Album Reviews7/10
The Clash Traded Scrappy Noise for Studio Shine on Give ‘Em Enough Rope
The Clash's second album traded raw punk for studio polish. A 1978 record caught between ambition and energy, with 'Stay Free' as its classic core.
CLAY TRIBUNE / THE ARCHIVE
Category: Album Reviews
Records we have scored.
Album Reviews9/10
The Clash Review: 34 Minutes of Raw, Angry Punk Still Hit Hard
The Clash's 1977 debut is a raw, urgent punk document of London's discontent — 34 minutes of speed, spit, and social fire that still resonates.
Album Reviews8/10
The Clash Traded Punk Purity for Stadium Pop on Combat Rock — and Made It Work
Combat Rock is the Clash's odd, confident commercial breakthrough — a tense mix of radio hits, jagged experiments, and political fury that still rocks.
Sandinista!: The Great Songs Outweigh the Triple Album’s Excess
The Clash's Sandinista! was a messy, ambitious triple album that baffled fans in 1980 but now looks prescient. A reassessment of its excess and achievement.
Album Reviews4/10
Smothered Pop: How Come’s 1994 Experiment Sacrifices Entertainment for Artifice
Prince's 1994 album Come is a dark, explicit, experimental challenge that smothers pop instincts for a strange, tense listen. Our full review.
Album Reviews7/10
Prince’s ‘Slaughterhouse’ Unearths Ten Fan-Club Outtakes, and Three of Them Actually Work
A track-by-track review of Prince's 2004 fan-club release, a messy sketchbook of outtakes with three standout tracks worth hearing.
Album Reviews6/10
Thirty Years After His Warner Split, Prince’s ‘Emancipation’ Still Sounds Like a Man Free to Be Everything He Wanted
Prince's 1996 triple album Emancipation is a sprawling, uneven 36-track statement of creative freedom — messy, excessive, and occasionally transcendent. Our review.
Album Reviews6.8/10
Prince’s Lotusflow3r Is a Guitar Masterclass Wrapped in a Messy Album
Prince's 2009 album Lotusflow3r is a messy, guitar-driven funk-rock record with strong jams and weak filler. A mixed bag from a legend.
Album Reviews7/10
Prince Pulled The Black Album From Stores Before Release — Here’s Why It Still Works
Prince's legendary 'evil' album The Black Album gets reviewed: a funky, uneven record whose dark reputation outweighs its playful, groove-heavy content. 7/10.
Album Reviews7/10
Prince Hands the Stage to His Band on Love Symbol — and the Story Drags Him Down
Prince's 1992 album [Love Symbol] showcases his band's brilliance but is weighed down by a convoluted concept and filler tracks. A flawed masterpiece.
Album Reviews6.3/10
Prince’s HITnRUN Phase Two Digs Back Into Live-Funk Roots and Mostly Delivers
Prince's HITnRUN Phase Two is a bold live-band funk record that proves he still owns the groove. Read our review of the 2015 album.
Album Reviews6/10
94 East & Prince’s ‘Cookhouse Five’ Is a Warm Session, Not a Statement
A 21-minute, five-track album from 94 East & Prince offers a warm, raw session. Our review says it's a modest listen for dedicated fans, scoring 6/10.