Fretplay.com The Smithereens CD reviews The Smithereens guitar tabs The Smithereens CD reviews The Smithereens tabs Date with the Smithereens


The Smithereens - Date with the Smithereens Audio CD

A fair review of the The Smithereens "Date with the Smithereens" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Smithereens reviews here, or go back to the The Smithereens tabs.

The Smithereens Band: The Smithereens
Title: Date with the Smithereens
Rating:
Release Date: 1998-09-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: War for My Mind 2: Everything I Have Is Blue 3: Miles from Nowhere 4: Afternoon Tea 5: Point of No Return 6: Sleep the Night Away 7: Love Is Gone 8: Long Way Back Again 9: Gotti 10: Sick of Seattle 11: Can't Go Home Anymore 12: Life Is So Beautiful

Less than the sum of its parts
The band is back to sounding its best, and there are some good songs here. Date With The Smithereens reunited the band with engineer Don Dixon, who was responsible for the band's two best albums (Especially For You and Green Thoughts). Unfortunately, the album doesn't really come together; too many of the songs sound too much alike, largely because of the similar tempos. Think of the chugging beat of Blood and Roses applied to every song, and you have the overall impression that this album gives the listener. It's not really QUITE like that, but somehow it ends up feeling that way.

Two editions of Date With The Smithereens were issued; the CD, and a boxed set of 7" 45rpm records with two songs on each side. The 45rpm version features different mixes of the songs than the CD, so serious Smithereens fans will want to have both versions.


A date with old friends and good songs.
The songs and performances are as good as anything the band released in their prime late eighties period. This criminally overlooked release by the Smithereens ranks as one of the best pop albums of the 90s.
If you do not own this, do yourself a favor as "Date" is as great a pop jem as "11" and "Blow Up". Long live The Smithereens.


Pass
This one just isn't gripping. I've liked the Smithereens for a long time, but let's face it, every band has some uneven periods, and a few weak albums. . . it fizzles out quickly in the second half. Focus on getting one of the "classic" CDs or a best-of compilation. You won't miss what's here.


This album rocks
This fab foursome makes great music. I love the Smithereens. I thought this album was a great comeback after their last effort, but unfortunately it was unable to produce another "A Girl Like You" single. Still, the hooks and the guitar work are right on. I saw them on the tour that promoted this album and they played the first three tracks -- they ROCKED.


Not thier best CD - Not Thier Worst Either...

The album seems very dark and moody - this album came right out when Seattle Grunge exploded and you can hear how it effected the band in the production and moody writing. I was let down the first time I heard this, (Unlike the first time I heard "Strangers When We Meet" from Especally for You - I was in my car and played it 4-6(?) times before I heard the rest of the tape) - but after repeated listenings "Date" grew on me. I think the time they spent with the Record Cemetary of America was a BAD time for the group or Pat was listening to too many Black Sabbath LP's. Some songs just dont have any hooks, are played at too slow a tempo and just plod on, but its not a total waste of plastic by far! The best songs on is the upbeat (but downcast) "Love Is Gone" written by Jim Babjak, and Pat's "Miles From Nowhere", and the heavy "Everything I Have Is Blue". BTW get the original CD from a Used or Cutout bin, not the budget reissue with the deleted liner notes and lyrics!.


You can see a complete list of all The Smithereens discography, or go back to the The Smithereens tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]