SPILL RETRO REVIEW: THE CLASH – THE CLASH

THE CLASH
THE CLASH
CBS RECORDS

ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: APRIL 8, 1977

The Clash released their self-titled debut, The Clash, in 1977, after having formed in London in 1976.  Sadly, terrible production and vocals greatly hinder the potential of The Clash’s debut album.

The opener, “Janie Jones”, exemplifies the possibilities of this band as well as the weaknesses of this debut, all in a short time frame. The song feels like a bad outtake in terms of its sound. If I had to describe it, it would be if a band was given decent lyrics to sing off while performing in a small room, feeling as if it were recorded by accident. In simpler terms, the band gives it their all, but the production and vocals are painfully dreadful. The lyrics are another core area of weakness. Despite my positives, the lyrics do feel like lyrics to a debut album in that they feel highly mediocre, delivering just enough words to keep basic intrigue. The vocals here are a major point of criticism. The vocals are mind-numbing to get through, with the lyrics themselves not matching well with the group’s sound.

Not professionally made. That is, sadly, what reigns here. The Clash feels as though they didn’t receive the necessary care to enhance their sound, even though they could have achieved more with a stronger studio and set. While production isn’t the most important aspect of an album, when it’s poorly produced, like here, it makes the whole experience nearly unbearable.

The Clash is a debut album that stands as a work that demands attention, but in some areas it lacks further detail, especially in the production and vocal ability, feeling more like a trashed outtake than a published debut. While there are some great songs here, the production of the album really takes its toll.

Overall, The Clash’s bold debut struggles to maintain itself thanks to its utterly dreadful production and terrible vocals.

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