Hello good people, let’s see how this works out. If this is your first visit to the blog I usually write daily (or so) with Clash related news, updates, opinions and previews of events or reviews. We’re trying something new today simply to allow you to filter through some of many Clash related stories that there isn’t room to cover in depth (or enough thought/time). So welcome to the first installment of Westway Traffic! All the headers are links if you are so inclined.

Green Day Versus The Clash : I know, it hardly sounds like a sensible debate to be having but it’s taking place over on the inconsistent (read messy) format that is last.fm with the heading “Who’s Best – Classic Punk Green Day or The Clash?” The comments are somewhat funny and you’ll not be surprised to see The Clash stroll it. By some margin. Incidentally last.fm is a decent site to set to your favourites and listen away but it’s a messy layout and full of things that might drive you a bit mad.

Clash Shopping: Pick of the day a 7″ single of London Calling signed by the entire band. Looks like an import perhaps Spanish (not quite sure) and was apparently signed by the band during the Bonds Residency. Dealer looks authentic – reserve price a lofty $279.99 which looks keen. Based on the vinyl is this a promo or an acetate? I’d guess the latter.

Album Review – The Future is Unwritten Soundtrack: I’m not a compulsive completist when it comes to the bands I love and although I know I spend too much money on music I still try and be selective. Some of you probably have every Clash/Clash related release imaginable while some of you probably just download what you like. This soundtrack was an interesting mix which matches up in the same patchwork way the the film works and occasionally fails. This review is accurate enough, highs – Joe Strummer’s links from the radio work and Rachid Taha’s cover of Rock The Casbah, lows – a bit of a mess as a concept. Should you own it – probably. Does The Clash Blog own it – no, gave it a miss.

Influenced by The Clash : In an enjoyably candid Q+A  interview, Australian author Gregory Day reveals when he was 12 years old he wanted to be Joe Strummer. Who didn’t Gregory…who didn’t?

Cut The Crap: Tynan’s Anger blog goes on a ramble about the greatest years in music history. Good. 1977 ranks 3rd on the list. Fair enough. Somehow despite this being a site I respect he chatters on about 1977 without once mentioning the debut Clash album. Not acceptable…cut the crap! Add your comments….comments drive change….**addendum, he replied advising it was due to the album coming out in the States in 1979. A bit like World War II starting in ’41 I guess…

Music You Should Own already: Just a quick note pertaining to a well versed review on Hellbomb of an album that is simply one of the best of its ilk and generation. The Minutemen (as noted in the review) were proclaimed by Joe to be one of the best punk bands ever – and for one album at least- ‘Double Nickels on the Dime’ I’d have to agree. As to why…just check out this review and then track down I think the best of California’s punk exports. SST label too…very nice.

Defintely Maybe, Maybe not: Recently demised Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher tells the NME he ‘plans to write a book, or a film’ in the near future. Don’t keep us hanging Noel…one or the other mate. The band that wouldn’t go away did finally break up and now we can get the Oliver Stone version. I’ll risk offending here but if The Sex Pistols had plodded along for a decade they would have been Oasis, fitfully trying to recapture what you can only really do properly once.

As a final occasional guest on Westway Traffic I’ll dig out a Clash related video – they may be funny or excellent, dodgy or questionable but ideally something some of you haven’t seen. Tonight…you’ve not seen it before but I hope you can relate.

So that’s the format…do you like it…will it work? Let me know and thanks for reading.

Tim