Two Sevens Clash :: 30th Anniversary Edition

two-sevens-clash.jpg“Joseph Hill had a vision of 1977 as a year of judgment — when two sevens clash — when past injustices would be avenged. ” – Two Sevens Clash (liner notes)

Previously plagued with dubious sound quality, Culture’s Two Sevens Clash LP, from 1978, saw its re-release last month via the Shanachie label. Besides the cleaned up audio, the 30th Anniversary Edition has new (if a bit awkward) packaging complete with notes and photos, plus a bunch of additional tracks. More so than a lot of the reggae that made its way from Jamaica into Western audiences living rooms, these jams are heavy on the hardcore rastafarian vibe…

I thought critic Jo-ann Greene nailed the nuances of the album here: “Clash is filled with a sense of joy mixed with deep spirituality, and a belief that historical injustice was soon to be righted. The music, provided by the Revolutionaries, perfectly complements the lyrics’ ultimate optimism, and is quite distinct from most dread albums of the period. Although definitely rootsy, Culture had a lighter sound than most of their contemporaries.”

MP3: Cuture :: Two Sevens Clash
MP3: Cuture :: Get Ready to Ride the Lion to Zion

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Trojan Records 40th Anniversary :: Johnny Greenwood Is The Controller

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For the second installment of the Trojan Records 40th anniversary giveway, I wanted to revisit the excellent Trojan compilation curated by Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood, enititled Johnny Greenwood Is The Controller.

Throughout the next four weeks we will be giving away one classic title, per week, from the Trojan archives. Each week one winner will receive the record featured that week (i.e. Johnny Greenwood Is The Controller) plus 5 other titles from the Trojan 40th Anniversary campaign, Trojan pins, a turntable mat, backpack, etc. Check back weekly for updates.

To get your hands on this stuff: Leave you name, a valid email address, and your favorite Radiohead moment, live, in the studio, whatever, in the comments. The winner will be alerted (via email) a week from today.
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Mixtapes and compilations, curated by artists I admire, have always appealed to me in a voyeuristic/curio type of way. For the music junkie, it’s a little bit akin to peering into a sliver of ones soul. Jonny Greenwood, of Radiohead acclaim, sees his reggae/dub compilation drop this week on the Trojan/Sanctuary label.

For those appreciative/interested in “classic” era reggae and dub, Is The Controller will be a very welcome addition to your collection. The tracks were culled from the Trojan label’s extensive archives, and Greenwood states in the liner notes he listened to nothing but Jamaican reggae and dub prior to their selection. Die hard connoisseurs, who, inevitably, will be familiar with many of the artists and tracks, will certainly find new inspiration in the track-listing and mix.

The comp is part of the Trojan label’s 40th anniversary celebration which will also saw the recent compilation curated by Super Furry Animals, Fatboy Slim and others.

MP3: Lee Perry :: Black Panta
MP3: Delroy Wilson :: This Life Makes Me Wonder
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17 thoughts on “Two Sevens Clash :: 30th Anniversary Edition

  1. I saw radiohead a few years ago at the Hollywood bowl. During You and who’s army? Thom had the video camera on the piano and during the title line of the song he turns the camera towards the crowd.

    We all yelled like an army. It was cute.

    Also seeing them after the Pixies was just about the most amazing thing for me to see.

  2. I regret to have not been able to see radiohead live…yet. But my favorite moment as of 10:39PM on September 5, 2007 would be the brass within The National Anthem it always takes me to a place where i think about a gypsy marching band of robots.

    Thanks a ton

  3. i saw radiohead in alpine valley in 2003. it was fantastic when the crowd attempted to synchronize the clap in ‘we suck young blood.’ one of the best concerts i’ve ever been to.

    thanks for keeping me in classic reggae cuts!

  4. I can’t find it online now, but about a year ago i saw a video of thom and colin rehearsing for the “upcoming album”. Basically it was amazing because thom smiled!

    Jonny is an absolutely amazing musician – even though I have most of the individual tracks, like you say, it was inspiring to listen to his choices as well as sequencing.

  5. I saw them the day Pop Is Dead came out, and Thom came onstage with a huge slicked pompadour. He walked ceremoniously to the front of the stage and bowed low. Everyone within arms reach, including me, did our bit and ruffled his hair up. He looked a lot happier.

    One of those bands I was lucky enough to see in the early days, but who actually wrote most of their best songs later… .

  6. The climax of Exit Music, from about 2:50, reaching a zenith at about 3:22, and riding that high for a “now we are one in everlasting peace” couple of seconds, finally coming down with a hopeful choke wish. “We hope you choke”… They all hope we choke, and on “rules and wisdom”. Ironically, trying to fathom how much wisdom went into this song (and how much it rules) makes me want to choke. It also makes me want to yell, which sucks because I’m choking so hard. And seeing this at Bonnaroo didn’t hurt.

  7. first time i saw radiohead – at giant stadium – at that festival debacle. ive seen them many times since in better places but you always remember your first time.

  8. The best part of these records are not the songs, but the way they sound. Not sure who wins in a headphone contest – this, late 50’s Blue Note jazz, or Motown circa 1966, but it’s a pretty close race.

  9. I’d say one of my favorite Radiohead moments is the irony of the metanarrative in Optimistic.

    The big fish eat the little ones
    The big fish eat the little ones
    Not my problem give me some

    When Kid A broke, this song was all over Clear Channel radio stations and it is just so funny on so many levels. Biggest band in world at time, radio monopoly, song played five zillion times a day, etc…. etc…

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan. I’m sure the band got a chuckle out of suggesting this as the first single. They had to have known.

  10. I live outside of Detroit, where Radiohead rarely comes. So I traveled to Boston on August 13, 2003 to see them play at the Tweeder Center.

    So far, this has been my only Radiohead show. But I will never forget it. You know how, at least once during every concert you seek out, you get a chill when the band starts up the one song you really wanted to hear? I go that during almost every song. I can’t remember ever seeing a crowd so into the show, and the band as well.

    I guess if I had to pick out one moment above the rest, it would be during “Backdrifts, ” waiting for Phil to kick in.

  11. my two favorite radiohead moments are when i read 1984 in the same time that hail to the theif came out, some great image borrowing going on. also my favorite moment is whenever i listen to kid a the entire way through. its one of those extremely rare pieces of music that are naturally yet originally themed- kid a so beautifully depicts paranoia and despair- that they are at the same time extremely urgent and immediate and also timeless.

  12. I saw Radiohead play Madison Square Garden w/ The Beta Band, I guess they were touring the Kid A album and it was a spectacular show, their sound almost needs a stadium because it just envelops you. Not my greatest moment though, right after Kid A dropped I went out to CA to see a then close friend. Just out of a long-term relationship that went sour I needed to get away. We decided to rent a car and go from LA to SF along the coast on 101. I had only brought a couple discs for the trip and she, in between moving, had her stuff in storage that left about six for the drive. We listened to Kid A over and over again. I must admit I was never one to dissect his lyrics and since Ok Computer I have approached his voice as another instrument; paired with the minimal electronics it was the perfect accompaniment for the windy roads of Big Sur.

  13. not to be an enormous music-geek, but my favorite radiohead moment was playing “pyramid song” for a college music theory professor and challenging him to name the time signature.

    he couldn’t.

    though all those anonymous late-night headphone sessions come in a collective close second…

  14. The Jonny Greenwood comp is nice. It got me through some hot days this summer. Two Sevens Clash may be my favorite reggae album ever. That Jo-an Greene quote is definitely spot on.

  15. Perhaps the best concerts ever attended: two nights at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA, 6/23 – 6/24/2006.

    Night two : “The Gloaming” (especially the “Thom dance” and everything Jonny does with Max/MSP on his laptop, cutting up and rearranging the snare and voice parts, etc.) + just a little bit of LSD = my best radiohead moment ever, bar none.

    Arguably the best live version of any Radiohead song, one that surely outshines its studio counterpart. Absolutely a MUST hear for those who haven’t already been blown away by their live take on this tune.

    Oh yeah, also the “True Love Waits” w/Thom on rhodes and Ed and Jonny sampling voice/keyboard parts, segued into “Everything in its Right Place” is pretty up there, too. I still get chills when I listen to the live recordings of these shows.

  16. My finest ‘Radiohead moment’ would have to be the first time I heard OK Computer in full. Modern music’s never been the same since.

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