Search - Stiff Little Fingers :: Inflammable Material

I'm gonna try not to be biased here... aww, screw it!

Gemma | Armagh, NI | 12/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Nearly Perfect

Davlo | West Kingston, RI | 03/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Fantastic!

Dan P. Halligan | Seattle, WA | 09/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm a die-hard punk rock fan and I consider this one of the top ten punk albums ever put out. Brilliant, Ireland's answer to The Clash."