The Mekons Rock 'n Roll was well received by critics on its initial release. It was voted the eighth best album of 1989 in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics' poll.[11] In 1991, New York Times critic Jon Pareles called it "one of the best albums of the 1980s".[12]
Decades later, critics still remembered it fondly.[13][14]Pitchfork placed The Mekons Rock 'n Roll at number 97 on its 2002 list of the 100 best albums of the 1980s.[15] In 2007, the record was ranked at number 97 on Blender's list of "The 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever".[16] It was included in Tom Moon's 2008 book 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die.[17]
Track listing
All songs composed by The Mekons (as per label). The BMI database lists all songs as composed by Tom Greenhalgh and Jon Langford.
"Memphis, Egypt" – 3:37
"Club Mekon" – 3:29
"Only Darkness Has the Power" – 3:28
"Ring O' Roses" – 4:07
"Learning to Live on Your Own" – 4:37
"Cocaine Lil" – 2:51
"Empire of the Senseless" – 4:35
"Someone" – 2:44
"Amnesia" – 4:31
"I Am Crazy" – 3:28
"Heaven and Back" – 3:16
"Blow Your Tuneless Trumpet" – 3:56
"Echo" – 4:33
"When Darkness Falls" – 3:53
The American issue of this album omits "Ring O' Roses" and "Heaven and Back".