The Smithereens - Meet ...(2007)
Tracks:
01 All Ive Got To Do
02 All My Loving
03 Dont Bother Me
04 Hold Me Tight
05 I Saw Her Standing There
06 I Wanna Be Your Man
07 I Want To Hold Your Hand
08 It Wont Be Long
09 Little Child
10 Not A Second Time
11 This Boy
12 Till There Was You
Review by Mark Deming
Hey kids, have you heard about the Beatles? They're this terrific group from England, and the Smithereens are here to tip you off about their exciting new sound! What's that? You already know all about the Beatles? Well, that's the Achilles' heel of this disc, the first set of new recordings from the Smithereens since 1999. Meet the Smithereens! is a tribute to Meet the Beatles!, the album Capitol Records put together to help introduce the Fab Four to American audiences in 1964. Meet the Smithereens! features the same 12 tunes in the same order as that iconic Beatles LP, and while the arrangements aren't letter-perfect re-creations of the original recordings, the Smithereens offer up very faithful interpretations of a dozen songs most serious rock fans know by heart. There's no arguing that these are great tunes, and the Smithereens are certainly up to the task of playing them, but the trouble is, the boys from New Jersey don't bring much of their own approach or personality to the material beyond the presence of Pat DiNizio's voice, which adds a moody undertow to the giddy excitement of "I Saw Her Standing There" and "All My Loving" (though it fits the heartache of "This Boy" like a glove). Something like this might work on-stage, where the energy and immediacy of a live performance always add an extra dimension to the music, but on disc, it's hard to do much besides compare these recordings to the originals, and let's face it, no one is going to play the songs from Meet the Beatles! better than the lads from Liverpool themselves. Viewed strictly as a collection of great pop songs played well by a veteran group, Meet the Smithereens! is fun listening, but at the same time it's a singularly pointless album, serving less to guide music fans to worthy artists they haven't been exposed to (the goal of the best and most valuable tribute albums) than to wade through the nostalgia of both musician and audience. You're much better off pulling your old copy of Meet the Beatles! (or Especially for You) out of the crate instead.
Amazon.com
Sometimes recording even a single Beatles cover can be a perilous undertaking. So for the Smithereens to have the impudence to rerecord Meet the Beatles in its entirety (even though some purists don't recognize it as canonical) is like taking the studio to edge of the cliff. But wait! While reaching the Fab Four stratosphere is impossible, this New Jersey pop combo, whose last record was released in 1999, comes about as close as any band could in celebrating the 43rd anniversary of this groundbreaking record. Sure, the lead-vocal fury that Lennon and McCartney created in 1964 can't be restored, and the three-part harmonies are less than hair-raising. But from the opening three chords of "I Want to Hold Your Hand," the Smithereens are respectful to the album's legacy, and let virtually no element slip past them. There's that "1-2-3-4!" countdown to "I Saw Her Standing There," the same virile harmonica in "Little Child," and a doo-wop tang to the ever-underappreciated "This Boy." And when "Not a Second Time" fades out the last of the album's 28 minutes, it leaves you wondering if the boys are bold enough to take a crack at Abbey Road in September 2009. --Scott Holter
While the Beatles' influence on the Smithereens could always be heard, it takes a particularly special type of genius to cover one of your influences in such a way that captures the spirit of the original and yet reflects your own style. This is especially difficult with a group as outstanding and well known as the Beatles, and yet the Smithereens manage it here in a major way; 'All My Loving' sounds like it could be a DeNizio composition. This is a must for any Smithereens fan; I always knew this was an underrated band, but this album proves beyond any doubt the Smithereens are one of the best bands out there. An almost impossible idea pulled off with class and style. Bravo. :~ Amazon Customer Comment
Meet The Smithereens is an interesting and bold concept by The Smithereens. They have recorded a complete album cover of the Beatles' US debut record, Meet The Beatles. The band doesn't make any drastic rearrangements to the songs, they pretty much cover each song in the way the originals were performed. Despite that, the band plays with such enthusiasm and energy that the pure joy of recordings shine through. Of course these versions can't touch the originals, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. ibid
The Smithereens show "all their loving" for the "Meet The Beatles" album with this wonderful tribute to the fab four's 1964 U. S. release. And what an excellent labor of love it is! The Smithereens affectionately invoke the original spirit of the Beatles' landmark album while still managing to sound unmistakably like the Smithereens in the process. Pat DiNizio's distinctive vocals make the band's version of "This Boy" both poignantly wistful and beautiful at the same time. His feverish harmonica playing on "Little Child" is a bluesy-rock jam that builds on the original John Lennon mouth organ blueprint. Jim Babjak prods his guitar to power pop and crunch on rockers like "Hold Me Tight" and he even takes a rare lead vocal turn on "Don't Bother Me". Severo "the Thrilla" Jornacion thrills on pulsating bass. Dennis Diken masterfully switches gears from propulsive drumming on "I Saw Her Standing There" to a rhumba beat on "Till There Was You". He trades vocals with Pat on "Little Child" and follows Ringo's example by doing the lead vocal duties on "I Wanna Be Your Man". The sum of the parts equals a whole lot of fun for Smithereens and Beatles fans alike as The Smithereens joyously celebrate an album that has obviously inspired them and pretty much everyone else who loves rock `n' roll. The Smithereens have taken on a daunting task here but it all works remarkably well from infectious beginning to triumphant end. ibid
The Smithereens have channeled 60s British Invasion pop for their entire careers, and they have used covers of 60s songs all along. So they were naturals to take on this project; a thorough homage to The Beatles by covering an entire album, song by song. Not only do the 'Reens do every song, they recreate the musical and vocal arrangements. Most of the vocals are transposed into a lower key to suit the vocal range of Pat DiNizio, and they lack the tight harmonies that the early Beatles were masters of, but DiNizio's vocal style has its own charm.
For a Beatles fan with no special interest in The Smithereens, this album is likely a pointless exercise; the Jersey beat doesn't bring much new to the songs. But for Smithereens fans, it is a treat to hear them do this material. The Jersey guys are clearly having a lot of fun with these songs, and the listener can't help having fun as well. ibid
As I glance at the one and two star reviews all over this album, the question everyone is posing in their titles is "why"? Being both a Beatles and Smithereens fan, I think I may have arrived to an answer. So take it or leave it, I guess.
As you peruse the liner notes inside this CD (which appear to be longer than the album itself), you will find that the members of the Smithereens think that there isn't a more important record in all of rock history than "Meet the Beatles!" These lyrics, these melodies, these chords, these harmonies, these drumbeats are what got these guys into music in the first place. The short of it: if it weren't for "Meet the Beatles!", the Smithereens might not have had a career. Or if they did, it would've been a lot less catchy, enthusiastic, melodic, and shamelessly poppy.
Every little aspect of "Meet the Beatles!" is replicated perfectly. Flawlessly. The handclaps, the guitar solos, the count-offs, it all sounds like the real thing. The only palpable difference is that Pat DiNizio's vocal timber is lower than that of John and Paul...but crucify me if you must, Dennis Diken sings better than Ringo. If "Meet the Smithereens!" was a form of artistic expression, then tossing around the question "why?" would be terribly easy. But if one views "Meet the Smithereens!" as a form of adoration and homage, then all that's left is raw talent. And love. Love for the pop that made you who you are.
This band has been playing together for about a quarter of a century (although they appear to have a new bass player). At this stage in their career, I like to think that the Smithereens know the difference between artistic expression and homage. It's too bad that some customers can't tell the difference, because they're missing out on some fun. Unless I'm mistaken, lots of elder and more "mature" people thought that Beatles music was just pap. But the young people insisted that it was just plain fun.
So why the three stars? Well, my favorite Smithereens album this is not. Maybe not my second favorite. Or third. But whatever, it doesn't really matter does it? If you just listen to "Meet the Smithereens!" for what I take it to be, nothing more than a 27-minute love letter to the fab four, you will be in the right frame of mind. And that's all. That's it ibid
What a great idea! You take some great songs from rock and roll's past and add today's recording technology, a killer band, and you just let it fly!
The Smithereens grew up Beatle fans in the Garden State. Now with all the members hovering around 50 years old, they perform the ultimate tribute. Let's face a few things, the Beatle hype and hysteria were a huge part of the whole deal. Listening to ANY pivotal record of those days sometimes makes you wonder what the fuss was about.
We move on to the record (well, that's what I still call them). Plainly put, The Smithereens deliver. The twin guitar assault of Jim Babjak and Pat DiNizio on their solid body Fenders wakes up any Rip Van Rock n Roll fan. Dennis Diken punctuates the beat with the absolute best of them. Who heard the bass in those early records? Well here, The Thrilla makes sure you don't miss it.
But above all, it's the voices that win the day. The edgy soulfulness of Pat DiNizio takes you through the range of emotions on this record. The lusty growl of Diken on "I Wanna Be Your Man" leaves no doubt that he truly does. If George Harrison had sung "Don't Bother Me" like Babjak, he would have grabbed alot more A- sides. The backing vocals on all tracks are everything you would want them to be. ibid
I love this album. And I am not alone.
Rolling Stone said, "against all odds they succeed in making forty-three-year-old music sound new again."
The New York Times said, "This is what I like about "Meet the Smithereens!": it bridges the extremes of note-for-note fidelity and pure interpretation, offering the best of both worlds. The band has treated "Meet the Beatles!" as a symphony, a complete cultural artifact, to be heard intact."
When I first heard about this project, I also thought, why? -I'd rather hear new Smithereens songs. But, then I got to listen to it. And the answer to why, is because it is FUN! Shouldn't rock and roll be fun? How much of it is these days? Do you remember what joy the Beatles brought to everyone back in the day? Do you know how much fun a Smithereens show is (No? Then catch them the next time they are in your town.) This cd brings a smile to my face.
And while I have all of the British Beatles albums on cd, I have not yet sprung for the Capitol versions, so this is a really good way to remember the sequencing of "Meet the Beatles" without buying all those tracks again.
The Smithereens know these songs inside and out and deliver some great versions of them. Jim Babjak takes a rare turn at the microphone on "Don't Bother Me" and Dennis Diken gets the lead vocal for a change on Ringo's "I Wanna Be Your Man". For the rest, Pat Dinizio does not try to sound like John and Paul, but delivers the goods in his own style.
I recommend it for Smithereens fans, for Beatles fans, and for anyone who wants to feel good for a while. ibid
With the opening guitar riffs and handclaps and the lines, "Oh, yeah I..." the Smithereens take listeners down memory lane and pay homage to their mop top musical heroes, The Beatles, with their tribute album, "Meet the Smithereens." Although the songs are not exact reproductions of the original tracks, they come close with close-knit three-part harmonies and backbeat. The great thing about the band's version is that their recordings of the songs from the Beatles' "Meet the Beatles" sound like a combination of the Beatles' live concert and studio versions. For instance, "This Boy" and "Till There Was You" sound like the BBC live and Ed Sullivan Show versions, but the highlight of the album is "Hold Me Tight," which has that trademark Smithereens sound, raunchy three-chord progression, bass line, and drums.
The Smithereens do an exceptional job at recreating the energetic sound that launched the arrival of the Beatles to America's shores. And after listening to "Meet the Smithereens," pull out the Beatles original recording, and play both over and over again. ibid
It doesn't hurt to be a fan of either the Beatles or The Smithereens, and if you're a fan of both, you'll absolutely love this CD!
The band stays very true to the original songs with only an occasional - though not blasphemous - vocal twist. Performance and production-wise, this is undoubtedly how the Beatles would like to have sounded. There's none of the roughness or glitches or vocal looseness that pervaded so many Beatle recordings during an era where perfectionism wasn't demanded (and probably wouldn't have been recognized or appreciated anyway.) But in the Smithereens recordings, everything is played and sung the way the music and vocals would seem to dictate. While the album is highly produced, it's not OVERproduced. It's as if the Beatles had gone in to re-do those songs verbatim, but were more meticulous about the playing, harmonies, and the sound.
If you've ever heard the Smithereens recording of Ringo's "It Don't Come Easy" you'll have an idea the direction they took on this. The songs are played well to be sure, but they're not sterile performances. All of the feel and soul and charm of those songs is right there.
ibid
I was driving my fifteen-year-old daughter somewhere as she picked up the jewel case for "Meet the Smithereens!" The disc was loaded and playing as I explained to her that The Smithereens had recorded a complete cover of "Meet the Beatles!" with the intention of exacting the Fab's sound as much as could be. It wasn't an interpretation, at least not by intent.
After a pause she asked honestly, "Why don't you just put on 'MtB!' and listen to that?" Her question was not only a good one, but also a fair one.
I countered by asking why she comes in the door after school to immediately IM a friend she saw eight minutes ago on the bus. It was a lame comeback without any correlation, which left me with her question. Why didn't I just cue up "Mtb!" and listen to the real thing? Is "MtS!" any different from an Elvis impersonator?
Yes, because the Elvis impersonator tries to become Elvis, however incompletely. And because The Smithereens are The Smithereens, with a long history of great original music. And not even The Beatles can eclipse the sound of The Smithereens, which leaks out of their high resolution tribute to their source in the same sort of way that a real laugh is unavoidable and can't be contained. After all, eventually the shape and content of the protege no longer fits the contours of the mentor, which is of course the entire point.
In larger scope, culturally, The Smithereens are reminding us - those of us old enough to remember - of those electric months that straddled the end of 1963 and the start of 1964. For those not old enough, "MtS!" - and the dedication of the group to recreating the sound of The Beatles - is a sort of implicit documentray of a Western cultural watershed.
The emergence of "MtB!" in the fall of 1963, followed by the first of the appearances "The Ed Sullivan Show," was a rip in traditional mores. In such a short time, at least by popular perception, the old ended and the new began. This schism had been incubating since before JPG&R came of age, of course, and so The Beatles in no way wholly created it; nor did any one entity. But they did happen to catch the wave at just the right moment to become the presenters of "Why not?" to the masses.
For anyone who, by age or isolation, was somehow unaware of The Beatles at that time it's not really possible to fully describe their impact, so I'll just say this. I was ten years old and in the fourth grade. I left school on Friday, February 7th to enjoy the weekend. On the night of Sunday, February 9th, I watched The Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan. When I returned to school Monday, February 10th, I was a different person. I couldn't appreciate intellectually what had happened, but I knew viscerally something had. A lot of us did that Monday morning, which was only confirmed by our teacher refusing to let as talk about what we had heard and seen. But we talked anyway. Quietly at lunch and enthusiastically on the playground. Something was up, something so powerful it washed over us despite being delivered in a black-and-white image and through a tinny mono speaker. Something big, something permanent.
That, really, is what "Meet the Smithereens!" is about. And so here we are in 2007, the 21st century, dealing not with The Future as we imagined it would be way back then, but with tribal warfare, religious fundamentalist nut jobs and, once the calculated selling of cool is removed from the mix, a stunning degree of conformity. I can't think of a better time of which to be reminded than when we met The Beatles. Thanks, Smithereens, you're gear! ibid
While the approach to each song is similar to those on the original album, the Smithereens give the listener an opportunity to re-hear the music (some of us) grew up on. It's easy to miss the intricacy of each tune as the now iconic songs are all too familar. Listening to the Smithereens' version, it's possible to dissect and rediscover this seemingly simplistic music and the budding genius behind it. ibid
VERY impressive. It's a great balance: glorious, detail-faithful celebration of the Beatles' original meets full-throttle and totally signature-true performance by the Smithereens. It's a tribute to the substantial talents of BOTH entities.
There are absolutely NO so-so tracks. Tight and full of great energy all the way through.
Forget the pharmaceutical section. THIS is the best mood-lifter I've found in years, and it endures. The first listen will blow your mind, and every one after that will get better and better. There's just so much IN this album! The rocking tracks rock and the ballads reach just the right heartstrings.
I do a lot of driving, and this CD has gotten me through traffic jams, white-knuckle ice drives and hundred-mile snoozers. If you do a lot of driving, you'll know what I'm saying. This is HIGHEST praise!
Be nice to yourself - BUY THIS AND ENJOY!!!! ibid
The first lp I ever owned as an 8 year old kid was Meet The Beatles.They became and still remain my favorite band.Im also a huge fan of The Smithereens.When I heard they were going to record this record in its entirety I wasn't thrilled.I would have preferred a new original record.When I played the cd I couldn't believe how well these guys nailed it. I hadn't heard the Beatles record in this American configuration in some time.The Smithereens brought it all back home.Great musicianship,vocals and production combine for a disc I can't stop playing.Anyone thinking they could just listen to this material by The Beatles themselves are missing the point.This is a great record by a great band playing these classic songs.I've played this for friends who originally weren't expecting much and they were all knocked out.If you're a Beatle fan,a Smithereens fan or just a fan of great music give this one a chance.You won't be disappointed. ibid
I am always interested in Beatles re-makes and covers. Most are poor, or unsatisfaying at best. These guys, however, have nailed it. The instrumentation and arrangements are as true to the original record as I think you can get. For those who do not like accurate reproductions, stay away. But if you want to here how well some one else does the Beatles, this is the best effort I've ever heard. The only aspect of these songs that does not match up to the originals is the vocals. No one can sound exactly like the Beatles, which I'm not sure I would want anyway. The voices of the Smithereens is what makes this record their own. ibid
The Smithereens have been a band that has never keep quiet about their influences, covering some of the songs and bands that influenced them throughout their career. In the past, they've recorded or performed live excellent covers of The Who's "Substitute" and "The Seeker" as well as The Beatles "The One After 909" for a Beatles tribute CD. Given their excellent treatment of these and other songs, it was no stretch for them to do a complete album of early Beatles covers because they know and love the material and play it well.
This CD, Meet The Smithereerns, will make a welcome addition to any Smitereens fan's CD collections as well as any Beatles fan's collection. The band is tight and the musicianship excellent. I give it my highest recommendation because this is a great band playing fun music, and these days, isn't it great to bring the fun back into rock 'n' roll? ibid
Some context for you, gentle reader: I am 52 years old and have been a rabid Beatles fan since that legendary weekend in February of 1964. My feelings towards the Smithereens are somewhat less enthusiastic, although over the years I've recognized and appreciated the elements of homage to the Fab Four that are obvious in their music. Still, I fully expected that Meet the Smithereens would be a novelty, nothing more. One might buy it for the sheer whimsy of it but without any expectation of spending much time actually listening to it.
Well, I've been wrong before and I'm delighted to report that I was very wrong here. This is a terrific record, a great homage to a landmark album. The Smithereens' love for the Beatles is clear on every track. And they have managed to update the original music while remaining absolutely faithful to it, a nifty trick. (A very nice touch, by the way, is that they reproduced the American Meet the Beatles track sequencing, noth the British With the Beatles that's become more familiar over the years.)
Covering a Beatles song is difficult enough for most artists. Covering an entire album like this is as audacious as it gets. Against all odds and expectations, the Smithereens have pulled it off smashingly. It's fab. It's gear. And it's worth adding to your collection. ibid
This is a fine undertaking by a fine rock band...one that I have followed since their '80s breakout "Especially For You." Being a true blue Beatles fan and a huge fan of The Smithereens makes this a match made in heaven. I, for one, am ususally more than suspicious of ANY band's attempt to cover the Beatles, but the Smithereens have - in paying homage to their inspiration - put their own distinct stamp on these tunes...which sound as fresh today as they did 40+ years ago. It's a testiment to good song writing and great musicianship.
Highlights: Pat DiNizio's vocal on "All I've Got To Do" and the entire band's performance on "Don't Bother Me"...which they've completely revved up!!!
This is NOT The Smithereens attempting to be The Beatles. It's The Smithereens respectfully playing an historically significant Beatles album...top to bottom. Come to think of it, it's an historically significant album no matter how you slice it. An awesome undertaking that they can be proud of...and one that you should consider yourself proud - and lucky - to own!!!
In an era where 80 minute CD's rarely (if ever) produce 27 minutes of quality material, these 27 minutes are pure gold...as they were then, as they are now, and as they forever will be!!!! ibid
Let me first say that I'm a long time Beatles fan who is seldom impressed by any other artists' interpretation of Beatles music. I'll admit that I'm picky about any other musicians doing Beatles music, and seldom if never seem to like any Beatles covers.
WOW....what a great surprise then, when my ears first heard "Meet the Smithereens"!!! It's fab, especially since they don't try to make it a "sound a like" contest or an attempt to imitiate the Fab Four, but instead, to pay homage to them.
The sound of this CD is refreshingly different from "Meet the Beatles. At the same time, it brings back the warm feelings associated with that simpler time so long ago.
I would highly recommend the purchase of this CD to anyone who is a Smithereens fan (which I've become), a Beatles fan, or any music lover who enjoys upbeat, melodic tunes that put the winter blues behind and simply give the listener genuine feelings of happiness.
ibid
This is the most inspired tribute to the Fabs in a LONG time. Folks who complain about it being "only 28 minutes" might do well to brush up on their Beatle history ... that's all there was on the original album! That's the point. Yet, as disciples of classic rock (see their many & varied covers - The Seeker, Just A Little, etc) these guys pay homage like very few can. They don't make it an attempt at being "the Fab Faux", "Beatlemania" or any of those other "copy bands" out there and create the "note perfect" clones, with fake accents, etc. That stuff is OK to check out "live" but why buy a record of people trying to sound exactly like the Beatles (just buy the originals for chrissakes). No, this first and foremost sounds like a SMITHEREENS album. That said, you can hear the group's musical DNA in all it's big fat ringing guitar glory. Look, nobody's going to even TRY to tell you it's "better than the beatles" - if that were the case - NOBODY would ever get a good review ! But if you love the Beatles and even LIKE the Smithereens, this record is, to put it simply, ESSENTIAL listening. Pat D and the boys carry the torch in admirable fashion. The way the Fabs passed on their musical heritage (how many Carl Perkins songs did you REALLY know without hearing of them through one or more of the fabs ?), The Smithereens are doing for us in 2007. Don't think twice - this one is WAY MORE than alright ! ibid
Meet The Smithereens is an interesting and bold concept by The Smithereens. They have recorded a complete album cover of the Beatles' US debut record, Meet The Beatles. The band doesn't make any drastic rearrangements to the songs, they pretty much cover each song in the way the originals were performed. Despite that, the band plays with such enthusiasm and energy that the pure joy of recordings shine through. Of course these versions can't touch the originals, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable ibid
The Smithereens have always proudly worn their jangly British Invasion influences proudly on their sleeves, from the Beatlesque pop of their 1983 BEAUTY & SADNESS EP through 1994's cover of the Outsider's hit "Time Won't Let Me" (from the motion Picture "Time Cop"). So it should be no surprise that MEET THE SMITHEREENS (their first album in almost eight years) is a song-by-song tribute to the Beatles first American LP, MEET THE BEATLES.
However, if you're looking for new interpretations of old classics, this is not the case. In a recent "Goldmine" magazine interview, guitarist Pat DiNizio said, "If anyone was expecting reworked arrangments, they're not going to hear it with us. There's no way to improve on the original arrangments." So what they did was enter the studio and finished in a day. Yes, there were some additional overdubs, but they essentially completed the album in a single day--much the same as the Beatles themselves worked in the studio during the early days of their recording career.
To continue with the Beatles connection, The Smithereens released their album Jan. 20 to coincide with the Beatles original release date 43 years ago. They even got Beatles expert Bruce Spizer, and legendary promoter Sid Berstein to contribute to the liner notes.
While MEET THE SMITHEREENS doesn't improve on the original, it is a loving tribute to the touchstone of the British Invasion. As DiNozio said, "It's our way of paying homage to a record that blew the lid off rock 'n' roll." Enjoy. RECOMMENDED ibid
If there is anybody in this world who can take these songs and make them sound 'new' again, it's The Smithereens!! What a GREAT album!!! Remember the excitement when you first heard these songs?? Perhaps some of you heard them back in '64 for the first time. Maybe you heard them later. Do you remember the feeling that you had, that jolt when these songs first entered your consciousness?? Rediscover that all over again on Meet The Smithereens! The Smithereens have done the impossible. They've taken songs that have been covered over and over, to the point of boredom, and they have put the THRILL back into them. Sure, you can put on Meet The Beatles. And why not? It has stood the test of time and always will. But this is Meet The Beatles for a new millennium. It's those songs with 43 years of love and electricity put back into them. Listen to Dennis Diken sing "I Wanna Be Your Man" and you FEEL and HEAR the power and sexuality of the song come through like never before. Listen to the band do "This Boy" and I defy you not to shed a tear. Pat Dinizio's vocal on the chorus brings out the heartbreak like never before. And Jim Babjak singing "Don't Bother Me" gives that song a whole new feel. All of this while retaining the faithful feel of the originals. I don't know how they did it....but they did. What balls!! What courage!! Take THESE songs and do them faithfully and yet put your own stamp on them. This album rocks!! I mean, just listen to "I Saw Her Standing There" and you can HEAR the band having fun!!
For old time Beatlemaniacs and Smithereens fans like me, I say, 'Welcome Back' to these songs and to The Smithereens!! For some in the younger generation who might think that these songs are from another era and 'stale', this album brings it to your front door and kicks it open.
I say, let it in and CRANK IT UP!!!! ibid
OK, As a lifelong musician, composer and syndicated journalist, I want to say, THIS IS THE MOST INCREDIBLE project CD ever achieved.
As for the person who left 'not pleased to meet them,' just another typical 'know it al' music wanna be with nothing better to do than act like a little jealous child...ANYWAY...
AS FOR THE CD, It is NEARLY impossible to take on covering Beatle songs in any way by ANY artist. But what I see and 'hear' here, is that the Smithereens did not 'cover' so to speak. They achieved recapturing the magic of this, probably the most significant 'album' in our modern music history. But they did NOT cover or try to duplicate as many 'Beatle -tribute' bands do..they SMITHEREEN-IZED it. Dinizio's vocals as still semi-haunting and silky smooth, Babjaks solos are very close to the originals but keeping HIS edge makes the songs refreshing once again. Only Pat Dinizio (the most underrated genius of our time) and the Smithereens could pull this off...this is NO COVER CD, it is a PURE TRIBUTE! Music fans, Go get a copy! PS Please note, the new bass player is a great musician from California by the name of "Thriller" (Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion) the original bass player Mike Maseros is not on this CD. Thriller, great job!
Frankie Galasso
Nationally Syndciated
Journalist/Composer
Provdence, RI
But wait...there's more! Check out what my friends have to say!
I'll be honest...normally, I am not much of a Beatles fan...I like their solo stuff; but their group work was just too...I don't know, too easily categorized? Their early stuff was bubble gum and Patsy Cline; and their later stuff was a low-grade acid trip without all the political pontificating that was popular at the time...
As for The Smithereens, well, back in high school that music was the stuff that all the "alterna-chicks" (read: future lesbians) listened to - I wasn't going to touch THAT band with a 50 foot pole! However, in the years since high school (and they are several!) I have progressed beyond cliques and labels, and I am glad I did; because this album of Beatles covers by the Smithereens KICKS! In a good way, that is. Like a Martin Gramatica field goal, not like a kick in the balls - not that I would know what that was like from personal experience...but I can tell you from personal experience that this CD should be on the top shelf of your CD rack - or wherever it is you keep all your personal faves, so they are within easy reach.
A word to the wise: when you buy this CD, be sure to buy 2 copies - because you will wear the first one out, and you aren't going to want to wait for the new one to arrive in the mail. I don't care if 1-day delivery is available; once you have heard this CD, 24-hours is 23 hours and 45 minutes too long to go without it!
Kimberly "Kimmie" Manchester
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Dressed in leather, brandishing heavy guitars, and an unabashed fetish for British Invasion pop, the Smithereens were an anomaly in the American college rock scene of the late '80s. Lead singer/songwriter Pat DiNizio stood out not only with his strange beatnik goatee, but also because his catchy hooks were haunting, not punchy, and because his lyrics were morose. As time wore on, the group became more straightforward, turning into an excellent bar band, one that attacked pop songs with the weight of AC/DC. A few hits followed, but the Smithereens seemed hopelessly out of date in the alternative rock explosion of the early '90s, and they quietly faded into a working cult band.
Of course, the Smithereens essentially started out as a working band. After playing in several cover bands, including a handful of prog rock and metal groups, Pat DiNizio (vocals, guitar) was inspired to form his own band after listening to Buddy Holly. Placing an advertisement in a New York paper for musicians influenced by Holly, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, and the Clash, DiNizio eventually came into contact with New Jersey high school students Dennis Diken (drums), Jim Babjak (guitar), and Mike Mesaros (bass), who had all played together in school. By the end of 1980, they had independently released Girls About Town, an EP featuring four songs with "girl" in the title that was a moderate local success. For the next three years, the group played around New Jersey and New York, not releasing another record until 1983's Beauty and Sadness. While the EP earned some play on college radio and received a positive review in Rolling Stone, they still had trouble gaining an audience, so they began supporting traveling oldies groups like Otis Blackwell, with whom they recorded an album's worth of material, and the Beau Brummels.
By 1985, the Smithereens were growing frustrated by their lack of progress, as most of the demos they sent to labels were ignored. They did send a demo to Enigma, where Scott Vanderbilt, a former college DJ who was a fan of the band several years earlier, signed the group. In 1986, the band released its debut album, the Don Dixon-produced Especially for You, to positive reviews. On the strength of college airplay, as well as MTV's airing of "Blood and Roses" -- a video financed by a film studio that included the song in the B-movie Dangerously Close -- the album became a moderate hit, climbing to number 51 on the charts and leading to a major-label contract with Capitol. The Smithereens supported the album with an extensive tour, and they recorded their second record weeks after they left the road.
Green Thoughts appeared early in 1988, and the first single, "Only a Memory," not only became a college and modern rock hit, but it crossed over to album rock stations as well. The Smithereens made their attempt for big-time album rock success with their third album, 11. Hiring producer Ed Stasium brought a heavier guitar sound, which made "A Girl Like You" -- a song rejected as the theme for the comedy Say Anything -- a Top 40 hit, sending 11 to gold status. "Too Much Passion," the first single from their fourth album, Blow Up, indicated that the new record was more adventurous and produced, and the single did become a Top 40 hit, yet the album itself failed to replicate the success of its predecessor.
Blow Up was their last album for Capitol, and they moved to RCA for 1994's A Date with the Smithereens, their first album since Green Thoughts to be produced by Don Dixon. By that time, the alternative and mainstream rock scenes had been heavily altered by grunge, which essentially left the band without an avenue for their records to be heard. The album bombed, but the group retained a sizable cult following that helped them tour successfully into the late '90s. In 1995, they released a pair of compilations, the hits package Blown to Smithereens and the rarities collection Attack of the Smithereens. After a five-year recording hiatus, the group returned to the studio for 1999's God Save the Smithereens. Another series of compilations and live recordings appeared between 2000 and 2006, with Meet the Smithereens! arriving the following year along with a holiday album, Christmas with the Smithereens.