gave the album 4 stars out of 5, saying: "It's a wonderful record, but perhaps too close in sound and spirit to Steve McQueen for comfort". He added: "By no means a lost masterpiece, it's still an essential piece of the puzzle." Sputnikmusic's Aaron W. considered the album undervalued, describing it as a "proper sequel" to Steve McQueen and "arguably just as good". Legacy Reflecting on Protest Songs in 1997, Paddy McAloon commented; "The main idea behind Protest Songs'' was the deconstruction of pop in its entirety. It had to be an album gaunt, humble, essential. An approach that, in retrospect, I think was wrong. By working a bit on songs like "Horsechimes" you could pull off a lot more." Neil Conti considered his drumming performances on the album some of his best, saying in 2014: "I will stand by that record for as long as I live. It’s one of the few records I have done where I can bear to listen without flinching from hearing that bit that I could’ve done better". A remastered edition of the album, overseen by Paddy and Martin McAloon, was issued by Sony Music on 25 October 2019. Track listing Note: The back covers of the original vinyl, CD and cassette releases list track 8 as "Talking Scarlet", but the labels list it as "Talkin Scarlet". The back covers also list track 9 as "'Til the Cows Come Home" whereas the labels list it as "'Till the Cows Come Home", with an extra L. Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes. Prefab Sprout – production Richard Digby Smith – recording, mixing Lance Phillips – mixing (on "Life of Surprises") Michael H. Brauer – remixing (on "Dublin" and "Pearly Gates") Lawrence J. Bogle – photography Charts References External links 1989 albums Prefab Sprout albums Kitchenware Records albums Columbia Records albums