Joe Strummer

Out of print for over 15 years, the former Clash frontman's first solo album sounds a lot more compelling in retrospect than it did in 1989, which is either the mark of a visionary artist or just how much we miss him. "Jewelers & Bums" and "King of the Bayou" feature the propulsive guitars you'd expect, but the rockers mix together with more reflective tracks, and you'll have a hard time deciding which ones you like better.

A man without a context, Joe digs into Americana up to his elbows, up to bebop, up to Marvin Gaye, cramming obsessions and casual interests into songs as wordy and pointless as Ellen Foley's. Foley's absence is a relief, but with Joe emulating Gaye and Bird--crooning and murmuring instead of screaming and spitting, cramming in the syllables--not that much of a relief. New guitar sidekick Zander Schloss does what he can to make things worse. (Grade: C)