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Live in Concert - Greatest Hits and More

The Smithereens - Live in Concert - Greatest Hits and More Audio CD

A fair review of the The Smithereens "Live in Concert - Greatest Hits and More" 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.

Band: The Smithereens
Title: Live in Concert - Greatest Hits and More
Rating:

Release Date: 2008-05-27
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Behind the Wall of Sleep 2: Drown in My Own Tears 3: Miles from Nowhere 4: Room Without a View 5: Only a Memory 6: House We Used to Live In 7: Spellbound 8: Since You Went Away 9: She's Got a Way 10: Yesterday Girl 11: Well Alright 12: Especially for You 13: Any Other Way 14: Top of the Pops 15: Time and Time Again 16: Blood and Roses 17: Girl Like You 18: Batman

So good it hurts
Extended versions is a great live effort. Smithereen fans know how good this band is/has always been. This trumps it by a mile or two.

The liner notes say Pat wanted this to be their Live at Leeds, given the intimacy of the court tavern. (I was not at this show but have been to the Court - it is an intimate dive indeed). I think this performance does compare to Live at Leeds in its intensity, tightness and energy.

The band is on from start to finish (though the songs were seemingly taken from several shows there? the cover sort of indicates 3/19, but notes say 1/30 thru 2/2). No matter. . .

The set smokes. Mesaros is gone; Severo the thrilla Jornacion takes over on bass and I don't hear a distinguishable difference.

Along with the "hits"/faves, there are a few goodies thrown in - Yesterdays Girl, Top of the Pops, cover of Well Allright, Batman! Every song is strong and the mix excellent. Pat and Jim are clear as a bell (and oh does Jim lay down some fire), Thrilla rumbles and Dennis is just so good - holds the beat but adds so many brilliant nuances. I 'm not going to go track by track because there is no weak moment. Even if they do not embellish most songs with anything really new, who cares? This is a great band delivering their classics and even if Pat gets a little winded here and there, they are at the top of their game. I want to here the Smithereens doing live killers of their greatest stuff and it is all here.

There is one jawdropper: The highlight is a 10+ minute version of House We Used to Live In. And it is Who-like in its majesty. Slows down, speeds up, slows down, moments where Dennis is just insane a la Keith Moon. A devastating version which I assume is in some type of set order (track 6), but I hear it more as the set closer, with some requisite drum/guitar destruction at the finish (just dreaming. . . ). When I bought this I listened to this version like 12 times in a row and still could not get over the interplay between the band. You gotta hear it to appreciate it. Reminds me of My Generation/Naked Eye on Leeds in its form and execution.

This is a no brainer must have for fans and if you like tight, hard pop with killer hooks straight out of Jersey, this disc will not disappoint.

Greatest rock live discs of all time? Hmmm. . . Ya Ya's, Live at Leeds, Allmans at Fillmore, Zevon - Stand in the Fire might make most lists. I'd put this in the same class. Long live the Smithereens!!
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Great Rock & Roll
I discovered The Smithereens only last year, but I've caught up now with all their CDs. What a great show. I don't know how I missed them the first time around. Behind The Wall of Sleep should have been one of the biggest hits of all-time. Between this CD and The Extended Versions we've been given two live blessings recently. The only thing better would be a whole CD of new songs. Outstanding!.

The Smithereens Rock Out!
I love it and am thrilled at how well it was recorded and kudos to the engineers as well as the band. I've been glued to my speakers and headphones listening to this new live CD. The drums are crisp, the vocals resonate, the guitar solos pop, the bass is clear and not muddy. This is truly one of the best sounding live CDs I've heard in awhile with all the little nuances shining through.

And with 18 songs, it really is representative of a typical Smithereens live show - the band really rocks out! A must for any fan or a great introduction to new fans.
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better than ONLY a memory
Everytime I hear the Smithereens it takes me back. Wow.

I was 16 and in High School as a sophomore in 1987. A senior I had become friends with knew my musical tastes, and mentioned the Smithereens, whom I had never heard of before. He made me a cassette tape. Side A was ESPECIALLY FOR YOU and Side B was GREEN THOUGHTS. When I listened for that first time, I was transported. I had been let in on one of the best kept secrets in music.

11 came out in 1989, and I felt like I was ahead of the curve when the band became more famous. And I've been there ever since.

There is just something magical about this band and the infectiously crunch peanut butter rock and roll they churn out. You can't not like what you hear. I defy anyone to listen and not find this band appealing. Pick an album, any album.

Finally a full live album covering a whole career. Sure there are songs I'd love to hear that are missing, but this is a damn-near perfect overview. And it is a perfect addition to any fan's collection.

I haven't had as much fun or joy listening to a "new" album in a long time. And though I know most of these by heart, it seems fresh and new anyway.

Sure, Pat Dinizio may have packed on all the pounds that John Popper lost, and sure he may sound winded by half way through the show, but he doesn't let that slow him or the band down one bit. They are still rocking like they did back in the day.

Here's hoping that they get a new album of all new material out soon. Between this, Pat's solo album last fall, the Beatles album and the Christmas album, it seems that the Smithereens are happy and busily working. We can only hope that the unblievably prolific output will continue in the form of a real rocker of an album.

Captured Live
One of the best live bands to ever grace a stage. This CD captures The Smithereens at their hard driving, power popping, tight riffing, live best. And what's not to love about a band who thanks the audience members who were at the live recordings -- by their individual names! -- in the liner notes? .

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.