Stiff Little Fingers; Relevance or Excellence?

Revolution9

Had a bit of a heated discussion with a friend, over which matters most in regards to great Punk, relevance or excellence? We both think Stiff Little Fingers are an excellent band. However, he can't listen to them much anymore since a lot of their music is no longer relevant in a sense, with the Troubles over and done with. I argued that songs like Alternative Ulster, Suspect Device etc. are so fcuking good that it really doesn't matter that they may be politically dated.

Would/Do you listen to bands like SLF that are lyrically (in my friend's words) "long past their sell by date"?

dregin

Just because the troubles are "over" doesn't mean their songs aren't very relative to situations elsewhere in the world.

Is barbed wire love not about a protestant and a catholic falling in love? Check the Palestinian guy who was thrown in jail for hahving sex with an Israeli girl. Something similar goin on there if ya ask me.

Suspect Device will always be relevant to rebellion of any kind tbh.

The list is endless. I can't think of any of their songs that aren't still relevant to someone.

af_thefragile

I love their inflammable material album.

I think they're timeless rebellion songs which can apply to anywhere or anytime there is a rising against the establishment or there is suppression of sort.

They're one of my favorite punk band.

Revolution9

af_thefragile wrote: »

I love their inflammable material album.

I think they're timeless rebellion songs which can apply to anywhere or anytime there is a rising against the establishment or there is suppression of sort.

They're one of my favorite punk band.

Far and away their best album.

darrenw5094

Inflamable and Nobody's Heroes are classic records. Always will be. Songs will be rellevent to alot of people from NI and surrounding area.

I was a big fan, but recent albums are watered down material that sounds nothing like the classic early stuff.

AnimalRights

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Inflamable and Nobody's Heroes are classic records. Always will be. Songs will be rellevent to alot of people from NI and surrounding area.

I was a big fan, but recent albums are watered down material that sounds nothing like the classic early stuff.

Couldn't agree more, I watched them many many times at their peak, then they became total ****e, having said that they were one of the most popular bands at Rebellion last month, they have many many fans, then again so has Jedward.

darrenw5094

AnimalRights wrote: »

Couldn't agree more, I watched them many many times at their peak, then they became total ****e, having said that they were one of the most popular bands at Rebellion last month, they have many many fans, then again so has Jedward.

This thread got me googlin'.:) I just read that original man, Cluney got relieved from his duties because he was worried about the direction that the band was going with their record. He also states that the real SLF died when Jim Reilly left in '81.

Revolution9

darrenw5094 wrote: »

This thread got me googlin'.:) I just read that original man, Cluney got relieved from his duties because he was worried about the direction that the band was going with their record. He also states that the real SLF died when Jim Reilly left in '81.

Seems Jake Burns went a bit mad over the years, kicking each member out of the band. Ali is back in the present line up. Jim Reily was the best drummer they ever had, by far.

Nolanger

Revolution9 wrote: »

Would/Do you listen to bands like SLF that are lyrically (in my friend's words) "long past their sell by date"?

The major problem with SLF is that their best songs were the album tracks not the singles.

sydsad

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Inflamable and Nobody's Heroes are classic records. Always will be. Songs will be rellevent to alot of people from NI and surrounding area.

I was a big fan, but recent albums are watered down material that sounds nothing like the classic early stuff.

Agree totally man.

**** me i havent listed to SLF in a few months actually. Punk in general. Shame on me.

Saw em once in dublin. Was class gig.

older i get better i was

your friends a twat slf stopped writing songs about "norn iron" after their second album, so that makes about six r seven other albums bout other stuff! do yourself a favour nd get your hands on guitar nd drum their last album and probably up their with their early stuff, its a brilliant listen you won't regret it. acadamy this march top gig also

Revolution9 wrote: »

Had a bit of a heated discussion with a friend, over which matters most in regards to great Punk, relevance or excellence? We both think Stiff Little Fingers are an excellent band. However, he can't listen to them much anymore since a lot of their music is no longer relevant in a sense, with the Troubles over and done with. I argued that songs like Alternative Ulster, Suspect Device etc. are so fcuking good that it really doesn't matter that they may be politically dated.

Would/Do you listen to bands like SLF that are lyrically (in my friend's words) "long past their sell by date"?

roc_racer

There was a suspect device sitting on the Antrim Road for the last couple of days so I guess that's as relevant as it gets.

I make my kids listen to them and they're totally irrelevant to them - just another one of Dad's shouty bands.

AnimalRights

darrenw5094 wrote: »

Inflamable and Nobody's Heroes are classic records. Always will be. Songs will be rellevent to alot of people from NI and surrounding area.

I was a big fan, but recent albums are watered down material that sounds nothing like the classic early stuff.

Yep, after the 1st 2 albums they became pure ****e.
and re: main topic Dregin got it about right.

suspectdevice

dregin wrote: »

Suspect Device will always be relevant to rebellion of any kind tbh.

cheers man

Kingdom Bhoy

SLF were a quality band and always delivered live.

dregin

Kingdom Bhoy wrote: »

SLF were a quality band and always delivered live.

and still do

suspectdevice

first of all, thanks for all the comments. i really appreciate the positivity that this generates in my head

secondly, what slf sang about is relevant to any society and how it engages with its youth. timeless, completely timeless

just afraid it might be lost

Kingdom Bhoy

One of the many things I liked about SLF particuarly in their early days was that they were a band with two catholics and two prods. in it and therefore religion was not an issue for them.

suspectdevice

always felt they transcended any of the bigotry of northern ireland