Title: The Sound of the Smiths
Artist: The Smiths
Genre: Indie Rock
Release Date: 21st November 2008
Label: Rhino (Warner)
Album Review
The legendary band THE SMITHS broke up a long time ago, but their heritage and their spirit lives on in their songs, many of them being classics of the Indie Rock genre. They were a band way ahead of their time and now, many of their classics and lots of rare recordings have been compiled, representing ‘The Sound of The Smiths’.
For this special compilation, all the tracks received a complete re-mastering; supervised by Johnny Marr himself and good old Morrissey was responsible for the compilation’s title and the selection of the songs. The first CD brings together the single releases of THE SMITHS and begins with the band’s very first single ‘Hand in Glove’ dealing with the protagonists love to another person. We get faded into the full track a few moments before Morrissey’s characteristic vocals emerge. ‘The Charming Man’ starts with one of Marr’s melodic riffs, joined by the quite danceable rhythm section, but Morrissey as usual draws all the attention to his vocals, using quite an antique vocabulary in his lyrics that time. Next we have a balladry track, which is apparently not so unknown ‘Heaven knows I’m miserable now’. The words ‘In my life, why do I give valuable time to people who don't care if I live or I die?’ tell of the hate and the loneliness of the protagonist, regarding his life. Reluctant drums and ringing guitars support Morrissey’s reaching pitches, which sometimes are too high for him in my opinion.
Even if you didn’t know the band’s name before, it’s most likely you heard ‘How Soon is now’ before. That resonating riff, oscillating in volume throughout the song is incredible. Need some lines to ring some bells? Maybe that’ll help "I am human and I need to be loved / just like everybody else does". ‘There’s a Light that never goes out’ is such a beautiful track with the acoustic guitars and strings in the background, whilst the lyrics sound so yearning and sad “I never want to go home, because I haven’t got one anymore.” If you hear these airy guitar chords and clapping drums at the beginning of ‘Ask’ it al points to a happy song and indeed, it’s about a person encouraging another one to enjoy life and do all the things they want to, but this line is strange yet typically Morrissey “If it’s not love, then it’s the bomb, the bomb, the bomb that will bring us together.” The first CD ends with ‘Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me’, a dreamy ballad, where already the first lines send shivers down my spine. That’s pure emotion!
On the second disc (Deluxe Ed. only), we find rare B-Sides, lice recordings and stuff. It’s striking that many calm songs made it on this disc, bringing in ‘Wonderful Woman’ with its spherical guitar lines and harmonica and the even slower ‘Back to The Old House’ as examples. These were songs I didn’t know before and have come to love, really. ‘Oscillate Wildly’, is one of two instrumentals on the disc. It’s based on piano and it’s this instrument that’s the focus of attention, while the guitars remain in the background and on ‘Asleep’, the piano is the sole instrument, except Morrissey’s vocals with some effects applied on them casually. ‘What’s This World?’ and ‘London’ form the tail of this compilation, both being live recordings. The first one even includes the announcement and, regardless of it’s strong background noise, conveys an authentic live feeling, just like ‘London’ does, which is much better and clearer sound-wise.
This compilation has everything to satisfy both old and new fans alike. New fans get the combined power of THE SMITHS classics and old ones will be pleased by the rare live recordings and B-Sides on the second disc of the deluxe edition and that in an n impressing sound quality.
Tracklist
CD 1:
01. Hand in Glove – 3:17
02. This Charming Man – 2:43
03. What Difference Does It Make_ (Peel Sessions version) – 3:14
04. Still Ill – 3:23
05. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now – 3:36
06. William, It Was Really Nothing – 3:12
07. How Soon Is Now_ (12' version) – 6:47
08. Nowhere Fast – 2:38
09. Shakespeare's Sister – 2:10
10. Barbarism Begins at Home (7' version) – 3:52
11. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore – 3:53
12. The Headmaster Ritual – 4:55
13. The Boy with the Thorn in His Side – 3:18
14. Bigmouth Strikes Again – 3:14
15. There Is a Light That Never Goes Out – 4:05
16. Panic – 2:21
17. Ask – 3:17
18. You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby – 3:35
19. Shoplifters of the World Unite – 2:59
20. Sheila Take a Bow – 2:43
21. Girlfriend in a Coma – 2:08
22. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish – 3:49
23. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me – 3:11
CD 2:
01. Jeane – 3:06
02. Handsome Devil (Live) – 2:56
03. This Charming Man (New York Vocal) – 5:36
04. Wonderful Woman – 3:10
05. Back to the Old House – 3:06
06. These Things Take Time – 2:24
07. Girl Afraid – 2:46
08. Please. Please. Please Let Me Get What I Want – 1:56
09. Stretch Out and Wait – 2:46
10. Oscillate Wildly – 3:28
11. Meat Is Murder (Live) – 5:39
12. Asleep – 4:10
13. Money Changes Everything – 4:11
14. The Queen Is Dead – 6:26
15. Vicar in a Tutu – 2:24
16. Cemetry Gates – 2:40
17. Half a Person – 3:37
18. Sweet and Tender Hooligan – 3:36
19. Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) – 3:36
20. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before – 3:34
21. What's the World_ (Live) – 2:06
22. London (Live) – 2:39
Line-up
Morrissey – Vocals
Johnny Marr - Guitar
Andy Rourke - Bass
Mike Joyce – Drums
Website
http://www.askmeaskmeaskme.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/livinginyourphotographs
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 8
Extras: -
Total: 8.5
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