January 2nd, 2017 - The [London] Calling

Good evening rockers, rollers, and hop-lovers!  The Meista here tonight "London Calling" by the Clash and The Calling IPA from Boulevard Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Clash
• Title: "London Calling"
• Recorded: August through September and November 1979 at Wessex Sound Studios in London, England
  Release date: December 14th, 1979 (3rd studio album by the Clash)
• Record company: CBS Records
• Production: Guy Stevens and Mick Jones
• Album cover art: Pennie Smith (photography) and Ray Lowry (design)
• Personnel: Topper Headon (drums and percussion), Mick Jones (lead guitar, piano, harmonica, and backing and lead vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, backing vocals, and lead vocals on "The Guns of Brixton"), and Joe Strummer (lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, and piano)
• Additional musicians: Mickey Gallagher (organ) and the Irish Horns (brass)
• Musical style: Punk rock, post punk, rock and roll with elements of R&B, jazz, ska, rockabilly, and reggae
• Sound: Exploring a broader range of musical influence, "London Calling" was quite the departure for the band from their earlier works.  The band had also become tighter as a musical force and far more focused that before.  Every track is rock and roll perfection!
• Major themes: Rebellion, displacement, isolation, racism, class struggles, political apathy, consumerism, adulthood, the threat of nuclear war, death, safe sex, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "London Calling"
2. "Brand New Cadillac"
3. "Jimmy Jazz"
4. "Hateful"
5. "Rudie Can't Fail"
6. "Spanish Bombs"
7. "The Right Profile"
8. "Lost In The Supermarket"
9. "Clampdown"
10. "The Guns Of Brixton"
11. "Wrong 'Em Boyo"
12. "Death Or Glory"
13. "Koka Kola"
14. "The Card Cheat"
15. "Lover's Rock"
16. "Four Horsemen"
17. "I'm Not Down"
18. "Revolution Rock"
19. "Train In Vain"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Website: www.boulevard.com
• Brew: The Calling IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.5%
• IBUs: 75
• Ingredients: Blend of 8 hop varieties, primarily featuring Mosaic, Equinox, Galaxy, and Amarillo.
• Pour: The Calling pours a hazy, light copper-amber hue with lots of bubbles and a 1-finger, but sustained frothy white head that displays lots of sticky lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is big blast of citrusy and fruity hops with significant tropical notes, dank and earthy notes, and minimal malts.  There are aromas of big orange, tangerine, grapefruit rind, mango, pineapple, lemon zest, pine resin, black tea, and hints of caramel/toffee.
• Taste:  The taste of The Calling follows the nose.  You get some minimal dry, bready malts with a big blast of citrus and tropical fruit.  There are notes of mango, pineapple, freshly squeezed orange juice, tangerine, and pink grapefruit, lemon zest, pine, herbs, and hints of caramel and biscuit. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of The Calling is sharp and hoppy, but also oily and slick with a crisp, dry, and hoppy finish.

Overall pairing: Along with the hoppy/citrusy punch, the complexity of The Calling IPA is great for the punky sonic brilliance that is "London Calling"!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!