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The Smithereens - God Save the Smithereens Audio CD

A fair review of the The Smithereens "God Save 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: God Save the Smithereens
Rating:
Release Date: 1999-10-19
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: She's Got a Way 2: House at the End of the World 3: Everything Changes 4: Flowers in the Blood 5: Long Loneliness 6: Someday 7: Age of Innocence 8: Gloomy Sunday 9: I Believe 10: All Revved Up 11: Even If I Never Get Back Home 12: Try 13: Last Good Time

Another gem
This is one of the great all-time bands, and this CD fits well into their collection of quality recordings. I've only discovered the Smithereens recently via a Rhino collection, but the wait was worth it. This is Rock at its finest. . . . melodies, beats, and lyrics that are at the heart of Rock. I can't wait to buy the new Live CD coming out in a couple of weeks. Dinizio is in great voice, and the songs are worth every expressive warble. Highly recommended.


Yeah, For The Fans
I listened to both "Date with the Smithereens" and this album in the used section, and this one is better. If you're reading these reviews at all, you probably just want to know if the Smithereens fizzled out totally. ("Date" definately felt full of filler, and I didn't buy it. )

You'll recognize the pre-11 sound on this album if you're an old time fan. It's not a knockout. . . but since you probably won't ever find these songs on a "greatest hits" collection, go an get it!.


Why a big label is still everything (almost)
Desperate times call for desperate measures. . and when you havent had an album out for 5 years, even Velvel/Koch looks appealing. Here is a record that would be 4 stars + on most charts if it was marketed or publicized IN ANY WAY! I give it 5 stars for being so good with so little support. However, there is support that did work. Don Simpson's ear is fantastic as he drew out the best possible sound the band can muster in a non-live setting. Carrie Akre's voice is wonderful and spooky on the 2nd cut (although the song seems miscast with this band). Lou Soloff of Blood, Sweat and Tears turns in a wonderfully bluesy and melancholy trumpet on "Try. " The most appealing part of this record is that there is a little bit of something for everyone (much like The Rising). There is power pop, surfer sound, beatlemania, and Kinks & Who influences everywhere. The only downer about this album is the fate of The Smithereens. There can be no mistaking the title and the final song. . . yes, only God can save The Smithereens from a fate of being the best band out there without a recording deal. Maybe that's why Pat Dinizio signed off this record with the fateful words, Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye.


God Save 11
" I own every Smithreens CD, including Live, and can say the latest "God" provides some hope. Although this album wasn't all I expected, it far outshined both "Date" and "Blow Up. After "Date with" a thought they might be dead. In fairness, however, it's hard not to compare all newer (and future) recordings to "Beauty," "Especially," "Green" and "11," all of which were classic.


Back to what they do best.
Which is great, for this is the formula that brought them their greatest success (although modest) in the 80's, before they felt the inclination to turn everything up to 11 in the studio in order to compete with the Seattle movement. After the colossal failure that was A Date With The Smithereens, which all but killed the band, the Smithereens have returned to what they do best: writing two and three minute songs that reek of their influences (Buddy Holly, the Beatles, and the Kinks). Unfortunately, the five year silence (longer if you want to totally dismiss DWTS) between records cost them all but their most fervent fans, and the chances of regaining past commercial success are slim to none, due to radio's current taste for garbage. This is really an album for Smithereens fans only, one of those "great little secret" kind of records. If you haven't been a fan since the beginning (like I have), chances are this won't end up in your collection. But if you didn't happen to be around during their peak years('86 to '91), actually like British Invasion type melodies from an American band, and have an open mind about music whose taste spans generations, then this record has much more than enough to satisfy. Thus I highly recommend it. There are two many great songs here to mention, but the absolute gems here are: "She's Got A Way", "Everything Changes", 'Flowers In the Blood", "Gloomy Sunday", "I Believe", "Even If I Never Get Back Home", "Try", and "The Last Good Time". If you end up liking what you hear here, then buy (immediately) the first three albums: Especially For You, Green Thoughts, and 11. And if you have an opportunity to see the Smithereens do it live, do not miss that chance, no matter what. I saw them here in September (outdoors on a rainy evening, no less), and they sounded as great as ever. I hope to see them many more times in the coming years. Long live the Smithereens!.


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.

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