The 10 best songs by The Slits
We merge genres much more freely these days. An artist can make a rock album one year and a jazz record the next without us so much as batting an eye. We like what we like, and with every piece of music ever made available in the palm of our hand on sites such as Spotify, we can explore new sounds pretty freely. However, this wasn’t always the case.
Genre used to be a lot more than a way for people to divide playlists and Spotify to label certain bands; it was a way of life. People were into a style of music, and that style of music became their whole identity. This can apply most vividly to punk music, as that style of music inspired haircuts, fashion choices, reading material and mindsets across the world. It remains an important movement, and one of the most punk bands out there was The Slits.
Punk was all about standing up in the face of adversity. Do you think it was hard to be a punk band in the ‘70s? Try being the first all-female punk band. Enter The Slits. The Slits were a band who were utterly comfortable calling out bullshit in the wider world and that which was a lot closer to home. While they might not have had a great knowledge of their instruments when they started out, their exciting live shows made them impossible for people to ignore, and they soon became underground punk icons.
They loved the energy of punk music and also enjoyed reggae. Their sound was a mix of both these styles, which was unconventional but made for some great songs. Here, we will look at some of The Slit’s best music that remains in the hearts of punk lovers worldwide.
The 10 Slits best songs:
‘Typical Girls’
The Slits have an attitude that resonates a lot in music today, but that was alien when they first started making music. When they engaged with feminism, they didn’t take a black-and-white approach, acknowledging instead that being a woman only resonated in more than one way. They were adamant about the fact that women are diverse and that they should be celebrated.
‘Typical Girls’ is a great example of The Slits ethos. They hated the fact that the standard notion was that women should be passive and submissive. It raged against that notion. The lyrics challenge the stereotype enforced on women, and ‘Typical Girls’ became one of the band’s most exciting tracks.
‘Shoplifting’
A lot of the themes that you hear in punk music are universal. One theme remains relatively consistent with the common argument against capitalism. The Slits were happy to also take on capitalism, and in doing so, created one of the most anti-consumerism songs ever made.
‘Shoplifting’ is one of the best punk anthems out there, and it stands tall against people’s obsession with buying labels. It’s a fan favourite of the band and when you listen, it’s easy to see why. The track is a complete riot and something that people continue to listen to today.
‘Newtown’
A lot of punk music was fuelled with aggression, as distorted guitars were played filled with anger. The slits did this a lot, and it was great to listen to; however, with ‘Newtown’, we were given a much more haunting track.
Droning synth and echoing guitars made an incredibly creepy setting, which was the perfect tone for this track. Again, this is a fan favourite for people who love The Slits, as the brooding atmosphere and lyrics that draw from real-world experiences set it apart from a lot of other songs of the time.
‘So Tough’
Taking on a very different tone from ‘Newtown’, ‘So Tough’ is one of the band’s most upbeat and catchy tracks. Ari Up writes great lyrics for this, which are a lot of fun to sing along to. They’re a fun and sarcastic take on how frustrated many people get in their everyday lives.
The song is packed with energy, and while it highlights a lot of difficulties in life, it’s enjoyable to listen to. The Slits managed to embody the DIY punk scene on the track, as the words are confrontational but then equally incredibly fun to hear.
‘FM’
Punk doesn’t always have to be negative. Sure, a lot of punk music talks about injustices in the world, such as fury and anger, but it can also be a celebration. The Slits were well aware of this, as while they used their music a lot of the time to rage against the machine, they also liked to embrace the fun side of life through their songs.
‘FM’ is one of the best examples of this, as the song is one of their most upbeat and funky and also acts as a celebration towards music in general. The Slits were well aware of how much music could connect people and decided to take a moment to announce that connection. It was a love letter to the radio and everything played on there.
‘Man Next Door’
The Slits were big fans of punk music, and the distortion and raw energy which is embedded in their songs is a clear reflection of that. However, their musical taste stretched further than that. They were big fans of reggae, which can be heard in a lot of their original tracks, but also meant they did some covers.
‘Man Next Door’ is an incredibly soulful cover of the classic reggae song that inspired the band. It’s one of their more compelling tracks, and despite being a cover, it feels like an incredibly personal song to which they’re deeply connected.
‘Earthbeat’
The reggae inspiration of The Slits went further than just them covering some classics of the genre. ‘Earthbeat’ is an original song that embodies the soulful, reggae-infused element of the band. Released in 1981, the track has a rhythm section, which is easy to move to as the band merges multiple genres seamlessly.
Genre didn’t mean much to The Slits. They had a very modern attitude towards music, meaning they were happy to play with multiple genres to achieve their unique sound. ‘Earthbeat’ is a great example of that, as the band were never worried about crossing lines and making something exciting.
‘Love und Romance’
The band’s 1979 track ‘Love und Romance’ features even more reggae. The song’s groove is incredibly laid-back, contradicting the regular attitude that many people associate with punk bands.
The song has a very romantic feel, as the lyrics explore multiple romantic themes, including the excitement of love and desire; however, it also discusses the complicated nature of romance. This complements not only the song’s sweet nature but also the track’s relatively brooding feel.
‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’
This track is another cover that the band managed to execute flawlessly. Originally a Marvin Gaye classic, The Slits were able to do the track justice while also adding their very own reggae twist. It was released in the ‘70s and gave the song more of a stripped-back and slowed-down feel.
The Slits had a lot of versatility, and this song represents that beautifully. They approached songs with a sense of fearlessness. Yes, that song was a classic, but they weren’t worried about making their own tweaks to put a real spin on the song.
‘Instant Hit’
Ending with what might be one of the band’s most iconic tracks, ‘Instant Hit’ is the song that a lot of people think of when The Slits are mentioned. It sticks to the sound that so many fans enjoyed about the band, as it’s upbeat, catchy and fun.
The attitude embodied on the track varies. It’s both empowering and vulnerable, showing that you don’t need to stay relentlessly intense to display strength. The lyrics discuss a common theme that many bands struggle with: managing the difference between artistic integrity and trying to get money and fame.
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