Doom. The crash of a titanic wave capsizing a ship. Doom. The crackling dance of a flame as it spreads to burn everything you hold dear. Doom. The rumbles of a great mountain as smoke spews out from widening cracks. Doom. The sound of land razed and people crushed, formed into nearly two hours of dread. Surprisingly good study music, all things considered.

After two straightforward punk albums and a year of writers’ block, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones come roaring back with one of the greatest achievements in Rock history. Touring with new acts and keeping rehearsals private, they were ready to burst out with a plethora of genres to try out, each dripping with a caustic punk edge. Their cover of the English R&B classic “Brand New Cadillac” is turned into a screamer laced with venom, while the laid-back melodies of ... read more

Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I'm a fan of "shufflepunk" albums, records whose track lists are as varied in tone and genre as your phone on shuffle, and that albums whose songs are too related to each other can bore me. That's why I'm always surprised by my love for this album, which song-for-song is nearly identical in terms of instruments and production style. It's like a mountain town filled with wooden cabins; everything is similar in material and structure, but wander ... read more

Every great feeling you can have on a city street at the witching hour, when the town belongs to the nightbirds. Getting up to no good with your mates on "Five Spot After Dark," comfortable conversations with friends about nothing on "Undecided," walking in the park with a lovely person in "Blues-Ette." "Minor Vamp" conjures images of cozy dens of disrepute, "Love, Your Spell Is Everywhere" images of streetlights illuminating rainy urban ... read more