David Brewer
Staff Writer
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the angry sound of rebellion
and frustration was coming together in the United Kingdom and sweeping
the world as punk rock.
Though starting out as a Clash-inspired cover band in Belfast, Ireland,
the Stiff Little Fingers would go on to write and record many punk
classics.
After their initial success, the band called it quits for several
years in the 1980s, only to reemerge to an even bigger following
than the one they left behind.
Encouraged by their rabid fans and a few reunion shows, the Stiff
Little Fingers reformed for good in 1991 and have been making records
ever since.
On their latest outing entitled “Guitar and Drum,” the
Fingers show once again why they have managed to last so long.
Their songs are focused, well crafted pop punk masterpieces with
edgy guitar hooks and lyrics that demand to be heard. The album’s
production is minimal; letting the sound of old school rock reign
with distorted guitars and hard-hitting drums.
Of the 14 new songs on the album, many are about rebellion and standing
up for what one believes in the face of resistance.
For some, this might be a musical epiphany, seeing as how rebellion
is seemingly unimportant to so many in current musical trends.
The Fingers are obviously not concerned with selling millions of
records on a major record label. They are concerned, however, with
speaking their minds and encouraging others to do so as well.
The Stiff Little Fingers’ chief songwriter and lead guitar
player Jake Burns is most certainly not at a loss for opinions.
The title track of the album is a scathing rant, albeit very melodic,
towards the many other bands that play the meaningless sell-out
version of punk. Lyrics like “Go on ahead and make the fat
cats fatter/And for God’s sake don’t say anything that
matters” speak volumes about Burns’ attitude towards
the new pop punk bands.
Another standout track on the album is “Strummerville,”
a Clash-esque rocker done in tribute to the late Joe Strummer, former
lead singer of The Clash.
Burns cites Strummer as a huge inspiration, singing about the passion
that he brought back to the music when it was sorely lacking.
Aside from the fist-pumping rockers on the album, the Fingers mix
things up with songs such as “Dead Man Walking,” a mid-tempo
tune with simple but effective acoustic rhythm guitar and lush vocal
and guitar harmonies throughout.
Although it’s clearly Burns’ show, the contributions
by the other Fingers are significant. Rhythm guitarist Ian McCallum’s
songs “Be True to Yourself” and “Can’t Get
Away With That” are of the album’s most melodically
interesting.
Bass player Bruce Foxton and Drummer Steve Grantley also make solid
songwriting contributions to the album.
The Stiff Little Fingers will be touring the U.S. throughout the
summer in support of “Guitar and Drum,” which will be
out on the Kung Fu record label and in stores today.
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