Smiths - Louder Than Bombs
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Free Music Notes for Louder Than Bombs
Free Music Review: And if you have five seconds to spare...
Hit: 5 Stars
take a listen and you will be hooked on this great collection of singles and b-sides from one of the most influential bands of the 1980's: the Smiths. Of course, the Smiths aren't for everyone and of course they were never meant to be.Of all the great great bands to come out of Manchester the Smiths are certainly one of the best, as tracks such as "panic", "half a person", "william it was really nothing", heaven knows i'm miserable now" and "ask" certainly attests.
In addition to the unforgettably smooth voice of Morrissey, the guitar accompaniment of Johnny Marr helped elevate the Smiths from a great band to, perhaps, one of the best ever. Listening to the tracks on this album one is struck by the seamless way that Morrissey's voice merges with and into the music of Marr, Rourke and Joyce, all complimenting each other beautifully as the music meanders through subtle and at times dramatic shifts in rhythm, melody and tone. Combine this mastery of harmony with lyrics that are often intense, provocative and always impassioned one can see why the music of the Smiths was so appealing to so many disaffected by the culture of alienation and isolation that has become one of most recognizable hallmarks of the 80's.
While many mainstrem bands and performers were mindlessly celebrating the escapist world of sex, drugs and rock n' roll, the Smiths were providing a voice for all those who could see that such excess was simply a symptom of a cultural milieu awash in greed and blind conformity. If you think Van Halen is "cool" or think that owning a porsche makes you a somehow "better" or more "complete," then this is probably not the music for you, however if you are one of those people who loves music with depth, passion and more than a tinge of melancholy, well this IS for you. "Yes, we may be hidden by rags, but we have something they'll never have, and if people stare, then, the people stare, I really don't know, and I really don't care"
Free Music Review: Best "Odds And Sods" Album
Hit: 5 Stars
The Smiths released many singles that weren't on their 4 original albums, and this stellar compilation features all of the A-sides and most of the B-sides. A couple are taken from DJ John Peel's BBC radio show. Of all the tracks collected here, only "Hand In Glove" made an album appearance.
Morrissey's lovelorn lyrics and pleading vocals established him as the foremost romantic figure of the 80's, and turned him into the idol of all who felt alienated and lonely. He tosses off some great lines, but my favorite is: "if it's not love, then it's the bomb that will bring us together" (from "Ask"). Choose love, people! Johnny Marr's muscular guitar keeps the songs from getting too maudlin. Marr wrote all the music, and Morrissey wrote all the words. The two balanced each other.
When issued on vinyl, this was a 2-record set. It's amazing to me how well all these disparate singles and B-sides from over the years cohere into a complete whole. There's a natural ebb and flow. If they had recorded this in one session, it would be mentioned in the same breath as...(name your favorite much-praised 2-record set by a famous rock band). As it is, it's the best odds-and-sods collection I've ever heard by ANY band. (For those unfamiliar with the term, it means "a little of this, a little of that".)
Most groups start out strong, only to become less good as the years progress. I'd say The Smiths were good at the beginning, but became great by the end. For me, each successive album was better than the one before it. "Meat Is Murder" was better than their debut "The Smiths", "The Queen Is Dead" topped them both, and the concluding "Strangeways, Here We Come" was the best of all. Together they comprise the "official" four studio releases.
There's other compilations of A and B-sides, and several "greatest hits", but none pack the heat and heft of "Louder Than Bombs". It's perfect.
Free Music Review: Probably my favorite Smiths disk
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the American version of The Smiths' "The World Won't Wait", which collects b-sides and independently released singles that couldn't be found in America. I would recommend anybody getting in to The Smiths to pick up "Louder Than Bombs". Specifically because The Smiths were a singles band and in England bands tend to put more emphesis on the singles market; therefore many of The Smiths best songs and most popular songs (some of them are even b-sides) were never released on albums. I think even The Smiths most well known song, "How Soon Is Now?" was not originally slated to be on a studio album. The disk is packed with Smiths gems, most notably "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", "Panic", "Shoplifters of the World United", "Girls Afraid", etc, etc. Even some of the less notable Smiths songs that are pretty good are on the disk such as "Stretch Out and Wait" and "Unlovalbe"Louder Than Bombs also showcases some of The Smiths musical diversity which in opinion is something that the band has never really gotten credit for. This is mainly because Johnny Marr at this time in his musical career was so jingle jangle with his guitar playing. "Is It Really So Strange" has a coutry feel. "Sweet and Tender Hooligan" and "London" are punkish. "Heaven Knows I'm Misreable Now" is motownish and "Stretch Out and Wait" is a stab at folk music.
For anybody getting in to The Smiths, "Louder Than Bombs" will add to a more complete picture to a great a band.
Free Music Review: God bless Morrissey, Marr, Rourke, and Joyce....
Hit: 5 Stars
This was my first Smiths album, an embarrassment of riches. It has 24 tracks on it, and there really isn't one in the batch that reeks. In fact, can I say that they are all brilliant? Can I say that I really dig The Smiths? Yes.
The Smiths were one of the best bands of the 1980's, and none of their music has dated. Whenever I listen to it, I don't think "80's Smiths", I just think it's brilliant, timeless music. Many of these songs show off Morrissey's brilliant, sardonic wit, something that many critics of this band miss, and Johnny Marr's amazing melodies. They call the lyrics whiny and they called Saint Morrissey a p***y, but he's the furthest thing from a whiny you-know-what. I think many are just jealous of his enormous talent. There's a lot going on in between the lines. The more I listen to any Smiths music, the better it gets.
Louder than Bombs has some of the best Smiths songs EVER. Is It Really So Strange? is a pop masterpiece. I adore Panic with its brilliant and stunning chours "hang the DJ" and the line "the music that they play/it says nothing to me about my life". Most of the stuff I heard when growing up never said nothing about my life, and it's nice to hear someone saying it so beautifully. I love the prickly, hilarious William, It Was Really Nothing. And Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now is a great, great song. I agree with Morrissey on "why should we give valuable time to people who don't care whether we live or die". The Smiths's music was always universal. It doesn't belong to any time frame. 100 years from now, this stuff will still be awesome.
Free Music Review: Modern Day Minstrel.
Hit: 5 Stars
The Smiths are a weird phenomenon. They have an immense and loyal following, yet, most have never heard of them. I have very un-intentional but sincerely eclectic tastes in music, so it may be confusing that one person would recommend both Patsy Cline and The Smiths, but, I like good music, and it comes in many styles. I've been listening to the Smiths for easily 20 years, and they have become a staple in my listening repertoire. I consider them one of the most innovative, charasmatic bands of all time. While they are comprised of individuals, as most bands are, I am ashamed to admit that I, like most, think of the band as Morrissey, the legendary lead singer. I must admit to liking almost everything they've ever recorded, but this c.d., "Louder Than Bombs", is my most often played. Their songs, which are really poetry, are set to music ranging from ethereally haunting to rapid-fire hardcore, and are never gimmicky or pretentious. I really wouldn't know how to recommend this c.d. , or the band themselves, to a new listener, because I can't think of anyone to compare them to. All I know is that I was hypnotized the first time I ever heard a note of their music, and it hasn't worn off yet. If you like The Smiths, you probably already love this c.d. If you've never before heard them, you may either think they're incredible, or rubbish, there are no in-betweens. But I consider this one of the better efforts from one of the best music making entities ("bands" just doesn't properly describe them) in the music world .