Customer Reviews

Now Then...

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

 

 

An excellant rock album with classic slf tracks like 'stands to reason' and 'talkback' also the original and best version of 'the price of admission' and another ballad 'big city night' about the troubled streets of belfast are all standout tracks.slf bring new life to a cover of 'love of the common people' made famous by paul young in the mid eighties.and with rockers like 'bits of kids' and 'is that what you fought the war for' makes 'now then' an easy 5 stars.

It's sad to see a great group lopped in w/ the mindless, bonehead kiddie punk bands of yesterday and today (Green Day sounds nothing like them!) "Now Then" is light years ahead of their 1st 2 records and can compete w/ Go For It as their best. Don't get me wrong, "Inflammable" and "Nobody's Heroes" are insane, however, musically, their last two are superior: more interesting/ sophisticated, more mature, complex, better playing/singing and finally the production is flawless. I have no problem w/ records by 'punk' bands that have thin production (i.e. SLF's 1st 2, Damned Damned Damned, Vibrators' Pure Mania and Genx's 1st) I understand that's part of the "D.I.Y." spirit, however it's refreshing to see a group break out of the 'punk' thing and grow up! (i.e The Jam, Undertones, Damned(sometimes), Stranglers...you get the picture). In any case, there are songs on here that are absolutely perfect power pop gems on a Buzzcocks level (but not as cartoony)"Won't Be Told", "Falling Down" "Welcome to the Whole Week"(The old "Wide World of Sports" riff) and Touch and Go" to name a few. Highly recommended for those that are starting to feel unsatisfied w/ the 'anyone can do it' mentality of most 'punk' bands! HANX!!

Now, then by SLF was my favorite record in the early 80's and I'm so happy to have it back again. From Northern Ireland, roots in the punk movement with some reggae/ska, they are as unpretentious and real as they come. Favorite song: Welcome to the Whole Week, about unemployment!

While far from the inspired abandon found in their early work, I can't help but love the album because i love the band. This album, much like The Clash's Sandinista is often overlooked because it strayed from the formula. Sandinista is an incredible album, and so is this. If your a Stiff Little Fingers fan i would highly recommend it. If not, try some of the earlier stuff such as Inflammable Material or Nobody's Heroes, both are great.

Most punk enthusiasts, if asked to pick just one SLF album, would probably choose Inflammable Material. And rightfully so, as that is home to the 2 most well-known Fingers' tunes: Suspect Device and Alternative Ulster, as well as their "hardest" material. Fans of the band might choose Nobody's Heroes, as it can be thought of as the band's "London Calling" of sorts, where they throttle back on the angry indignation and maximize songwriting abilities. If you're a real mark, you might be tempted to go for Go For It, the album that saw them slide even further into a straight pop-rock songcraft method, their last album to really sell units.

Which brings us to album #4, the black sheep of the bunch, and until recent years an album which had been long out of print. The last stop for even most dedicated fans, as most of the post-reunion material was painfully bad (at least until Hope Street rescued the band's popularity amongst fans in 1999) The incredibly cheesy and dated cover art was indicative of the material within. Long gone are the angry days of Suspect Device, replaced by folky, jangly tunes about family, country, and love. Jake Burns was getting old and showing it.

Not that there aren't moments of the old SLF shining through, the ability to write a decent hook hasn't left them on this record, it's just the middling, drowsy, glossy method in which they are delivered. The band still has the punk rock mindset with anti-authoritarian tunes like "Won't be told," and continues to rail against armed conflict with the sobering "Bits of Kids," but overall the packagage is bland and borderline unworthy of such a formerly capable outfit.

The bonus tracks are both nice, and superfluous. The quantity is nice, at 5, but the fact that they were all included on the SLF hits collection All The Best... sorta takes the air out of the fun. The telling thing about this material is that, even though various band members have been quoted as saying this is their fave record, after the band reunited in the late 80's they almost completely excised this material from their setlists. Just food for thought!

For the fans out there, I would recommend it as the last document of the original band in their original era. Not for starters though, and possibly not even for folks who are familiar with the bands better material. But hey, at least it is in print so we can make the choice.

At the time this was released most people saw this as the beginning of the end. Sure enough the group split shortly afterwards (to reform 5 years later). They swore that this album was their personal favorite but no one believed them. There are a few reasonable even good songs on here but if you want bland pop there are so many other groups that could offer it to you. The punk edge has largely been lost at this stage and one senses a group trying hard to find a new direction. On the plus side the album offers a variety of sounds introducing the acoustic guitar for the first time to the group's repertoire. There are still some very good lyrics although sometimes they are a little too worthy ('Price of Admission'). If they had only done this album no one would remember them. Only the true fan will be interested in owning this.

Okay, so that's an exageration. But it's not too much of one. SLF, characteristically, produces a catchy and very musically rich album you just can't help tap your foot to.

Modern punk bands such as Green Day and the Offspring, obviously have been inspired and influenced by SLF, with the fast paced drum-work and harmonic singing. In fact, at times you'd swear you were listening to Green Day.

Some songs on this album seem a little watered down, as if they're not living quite up to their potential, but for the most part it's a lot of fun to listen to. Fun music with a punk edge.

Great band, great album (though not their best.) Worth buying any day.

- Justin West