Customer Reviews

Inflammable Material

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Hmmmmm, let me just start out by saying a few words about a subject that has been beaten to death. People get all worked up about today's "punk" music, and I can't understand why. Bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, Good Charlotte, New Found Glory, they're not even punk at all. So when people tie on them the ever so tired "pop-punk" label it gets me a little cranky. Pop-punk? Come on now children, these aforementioned bands owe far more to the Beatles than any respectable punk band. Punk you see, was born with Iggy Pop and the Stooges. It is raw, a form of brutal, simple expression. Political expression, personal expression, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that it is raw, straight from the hip and reasonably faaaast, right?

Well, If the Stooges birthed that writhing, thrashing beast known as punk, this album crystallized everything that was right about this genre. Brilliant, stunningly fast and savage riffs, tight and hammering rythm section, and inisightful fury fueled lyrics. And Jake Burns' singing?.... Well, simply put, it's the greatest, nastiest howl you'll ever hear. However, these are just ingredients. The finished product, is Stiff Little Fingers' utter classic "Inflammable Material" and a mere list of ingredients doesn't come close to capturing it's essence. You see, on this recording, magic happened. A fire of youth and anger was layed down on a 24 track recorder, and also most tantalizingly, true possibility. This is Punk, good Sirs. Beautiful, nasty, and always young punk. It is in my opinion, along with the Ramones' "Rocket to Russia", Television's "Marquee Moon", The Clash's "London Calling", Misson of Burma's "Signals, Calls and Marches", Husker Du's "Zen Arcade" and Joy Division's "Unkown Pleasures", one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever made. It stands atop the peak of almost unnatainable brilliance, giving us all the middle finger in all it's ragged glory, and for that, we are thankful. Children, buy this masterpiece. There'll be time enough for Bach when you're old and can no longer bang your head.

This is one of my FAVORITE punk albums of all time. Yet, a disturbingly few amount of people know who the hell SLF are! If you like the Clash or the Sex Pistols, you will LOVE SLF, no doubt.

Stiff Little Fingers is a band from Belfast, Ireland, a place of many troubles around the time of this record's release in 1979, and their songs reflect all of this suffering. They were rebels with a cause, trying to give hope to the masses in Northern Ireland, and they used some damn good punk rock music to spread their messages. Everyone who knows of SLF are quick to call them the "Irish Clash." Well, as much as I like the Clash, I'd have to say that I enjoy listening to SLF quite a bit more. They were rawer, angrier, and more true to their rebellious punk roots than the Clash, yet at the same time, they share the same reggae/ska/dub influences (they cover Bob Marley's "Johnny Was").

This is one of my personal favorite punk rock albums and if you're into punk at all, or if you simply happen to be a Clash fan, I give "Inflammable Material" my highest recommendation.

HOLY SMOKES this is a good record. This is probably the most underrated thing I have ever heard in my entire life. And I'm not just saying that because I hail from Northern Ireland, where the Fingers are from. No, when people begin their collection of punk albums, along with Never Mind The Bollocks and the Clash and what have you, this is a must have. If you like the Sex Pistols, Anti-Flag, The Clash or The Unseen, you will love this because it sounds like a mix of them all. The only way I can think to describe Jake Burns's voice is that it sounds like he's been gargling barbed wire.

1)Suspect Device: This is the album version of the song, and much more grainy and not as polished as the single. It's one of my favourites, the chorus is amazing and the lyrics really hit home.

2) State of Emergency: Not as good as the others, but still good. Has some great lyrics.

3) Here We Are Nowhere: I didn't think much of this at first, but it's so catchy it will stick in your head for days. Trust me.

4) Wasted Life: Somehow Jake's voice sounds even more sharp on this song. It's about not wanting to be a soldier.

5) No More Of That: Better than State of Emergency, but not the best.

6)Barbed Wire Love: This is an odd love song. At one point the Stiff Little Fingers sound nothing like they do usually. But it's brilliant. After this the album gets really good.

7) White Noise: An anti-racism song. Very sharp and cut edge, one of the best on the record.

8) Breakout: Pretty much an anti- 9 to 5 song. I love it.

9) Law and Order: This is a nice little punk song. OK, so nice may not fit it exactly, but I'm running out of adjectives. This is a song about the pigs. They do a nice job of it too.

10) Rough Trade: This is a fantastic song about a certain big record company that did the Fingers over. Again one of my personal favourites.

11) Johnny Was: I don't know much about reggae, but I know that I like this song. It's lengthly, though (EIGHT MINUTES? WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ONE TRUTH, TWO MINUTES, THREE CHORDS AND 4 OVER 4 TIME SIGNATURE?). But I absolutely love the intro.

12) Alternative Ulster: This was one of the first punk songs I liked, again maybe because of the fact I am living in Ulster where it's boring at the best of times. But I LOVE the lyrics. I mean, the 2nd verse: 'Is this the kinda place you wanna live? Is this where you wanna be? Is this the only life we're gonna have?'. And the last screaming bit: 'They say they're a part of you, but that's not true you know. They say they got control of you, but that's a lie you know. They say you will never be free.'

13) Closed Groove: Weird, weird song. But it will stick in your head.

14)Suspect Device (single version): I've already reviewed this song, so all I'll say is this one is more polished with no swearing.

15)78 RPM: I love this song, I really do. It's more upbeat than the others, but that ain't a bad thing.

16) Interview: This is pretty interesting, I found parts of it funny ie. Jake Burns's first radio interview, John Peel's little obsession etc.

All in all, a great album, or good craic as we say over here.

While the Undertones looked the other way, SLF spit out commentary on Northern Ireland on this their first and best album. Even the guitars evoke broken glass, broken teeth, broken everything. On vocals Jake Burns tears into the armed forces, both legal and proscribed, that want to waste his life. The memorable "Alternative Ulster", however, lashes out at another culprit, boredom, at having sweet f.a. to do in dear auld Belfast. In this harrowing set, SLF even inject a little humor as they cleverly find the intersection of the Troubles and teen lust in "Barbed Wire Love". Though not recommended for the weak of heart, this record is a punk triumph, utterly dead on.

Hmm... four punks from Belfast in 1979. I bet you have no idea what this record is like...

In case your still wondering, it rocks! The lyrics are awesome, subjects ranging from suffering in Ireland ("Alternative Ulster") to pure angst ("Here we are Nowhere"). The music, like I stated in my title, is a perfect mix between '77 punk rock like the Clash and hardcore punk. Now that I'm through with that I'll rate the songs.

1) "SUSPECT DEVICE": A great way to start the album. Angry like nothing you can imagine. (5/5)
2) "STATE OF EMERGENCY": Eh, not that great. A little too slow. (3/5)
3) "HERE WE ARE NOWHERE": HELL YEAH! Shortest but most powerful song on the album. My favorite SLF song, and the best on the album. (5/5)
4) "WASTED LIFE": Just awesome. (5/5)
5) "NO MORE OF THAT": Great song with a great chorus. (5/5)
6) "BARBED WIRE LOVE": 3rd favorite on disc. Catchy breakdown. (5/5)
7) "WHITE NOISE": Classic, and most hard-hitting track on the album. (5/5)
8) "BREAKOUT": Well it couldn't have lated forever, could it? Not a bad song, but minor compared to the earlier tracks. (4/5)
9) "LAW AND ORDER": Just a good song. (4/5)
10) " ROUGH TRADE": Ditto. (4/5)
11) "JOHNNY WAS": Awesome cover. (5/5)
12) "Alternative Ulster": Another awesome track, and my second favorite on the album. (5/5)
13) "CLOSED GROOVE": Bleh! (1/5)

If you want to get into SLF, this is the album to start with. If you like it, then buy "Nobodys Heroes". Both cds are highly recommended for fans of the Clash, Sex Pistols, and just plain punk rock.

I highly reccomend this CD to anyone who is either a classic punk fan or is really interested in the revolts in Northern Ireland. These guys are a great band, even my dad likes them!!

This is one album no one should do without. From the minute it begins in the opening chords of "Suspect Device" until the pleading of "Alternative Ulster," it does not disappoint (with the exception of the final song, of which they can be excused for). "Here We Are Nowhere" is one moment of pure brilliance (even if it sounds a little like the great "Alternative Ulster"). "No More of That" epitomizes the state of politics and the genre then and even now. If you don't raise your fist and desire change after hearing this album (as well as consider the irony in writing punk reviews on a website that fans the flames of monotony), then listen again. SLF achieves perfection on this album in a way that hardly anyone does. This album stands out as one of the U.K.'s most inspirational records along with "London Calling" and "Never Mind the Bollocks."

Almost every song on here is great. This album reflects the band at their politically angry best. Musically, there's great guitar work and vocals with interesting lyrics that actually have something to say.

This alongside the Ramones debut , Pistol's debut , and Clash debut should be hailed as the greatest punk albums ever. 4 songs alone make this album worth owning by theirselves . They are the always classic opening track "Suspect Device"..an angry attack that makes you appreciate your middle finger.."Here We Are Nowhere".."White Noise"(not a rascist song but an attack on political rascism ) and of course the closing classic "Alternative Ulster" (forget the last track ...it's filler). This album belongs in any punk's collection..hell even any music fan's collection..it's brilliant

This is a reissue of one of the classic punk albums, with a few bonus tracks thrown in - the most interesting of these is part one of an interview with SLF singer/guitarist Jake Burns, in which he relates interesting snippets of the band's history. The other bonus tracks are an alternative version of Suspect Device, the band's first single, and the angry yet humorous 78 RPM ('there's gonna be 78 revolutions per minute').
The album proper is right up there with anything by The Clash, The Sex Pistols and The Damned as a 70s punk classic. Several of the songs are about the then explosive political situation in Northern Ireland (Suspect Device, Alternative Ulster), making the band as politically relevant as The Clash in punk history, or even more so. This is angry music played fast and loud, yet retains a razor-sharp black sense of humour reminiscent of Elvis Costello at his acerbic best: Barbed Wire Love, with its pastiches of the Beach Boys and 50s doo-wop bands is perhaps the most obvious example of this.
If you have any interest in punk at all you need to hear this!