This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
When this disc arrived, my reaction was probably the same as yours would have been: You mean these guys are STILL around?!?
Don’t feel bad — even Stiff Little Fingers seem to know most folks forgot about them a while ago. Hence the carrot-and-stick approach to this two-disc set, which uses a live set of classics like Suspect Device and Alternative Ulster as bait to get you to sample new stuff. And for fans who lost track of the band, Hope Street is a fine way to get reacquainted with Jake Burns and co. What songs like the Stonesy Bulletproof and the R&B-fuelled You Can Get It (ex-Jam bassist Bruce Foxton earns his keep here) lack in youthful verve, they make up for with maturity and fire. Turns out SLF are not only still around, they’re still good.
