Customer Reviews

Crack

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I totally agree with benoit.maitre,this album is superb.I first bought it when I was 16,now I'm 37 & several hundred albums later this is still one of my faves! Jah War is an absolute classic,out of all the punk groups most people would consider The Clash as the finest exponents of reggae & whilst I would generally agree with that in my opinion this song eclipses anything they've done in that department.Babylon's Burning,Something That I said,S.U.S.,Dope for Guns,Savage Circle & You're just A.. are some of the best punk songs you'll ever here,combining raw rowdiness with a lot of musical talent,a great combo! Finally benoit.maitre,I thought I was the only one who put my headphones on to 'It was cold' & let myself go,fantastic right from the brilliant changeover from 'You're Just a..' to the haunting(ok,i couldn't think of a better word!) ending.Malcolm Owen,if only you..

My brother came home in 1979 with the "Something that I said" single (1.99 at Records on Wheels in '79, eh) and I was hooked. There was only one thing to do. I bought this album when it first came out as an import in Canada (yes! on vinyl). To this day it still stands as one of the best punk albums for that music era. Favourite songs include Babylons Burning, SUS, Something That I Said (of course), It Was Cold, and Jah War. I was so impressed with this band that I tried to buy everything they put out, up until Malcolm's death and the introduction of Ruts D.C. No offence, fellas, but that band just didn't have the sound or quality of the original Ruts. If you are looking for original Punk Rock, then buy this album. It is one of the best records to come out of the late 70's/early 80's Punk Rock period.

It's a real shame Malcolm Owen was a heroin addict and died from it . Had he not been, the Ruts would be bigger than the Clash! Their mastering of punk and reggae ("Jah war" still stands as the best ever white reggae,apart from Scramble's "Cool Summer" maybe) has no equivalent. If you like punk punk songs, "Babylon's Burning" will be a favorite. But the best is maybe "It was cold". Just put on your headphones, and let yourself go. If you don't know it, buy it now!!!

The Ruts... Pretty much one of the best bands ever, and completely underrated. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the fusion of punk and reggae/dub. The song Jah War perfectly personifies the marvelous hybrid that is punky reggae music (even though the title confuses me). It is a shame that the Owen died before they could record again, but that doesn't stop you from getting the album they did with Mad Professor as the Ruts DC (even though you will have a hard time findin it at a decent price). But back to the review, this album is superb. Jah War is by far my favorite track (think Johnny Was by SLF or White Man (in Hammersmith Palais) by the Clash) and is also politcally charged. Other notably good tracks are Babylons Burning (obvious Clash influences) and SUS, both sharp critiques on British society. Just get this album now, whether you are a punk or a Rasta. I also suggest any album by the Clash, the Slits first album, Forces by the Terrorists, Rhythm Collisoin by the Ruts DC vs. Mad Professor, and Y by the Pop Group (strictly dub influences on this one).