New Smithereens Record is frikkin amazing

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bruce Brodeen on June 14, 2011 at 2:24pm

Agreed - massively!  In a catalog that is consistently very good - outstanding(not an easy task when you have been around almost 30 yrs!), this one is right up there at the top of the list.......

Permalink Reply by MzAmar on June 14, 2011 at 2:27pm

The other thing that strikes me about it is the sound is incredibly lush, and in this time of shrinking recording budgets I hardly ever hear a record with such great production.  Pat's voice is still killer too.  Really!

Permalink Reply by Bruce Brodeen on June 14, 2011 at 2:34pm

Pat has one THE most under-rated voices in rock 'n roll in terms of quality and many other characteristics, including a voice that sounds like no other - always a plus!

 

Don Dixon is not as expensive as he used to be, there's some good indie bands w/ *no* reputation that have recorded w/ him w/ excellent results - have no idea what they spent, of course, but, assuredly, it was a fraction of what Capitol spent back in the day....

Permalink Reply by MzAmar on June 14, 2011 at 2:39pm

Ha! Poor Don!  I also was pleased to hear Pat's voice being so crisp 20+ years on.  It could just be the production of course, but I don't think that is entirely it.  I have to go see them when they tour up here. I saw Pat once playing acoustic in a Borders here and that voice cut through the air like a hot knife to butter - WOW.

Permalink Reply by Bob Dudno on June 14, 2011 at 2:46pm

Oooh, I'm in!

Permalink Reply by Howard Byrne on June 14, 2011 at 6:49pm

Good stuff.  Keep Running and Sorry are the songs that really carry the Smithereens vibe from yesteryear.  I wish the album had more songs like those.

It's just great to hear the band recording originals again.  Although their The Who covers album was unique, so many bands do Beatles covers.  I was really wondering whether The Smithereens were ever going to get back to originals.  So glad they are!

Permalink Reply by Richard Rossi on June 14, 2011 at 8:11pm

I've heard Pat at his solo shows and at house shows numerous times and his voice is, in fact, still outstanding. It's not just the production, although Don Dixon is amazing!

Permalink Reply by Julie Jurrjens on June 15, 2011 at 6:00am

I picked it up right away and was duly impressed, probably their best in 20 years, don't you think?

Permalink Reply by MzAmar on June 15, 2011 at 8:02am

Yes yes yes!

Permalink Reply by Kevan Brewer on June 15, 2011 at 9:33pm

Truly an outstanding Smithereens record. Maybe not as good as the "especially for you" or "green thoughts", but on par with "11" , at least in my estimation. I love this album.

Permalink Reply by Howard Byrne on June 15, 2011 at 10:27pm

My thoughts exactly.

 

Permalink Reply by Richard Rossi on June 16, 2011 at 6:24am

While I think the CD is consistently good, it lacks the one killer cut some of the earlier LPs had. If you look back on Pat's last solo record (called just "Pat DiNizio") those killer cuts were there. "Wonderful" and "Dear World" are fantastic and would have been great when performed by The Smithereens. In fact, the record was written just like a Smithereens record. I once said to Pat "Sounds like a Smithereens record to me" and he responded "Well, it is".

I wonder if Diken just wasn't available to record. If he had been, then THAT would have been the next awesome Smithereens record. That being said, 2011 is pretty outstanding.