Search - Stiff Little Fingers :: Go for It

"GO FOR IT!"

Dansa | 05/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Go For It" might very well be punk's best keep secret. Much like the Clash's "London Calling" and Bad Brain's "I Against I," the rich album explodes out of the restrictions of the genre with a melting pot of diverse influences and songwriting. The band's goal was to make a pure singles album with every song designed to stand on its own with a unique voice, and for the most part they somehow pull it off convincingly. A common theme of taking risks and well "going for it" does seem to emerge throughout a wide variety of lyrical topics that seem to cover everything under the sun. Seriouisly, name a topic and the main songwriting team of Burns/Ogilvie probably presents it in a fresh, straightforward, and intelligent way on this album; sex, love, alienation, domestic violence, working class angst, random violence, rocking out, and even the problem with young marriages of convience.



The aggression of punk is either controlled or not present at all though every song is dripping with very urgent passion in both playing and Burn's wonderful singing voice that ranges from soft and pleasant to hoarse and emotional. Like the musicianship, the production is very accomplished and of unusual high quality for the genre and era. The popular opening cover of "Roots, Radicals..." surpisingly leans more towards the up-tempo righteous rage of Punk than Ska, while moody Dub dominates slow ballads like the melancholy "The Only One" and the soaring powerhouse "Safe as Houses." "Just Fade Away" and "Kicking up Racket" are upbeat pop guitar jubliations,and Cluney's romantic rockabilly number "Gate 49" might be the most sincere and understated of the common "life on the road" rock songs. The title track is a marching instrumental that you've probably heard before without realizing it while a horn section emphasizes the bittersweet longing of "Silver Linging" even better than the easy releatabe down to the earth lyrics. But simply praising the exciting diversity of the songwriting is to ignore what makes this album really work, its the uncommon way the band honestly takes the songs to heart without making them too weighty that really sets them apart form their peers. Preaching without really preaching if you will. It should also be noted that even with the occassional dark or angry corner, the album is almost always easy on the ears, beyond catchy, and very hopeful; it's also a ton of fun with incredible pop highs always on the horizon. I would go so far as to say this might very well be the best album to emerge from the punk scene in the 80s, it is really that great and underlooked."

PROTECTED CD

R. Robison | los angeles | 08/25/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"PROTECTED CD WONT PLAY PROPERLY ON COMPUTER. Great cd but not for you if you want to rip it.

"

The "Beast" with Forty Fingers

Thomas A. Corpino | Hartsdale, New York United States | 02/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stunning...Superb. Imaginative...Intense. Bombastic...
Beautiful. Caustic...Caressing. THE most important punk
band from the U.K. ever, evolved into, simply put, a great
rock n' roll band. A full-on treatment of scream along/sing
along anthems, sung by both Burns and Cluney. Starting with
a corrosive cover (and AMAZING live staple) of "Roots, Radicals,
Rockers, Reggae" and finishing with the harrowing "Piccadilly
Circus" (if you listen closely you can hear the switchblade slash), with some Motown, some Stray Cats, and some dubby
reggae all mixed together into a perfect amalgam.
Disc centerpiece-"Safe as Houses"- a plaintive, poignant ditty
about Irish life...marrying the girl next door...and moving/
staying on the same block as "Mum and Dad". THE best song
Jake Burns has ever written-pure passion and power. And...
as a bonus you get a live take of The Specials "Doesn't Make
it Allright", which the Fingers downright destroy. (when
heard, you get that "icecube sliding down yer spine" feeling)
I may a bit biased (I've seen them live over twenty times)
and I've never EVER been disappointed, but this is one disc
you'll treasure like your firstborn. This is ALL THE BEST,
ALL THE REST, so, like, just "GO FOR IT"!"