God Save the Smithereens

Smithereens | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 19, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B00001T3GC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,778 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. She's Got A Way

2. House At The End Of The World

3. Everything Changes

4. Flowers In The Blood

5. The Long Loneliness

6. Someday

7. The Age Of Innocence

8. Gloomy Sunday

9. I Believe

10. All Revved Up

11. Even If I Never Get Back Home

12. Try

13. The Last Good Time

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The 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

Product Description

The critically acclaimed college-rock act's 1999 album featuring 13 tracks. Velvel Records. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to what they do best., February 12, 2000

By 

"mh53465" (Kansas City, Missouri United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Save the Smithereens (Audio CD)

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). 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!

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth the buy for the bonus tracks - still great years later, February 28, 2005

By 

L. Aiello (West Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: God Save the Smithereens (Audio CD)

The Smithereens have decided to re-release "God Save the Smithereens" from 1999, as well as Pat DiNizio's "Songs and Sounds" from 1997. Both are excellent, and the latter is such a great album and didn't get a ton of press in the late 90s since it wasn't "The Smithereens" but just Pat. It became a collector's album after it was out of print for a while - not the path that it was expected to take, I'm sure.
"God Save" is also excellent, but it too faded quicker than it should have. It has been deemed (unofficially) their comeback album after 1994's "Date with" didn't do that well.

The bonus tracks in this double CD package are superb. You'll hear some songs that almost made it onto "God Save" in 1999, as well as a few alternate tracks of songs you already know. It's like having a new Smithereens record - sort of. Also some unreleased demos are included for a treat. The tracks from Pat DiNizio live in Spain are worth more than one listen. He sings Smithereens tunes on stage without the band. Apparently this is another rare album that has rarely seen the light of day, so it's nice that these songs are on this re-release. The new liner notes from Pat are worth it, too!

Die hard fans most likely already own "GSTS" and PDS&S" so it's a little bit of a downer having to buy these albums again. But just a little. Rumors of an entirely NEW album have been flying about, and it's going on 6 years since that's happened. So I'm sure I speak for many when I say that I can't wait for the day that new album comes out! This double CD is a nice treat for now.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 8, 2005

By 

yet another insane teen "ldinizio" (Illinois United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: God Save the Smithereens (Audio CD)

The Smitereens are one of the most underappreciated rock bands I have ever heard of. People just dismiss them away because they're not in their prime. Good, bluesy music. Keep up the good work.