Stiff Little Fingers – “Inflammable Material”
Some may pick The Undertones but for me there’s no other choice than Stiff Little Fingers as the best punk band to come out of Ireland.
And this album, their first release, is obviously a classic.
Lyrically, as potent as The Clash and with vocals that foresee the hardcore and metal styles to come- to me it’s a great, influential, inspiring album.
And we have two un-influential and soon to be expiring gents to review this album- Andy Bang and Slimedog in a dual texting review, who are both, love and honored by nearly none.
Strap on your jet backpacks as we’re about to send you into space! Not necessarily to the black hole but somewhere more down to earth, led by a couple of slimedogs, or what the term implies, #@% holes!
Slimedog- Were you a fan of SLF in the early eighties?
Andy- Ya SLF were a favorite of mine back in the day. Good energy with cool, raspy vocals. Like a punk version of AC/DC.
Slimedog- I didn’t really listen to them until the early nineties when someone where I worked gave me a tape. (He had attended shows at The Rat while we did in the early eighties.) I was impressed. Yeah, the vocals also remind me of a preview of what was to come in the hardcore and death metal styles.
Andy- I don’t remember when or why I got their first album, but it was in the early eighties. They seemed to fit in quite nicely with the early punk movement.
Slimedog- Let’s check out the song I was always aware of “Suspect Device.”
Andy- When I think of SLF, it’s “Suspect Device” that always comes to mind. A great tune with lots of twists and turns and nice hooks.
Slimedog- And great lyrics, “They take away our freedom, in the name of liberty…They make us feel indebted for saving us from hell. Then they put us through it, it’s time the bastards fell.” I always thought The Clash and the Dead Kennedy’s had the best political lyrics, but this band might win out.
Andy- At the time, I knew they were politically charged for some reason. But it was only years later that I realized what they were singing about.
Slimedog- “Wasted Life” is about how I’ve spent a good portion of my life- Wasted!
Andy- A rather productive way to pass the time if you ask me.
Slimedog- I’ll drink to that! Actually, it’s an anti-war song. “They ain’t blond haired or blue eyed, but they think they’re the master race. They’re nothing but blind fascists. Brought up to hate and given lives to waste.” Like all their songs, this is melodic but with a lot of grit, guts and passion.
Andy- A bit of a straight ahead charging tune, but with their usual melodic hooks.
Slimedog- This band, like the Buzzcocks, are a perfect example of how pop/punk can be substantial and great. Next up is a song that inspired the creation of the popular TV show- “Law And Order.”
Andy- I think they’re kind of a cross between The Clash and The Jam. Their unique vocals is what sets them apart from other bands of the time. “Law And Order” is another one of their trade mark tunes. Great herky-jerky rhythm. And one of their few tunes with a bona fide guitar solo.
Slimedog- Agreed, and very Clash-like to me. “Law and order, they don’t do what they ought to. There’s no justice anymore.” I’m sure that “Suspect Device” is their most popular and well-known tune but I was lucky enough to see a band play a cover of my favorite tune by them, recently on St. Patrick’s Days, and that song is “Alternative Ulster.”
Andy- Ya “Alternative Ulster” is definitely another one of their trade mark tunes. When you first hear it, it’s hard to figure out what he’s spouting on about. It’s a high spirited anthem with great guitar licks.
Slimedog- I was told that this was about the singer, Jake Burns, wish for Ulster to replicate the alternative music scene into Ireland, just as Seattle became the main alternative music scene in America. But this appears to be erroneous as the song was released at least a dozen years before that scene existed. Another exciting, intense song, my favorite part being the bridge. “And they say they’re a part of you, and that’s not true, you know. They say they got control of you, and that’s a lie, you know. They say you will never be free.” As Sly Stone sang, “Don’t you know that you are free. Well, at least in your mind if you want to be.”
Andy- And technically they’re not. SLF are from Belfast, Northern Island and of course all their tunes are about the troubles that existed there only a few short years ago.
Slimedog- Yes, and reading their lyrics this week I could see a young punk band in America writing a lot of the same words. And this album came out 40 years ago! Needless to say that SLF ranks near the top of great British Isle punk bands.
Andy- Agreed. And even today their tunes are still as fresh and exciting as ever. Perhaps why they still do gigs.
Slimedog- Yes, one of the few old bands I would consider seeing live. And I hear you’re thinking of choosing Bob Seger’s album “Songs Your Cranky Old Uncle Might Write.”
Andy- No you’re mistaken. I was thinking of choosing Pete Seeger’s “Folk Songs For Folks With No Dongs.”
Slimedog- Excellent choice! Though I wonder how many people reading this will know who Pete Seeger is, and more importantly, how lucky they are if they don’t.
Andy- Where have all the flowers gone? I’ve bashed them with my hammer.
Slimedog- Never mind those flowers. I’ve got a few folk musicians that need attending to.
