ALBUM: This is Big Audio Dynamite (1985)
MVC Rating: 4.9/$$:
This is really interesting. Mick Jones, exiled from the Clash, in 1985 decided to go avant disco hip-hop with a pinch of Zappa discordant sauce. Some of it is interesting, as I said, some is not so listenable.
I don’t mean that in a totally negative way. I admire the exploration. Big Audio Dynamite was looking for the next big bang.
Here’s how I’d describe one (or more) song passages: Gunshots amid the Ennio Morricone whip-snaps, guitar strums and radio free Europe broadcasts burst out of looping ska-like background music. Whew. What does that mean. Almost got to hear it to believe it.
One thing I would have nixed if I was in studio: drum machines. Already program-y sounding, the machine powered drums push it too close to ready made.
‘Sudden Impact’ and BAD are songs where the band’s vision comes together for fully functional and interesting dance music. Kind of like a funked-up Sandinista sound. If you don’t have Sandinista the near genius mish-mash by the Clash, I’d go there before you go here.
This came out in 1985 so I probably bought this from Chuck at the alternative WUXTRY in Birmingham.
From BAD on the album:
These are the things that drive me crazy
These are the things that make me mad
Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.