Rock Art and the X-Ray Style

Infobox Album | Name = Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
Type = Album
Artist = Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros


Released = October 19, 1999
Recorded = 1999
Genre = Rock
Length = 49:44
Label = HellCat
Producer = Antony Genn, Richard Norris
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wode4j374wal link]
Last album =
This album = "Rock Art & The X-Ray Style"
(1999)
Next album = "Global a Go-Go"
(2001)

"Rock Art and the X-Ray Style" is the debut album by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, released in 1999. This album featured the band in its first incarnation: Joe Strummer and Antony Genn on guitar and vocals, Martin Slattery playing keyboards and guitar, Steve "Smiley" Barnard on drums, Pablo Cook on other percussion instruments, and Scott Shields on bass. Richard Flack also did engineering on the album.

The record marked Strummer's reemergence from a long absence in the music scene, his last record being 1989's "Earthquake Weather". The album begins with "Tony Adams," a track which sounds not unlike Strummer's previous work with The Clash. Saxophone riffs are juxtaposed with reggae inspired guitar, as Strummer recites lyrics detailing a catastrophe hitting New York City. The rest of the record takes a winding journey, with songs that capture Strummer's genre mixing. "Sandpaper Blues" features hand drums and African chanting, "Techno D-Day" dabbles in electronic instruments, while "Road to Rock and Roll," another song written by Strummer for Johnny Cash combines acoustic guitar with turntables and electronic drums. "Yalla Yalla" Strummer himself once described as "an ancient British folk song....written in the year 1999." Fact|date=May 2007 The song is rich in layers, which includes keyboards, synths, bass, drums, and a guitar with endless sustain (likely provided via an e-bow).

Track listing

All songs written by Joe Strummer and Anthony Genn,except noted.
#"Tony Adams"
#"Sandpaper Blues" (Joe Strummer, Gary Dyson, Richard Norris)
#"X-Ray Style" (Joe Strummer)
#"Techno D-Day"
#"The Road to Rock 'N' Roll"
#"Nitcomb"
#"Diggin' the New" (Joe Strummer, Richard Norris)
#"Forbidden City" (Joe Strummer)
#"Yalla Yalla" (Joe Strummer, Pablo Cook, Richard Norris)
#"Willesden to Cricklewood"

Personnel

* Joe Strummer - lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mixing
* Antony Genn - synthesizer, guitar, piano, bass, strings, beats, backup vocals, programming, mixing, producer
* Richard Norris - keyboards, E-Bow, drum programming, producer
* Martin Slattery - Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, melodica, saxophone
* Scott Shields - acoustic guitar, bass, electric guitar, backup vocals
* Pablo Cook - percussion, drums, backup vocals
* Steve Barnard - drums
* Dave Stewart - acoustic guitar
* Ged Lynch - drums
* Gary Dyson - backup vocals, chant
* B.J. Cole - pedal steel
* D.J. Pete B. - scratching
* Richard Flack - programming, engineer, mixing
* Ian Tregoning - engineer
* Damien Hirst - cover art
* Streaky - Mastering