Assembly
Dark Horse, 2021
9/10
A career spanning Best Of album that focuses on Joe Strummer’s exceptional solo career, Assembly curates singles, fan favorites, rarities, live tracks, and, perhaps most important for fans of The Clash, 3 previously unreleased versions of their classic tunes.
“Coma Girl” starts the listen with Strummer’s inimitable growl as warm guitars and agile percussion highlight the grit and melody, and “Johnny Appleseed” follows some folk spirit imbedded in the busy, festive climate.
There’s a couple live tracks included, and of course one of them is “I Fought The Law”, where a gruff delivery and bouncy performance is quite memorable, while “Rudie Can’t Fail” is a playful documentation of the classic. Both of these tunes were recorded a year before Strummer’s death, and even though he probably played each one thousands of times before, you can tell he enjoyed every second playing them in 2001, too.
Elsewhere of the studio tracks, the percussively strong and rhythmic “Tony Adams” brings plenty of saxophone fun, while “Love Kills”, taken from the soundtrack Sid & Nancy, recruits some ‘80s New Wave nods that you could dance to. “X-Ray Style” then displays Strummer’s diverse skill set as World Music ideas meet at a groove friendly place.
Nearing the end, the wise folk tune “Long Shadow” is full of alluring acoustic strumming and vivid storytelling, and “Junco Partner (Acoustic)” finishes the listen with a raw and poetic finish to another previously unreleased recording.
We are now approaching twenty years since Strummer passed away, and his influence is just as prevalent today as it was in his time fronting The Clash and leading The Mescaleros. A fantastic package that even comes with liner notes from lifelong fan Jakob Dylan, these 16 tracks really do a great job of illustrating just how talented, insightful and creative Strummer was right up until his final year.
Travels well with: Bob Mould- Blue Hearts; Matthew Sweet- Catspaw