Amazon.co.uk Review
What the hell is this? Though the two-record sprawl of
London Calling- -with its exploratory mutations of reggae, rockabilly, and even disco--proved that the Clash weren't content to lie fallow in a punk-rock ghetto, nothing prepares you for
Sandinista!'s messy melange. Spread over 36 tracks (the Clash originally released this as a three-record set for not much more than the price of one) the band tackles everything in sight, including waltz, gospel, disco, children's ditties, funk, reggae, dub, delicate instrumentals, psychedelic explorations--hell, they even play a Clash rocker or two. Though many have said there is a single great album hidden among the three here, it's the pure chutzpah of
Sandinista! that makes it such a particular pleasure and a brain drain at the same time. It's the document of a band that can do anything and tries to do everything. It's the glorious sound of failure. And if that ain't the Clash, what is? --
Tod Nelson
CD Description
SANDINISTA! was The Clash's affirmation of their support for the Nicaraguan revolution, the movement that overthrew President Somoza and aroused the ire of U.S. President Reagan. The music was a more conscious exploration of reggae and dubmusic than the Clash had ever attempted. The group fought their record company to keep the 3-LP set affordable to theirfans, accepting lower royalty rates so the price would be as low as a single LP.