I had the Best of the Smithereens as my commuting music last week & I was just wondering if there’s any traction for thread comparing them them w/the Replacements to see who’s better like the one done between the Stones & the Faces several years ago.
The Smithereens are on the list of bands people have compared my own band’s music to over the years meaning to be complimentary yet kind of bumming me out. I’ve found the band solid yet boring. This probably explains way too much about my own situation.
The Replacements are a band with one kind of song I typically like: the one that goes from A to D (or D to A) with Westerberg’s voice pitched just so and the entire band ready to kick in with a big stomp at a couple of key moments. Other than those songs and the more traditionally punk rock songs on their first album, I understand why they are beloved but leave them to others to love.
I just saw this NY Times piece by Westerberg on his own songwriting. This probably explains too much:
I’ve also seen that “The Replacements” are “reuniting” for some shows this summer. It seems only Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson are taking part. The 50% reunion thing is always a bit disappointing. For the benefit of the band’s fans I hope they at least add some “Oliver” figure who probably toured with them at the end and added parts from the shadows.
“Solid yet boring” is somewhat apt when it comes to the Smithereens. To me, they are a bit of a disapointment despite some great songs. Maybe it’s the 80s production?
Anyway, here’s something I found several days ago that might be of interest to you Mr. Mod:
I’ve been driving my old truck for fun this spring which has the “All For Nothing, Nothing For All” compilation of the Replacements non-Twin Tone years permanently inserted into its tape deck. Perhaps it’s just the nostalgia of driving that old truck with the windows down, but even some of the stuff off the last two albums sounds better to me today than when I first got those records.
I think the run of reunion gigs is related to all the Slim Dunlap fundraisers, which is a cool thing for Tommy, Chris and Paul to do.
I’d be interested, but let’s see if we can do it here. The Smithereens are a very good band. I have met DiNizio, have a few of their tapes in the cellar and Blown to Smithereens: Best Of” on the regular rotation but the Replacements had more going on. Westerberg got to the goose bumps occasionally (thanks for the NYT link, Mr Mod). That might explain why I remain engaged with Paul and the Mats and not-so-much the Smithereens.
That’s a beautiful memory, diskojoe! The Bull’s mammoth line-drive home runs were my favorite home runs of my youth, much preferable aesthetically to Mike Schmidt’s high-arching shots.
I was hoping to find a clip of that shot, but came up with this instead:
Blown to Smithereens was the CD I was listening to in my car which inspired me. How about a comparision w/the Rhino Replacements single comp that came out a few yrs. ago which I also have.
The Smithereens are the Lou Whitaker of rock. A long career, rarely flashy, a solid hitter, and sometimes forgotten because there is rarely any glory at second base (aka pop-rock)
I had the Best of the Smithereens as my commuting music last week & I was just wondering if there’s any traction for thread comparing them them w/the Replacements to see who’s better like the one done between the Stones & the Faces several years ago.
The Smithereens are on the list of bands people have compared my own band’s music to over the years meaning to be complimentary yet kind of bumming me out. I’ve found the band solid yet boring. This probably explains way too much about my own situation.
The Replacements are a band with one kind of song I typically like: the one that goes from A to D (or D to A) with Westerberg’s voice pitched just so and the entire band ready to kick in with a big stomp at a couple of key moments. Other than those songs and the more traditionally punk rock songs on their first album, I understand why they are beloved but leave them to others to love.
I just saw this NY Times piece by Westerberg on his own songwriting. This probably explains too much:
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/simple-or-impossible/?hp
I’ve also seen that “The Replacements” are “reuniting” for some shows this summer. It seems only Paul Westerberg and Tommy Stinson are taking part. The 50% reunion thing is always a bit disappointing. For the benefit of the band’s fans I hope they at least add some “Oliver” figure who probably toured with them at the end and added parts from the shadows.
Or maybe Chris Mars is taking part in the reunion show, as another article I just read states, in which case I retract my moan about 50% reunions.
“Solid yet boring” is somewhat apt when it comes to the Smithereens. To me, they are a bit of a disapointment despite some great songs. Maybe it’s the 80s production?
Anyway, here’s something I found several days ago that might be of interest to you Mr. Mod:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/15000-days-since-luzinski-rings-the-liberty-bell/
I’ve been driving my old truck for fun this spring which has the “All For Nothing, Nothing For All” compilation of the Replacements non-Twin Tone years permanently inserted into its tape deck. Perhaps it’s just the nostalgia of driving that old truck with the windows down, but even some of the stuff off the last two albums sounds better to me today than when I first got those records.
I think the run of reunion gigs is related to all the Slim Dunlap fundraisers, which is a cool thing for Tommy, Chris and Paul to do.
Also, thanks for the link to the NYT blog.
I’d be interested, but let’s see if we can do it here. The Smithereens are a very good band. I have met DiNizio, have a few of their tapes in the cellar and Blown to Smithereens: Best Of” on the regular rotation but the Replacements had more going on. Westerberg got to the goose bumps occasionally (thanks for the NYT link, Mr Mod). That might explain why I remain engaged with Paul and the Mats and not-so-much the Smithereens.
That’s a beautiful memory, diskojoe! The Bull’s mammoth line-drive home runs were my favorite home runs of my youth, much preferable aesthetically to Mike Schmidt’s high-arching shots.
I was hoping to find a clip of that shot, but came up with this instead:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VOjw3qiT3c
Blown to Smithereens was the CD I was listening to in my car which inspired me. How about a comparision w/the Rhino Replacements single comp that came out a few yrs. ago which I also have.
HOLY CRAP IS THAT PHIL COLLINS DEPT.
In addition to this being a fascinating early Phil Collins sighting — the site rules.
Whoops, here’s the link:
http://mydadwasinaband.com/flaming-youth/
The Smithereens are the Lou Whitaker of rock. A long career, rarely flashy, a solid hitter, and sometimes forgotten because there is rarely any glory at second base (aka pop-rock)
“Brian Eno doesn’t pussyfoot around with other brand [sic] of cat food”
Sorry, link lost:
http://i.imgur.com/SDuEGwj.jpg
Was that ad for real?!?!
It had me going, but no. Here’s the source:
http://dangerousminds.net/comments/no_pussyfooting_brian_enos_finicky_cat_eric_thinks_six_is_terribly_boring
Other works from the artist:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/411806_4885486890550_822980794_o.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/882703_10200399496325517_324920219_o.jpg