Monday, November 3, 2008
Merch / History / Love "Best Of, Most Of, Satiate the Need"
Posted by Eric Grandy on Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 4:30 PM
There's yet another Smiths compilation out apparently, which makes today as good a time as any to wonder: What's the best Best Of the Smiths? I tend towards Louder Than Bombs, despite its incompleteness, both for sheer volume and because it was the first Smiths record I ever owned (confession: I bought it because I couldn't remember which band was the Smiths and which was Catherine Wheel [I was young]; I think I was actually trying to buy Catherine Wheel, but, boy, did I luck out there).
Of course, no Smiths compilation is perfect. But, if you're building your own best of, what absolutely must be included, and what absolutely must be omitted? I'll get things rolling: "Cemetery Gates" must appear; "Meat is Murder" must not.
Share via
1
i think 'singles' from 1995, though flawed as all smiths compilations are, is the closest one could get to making a definitive one disc release without any clunkers.
by my count, they have nearly twice as many best of albums as they do actual albums, which means 'paint a vulgar picture' should be mandatory on all future repackaging of their music.
2
Agreed. For some reason, I have had to go to the mat over and over again for "Paint a Vulgar Picture." That song rules, and should henceforth appear as the first track on all Smiths best ofs.
3
"Hatful of Hollow" has a minimalist, morbid vibe that suited my life in Seattle perfectly when it was released in the mid-80s. And remember that it was the second Smiths album, and they were already releasing sixteen track "comps"! But "Louder Than Bombs" seemed like such a treasure when it was released a few years later (I mean, if you like The Smiths at all, it is one of the best single CD values, ever).
Love "Paint A Vulgar Picture" and "Cemetery Gates" and hate "Meat Is Murder" too. Actually could sort of live without most of the "Meat Is Murder" album and don't understand why. On a side note: I think if the singles for "Ask" and "Panic" had been included on the album of their era ("The Queen Is Dead") that album would never fail to make best of top 20 lists by most Anglo-friendly critics.
4
Overexposure ruined the Smiths for me. The only songs I can really stand to listen to by them anymore are "Death of a Disco Dancer," "Oscillate Wildly," and "Hand in Glove."
[/buzzkill]
5
The Smiths, like The Melvins, can not be categorized by 'besting' their LP's. Each is a journey unto it's own. Meat Is Murder is as brilliant as The Queen Is Dead is as brilliant as Hatful of Hollow, just as Gluey Poarch Treatments is as brilliant as Lysol is as brilliant as The Bootlicker.
6
Frankly, Mr. Shankly, I don't buy your analogy. The Smiths were a singles band as much as an albums band in a way that the Melvins just weren't. I think you can take a Smiths song out of its album context in a way that, perhaps, you wouldn't with the Melvins.
7
I think the only songs I really can't stand are "Golden Lights" and "Meat is Murder".
"Still Ill" will always be one of my favs. Check out this clip...Morrissey still has it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7lFJAQzTUg
8
Mr. Grandy, take note:
Single artist comps of popular music, for the most part suck. You being music editor and all, I would have thought you'd have figured that one out by now.
For those of you out there that haven't experienced the Smiths: Do yourself a favor, and go purchase a copy of "The Queen Is Dead" already.
That is all...
Most Commented on Line Out
-
Ode to Cathode: The Best TV Theme Songs Ever by Dave Segal
-
Everyday Music to Move... One Block East by Dave Segal
-
Mike McGinn and Mad Rad @ the War Room by Kristen Blush
-
Mr. Green, on Aurora, with the Afro by Trent Moorman
-
Dirty Projectors @ Neumos by Dave Segal
-
Big Business @ El Corazon by Kelly O
-
Pierced Arrows Sign to Vice Records by Eric Grandy
-
The Bad Things: How to Play a Saw by Trent Moorman
-
OK, Hotel by Eric Grandy
-
Robbie Baron by Dean Fawkes
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (9) RSS