still here. His lyrics are fantastic, and in someplaces rival that of his early days with The Clash, and even his solo work on such soundtracks as Walker. The power is deffinetly still here just in a new form, take 'Techno D-Day' for example is just a complete powerhouse!
In closing this is a fantastic album of a variety, it really plays out like a great mix-tape. So for Strummer fans and for music fans looking for something new give this a shot.
Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Date undefinedThis is one of those albums you just let spin--- no need to skip a thing. Wait-- I take it back-- there are some tracks worth playing a couple times now and then. Great for all moods and locales.
Joe Strummer will forever be so very missed. His legacy is critical to more than just rock. What an amazing person. His lyrics read like a book. "Forbidden City" is brilliant-- but then again-- so is this entire album.
Without a doubt-- a must-buy.
