The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Clash clash clash. ¡VIVAN LOS NORTEAMERICANOS DEL IMCT Y LAS BRIGADAS DEL CADILLAC NUEVO!
Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115989
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:28pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 3:18pm
Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:38pm
Inder wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:21pm
Movers and Shakers is pretty great.
Corrected
People have been put in straitjackets for lesser statements.
I was actually inspired to listen to CTC on my drive the other night after reading some of Ralph's book—I expect it will happen a fair amount. I think I'm one of the only people here that likes it unironically. Of course, it started that way, but I came to love it like a child under the stairs.
Wow. I can't imagine it will, for me, ever transcend ironic enjoyment at best.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Kory
User avatar
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 17319
Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 1:42pm
Location: In the Discosphere

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Kory »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:51pm
Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:28pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 3:18pm
Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:38pm
Inder wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:21pm
Movers and Shakers is pretty great.
Corrected
People have been put in straitjackets for lesser statements.
I was actually inspired to listen to CTC on my drive the other night after reading some of Ralph's book—I expect it will happen a fair amount. I think I'm one of the only people here that likes it unironically. Of course, it started that way, but I came to love it like a child under the stairs.
Wow. I can't imagine it will, for me, ever transcend ironic enjoyment at best.
Well aren't YOU cool
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115989
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:09pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:51pm
Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:28pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 3:18pm
Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:38pm


Corrected
People have been put in straitjackets for lesser statements.
I was actually inspired to listen to CTC on my drive the other night after reading some of Ralph's book—I expect it will happen a fair amount. I think I'm one of the only people here that likes it unironically. Of course, it started that way, but I came to love it like a child under the stairs.
Wow. I can't imagine it will, for me, ever transcend ironic enjoyment at best.
Well aren't YOU cool
Only under heat.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Heston
User avatar
God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
Posts: 38356
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: North of Watford Junction

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Heston »

Inder wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:21pm
That bridge in Movers and Shakers is pretty great.
Man, it's superb. There's emotion and power, and boy, Joe is singing the shit out of it. Then you have those Mariachi horns dripping with melody in the background. It is just a great song in general.

I just get tired of that "This Is England is the only good thing on CtC" cliche. There's great moments dotted all over the album but they're rendered flat by the production. If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

muppet hi fi
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 5190
Joined: 19 Feb 2009, 1:10pm

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by muppet hi fi »

Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
Inder wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:21pm
That bridge in Movers and Shakers is pretty great.
Man, it's superb. There's emotion and power, and boy, Joe is singing the shit out of it. Then you have those Mariachi horns dripping with melody in the background. It is just a great song in general.

I just get tired of that "This Is England is the only good thing on CtC" cliche. There's great moments dotted all over the album but they're rendered flat by the production. If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
I agree with this entire post.

Too, I always thought that bridge in "Movers and Shakers" sounded/felt like the bridge in Ian Hunter & Mick Ronson's "Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll" from the barbarically unheralded 1981 album 'Short Back & Sides' (co-produced by our Mick, with Topper in tow).
It's at the 2:30 mark. What you think, mate?
Strong shoes is what we got and when they're hot they're hot!
- Marky Dread and his fabulous Screaming Blue Messiahs

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115989
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
That it was hilariously and incompetently produced does inspire discussion and derision, but I'm not sure that the "if only" argument is why we keep returning to CtC. For me, at least, it's about the fascination of a great band self-destructing in the most bizarre manner. It's the "what is" not "what could be" that intrigues and amuses me.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Heston
User avatar
God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
Posts: 38356
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: North of Watford Junction

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Heston »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 6:47pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
That it was hilariously and incompetently produced does inspire discussion and derision, but I'm not sure that the "if only" argument is why we keep returning to CtC. For me, at least, it's about the fascination of a great band self-destructing in the most bizarre manner. It's the "what is" not "what could be" that intrigues and amuses me.
I think it's both for me.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

Heston
User avatar
God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
Posts: 38356
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: North of Watford Junction

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Heston »

muppet hi fi wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 6:08pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
Inder wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 2:21pm
That bridge in Movers and Shakers is pretty great.
Man, it's superb. There's emotion and power, and boy, Joe is singing the shit out of it. Then you have those Mariachi horns dripping with melody in the background. It is just a great song in general.

I just get tired of that "This Is England is the only good thing on CtC" cliche. There's great moments dotted all over the album but they're rendered flat by the production. If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
I agree with this entire post.

Too, I always thought that bridge in "Movers and Shakers" sounded/felt like the bridge in Ian Hunter & Mick Ronson's "Lisa Likes Rock n' Roll" from the barbarically unheralded 1981 album 'Short Back & Sides' (co-produced by our Mick, with Topper in tow).
It's at the 2:30 mark. What you think, mate?
I can see the resemblance with that note stretch on the vocals.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

Heston
User avatar
God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
Posts: 38356
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: North of Watford Junction

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Heston »

I've just listened again and that last mariachi horn line in the middle eight followed by Joe's "hey!" made me want go back in time and sign up for Bernie's Summer 86 Youth Internment Camp.
Last edited by Heston on 07 Aug 2018, 7:26pm, edited 1 time in total.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

muppet hi fi
Unknown Immortal
Posts: 5190
Joined: 19 Feb 2009, 1:10pm

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by muppet hi fi »

Kory wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 4:28pm
I was actually inspired to listen to CTC on my drive the other night after reading some of Ralph's book—I expect it will happen a fair amount. I think I'm one of the only people here that likes it unironically. Of course, it started that way, but I came to love it like a child under the stairs.
I too like it quite a bit. It just doesn't sound like the Clash at all, other than Joe's voice, some chord progressions and what lyrics I can understand. It's a fun cartoon. (though "This Is England" remains a potent non-cartoony piece, weird production and all).

And by the way - how, exactly, does one enjoy music "ironically"?
Strong shoes is what we got and when they're hot they're hot!
- Marky Dread and his fabulous Screaming Blue Messiahs

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115989
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:07pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 6:47pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
That it was hilariously and incompetently produced does inspire discussion and derision, but I'm not sure that the "if only" argument is why we keep returning to CtC. For me, at least, it's about the fascination of a great band self-destructing in the most bizarre manner. It's the "what is" not "what could be" that intrigues and amuses me.
I think it's both for me.
Fencesitter.
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

Heston
User avatar
God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
Posts: 38356
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: North of Watford Junction

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Heston »

Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:37pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:07pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 6:47pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
That it was hilariously and incompetently produced does inspire discussion and derision, but I'm not sure that the "if only" argument is why we keep returning to CtC. For me, at least, it's about the fascination of a great band self-destructing in the most bizarre manner. It's the "what is" not "what could be" that intrigues and amuses me.
I think it's both for me.
Fencesitter.
Was that a KISS outtake from Dressed To Kill?
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board

Dr. Medulla
User avatar
Atheistic Epileptic
Posts: 115989
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
Location: Straight Banana, Idaho

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Dr. Medulla »

Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:39pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:37pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 7:07pm
Dr. Medulla wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 6:47pm
Heston wrote:
07 Aug 2018, 5:37pm
If CtC was genuinely bad from top to bottom we would not discuss it. It's the fact that there's a great album in there somewhere but it's thwarted at every turn.
That it was hilariously and incompetently produced does inspire discussion and derision, but I'm not sure that the "if only" argument is why we keep returning to CtC. For me, at least, it's about the fascination of a great band self-destructing in the most bizarre manner. It's the "what is" not "what could be" that intrigues and amuses me.
I think it's both for me.
Fencesitter.
Was that a KISS outtake from Dressed To Kill?
Right—Gene failing to make "facesitter" into something "sexy."
"I never doubted myself for a minute for I knew that my monkey-strong bowels were girded with strength, like the loins of a dragon ribboned with fat and the opulence of buffalo dung." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft

matedog
User avatar
Purveyor of Hoyistic Thought
Posts: 25804
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
Location: 1995

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by matedog »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clash_discography

TIL "Are You Red...y" made it to #85 on the Australian singles charts in 85.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.

Flex
User avatar
Mechano-Man of the Future
Posts: 35802
Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:50pm
Location: The Information Superhighway!

Re: The Clash 2 Observations Thread

Post by Flex »

matedog wrote:
20 Aug 2018, 4:26pm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clash_discography

TIL "Are You Red...y" made it to #85 on the Australian singles charts in 85.
australia is totally insane.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead

Pex Lives!

Post Reply