Boomshots

Tag: Combat Rock

  • HEAR THIS: Horace Andy “Straight to Hell” PREMIERE

    HEAR THIS: Horace Andy “Straight to Hell” PREMIERE

    Studio One Legend Sings The Clash Classic

    Joe Strummer’s flat, affect-less vocals on “Straight to Hell” from The Clash’s  1982 album “Combat Rock” lend a chilling air to the song’s ice cold message, which is now timelier than ever in the Trump administration prepares executive orders, travel bans, mass deportations. and wall building. “Straight to Hell” has long been considered one of the band’s best loved songs, providing raw material for future creations like M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” and Kanye West’s “Swagger Like Us.” Andy himself is a bonafide Studio One legend who’s also worked with the likes of Massive Attack. Strummer first collaborated with him in 1999, writing the militant title track for Andy’s “Living in the Flood” album. The Studio One legend had already attempted a reggae version of “Straight to Hell” but wasn’t happy with the recording. But when he linked with Milwaukee musician Eric Blowtorch, who’s worked with many reggae artists and knew Strummer, they made this brand new roots reggae recording of “Straight to Hell,” which will be released via 12-inch single on Fe True Records March 16th and via digital download on April 14th. Andy’s voacal is backed with a dub side plus Big Youth’s deejay version, “Asylum Seekers.” These type of hardcore reality tunes are all too timely in the current political climate—and do remember 10 per cent of proceeds goes to Doctors Without Borders. Turn up to full watts. Audio After The Jump… (more…)

  • Diplo and The Clash Talk “Paper Planes,” Reggae Music

    Diplo and The Clash Talk “Paper Planes,” Reggae Music

    The Seminal UK Punk Band and the Producer Reason with The Reggae Girl About Town

    Combat Rock was the last studio album by seminal UK punk band The Clash. Released in 1982, the disc contained two of the band’s biggest hit, “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.” But 25 years later another cut from the album—the reggae-tinged cut “Straight To Hell”—would top the charts around the world. M.I.A. and her DJ Diplo sampled The Clash original to make “Paper Planes,” which became the biggest hit in either artists’ career. The track became so popular that Kanye West sampled the M.I.A. record to make another record called “Swagga Like Us,” which he performed on the Grammys with Jay Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., and a very pregnant M.I.A. It was kind of a big deal. Video After The Jump… (more…)