No teenage anger, instead a mature and brillant rock album
don macvicar | here | 11/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An excellant rock album with classic slf tracks like 'stands to reason' and 'talkback' also the original and best version of 'the price of admission' and another ballad 'big city night' about the troubled streets of belfast are all standout tracks.slf bring new life to a cover of 'love of the common people' made famous by paul young in the mid eighties.and with rockers like 'bits of kids' and 'is that what you fought the war for' makes 'now then' an easy 5 stars."
SLF's Best Album....Period!
ThrEaD NUGENT | Newport Beach, CA United States | 05/02/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's sad to see a great group lopped in w/ the mindless, bonehead kiddie punk bands of yesterday and today (Green Day sounds nothing like them!) "Now Then" is light years ahead of their 1st 2 records and can compete w/ Go For It as their best. Don't get me wrong, "Inflammable" and "Nobody's Heroes" are insane, however, musically, their last two are superior: more interesting/ sophisticated, more mature, complex, better playing/singing and finally the production is flawless. I have no problem w/ records by 'punk' bands that have thin production (i.e. SLF's 1st 2, Damned Damned Damned, Vibrators' Pure Mania and Genx's 1st) I understand that's part of the "D.I.Y." spirit, however it's refreshing to see a group break out of the 'punk' thing and grow up! (i.e The Jam, Undertones, Damned(sometimes), Stranglers...you get the picture). In any case, there are songs on here that are absolutely perfect power pop gems on a Buzzcocks level (but not as cartoony)"Won't Be Told", "Falling Down" "Welcome to the Whole Week"(The old "Wide World of Sports" riff) and Touch and Go" to name a few. Highly recommended for those that are starting to feel unsatisfied w/ the 'anyone can do it' mentality of most 'punk' bands! HANX!!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1