The Smiths - The Sound of the Smiths: The Very Best of the Smiths
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Free Music Notes for The Sound of the Smiths: The Very Best of the Smiths
Free Music Review: Greatest wordsmiths calling...
Hit: 5 Stars
Combine an introverted bedroom wordsmith (Morrissey) with an extroverted understated guitar genius (johnny Marr) and you have arguably England's best musical marriage since Lennon and McCartney. The Smiths live on in the hearts and minds of those who survived the eighties and those naive youngsters who wish they had been there. Hopeful romantics may want to pick up this latest greatest collection from England's Kings of Melancholy. The Sounds of The Smiths is a wonderful compilation for Smiths completists and newbies alike.
The great tunes are all here (How Soon is Now, This Charming Man, Panic) along with b-sides from their import singles (Jeane, Handsome Devil). We're told they've been remastered but this it is hardly noticable to these concert worn ears. What you're really getting here is a generous sampling of some of the finest music and lyrics written and recorded in the last 25 years.
If you've never heard Morrissey's mournful croon, I'd suggest checking out a sample before buying this CD (his unique voice is a deal breaker for some.) But if you appreciate cruel irony and wicked wit mixed with shimmering melodic guitar in an indie-rock supermodel package then The Sound of The Smiths should be your next purchase. With apologies to Natalie Portman and The Shins, this is the music that could change your life...
Free Music Review: some people are only good at complaining
Hit: 5 Stars
"hot mastered rubbish"? well, mr marr remastered the project himself, and despite what some of the relentlessly unhappy folk may say, it sounds truly amazing (perhaps they're listening to it on an aged sony discman). miss morrissey "approved" the cover, and the colour choices are nice, buy beyond that, the packaging isn't exceptional. but the music! it's never sounded better. and if you're foolish enough to advise others not to buy simply because your own personal favourite song isn't on it - well, i'm sure if you write johnny an angry letter, he'll be sure to address your concerns most urgently.
buy it. go for the double-disc. it's a wonderful collection for fans old and new...
Free Music Review: Another "Best Of" CD ?
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a huge Smiths fan. HUGE ! Over the years I would buy anything that had a Smiths name on it. But in the days of the IPOD and the convenience of it, I will pass on this CD. I don't have to hear every single note crisply played. I am usually working out or riding my bike while listening to my IPOD so I am not concentrating that hard on every note. I'll make The Smiths a deal with this "new" CD. They finally get back together and stop their whinning. They can even hit eachother over the heads with a guitar. Once done, I will buy a Smtiths CD even though I have the same songs on 4 or 5 other CD's.
How's that Morrissey ?! Don't get back together unless the whole band is together.
Free Music Review: Awesome Musical Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
This album captures the refinement of the original recordings for many popular Smiths songs. The music is more clear and one can hear the melody, harmony and tune in a more intricate way. One can hear the meticulous melodies, chords and musical instrumental tones, arraingments and resonance to perfection as well as a clear young Morrissey voice. This is delight to have for the casual fan as well as the new Smiths fan.Free Music Review: 45 tracks including some rarities
Hit: 4 Stars
As a Smiths addict in the 80's, I bought their first few albums and all their import 12" singles on vinyl, then bought the CD versions of their albums, including "Louder Than Bombs" which includes many of the songs on this release. I stayed away from the Smiths-Best of collections because what was the point when I had all the proper releases anyway.
The biggest difference I noticed is that the mix has been recorded MUCH louder with a fuller sound, a recent trend for pop/rock recorded music. I compared What Difference Does It Make? version from Hatful of Hallow to this release -- and it is MUCH louder with the vocals/guitars pumped up in the mix. Personally, I like the Hatful of Hollow version better as Morrissey's voice sounded somewhat distant (and cavalier) and not competing head to head with the guitars. Then I compared "Big Mouth Strikes Again" version from Queen is Dead, and heard the vocals/guitars pumped up. But I couldn't hear any difference in drums/cymbals (not any crisper) which is what I would have expected in a remixed track.
This 45-track CD probably makes sense for those who do not have the proper releases or prior collections. Or completists. There are a couple of live tracks on here, which were previously available only as B-sides to singles. But still, some B-sides left off "Louder Than Bombs" are still not on this release so it is not comprehensive. So here is a quick summary of the less common tracks on this release which aren't found on many other Smiths compilations:
How Soon Is Now? (12" version)- this is the same version as found on "Hatful of Hollow" and "Meat Is Murder", not anything new.
Barbarism Begins at Home (7" version) - this edited version is 3 minutes shorter than the album version found on "Meat Is Murder".
This Charming Man (New York 12" version) - this was once rare to find, but since been released as CD single with 7 versions of the song.
Jeane - originally issued as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.
Wonderful Woman - originally appeared as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.
Handsome Devil (Live) - originally issued as B-side to "Hand In Glove" single.
Meat Is Murder (live) - originally issued as B-side to "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" single.
Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) - originally issued as B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single.
What's The World?(Live) - originally issued on cassette single "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single. I actually had not heard this before.
London (Live) - this was included on the posthumous live album, "Rank".
The 2-CD package also comes with 4-color glossy insert of pics of the Smiths in their prime plus a listing showing each song's release date, UK chart position and what release it originally appeared on. But alas, there is no tacky badge.