| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[2] |
| Q | [3] |
| Rolling Stone | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
| Sounds | [6] |
Inflammable Material is the debut album by the Northern Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1979. Most of the album's tracks are about the "Troubles" and the grim reality of life in Northern Ireland with the songs containing themes of teenage boredom, sectarian violence, RUC (police) oppression, etc., urging people to "grab it and change it, it's yours" in what became their signature song "Alternative Ulster". The song "Rough Trade" is about the band's view of the music business as being dishonest, but they have since claimed it is not about their record label which happens to have the same name.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Jake Burns and Gordon Ogilvie; except where indicated
- "Suspect Device" – 2:36
- "State of Emergency" (Burns) – 2:29
- "Here We Are Nowhere" (Henry Cluney) – 1:00
- "Wasted Life" (Burns) – 3:10
- "No More of That" (Cluney) – 2:04
- "Barbed Wire Love" – 3:33
- "White Noise" – 1:57
- "Breakout" (Burns) – 3:04
- "Law and Order" – 3:14
- "Rough Trade" – 2:41
- "Johnny Was" (Bob Marley) – 8:12
- "Alternative Ulster" – 2:45
- "Closed Groove" – 4:25
The 2001 EMI CD reissue added the following tracks:
- "Suspect Device (single version)"
- "78 RPM" – 2:38
The reissue also includes the first part of an interview of Jake Burns by Alan Parker (the second part is included in the reissue of Nobody's Heroes).
Chart Position
| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
This was the first album on an independent record label to enter the UK Top Twenty.[7]
Personnel
- Stiff Little Fingers
- Jake Burns – vocals, guitar
- Henry Cluney – guitar, vocals
- Ali McMordie – bass, vocals
- Brian Faloon – drums
- Andy Kelly – bassoon (Alternative Ulster)
- Technical
- Geoff Travis – producer
- Mayo Thompson – producer
- Mike Kemp – engineer
- Doug Bennett – producer
- Ed Hollis – producer on "Alternative Ulster"
References
- ^ Jurek, Thom. "Inflammable Material – Stiff Little Fingers". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (11 April 2005). "EW reviews the latest album reissues". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material". Q. No. 185. December 2001. p. 165.
- ^ Fields, Gaylord (2 June 2005). "Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material". Rolling Stone. No. 975. p. 79.
- ^ Swenson, John (1983). "Stiff Little Fingers". In Marsh, Dave; Swenson, John (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Record Guide (2nd ed.). Random House/Rolling Stone Press. p. 491. ISBN 0-394-72107-1.
- ^ Bushell, Garry (10 February 1979). "Third degree Burns". Sounds. p. 31. Retrieved 24 October 2020 – via Rock's Backpages.
- ^ Cranna, Ian (1979) "Rough Charm", Smash Hits, EMAP National Publications Ltd, 4–17 October 1979, p. 6–7