10 Best Rock Albums Of The 1970s

During the late 70's, the punk rock revolution exploded in Britain with the arrival of the Sex Pistols. With all the bands in London stripping everything back to hard-edged rock, the Clash were the one band that were dubbed the Only Band That Matters.

The group's self-titled debut certainly measured up to that title, with an abrasive sound that was a shock to the system in the punk community. Whereas most bands at the start of the of the punk movement had anarchic and nihilistic themes in their lyrics, the Clash were a militant band who used their songs like weapons to share their political beliefs from the blitzkrieg of "White Riot" to the American take-down of "I'm So Bored With the U.S.A." Dual singers Joe Strummer and Mick Jones are both seething with angst as they tear their way through every track, almost as if they are trying to find some sort of spiritual escape through the power chords they're playing.

In the grand scheme of punk rock history, this album was the beginning of one of the biggest forces in British music. Why are the Clash the Only Band That Matters? Because after listening to these guys, you won't need anybody else.