Blasphemy! Sacrilege!! Desecration!!! Okay, got that out of your system?? GOOD!! Now, settle down and let's talk about the newest from The Smithereens, their Beatles Tribute CD, Meet The Smithereens.
To do that, we (momentarily) have to go back to January 20th, 1964, almost forty three years ago. It's on that day that a quartet from Liverpool, England had their very first U.S. released record entitled Meet The Beatles hit the stores here on the other side of the pond. The impact that album had at the time was tremendous and today, music and musicians around the world are still being influenced by the powerful sounds found there.
Such is the case with the New Jersey-based foursome, The Smithereens. Formed in 1980, lead singer and guitar player Pat DiNizio, guitarist Jim Babjak, then bassist Mike Mesaros and drummer Dennis Diken, the band has never denied the importance the (1960's) British Invasion brought to their sound. And The Beatles have to be at the top of that list.
It's logical then that the two factions join together in a glorious meld of Pop Music and sensibilities as The Smitties release a song-for-song tribute of that first Beatles record in the United States. Thus, Meet The Beatles begets Meet The Smithereens.
Before you get your panties in a bunch, notice I didn't say that this is a by rote replication. Indeed, The Smitties manage to pay homage to the Fab Four while still sounding, well...like The Smithereens.
Sonically, this is still the album you became enamored with years ago. The beginning one-two-three-four countdown at the start of "I Saw Her Standing There" is there. So is the distinctive guitar strumming that kicks off "This Boy." The harmonica that introduces "Little Child" remains as does that Bossa Nova feel to "Til There Was You."
The vocals are where you will find the difference; no matter how hard anyone might try The Beatles sound remains unique. I don't mean that in a bad way, just to let you know that The Smitties are smart enough to not try to clone them. One thing The Beatles gave us were those amazing harmonies, so tight that sometimes two or three voices truly became one. The Smitties sound has always shown their allegiance to those structures we all loved and learned from listening to John, Paul, George and Ringo. And they certainly do them right on Meet The Smithereens.
Article comments
1 - alessandro nicolo
Thanks for reminding me about The Smitties.
2 - Vern Halen
Ver' cool. The Smithereens were in it for the long haul (turned out to be much longer than the Beatleboise). I wonder how they would've fared if both had been on the music scene at the same time.
3 - GL Hauptfleisch
I'll go along with that "common ground" in "sheer exuberance"--one of the best and most energetic live shows I've ever seen was the Smithereens in a small club in Tucson. They have the right instincts and I think they'll do the Beatles justice.
4 - tink
My pleasure Alessandro!
Vern...that's an interesting question. I'll try to remember to pose that to the guys and see what their take is on it.
GL...right you are...always a great time seeing them live. I'm counting the days til mid-February as they're doing two (!!) dates in my area.
Let me know if any of you get the chance to check it out. Would love to hear your take on it!!
5 - Mark Saleski
nice review tink. i'm going out to buy this today.
it's been on my list buy you pushed me over the edge.
6 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
7 - tink
Rockin' Mark!! Love to hear what you have to say about it...hint, hint!!
8 - tink
Thanks for starting my weekend off with a bang, Connie!!
9 - Mark Saleski
ok, i'll buy it tomorrow. i tried tonight but refused to get taken by borders for 18.99. those people are crazy.
10 - tink
Mark...good luck on your hunt for a better price...I have every faith in you that you'll be able to do just that.
Anxious to hear your take on the CD...