httpy/www.thenewsmexico.com Sunday, October 28, 2001 27 Joe Is Still Strumming Ex Clash Frontman Releases Global Sounding Album By EJ. CARTLEDGE TheNewsMexico.com ‘What a weird, wild and wonderful tip Joe Strummer has taken since he formed the archetypal British punk band, The Clash. Fired from this success the group headed back into the studio and produced a new album, “Global A Go-Go" ‘And what an assortment of sounds and themes they've created — the array is almost dizzying. Soil he nd incase fk tipo Al tas bogs dongs chan sme spied rock ily and ack rollas well. ‘Thematically, Strummer name-checks a variety social and politcal concems, From The, explosive the Zapatistas here in ‘group's career fizzled Mexico to the ut in 1986 after a of the Balkans wars, disastrous final album, his lyrical flourishes. The wreckage seemed are wonderfully to inhibit Strummer to woven into the a greater extent than Kaleidoscope ~ of the other membe ba i ‘Although he wor is imsie or ed on a couple of people who are movie soundtracks the parameters (C'Walker” and “Sid ofthe demographic & Nancy”) and fascists who decide released hi frst solo what sells and what album, “Earthquake gets advertised and Weather 1989, ‘on the play- the years following he says. the lomise of The wraps the Clash were relatively strongest track is quiet rismoro “Gamma Ray,” a Into the 1990's then, Joe Strummer, in his “rude boy” pulsating seven- ‘and apart from some days with The Clash. minute ride through production work and 's dark wit eee em pty ne gue a prety much forgoten ‘And then in 1999,W i hit in the form of a ragged collection of studio musicians and old chums who became known asthe Mescaleros, in this band is slighty cracked in the bead but the mix is just right.” Strummer says about the members. "It wasn'ta deliberate decision to take an eleven year breather, but in the long run it's tured out well” ‘Thats for sure. Strummer and co. produced the eclectic “Rock Amt and The X-Ray Styl” and tok the band on the rad in Tate 1999 to promote the album. The shows were a colorful mix of old Clash material andthe new Mescaleros songs. Fans loved it resplendent with backing Wurlitzer and Hammond organs, plucked acoustic guitars sand floating violin. ‘The album is a real celebration of a smulicultural society, from the Asian favors of “Bhindi Bhagee" to the gentle Cuban sounds of “Mondo Of course, not all of this assault on the senses works. “Bummed Out City” becomes a tad tiresome and the Celtic- tinged violins so eminent throughout fail to sustain interest for the whole recording. ‘And any older fans expecting fiery vocal rants from Strummer accompanied by two guitars, bass and drums, are going to be disappointed. ‘But the highlights far ouweigh these isues. ‘Take a fresh approach to this former punk statesmen and enjoy tis camival of folk-rock.