Year: 1979
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk
This is the debut and best album ever by the political punk band STIFF LITTLE FINGERS.
Most of the album's tracks are about the "troubles"
and the grim reality of life in Northern Ireland with the songs
containing themes of teenage boredom, sectarian violence, police
oppression, unemployent, etc., urging people to "grab it and change it,
it's yours"
in what became their signature song "Alternative Ulster". The song
"Rough Trade" is about the band's view of the music business as being
dishonest but have since claimed it is not about the record label which
happens to have the same name. In 2001 the major EMI made a CD reissue
added two tracks. The reissue also includes the first part of an
interview of Jake Burns
by Alan Parker (the second part is included in the reissue of Nobody's
Heroes. Strictly musical STIFF LITTLE FINGERS is very influenced
by bands near to classic rock or Mod music like The Clash, The Jam, etc.
making songs not fast or agressive but more classic 1977 sound.
Year: 1980
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 10
Time: 38 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk
Year: 1981
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 10
Time: 38 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk
Year: 1991
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
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Year: 1994
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 13
Time: 40 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
When these venerable Irish punks joined the early-'90s reunion parade,
few gave them any chance of going the distance, especially after a
decidedly iffy comeback album, Flags & Emblems (1991). However, a
funny thing happened four years later: singer-guitarist Jake Burns
figured out how to make those shopworn pop-punk chords ring true again,
yielding one of the band's finest outings. The title track's martial
denunciation of apathy sets an appropriate back-to-basics tone. Topical
pop-punk is the blueprint, with Burns slinging blasts against social
complacency ("No Laughing Matter"), police corruption ("Forensic
Evidence"), anti-immigrant bias ("Harp"), and the end of Communism ("The
Night That the Wall Came Down"). Studio-wise, former Jam bassist Bruce
Foxton plays an effective foil to Burns, while drummer Dolphin Taylor's
unflagging rat-a-tat-tat keeps the proceedings taut and focused. The
production is as crisp and business-like as the songs themselves.
Rounding off matters are "unplugged" remakes of the standards "Silver
Lining," "Wasted Life," and the later-era fare of "Listen" -- as well as
live versions of Foxton's major Jam credit, "Smithers-Jones," and
"Alternative Ulster," the single that launched the band's career. Solid
melodies and performances enable Get a Life to outstrip the rickety
material and execution that usually dogs most returning bands. In this
respect, Stiff Little Fingers' story parallels that of the Buzzcocks,
who've aged equally well, even if the chart hits don't follow anymore.
(*Review by Ralph Heibutzki )
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"tinderbox"Year: 1997
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
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Year: 1999
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 36 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
we ignore the reasons but this album was issued firstly in 1999 as double CD, next to the live compilation "Greatest hits live in the UK" through the own band under the "false" record label "Oxygen Records". Later in 2004 was Universal Music (EMI) which issued the twelve songs studio album plus two interviews, with Jake Burns and Steve Grantley.
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Year: 2003
Label: Universal
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 14
Time: 38 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
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Year: 2017
Label: none
Format: CD, LP
Tracks: 12
Time: 44 min.
Genre: rock
Style: Punk Rock
There has been much talk of a new Stiff Little Fingers album during the past eleven years ("Guitar and Drum" 2003) and after not being happy with their dealings with potential labels, the band eventually took matters into their own hands and decided upon asking fans to fund the recording and production of their first new album in over a decade. Using PledgeMusic the target was reached within 12 hours, showing that even after 35 years the band still has a loyal fan base eager to hear new material and willing to do something about it.
The result of that fervour is now here via the initial download released to those that pledged and it has to be said that it's a very good album indeed. Now then, I will fess up here and say that Stiff Little Fingers are my favourite band and have been for over thirty years during which they've provided me with more than any other artist in terms of enjoyment etc. and yes, I pledged cold hard cash on day one to help get the project off the ground but this review is still written with a degree of objectivity – there are no scales over my eyes, or ears.
A number of these tracks have featured in live shows over the past few years and it's two of these which kick off No Going Back. First is "Liars Club" a song Jake Burns wrote about politicians and second is "My Dark Places", a poignant track which deals with the Burns' battle with a depression; a song which has struck a chord with many of the band's fans on hearing it performed live. What is evident from "Liars Club" is that although musically the band might not have that musical edge from the early days, Burns and Co. (for the record the "Co." is original bassist Ali McMordie, and the long standing pair of drummer Steve Grantley and guitarist Ian McCallum) still have a fire beating within them which needs to address what they see as being wrong in the world these days – so really, it's the same as when they started but delivered in a slightly different way, all of which remains Stiff Little Fingers to the core.
The album features the distinctive guitar playing of Burns and it's always a delight to hear his work, with trademark punchy riffs and chords to drive songs like "One Man Island", "Good Luck With That" and "Trail Of Tears" along with ease. Beyond Burns' contribution one other moment that stands out for me and that is McMordie's bass on "Full Steam Backwards" which gloriously propels the song from start to finish, underpinning Burn's spirited vocal performance as it goes. It has to be said that as good as Bruce Foxton was in the band, no-one can hold a candle to McMordie when it comes to laying down bass lines – his return to the band seems to have had a massive impact. Despite the members of the band being long in the tooth there is no lack of passion throughout this album with targets being the banking institutions, selfishness and record labels/managers amongst others, each one deservedly chosen (*Review by HERE ).
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