Customer Reviews

Rarities: Attack of the Smithereens

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If you're a big fan of the Smithereens, this one is great. It has outtakes and rarieties and live songs and B-sides and almost all of them are great. It also has alternative versions "Blood and Roses" and "Yesterday Girl". This has great unreleased songs like "Shakin' All Over" and "Lust for Life". Not one dull moment on here. However, if you're a casual fan, you might want to get the others first.

This is really a fun cd to have. Excellent cover versions, interesting demos and a sweet rehersal workout of "Lust for Life". "Poor Little Pitiful One" and "Like Someone in Love" are good enough to be on any studio release. I've had this cd for years now and enjoy the hell out of it everytime I pull it from the rack and spin it. I advise you to add this to your collection while it's still in print. I must admit I am a giant SMITHEREENS fan - think they are one of the best rock bands ever to come along. When you want some straight forward guitar rock, these are your guys!

This album is an occasionally hit or miss compilation of demos, b-sides, and rarities. But one track in particular makes this whole album a must buy. The "band demo" version of "Blood And Roses" just slays here. It was recorded during a practice session on a boombox, apparently a common method of the band for demoing new material at the time. It sounds surprisingly well recorded for what was essentially taped live to cassette. The song rocks with a raw energy absent in the studio version, and omits the lame studio fade out ending for the much better and appropriate bass ending that the Smithereens use during thier live performances of the song. This is a version that just demands to be cranked up to 11 on the stereo, and sounds like the best garage rock anthem ever performed.