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JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS
Streetcore
Hellcat/Epitaph
Joe Strummer mellowed brilliantly in life. He raised three kids, never
pimped himself and kept his ideals while modulating his anger. But he
never focused that brilliance artistically, probably because focus
wasn't his thing--the two-minute intensity of The Clash was an
aberration. The Mescaleros' world-music wanderings proceed directly
from 1981's Sandinista! and are best joined on 2001's Global
a Go-Go. This follow-up was largely complete when Strummer died in
2002, only without vocals on two reportedly rousing songs that were
omitted--and also, oddly, without much international color or guest
flourish. Strummer is probably telling Bob Marley about its folk-rock
skank right now. But there's little chance Marley will return the
favor of Strummer's "Redemption Song" cover, even for the standout
track "Coma Girl," a lament for a lost youth culture Strummer deserves
credit for sticking with, even if he couldn't lead it down the right
path.
Blender, Nov. 2003
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