Gangsterville – Joe Strummer:
Grandblastic punk pop sounding like The Clash watered down for public consumption.
Stomps mercilessly on, flirting with blues here and there, and providing a break in the unintelligible lyrics for Joe to run his fingers up and down the frets. Manages to be noisy, chaotic, and dull all at the same time.
"Gangsterville": The Sinking of Strummer's Radio Hopes
Released as the lead single in August 1989, Gangsterville (Epic 656234 7, Discogs) embodied Joe Strummer's rebellious spirit while highlighting his commercial struggles. The 7″ vinyl featured the title track backed with Ride Your Donkey, peaking at #68 on the UK Singles Chart (Official Charts Company, 1989). Drummer Pablo Cook recalled: "We thought we had a hit with that cowbell intro, but radio took one listen to Joe singing 'shotgun weddings' and reached for their Phil Collins records" (Mojo magazine, March 2003). The rare 12″ version (only 500 pressed, per Discogs) included a dub remix by Don Letts, now valued at £120+ (Popsike auction archives).
Critics were divided. The Eastbourne Herald (2 September 1989) dismissed it as "grandblastic punk pop... noisy, chaotic, and dull all at the same time," while J.D. of the Southport Visiter (13 October 1989) praised its inclusion on Earthquake Weather as proof Strummer could "still come up with the goods," rating the album 8/10.
Despite its chart failure, Gangsterville gained cult status—its Discogs page shows the 2018 reissue outsold the original 5-to-1. The track's rockabilly-dub fusion was later called "ahead of its time" (Uncut magazine, July 2015), while Spotify data confirms it became Strummer's 3rd most-streamed solo track post-2010. Bassist Zander Schloss reflected: "That song was our London Calling moment—too bad it took thirty years for the world to catch up" (Classic Rock magazine, November 2020). The original vinyl—with its graffiti-style sleeve—remains a key artifact of Strummer's wilderness years.
Sean Keeley, Eastbourne Herald, Seaside Rock, Saturday 02 September 1989, p.32
SINGLES REVIEW
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J. D., Southport Visiter, FEEDBACK thelatest on the MUSIC SCENE, Friday 13 October 1989, p.42
Strummer's come up with the goods
JOE STRUMMER — Earthquake Weather (Epic):
THIS is Strummer's first proper album since "Combat Rock," if you don't count his soundtrack work and the truly dire "Cut The Crap."
He's wisely held on to the Latino Rockabilly War, the band that served him so ably on his highly acclaimed tour last year and they don't let him down here either.
Strummer's still happy to portray himself as a rebel rocker as the silhouette of him — ciggie drooping from his lips and his guitar slung over his shoulder — on the cover attests.
HOLLERING
What's surprising is that there's plenty of fire left in his belly and his dead tone hollering is effective as ever.
The LP kicks off with "Gangsterville," and proceeds to tread a path through straight ahead rock, street funk, bebop, reggae, folk and calypso.
Reminiscent of the same mix of influences that made much of the Clash's material so interesting, "Earthquake Weather," is definitely a return to form.
RIPPING
"Island Hopping," the current single, is a laid back trip through the Caribbean, but shortly afterwards, Strummer's ripping it up again on the excellent Paris, and "Jewellers and Bums," ensure the LP never gets stuck in any particular musical rut.
Although the winsome reggae of "Ride Your Donkey," can prove grating after a few spins.
With that exception, "Earthquake Weather," is a great record — who would have thought that after all this time Strummer could still come up with the goods.
If this is anything to go by, his gig at the Royal Court in Liverpool tomorrow should be a stormer.
(8 out of 10) J. D.
Joe Strummer — right back to form. Code NA
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STRUMMER, BAD, Pogues, films + : THE SOLO YEARS STRUMMER & THE LATINO ROCKABILLY WAR BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS & FEATURE MAGAZINES Sex Pistols / The Jam / The Libertines / Others
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