Originally released ten months after his death in 2002, Joe Strummer's Streetcore was - and remains - an awkward bookend to his career. The recording sessions for the album were by no means complete and his colleagues in The Mescaleros took the difficult decision to do their best with what were, in some instances, first-take vocals. The task was eased by Streetcore being Strummer's most back-to-basics effort for some time, benefitting from the loose quality of the rough takes.

Strummer's long-term interest in world musics is mostly limited here to various Caribbean lilts and reggae-inspired numbers, including a rather indifferent version of Bob Marley's 'Redemption Song' but the project is saved by the scratchy anthem of 'Coma Girl' and 'All In A Day', that actually sounds more like a Mick Jones effort. This new CD is rounded out by b-sides and live tracks, including a cover of The Ramones' 'Blitzkrieg Bop' which, fittingly, takes Strummer back to where it all started. RIP Joe - still much missed.