Customer Reviews

Nobody's Heroes

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The group have been described as the Irish Clash and the description is apt, such is the similarity of sound and philosophy. Like the Clash this group mixed punk with Jamaican-influenced sounds- this album contains a cover version of the Specials' Ska classic 'Doesn't make it alright' and a dubbed up version of the song they previously released as 'Bloody Sunday'. SLF were probably better than the Clash- the situations they described were much more directly inspired from their personal experience- this was not rich kids' rebellion. The group which hailed from Northern Ireland took the conscious decision not to include any songs about the political situation of their hometown on this follow-up to their highly acclaimed 'Inflammable Material' (which had been almost entirely devoted to Belfast protest songs). Some of the best material the group recorded is on this album although it also contains two fillers ('I don't like you' and 'No change' are both very weak). The subject matter here is diverse ranging form attacks on the conservative party ('Fly the Flag') to songs about trying to get out of situations in which you feel trapped ('Tin Soldiers', 'At the Edge', 'Gotta Getaway'). This is an album of the highest quality. Powerful guitar-driven punk. Some of the best lyrics you'll ever hear. Poltical protest mixed with teenage angst. SLF are still going today and continue to produce interesting material and phenomenal live shows... Their die-hard following is still with them. It is ironic that the group who sang 'don't wanna be nobody's hero' should be the object of such cult fanaticism even to this day- but that speaks volumes for the quality of their music and lyrics.

This is the best SLF album, and also one of the best punk albims ever. It's very catchy and aggressive, positive and angry. If you like punk, there's no way you won't like this.

Unfortunately, this album is difficult to find, but if you do find it, buy it immediately. If you think early UK punk started and ended with the Pistols, The Damned and the Clash, you're in for a big surprise. This is early, anthemic UK punk at its best. Some of these songs you may have heard on various greatest hits compilations, e.g. Gotta Getaway, Tin Soldiers, Nobody's Heroes, and Doesn't Make it Allright all appear on the "All the Best" double CD (which is a great intro to SLF) but there are other gems here, such as Fly the Flag (play it at 11) and I Don't Like You. Like the Clash, SLF combines straight ahead punk with UK pop hooks, and also experiment with dub and reggae influences, e.g. Bloody Dub and their remake of the Specials' Doesn't Make it Allright. If you like the Clash, you will like this, no questions asked.

No other Irish band stands up to SLF in my opinion. They are very catchy yet in no way poppy. This is punk rock, period. Inflammable Material is my favorite SLF album, but this one trails very close behind. I'd recommend either of these two albums for anyone looking for their first plunge into the SLF.

This is the best punk rock album I ever owned (originally in vinyl). If you ever want to know what British punk rock originally was about, or wonder where Green Day got a big chunck of their inspiration, this is the album for you!

The perfect blend of raw punk and catchy hooks. Now throw in a few reggae licks to boot! If you like the early Clash, you'll like this. If "I Don't Like You" doesn't get your blood pumping, go see a doctor!

This album goes really well with a bottle of Chimay, i've discovered. i bet it would even make that wine stuff taste good. cheers.

man i can't believe nobody had reviewed this earlier. this, in my opinon, is the best SLF album they made.