Professor Plum #2

The Clash - London Calling (1979)


If you weren't alive, you'd never hear Paul Simonon make that perfect slide to E or the solo that proved you don't have to be masturbatory prick of a music god to speak volumes with an instrumental breakdown in a pop song. And that's just the first track.

You'd never come to the end of the album thinking it's over only to hear Topper Headon kick into Train in Vain, one of the most perfect pop songs ever written.

You'd never hear Joe Strummer's voice crack at the lyrical climax of the greatest song ever recorded. And even though every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock and roll still grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold, this album is still honest, heartfelt aural bliss.

Fuck profound confessions and endless catalogues of things that have made life tolerable or momentarily exciting. Give me one thing that's always by my side and in my heart. One thing real to me.

The perfect album by the only band that matters.