10 Classic Rock Albums That Changed Music Forever

At the end of the 1970's, punk still felt like a niche genre for many. Though there were bands like The Ramones and the Sex Pistols making waves on the rock scene, their appeal in the more underground markets didn't really pick up steam for a few more years. Once the Clash released London Calling, punk was now a legitimate form of musical expression.

This double record incorporates everything that made the Clash love music playing off each other beautifully. While any punk will be satisfied with the title track and "Koka Kola," the tonal shifts from pop to reggae to old time rock and roll are some of the most tasteful arranging of the band's career.

The music may be great, but any Clash fan knows that the band always has fantastic lyrics. Instead of just talking about the typical nihilistic punk behaviors, the album offers up thoughtful stances on politics, protests, nuclear warfare, and even the over-saturation of the advertising industry. There may have been some great songs among the other punk bands of the day, but no one was going to write a song as catchy or as heartfelt as "Lost in the Supermarket." Punk may have been known as a primitive musical genre, but London Calling was the start of the genre's rise as a musical force to be reckoned with.