The Smithereens: God Save The Smithereens CD Track Listing

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The Smithereens God Save The Smithereens (1999)
Originally Released October 19, 1999\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: After two decades, the Smithereens were no longer in step with the times and they no longer cared -- they do what they do because they love it, not because it's fashionable. They were at that point with 1994's A Date With the Smithereens, but that record was hurt by a weird undercurrent of bitterness and Pat DiNizio's songwriting slump. Wisely, the group decided to take a break after that album. The extended five-year hiatus recharged the group, if God Save is any indication. Not that the record is a masterpiece, but it is a good journeyman record that plays up their strengths quite nicely. There's a little bit of everything that the Smithereens do on the record -- jangly pop ("She's Got a Way"), doomy rock ("The Last Good Time"), melancholy ballads, crunching riffs, and even a re-working of "Gloomy Sunday," reminiscent of DiNizio's moody solo effort. The Kinks allusion in the title is appropriate, since the Smithereens are also pop traditionalists whose consistency is only appreciated by a selective, discerning audience. Unlike Ray Davies, no one in the band really seems to care about the hits drying up -- there's joy within their songcraft and their performances, they like the act of making music itself. Admittedly, God Save may not be as immediate or memorable as their best albums from the late '80s, but there are no weak moments on the record. Every song is well-crafted and delivered with conviction -- the very things that made the Smithereens a beloved cult band. God Save the Smithereens may not play to the wide audience that loved "A Girl Like You," but that cult will certainly be pleased by this strong comeback. -- Stephen Thomas Erlewine\n\nAmazon.com Editorial Review\nThe title of the Smithereens' first album since 1994's Date with the Smithereens pointedly draws a parallel with the Kinks. Not only are Ray Davies and his mates an obvious influence here (check out "The Age of Innocence"), Pat DiNizio and company must also empathize with the Kinks' status as an underappreciated classic-rock band. All the elements that defined the Smithereens' sound back in their mid-'80s heyday--the shimmering guitar textures, the muscular rhythm section, the brooding minor key melodies--are in definitive effect here, and the mix sounds better the louder you play it. The songs, several of which share a premillennium vibe, display the group's assured grasp of rock & roll fundamentals, drawn from the likes of Buddy Holly and the Beatles to proto-grunge sonics. DiNizio might have been wise to leave the "Gloomy Sunday" cover to Elvis Costello. But "She's Got a Way," "Flowers in the Blood," and "I Believe" are destined to find a place among such Smithereens' anthems as "Blood and Roses" and "Only a Memory." -Rick Mitchell \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nGod, indeed, please save the Smithereens, October 19, 2005\nReviewer: J. GARRATT "jgarratt" (Columbus, Ohio United States)\nThe Smithereens don't have to prove anything anymore, but a new release from them in 1999 was nevertheless a welcome thing. The times and trends had forgotten about them during the explosion of Nirvana and its waffling aftermath. Still, their fans stuck by them. And the prospect of a new album tickled the fancies of the loyalist because 1) no one seemed to care for 1994's "A Date With The Smithereens" (just check your local bargain store) and 2) Pat DiNizio's solo album lacked just about everything. \n\nBeing the quintessential power pop band of the college circuit doesn't leave much room for experimentation. "A Date With The Smithereens," while being very much a Smithereens record, nevertheless tried to have some crossover appeal with a grunge tinge. The result was not well received. The Smithereens retreated and made an album four years later that pretty much sounds like classicist college-radio power pop. In other words, their own selves. \n\nBut the main problem with "God Save The Smithereens" is that it sounds extremely well-mannered. Decaffeinated Smithereens. It's true that the Smithereens never rocked like crazy in the studio, but the overall sound of the album is very controlled, like they're afraid of letting the material breathe. \n\nAnd although the material certainly isn't bad, you can't really consider some of these songs to be the band's best songs. There are very good ones though: "She's Got A Way" certainly rises to the occasion as much as the much-loved hit "A Girl Like You." "Someday" is a unique piece of foggy urban rock and "The Long Loneliness," clocking in under two minutes and sounding a great deal like early Beatles, is possibly the album's best song. But other tunes are as vapid as their performance like "Flowers In The Blood" or "The House At The End of The World" which serves more as a gimmicky cameo from a guest vocalist (I forget who). The rest of the album is littered with songs that have more potential than they do punch. It's a shame too; it feels like a great album trapped inside an okay album's body. \n\nAnd the theme of finality casts too much gloom over a band that always used to take the path more fun. The cover is a dreary floral display at a funeral with a photo of the band in the center. Below that photo is a plaque that reads "1980-?" somehow signifying their end is near. Song titles like "The House At The End of the World" and "The Last Good Time" (and presumably there is a demo out there of a song called "This Is The Way The World Ends") and ending the album with the lyrics "Goodbye/goodbye/goodbye" completely suck the joy out of this otherwise carefree act of goofballs. \n\nBut all of that aside, I do not hate this album. That's part of the problem. "A Date With The Smithereens" felt like a glorious mistake, making a public display of their ambitions. "God Save The Smithereens," at its worst, is too conservative to feel glorious or ambitious. At its best though, it's a pretty good Smithereens album.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nWhy a big label is still everything (almost), October 18, 2002\nReviewer: "evanrs" (Montclair, NJ United States)\nDesperate 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...\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nBack to what they do best., February 12, 2000\nReviewer: "mh53465" (Kansas City, Missouri United States)\nAfter 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). 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. 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!\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nThe Smithereens are back, baby!, December 4, 1999\nReviewer: Michael B Nahmias (Plainsboro, NJ United States)\nIt is quite evident from this album that the Smithereens have grown as musicians and songwriters. After one over-produced album (Blow Up) and one uninspired album (A Date with the Smithereens), they are once again at their rockin' best. This is their best album since Smithereens 11. Although not all of the songs are gems (for instance, "Try", "Even If I Never Get Back Home") the great songs ("House At the End of the World", "The Last Good Time") make up for it.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nIt may even be out of Gods' Hands...., November 15, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nThose guys from Jersey have managed to do it again. They've made their last hugely dissappointing album, "A Date With The Smithereens ", seem like a masterpiece. With each album the Smithereens have released since "Green Thoughts", they've proven that it really can get worse. As for this high-priced frisbee, it makes it very clear to me that Pat Dinizio (who once upon a time wrote some GREAT pop music) has completely forgotten how to write a melody or even a lyric. If you want to hear proof of this theory, listen to "Everything Changes" or "The Last Good Time" or "Flowers In the Blood" or "Try" or...well, you get the idea. My humble advice for these guys is to stop trying so hard and accept the fact that it's not so bad to sound natural. Instead, they sound tired, bored and 100%-out-of-ideas. Remember...this review is written by a MAJOR Smithereens fan. My problem is that I now realize I'll probably never hear an album from these confused popsters that even comes close to the joyful magic of "Especially For You" or "Green Thoughts". I thought you had more in ya...Pat.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNew sounds for America's Best Rock N' Roll Band, November 6, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nFrom the opening 60's like guitar sounds on "She's Got A Way" to the nearly heavy metal "Last Good Time" you will be pleasantly surprised by this record. In between those extremes you will hear echo's of the Beach Boys, Byrds, Beatles and even a reworked Billie Hoiliday song that is a highlight. It's been almost 6 years since the last studio recording & it was worth the wait. Let's hope it doesn't take that long for the next release. These guys are great at what they love to do.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nStarting to wear thin, October 29, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nBlood And Roses, Cut Flowers, Flowers In The Blood.\nGroovy Tuesday, Gloomy Sunday.\n\nHouse We Used To Live In, House At The End Of The World.\n\nIn A Lonely Place, The Long Loneliness.\n\nAnyone smell a formula developing here? This effort sounds like so many of their other efforts...but not quite as exciting. Perhaps the reason is that there is too much of a feeling that we've been here before. Nothing new. (At least there are no songs with the word "blue" in the title.)\n\nThis is not a bad album, but just doesn't do anything that they haven't done before, and the tunes just are not on the same level as earlier work.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot the Smithereen's best effort...., October 26, 1999\nReviewer: "markymart" (Scarborough, ME)\nI must say that I was disappointed with this CD...I really was expecting much more. Too many mid tempo songs that tended to sound alike and just didn't seem to go anywhere. Carrie Akre's guest vocal on "House At The End Of The World" was a real treat though. Not a terrible recording, but definitely not up to the standard set with "Green Thoughts."\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNever write Pat off!, December 22, 1999\nReviewer: Bernard Perusse (Beaconsfield, Quebec Canada)\nThere's a haunting primal beauty in Pat Dinizio's favourite chord combinations, which generally involve a I-minor to-VII-to-IV or variations therof. That's here in abundance --- as it always has been. This time, the songs also sound punchier than ever. As a matter of fact, in a fair universe, House At the End of the World would be a monster hit. All in all, this disc is as good as Dinizio's 1997 solo outing, Songs and Sounds --- and that's saying something. The album title is apt: we must never lose these guys.\n\nHalf.com N/A
This rock cd contains 13 tracks and runs 41min 44sec.
Freedb: bc09c60d
Buy: from Amazon.com

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