Guitar and Drum. Stiff Little Fingers. Kung Fu Records.
by Justin Sablich, SUNY Cortland, September 3, 2004
Guitar and Drum. Stiff Little Fingers. Kung Fu Records.
Often overshadowed by the likes of The Clash, The Ramones, and The Sex Pistols, Stiff Little Fingers were one of the best punk bands to come out of the movement in the late 70s.
The band, led by vocalist/guitarist Jake Burns, survived the death and rebirth of punk and, unlike the above-mentioned punk legends, is still around to make music. And it’s not just music, it’s good music. Their latest effort, Guitar and Drum, is easily their best album in over 20 years.
The sound may have lightened up a bit as these Irish lads have aged, but the music remains lively and their lyrics still possess some very “punk” themes.
They take on the current music industry on the opening track, “Guitar and Drum,” which is backed by an addictive beat and a chorus that begs to be sung along: “I believe in the power of guitar and drum/I believe in the hope held in a song/I believe that the music makes you strong/I believe in the power of guitar and drum.” While it attacks the corporate influence of the industry, it also breathes optimism.
Other issues addressed include the injustice of America’s court system in “Still Burning,” and the existence of God in “Empty Sky.” Burns also pays tribute and gives thanks to The Clash’s Joe Strummer in “Strummerville.”
While Burns writes most of the songs, guitarist Ian McCallum contributes with a classic punk anthem, “Can’t Get Away With That,” a feel good, angst-ridden number.
It’s a musically refreshing album that can weather many spins in your stereo. The songs are simple but always fall short of redundant thanks to moments like on “Walkin’ Dynamite,” when an effortless guitar carries the listener through the heart of the song. It’s instances like these, where everything seems to click musically, that turns a mediocre album into something more admirable.
Harking back to the themes of the opening track, these aging punksters outshine their uninspired corporate counterparts and prove that there still is “power in guitar and drum.”
The Last Word: 3.9 out of 5
DESIGNER: Norma "Incachild" Gutierrez,New Media Design, SUNY Cortland, USA
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://neovox.cortland.edu/mt/mt-tb.cgi/91
your thoughts?
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)