Earthquake Weather is
Joe Strummer's first official solo album after the breakup of
the Clash, discounting his soundtrack for
Walker. That it's nearly a disappointment, but manages to rise above its flaws, is a testament to
Strummer's pedigree and abilities.
Strummer sticks to his usual stylistic proclivities, touching on
dub reggae, mournful
folk, and
rock stompers. The album has its share of delightful highlights. The fast-paced, eclectic
"Gangsterville" and
"King of the Bayou" blend
dub and
rock jams effortlessly, with
Strummer's confident voice echoing over bombastic backing revelry.
"Island Hopping" slows things down, its tropical
folk charm foreshadowing the mature, optimistic route
Strummer would adhere more faithfully to with
Global a Go-Go.
"Leopardskin Limousines" and album closer
"Sleepwalk" both bristle with emotion, thanks to a tasteful Spanish guitar, an interesting choppy rhythm effect, and hushed vocal processing on the former and the latter's subtle, graceful pace. Outside of these highlights, the remaining songs are quite passable and enjoyable, even though there's a sense that
Strummer went into
Earthquake Weather with an incomplete blueprint.
Lonnie Marshall's bass playing frequently recalls
Flea's tackier
funk excursions, wailing guitar solos appear haphazardly, and, too often,
Willie MacNeil's drums are too quiet in the mix to allow for the necessary dynamic punch, and there's a sense that
Strummer was just a step or two away from going a cheesy
world beat route at times. If these flaws keep the album from greatness, at least
Strummer's voice and songwriting are engaging enough throughout the 14 songs that there's never a second where things come off as dated or rushed. Indeed, the flaws reside only in elements that add texture and flare, so they're somewhat easily ignored, especially since the production is so layered and there's so much going on in each song.
Earthquake Weather is a solid, fascinating album, mostly because of
Joe Strummer's always fiery charisma, his impeccable vocals, and his mostly unerring musical exploration and experimentation. Even when
Strummer occasionally goes wrong stylistically, his conviction is too winning and his passion for music too strong to allow him to turn in a subpar performance. ~ Tim DiGravina
