Customer Reviews

Global a Go-Go

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My father, a poet and an artist on his own right, used to say that there was a "first row "and a "second row" for artists of any discipline. His theory was that, whether it's literature, sculpture or music, people will emerge who will redefine their medium, push their artistic form beyond its present atmosphere, and then there man, many more, extremely capable writers or composers whose work was important but not seminal, not worthy of the first row. I guess my dad was speaking of what B.H. Fairchild called "the difference between talent and genius." Well I think my father's notion certainly has applied, for a long time, to contemporary popular music. I grew up touched -shaped, really- by people like Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Caetano Veloso, Ellington, Joni Mitchell. This is the work of the first row, to be a lifelong catalyst for your times. Joe Strummer belongs in the same first row too. In some way, I feel that this album materializes Joe's lifelong vision bringing forth punk and world, accordions and electric guitars, politics and art, social justice and killer grooves. "Mondo Bongo" is a Strummer ballad, heartfelt, slow, perfect for Joe's mature voice. "At The Border, Guy" should be called "at the edge" with its Rock-n-Reggae. "Gamma Ray" and "Mega Bottle Ride" are precious stones, etched off Latin and Punk, like a working class Jimmy Buffet with something important to say. Global A Go-Go is immense fun but not a Disney ride, his politics just as radical but maturing into a sharper artistic edge.

If you bought Rock Art & The X-Ray Style in 1999 (or even 1989's Earthquake Weather) you should know what you're getting with this CD. Take the world-music component of Strummer's recent work and diversify it a bit, with much emphasis on Middle-Eastern and Far-Eastern flavors. This time around, the songs are a little more sedate, a little more mature, with some very lush arrangements replacing the sometimes sterile sound of the previous album. More acoustic work is heard on this one, less dance-oriented material, more everything-and-the-kitchen-sink type approaches to the music. And it works like magic.

Just a warning: this is NOT the Clash. I still think that there are people who will pick this up expecting to hear Clampdown II, well you won't find it. But if you are forsaking Strummer for staking out his own territory, and continuing to push his own musical boundaries, well... I feel sorry for you. You are missing out on some of his best work.

This is powerful stuff and further solidifies the theory that Joe is simply not capable of disappointing us. He seems to really be into the songs on this album.

Awaiting the release of Streetcore and as a regular listener to Rock Art etc, I thought that I should investigate Global a Go Go....Amazing, exciting, provocative and downright melodic this will prove to be one of my Playlist favourites. There's still plenty of north London wit on display as well as the global eclecticism that was setting Joe up as a valuable contributor to all that is accessible in new World Music.....the balance of street hardened sneer in Joe's voice offset by the pleading yell for a better world makes this package an inspirational sound collage. So cruel that Streetcore will be an epitaph to a voice that has been dimmed by the Creator......the musical legacy will surely attract, entertain and inspire for decades to come. A must for anybody who appreciates intelligent, beautifully crafted music

In the US at least, the spectre of the 1960's still prevails as the last important era in music. Yet many of these artists dried up creatively by the mid-1970's, and have since made do with nostalgia tours and mediocre albums. Across the pond, by contrast, the punk and post-punk generation is still making quality music, all while ignored by the American music establishment. Billy Bragg, Paul Weller, Joe Strummer, Lloyd Cole, Elvis Costello, and the like are still full of ideas and great tunes. This album is indicative of this.

The cd lives up to its name - it pulls in influences as discrete as reggae, Celtic, and even Hindi (in Bhindi Bhagee). But it's not a parody of world music (like, say, John Tesh's One World cd - wait a minute, why am I mentioning Joe Strummer and John Tesh in the same paragraph?); it's still Joe, with his cigarette-molded raspy voice, and his knack for great music. The Mescaleros are in fine form, and from the first song (Johnny Appleseed - great straight-ahead rock song) to the almost-18-minute long Minstrel Boy (which doesn't bore you - it mesmerizes you) you'll enjoy this album.

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Kind of hard to define Strummer's music, as he's got so many influences---but the thing is, he's never overpowered by his influences--he always sounds like Joe Strummer. I think this album is comparable to Rock Art, in the tone and direction of the songs. I think there's a bit more depth and soul to the SOUND of this one, though, with a greater emphasis on ethnic percussion and instruments really filling things out nicely. Something that's coming through on his solo albums, starting with Earthquake Weather, is a warmth, humility and wistfullness that wasn't ever at the forefront of his music with the Clash. Man, combined with his years with the Clash, if Joe keeps putting out an album like this every few years, he's going to have one of the most impressive bodies of work in the history of rock music.

Oh, as far as the 17 minute closer----Joe has done his share of songs clocking in under 3 minutes--give him a break! I thought this was a very nice piece, that would not have sounded at all out of place on a Pogues album.

Like other reviewers, I was blown away by this album. So worldly, and yet still listenable (unlike experimental world music crap by Sting or Paul Simon) Simply amazing. I won't waste any readers time by going on and on. Almost all the other reviewers already said it best. Great Album, Great Band. RIP, Joe. Watch out for the Gamma Ray!

Should be 10 stars.

Although I loved-loved The Clash (saw them in '82), I admit that, after an initial brief orientation with Joe Strummer's solo work in the '90's, I mistakenly put him aside. Big Mistake. Then Joe tragically died a few years back.

A year ago I was at a friend's place for a party and I was caught by the music playing, which sounded like Joe's voice but the music was so friggin' hip sounding. Wow!, I said when I was told it was Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros. As much of a music connaisseur as I am, at that point I felt very inadequate.

From then on, X-Ray, Go-Go and Streetcore have been permanent staples in my CD player. The remarkable thing is that they NEVER get played out no matter how many times I hear them. The combination of acoustic and electronic instruments along with punk style vocals and various rhythms is the greatest thing I've ever, ever heard in the last, oh, 10 years.

As I get a little older, I welcome mellower sounding music, especially if it has a punk soul and great lyrics. Global A Go-Go and the other Mescalero recordings are the best of both worlds and are also totally versatile. They are good for parties, chilling out, driving, cleaning the house, or just spacing out.

I typically give CD's that I like 5 star ratings. Well GLOBAL A GO-GO, X-RAY STYLE, and STREETCORE, are all MASTERPIECES in music that deserve their own category of being beyond ratings.

RIP Joe. This music will never die.

A gorgeous album! Spacious and crisp, intelligent and yet still playful. While not full of the pounding grit of Clash days, Strummer's mix of reggae dub, lounge jazz, latin-arab flavors, with british folk & rock are effectively accomplished. The lyrics are worthwhile as well (as opposed to most current songsters, Strummer's words are actually funny or mean something). PLUS: kudos to Tymon Dogg's violin playing which adds an intense stratum to this warm beauty of a cd. Strummer is one of those rare artists who's not afraid to reinvent himself as time moves on. Great Stuff! Great Band!

quite possibly the best CD ever made; it reflects Joe Strummer's talent for writing complicated lyrics that would make perfect sense if I was smart enough and his possibly greater penchant for writing in various styles, rhythms, and moods. He blends talent and passion with wisdom and experience; also, he has quite possibly the coolest voice ever

Joe strummer and the mecaleros second cd is just out of this world "pun intended" and its great to listen to with alot of contrasts between good and bad this music is like poetry and like the clash is rocking good all the way through until the last note....