Joe Strummer and Streetcore

I have been reliving my musical history over the past year, renting several documentaries like Julien Temple’s “The Filth and the Fury, The Ramones: End of the Century, and even X: The Unheard Music. The Clash: Westway to the World is the most interesting of the bunch–containing some great live footage and really poignant interview moments. Watching “Westway” reminded me that I had not yet bought Streetcore, the last release from Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, and of course the last music from Joe Strummer ever. I have the other two Mescaleros CDs already(Rock Art and the X-Ray Style and Global a Go-Go) as well as other Strummer projects. I finally bought Streetcore and its fantastic (cover and sleeve art is almost worth the price alone). I must have been going through a bit of denial when it first came out and so didn’t buy it. Its obvious that there was going to be a lot more good music coming from Strummer in the future which makes listening to Streetcore almost demoralizing–a real sweet and terrible beauty. Is it a sin to say that I prefer this later Strummer (sans Clash)? I’ve always had this weakness for the whole troubador milieux–the ravaged road warrior sound and spirit he shared with the likes of Woodie Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springteen and Tom Waits. He seemed freer outside The Clash to pursue that side of the music without losing his edge. He gave up or aged out of all the angry posturing and hypermasculinity that was so much a part of The Clash, something I was always conflicted about. In songs like “Redemption Song” and “Silver and Gold,” especially, his heart and soul are truly exposed in the simple and straight forward vocal performances. But there are plenty Clash style rockers like “All In A Day” “Coma Girl” and “Arms Aloft” and the familiar reggae and dub influences heard throughout. I am in love with “Burning Streets.” There is more hopefulness in the later Joe Strummer, more celebration. One of the quotes in the liner notes reads like a possible Strummer epitaph:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistance. Talent will not. There is nothing more common then unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world if full of educated derelicts. Persistence and Determination alone are Omnipotent.”

“Silver and Gold” is touchingly prescient “I’ll do everything in silver and gold/and I got to hurry up before I grow to old.” Its the Joe Strummer I really miss, the one that made you feel like you could do anything if you were willing to pour your heart out on the floor for it, and the one we all need more than ever……..

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