Clash - The Essential Clash

Starring: The Clash

RS: 3of 4 Stars

The Essential Clash spans the punk legends' career, from pre-MTV live clips, where their intensity and charisma shone brightest, to classic videos such as "London Calling" and "Rock the Casbah." Extras are hit-or-miss: An early TV segment featuring interviews and classics like "White Riot" rocks, but skip the Joe Strummer-directed silent "Hell W10" (1983). While today's mall-punk bands ape the Clash, the visual, musical and political explorations documented here prove punk was not a narrow set of rules but a state of mind.

MICHAEL AZERRAD
(June 4, 2003)