release date: Nov. 2, 1999
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,88]
producer: Antony Genn
label: Mercury Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 2. "Sandpaper Blues" - 3. "X-Ray Style" - 4. "Techno D-Day" - 5. "The Road to Rock 'n' Roll" - 6. "Nitcomb" (5 / 5) - 7. "Diggin' the New" - 9. "Yalla Yalla" (5 / 5) - 10. "Willesden to Cricklewood" (4 / 5)
Studio debut by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. Or: 'debut' because although the album was the band's first album release, it might as well be filed as the third Joe Strummer solo album. The fact is that it's released one decade after his solo album Earthquake Weather, which was totally overlooked, and after having faced a huge failure in continuing with The Clash. He didn't have much luck in harvesting recognition for his solo works, and he began working together with The Pogues. He produced their album Hell's Ditch (1991) and for some time replaced their lead vocalist Shane MacGowan (unable to perform because of alcoholism). Having had a few minor parts in full length movies, Strummer was also engaged in various film projects in the late 1980s and 90s, e.g. "Mystery Train" (1989) by Jim Jarmusch, and "I Hired a Contract Killer" (1990) by Aki Kaurismäki. He also worked together with the band Black Grape, as well as writing music with a backing band called The Latino Rockabilly War as well as Joe Strummer & the Astro Physicians. And in this way, Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros is basically just another of his many projects gathering various musicians, and the main force and musical writer in all these projects is Strummer, which in a way explains this as a mere solo release.
Together with The Mescaleros, Strummer finally seemed to have found the right backing band, and this album is a fine and recommendable return to form. Critics found it difficult to come to terms with its pop / rock style and the huge stylistic blends with more contemporary music. The track "Yalla Yalla" is a wonderful example of Joe's willingness to experiment with styles and genres, and basically, it's a rather light track filled with... absolute joy.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
