Rating:   4 Ratings     12345  

The 101er's Elgin Avenue Breakdown Revisited Astralwerks

      Sadly, in late December of 2002, Joe Strummer died of a massive heart attack at the age of 50. During his life he greatly contributed to the “Punk Revolution” of the late seventies that once again put London at the center of the music world, as frontman for the legendary band, The Clash. However, before the political, dub, ska, and reggae influences found their way into Joe’s music, there was just rock & roll and the 101ers.

      In 1975 Joe was the frontman of a different band; The 101ers. In the 101ers, Joe embodied pure rock & roll energy. The energy he embodied in such Clash songs as “Brand New Cadillac”, “Garage Band” and “Janie Jones”. In fact, the 101ers were a garage band that began to break out in the London club scene of the late seventies. That is, until April 3, 1975, when a band called The Sex Pistols opened for the 101ers at a club in West Kensington and Joe becomes infatuated with the sound. Joe quits the 101ers and joins a new band called The Clash, and cements his name in music history forever.

      This album, Elgin Avenue Breakdown ‘revisited’, by the 101ers, is a picture of the London music scene when American rock & roll still heavily influenced the artists. This album, at times, if you can believe this, actually sounds like the New York Dolls fronted by Joe Strummer. This is a must own album for both rock & roll purists and anybody that calls themselves “Punk” alike. The live versions of “Out Of Time”, “Maybelline”, and “Gloria” are reason enough to buy this album, but the superb history lesson in the liner notes is an added bonus. Get this album, bottom line.

-Jason Hall 11/21/05