There's a song here called "Long Shadow" and I can think of no other musician of my era who's cast a longer shadow than Joe Strummer. So much of the energy and activism, the wit and daring of punk rock is tied to what he did first. His warmth and humanity seeped out of those sides from The Clash, and his solo work revealed even more of the man than the roaring rockers had. Collected here on Assembly, a new compilation of his solo work from Dark Horse Records, are some rarities and familiar numbers that remind just how wonderful the late singer was.
From the loved songs of his final years, like "Coma Girl" and "Johnny Appleseed", there's a nice spotlight here on Strummer's time with the Mescaleros. I think people forget just how good that band was! And on "Yalla, Yalla", for example, there's proof that Joe was able to take the globe-spanning, genre-embracing of The Clash and continue that attitude into this century. These cuts are not quite as loud and fiery as those of his previous band, but the sentiments here are similar ones, and the attitude punk in other ways. Elsewhere, we get a few rarities, like "Love Kills" from the Sid & Nancy soundtrack, as well as his famed run at "Redemption Song" by Bob Marley. Aside those, the real highlights of this set might be live runs at "Junco Partner" and "Rudie Can't Fail" from his old band. If someone might hear those and mourn The Clash, another person will hear these and recognize that the same spirit Strummer brought to The Clash was what he brought to every effort even years after the band's demise. This generous compilation is missing a few things I'd have liked to see collected here, but it's overall an essential set.
Assembly is out now via Dark Horse Records.