Joe Strummer Future Is Unwritten CD

The audio companion to the documentary of the same name, THE FUTURE IS UNWRITTEN examines the world of Joe Strummer, the agitprop auteur and self-described "punk rock warlord" who led the Clash to rock-&-roll glory in the 1970s and '80s. Part rarities collection, part DJ mix, the album includes both previously unreleased tracks from the Strummer/Clash archives and songs he played by other artists on his own BBC World Service radio show.

Hearing the punk fury of the Clash tracks and the pan-cultural vibe of the Strummer's solo work, it's easy to follow the line of his artistic development. At the same time, when listening to the cuts he chose for his radio show, the influences on his work become easy to pick out: U-Roy's deep reggae grooves, Woody Guthrie's political folk, Eddie Cochran's urgent rockabilly. It all adds up to a wide view of what made Strummer such an unforgettable musical and personal presence.