One last shout from the 'Street'

Throughout 2002 and up until about two weeks before his death last December, former Clash frontman Joe Strummer had been hard at work with his group the Mescaleros, and their new album Streetcore encompasses those results. Exceptional tracks include the smiling rock opener "Coma Girl" and the somber lullaby of "Ramshackle Day Parade," which starts off reminiscent of "Straight to Hell" and proceeds to build up in a way that would cause even Sigur Rós to raise their eyebrows. Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" is covered, and "All in a Day" is just flat-out, head-nodding, honest-to-goodness garage.\nHowever, the real standout is the simple final track "Silver and Gold." Over what sounds like an Irish ballad, Strummer sings about taking a trip around the world before his time runs out. The song was originally planned for the late Johnny Cash, but when performed by its writer, it is a haunting testament to the depth of his talent. Strummer will be sorely missed by legions of fans (may too young to have seen the Clash the first time around), and Streetcore is a fitting, stand-up-and-shout farewell from one of rock's greatest unsung heroes, defiant and happy to the end.