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Story of the Clash 1This fine overview’s title is a bit of a misnomer; the “story” of the towering British punk group is not told in a linear fashion and is far from complete. If you allow yourself to simply absorb the many flavors of the Clash without any notions of perfection, you’ll marvel over the passion of “This is Radio Clash,” the indignation of “Magnificent Seven,” the raging anger in “London’s Burning” and “White Riot,” and the snide humor of “Safe European Home.” The group’s ability to tone things down without losing steam in songs such as “Career Opportunities” and “Spanish Bombs,” and their experimentation with different textures and moods on tracks like “Armagideon Time” and “Somebody Got Murdered” remind one just how adventurous and fresh they were during their late ’70s and early ’80s heyday. This two-disc retrospective should entice listeners to delve deeper into the early releases of one of the most important rock bands of their time. –Lorry Fleming
