Guitar and Drum
Stiff Little Fingers · 2004
64 min · 19 tracks · punk rock
An electrifying fusion of punk energy and melodic hooks that captures the essence of Stiff Little Fingers' enduring spirit.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Guitar and Drum — The title track encapsulates the band's raw energy, blending driving rhythms with lyrics that reflect on the power of music as a force for change.
-
→
Strummerville — This song pays homage to Joe Strummer, capturing a sense of nostalgia while conveying a message about resilience and community in punk culture.
-
→
Can't Get Away With That — A sharp critique of societal norms, this track showcases the band's ability to tackle serious topics with catchy melodies and infectious energy.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends energetic punk with melodic elements but lacks strong cohesion due to its length and live tracks.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with driving tempos, while the second half introduces more reflective and slower pieces.
- Several songs incorporate call-and-response vocal patterns, enhancing the communal feel typical of punk rock.
- The title track opens with a distinct guitar riff that recurs throughout, providing thematic cohesion across the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic collection of engaging tracks
- vibrant energy for lively gatherings
- resilient themes of authenticity
- wave-like pacing with surprises
- short bursts of melodic hooks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, immersive experiences
- seek slow, contemplative sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2004, Guitar and Drum marked Stiff Little Fingers' first studio album in over a decade, following their 1994 release, Get a Life. The band had navigated numerous lineup changes and shifts in the music industry, making this album a significant return to form for the iconic punk rock group.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Guitar and Drum 3:11
- 2 Strummerville 3:19
- 3 Can't Get Away With That 3:16
- 4 Still Burning 3:19
- 5 Walking Dynamite 3:51
- 6 Dead Man Walking 3:34
- 7 Empty Sky 2:36
- 8 Be True to Yourself 3:38
- 9 Best of Fools 2:15
- 10 I Waited 3:10
- 11 Achilles Heart 3:04
- 12 Who Died and Made You Elvis? 3:37
- 13 High and Low 2:13
- 14 Protect and Serve 4:06
- 15 Tinderbox (live) 4:05
- 16 Strummerville (live) 4:19
- 17 Can't Get Away With That (live) 3:35
- 18 Guitar and Drum (live) 3:19
- 19 Bits of Kids (live) 3:56
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.