If you only own two Clash albums, this and London Calling should be it. The raw energy on this album is infectious. Talk about the spirit of '77. From Joe Strummer spitting out "White Riot" to the greatest cover ever "I Fought the Law". Yet almost every song on here could be a single. Actually, most of them were, since originally most of them were released as singles, and then compiled to make the album itself. I find it more coherent and lasting than Anarchy in the UK and many other seminal punk albums, this is a must-have.

Their first and one of my most favorite (if not very favorite) Clash CD's. Not too long before they recorded this the Clash saw and met the Ramones when they played in the UK. The Ramones were very kind and encouraging to the Clash. That Ramones, hey if we can do it so can you, influence definitely shows up on this CD. You can especially hear it on one of my favorite tracks, Career Opportunities. In between verses, you can hear the same hey ho, lets go (which you actually might even expect to hear them call out) rhythm.

fucking awesome, vintage clash YES!! Not everyones' cup of tea though, because it was their first album and some people find the sound too "unclean" you know, like garage sound. However, I freaking love this album, it's raw and loud (joe strummer seems to yell more than sing, or at least I think he thought raw punk rock had to be sung like that. Luckily, he just started singing with his "normal" voice after that) and there are some seriously good tracks on it (janie jones, white riot, I'm so bored with the USA, police and thieves, careeer oportunities, 48 hours...)