The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Album Description
UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Average customer rating:
- Great Music, Bad Collection(s).
- Half a collection.
- smiths rule!
- This review is aimed toward...
- very flawed collection, try "Singles"
|
The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 2
- The Best of Morrissey
- The Very Best of the Smiths
- The Cure - Greatest Hits
- Singles
ASIN: B000002MFS
Release Date: 1992-09-29 |
Tracks:
- This Charming Man
- William, It Was Really Nothing
- What Difference Does It Make?
- Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
- Girlfriend In A Coma
- Half A Person
- Rubber Ring (edited)
- How Soon Is Now?
- Hand In Glove
- Shoplifters of the World Unite
- Sheila Take A Bow
- Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
- Panic
- Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Amazon.com
Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor
Album Description
UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.
Customer Reviews:
Great Music, Bad Collection(s)........2005-12-20
I gave this five stars completely based on the music within it, not the actual product itself. I adore The Smiths, so obviously I love these songs, but like many people have pointed out, this is a very weak collection. I took it upon myself to construct an actual Smiths "Best of" collection, because none of the ones actually released are satisfactory in my opinion. The "Singles" collection was okay, but there are more classic Smiths songs that weren't necessarily singles. The "Very Best Of Collection" was an import, and although was kinda more thorough than any other Smiths collection still left out songs and had sloppy song sequencing. And the two part "Best of Vol. 1 And 2" collection is basically a joke if you ask me (Sloppy song sequencing, Obvious exclusions, And many songs that shouldn't be on there.) The split two part collection feels very distant and random. If anything, it should have been released as a double album instead of two seperate albums, because neither of them seem very relevant to eachother, and not even just because of the uneven/flawed tracklists. It just doesn't work.
A definative Smiths collection would look like this:
[Disc 1]
01. This Charming Man
02. Panic
03. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
04. How Soon Is Now?
05. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
06. Hand In Glove
07. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
08. Ask
09. Shelia Take A Bow
10. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
11. William, It Was Really Nothing
12. Cemetry Gates
13. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
14. Asleep
15. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
[Disc 2]
01. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
02. I Know It's Over
03. Still Ill
04. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
05. Bigmouth Strikes Again
06. Nowhere Fast
07. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
08. Girlfriend In A Coma
09. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
10. What Difference Does It Make?
11. Rusholme Ruffians
12. The Queen Is Dead
13. Shakespeare's Sister
14. Rubber Ring
15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Half a collection........2005-11-29
The Smiths are an amazing band, these are incredible songs, and this is a decent collection. I had this once, and always felt like I was missing something, and that was "Volume 2". These 14 songs are wonderful again, but if you don't get "Volume 2" with it, skip it. For one-stop shopping, I might suggest "Singles", which is 18 tracks on one disc, and more bang for your buck. If money is no factor, get the remastered import "Very Best Of", which is 23 tracks. I'd even recommend the 24 track "Louder Than Bombs" disc, though that's short a few essential songs. Obviously you have many choices, but only 14 Smiths songs isn't a good one.
smiths rule!.......2005-10-22
My personal favorite album of theirs. Half a person is my fav on the album. My other song I love is girlfriend in a coma. Morrissey's lyrics are funny I love this album.
This review is aimed toward..........2003-12-31
...those who don't normally like 80s music. I fall into this category, even though I grew up in that soulless, vapid decade. I harbor none of the nostalgia that many of my peers seem to revel in... for me, most of the classic music was produced before I was toddling around in short britches, and the advent of music videos marked the decline of honest, gritty tunes that stimulated both heart and mind. It all nose-dived into flat, echoey drumming, bad synths, worse haircuts, and a glossy sheen which sucked the very lifeblood out of everything. That's what kept me from exploring the Smiths for so long. Even though recent artists I've admired have name-checked them, (e.g. Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams,) I just couldn't get past my anti-80s stance, and a cursory listen to the Amazon clips only confirmed my doubts. Morrisey had that mopey, monotonous sound, indistinguishable from most British vocalists of that time. The production was shimmery and too "perfect." I passed, but a nagging feeling persisted-- maybe this band had something special that I was missing. So, after the purchase of "Best Of's I & II" and frequent listening, I became a Smiths convert. What set them apart for me was the strength of songwriting and Johnny Marr's unique guitar style. Yes, certain hallmarks of the 80s sound still grate, but if you can affix new ears and delve deeper, you'll discover a brilliant band which carved out a niche for itself on the shoulders of giants... no mean feat. The Smiths require multiple listens to truly appreciate... their charms dig beneath you skin insidiously. Now they can fit neatly in my CD collection between the Rolling Stones and Television and not seem out of place. This is the real deal-- spend some time with the lads, you won't be disappointed.
very flawed collection, try "Singles".......2003-06-18
The "Best Of The Smiths" volumes 1 & 2 are disappointing and should not be bought. They are not a good introduction to the music of the Smiths or a good overview of their career; the 'Best Of' albums leave out many of their seminal songs and contain bizarre choices. The CD entitled "Singles", which simply has all 18 of the Smiths' singles, is far better than the 'Best Of' CDs as far as showing what the Smiths were all about, or giving you much of their best material in one source. "Singles" works very well as an album- it doesn't have the disjointed feel of many "greatest hits" collections, probably because the Smiths released all of their material in a period of only a couple years. That "Singles" is superior to "Best Of The Smiths" is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of Smiths fans.
Average customer rating:
- Great Music, Bad Collection(s).
- Half a collection.
- smiths rule!
- This review is aimed toward...
- very flawed collection, try "Singles"
|
The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1
The Smiths
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Alternative Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 2
- The Best of Morrissey
- The Very Best of the Smiths
- The Cure - Greatest Hits
- Singles
ASIN: B000025SIE
Release Date: 2004-01-01 |
Tracks:
- This Charming Man
- William, It Was Really Nothing
- What Difference Does It Make?
- Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
- Girlfriend In A Coma
- Half A Person
- Rubber Ring
- How Soon Is Now?
- Hand In Glove
- Shoplifters Of The World Unite
- Sheila Take A Bow
- Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
- Panic
- Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Amazon.com
Massive stars in England and top-tier alternative rockers in the U.S., the Smiths combined a '60s pop sensibility with '80s ennui. Though singer Morrissey is most notorious--his lyrics read like jottings from an overly sensitive teenager's diary while his narcissistic poses are pure Oscar Wilde--the band was rooted firmly in the crystalline, shimmering guitar work of Johnny Marr. For the most part, the Smiths were a singles band, often leaving key tracks off their studio albums. In which case, a number of collections serve to capture the errant wonder of "Panic" and "William, It Was Really Nothing." The two-LPs-condensed-onto-one-disc Louder than Bombs is more comprehensive, but the two-volume best-of collections--lead by this 14-song set--have much to commend. Either way, this is as definitive as '80s Brit pop gets. --Rob O'Connor
Album Description
UK pressing of 1992 compilation features the same 14 tracks as the US but includes completely different artwork. Warner.
Customer Reviews:
Great Music, Bad Collection(s)........2005-12-20
I gave this five stars completely based on the music within it, not the actual product itself. I adore The Smiths, so obviously I love these songs, but like many people have pointed out, this is a very weak collection. I took it upon myself to construct an actual Smiths "Best of" collection, because none of the ones actually released are satisfactory in my opinion. The "Singles" collection was okay, but there are more classic Smiths songs that weren't necessarily singles. The "Very Best Of Collection" was an import, and although was kinda more thorough than any other Smiths collection still left out songs and had sloppy song sequencing. And the two part "Best of Vol. 1 And 2" collection is basically a joke if you ask me (Sloppy song sequencing, Obvious exclusions, And many songs that shouldn't be on there.) The split two part collection feels very distant and random. If anything, it should have been released as a double album instead of two seperate albums, because neither of them seem very relevant to eachother, and not even just because of the uneven/flawed tracklists. It just doesn't work.
A definative Smiths collection would look like this:
[Disc 1]
01. This Charming Man
02. Panic
03. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
04. How Soon Is Now?
05. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
06. Hand In Glove
07. That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore
08. Ask
09. Shelia Take A Bow
10. I Started Something I Couldn't Finish
11. William, It Was Really Nothing
12. Cemetry Gates
13. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
14. Asleep
15. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me
[Disc 2]
01. Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before
02. I Know It's Over
03. Still Ill
04. Shoplifters Of The World Unite
05. Bigmouth Strikes Again
06. Nowhere Fast
07. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
08. Girlfriend In A Coma
09. Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others
10. What Difference Does It Make?
11. Rusholme Ruffians
12. The Queen Is Dead
13. Shakespeare's Sister
14. Rubber Ring
15. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Half a collection........2005-11-29
The Smiths are an amazing band, these are incredible songs, and this is a decent collection. I had this once, and always felt like I was missing something, and that was "Volume 2". These 14 songs are wonderful again, but if you don't get "Volume 2" with it, skip it. For one-stop shopping, I might suggest "Singles", which is 18 tracks on one disc, and more bang for your buck. If money is no factor, get the remastered import "Very Best Of", which is 23 tracks. I'd even recommend the 24 track "Louder Than Bombs" disc, though that's short a few essential songs. Obviously you have many choices, but only 14 Smiths songs isn't a good one.
smiths rule!.......2005-10-22
My personal favorite album of theirs. Half a person is my fav on the album. My other song I love is girlfriend in a coma. Morrissey's lyrics are funny I love this album.
This review is aimed toward..........2003-12-31
...those who don't normally like 80s music. I fall into this category, even though I grew up in that soulless, vapid decade. I harbor none of the nostalgia that many of my peers seem to revel in... for me, most of the classic music was produced before I was toddling around in short britches, and the advent of music videos marked the decline of honest, gritty tunes that stimulated both heart and mind. It all nose-dived into flat, echoey drumming, bad synths, worse haircuts, and a glossy sheen which sucked the very lifeblood out of everything. That's what kept me from exploring the Smiths for so long. Even though recent artists I've admired have name-checked them, (e.g. Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams,) I just couldn't get past my anti-80s stance, and a cursory listen to the Amazon clips only confirmed my doubts. Morrisey had that mopey, monotonous sound, indistinguishable from most British vocalists of that time. The production was shimmery and too "perfect." I passed, but a nagging feeling persisted-- maybe this band had something special that I was missing. So, after the purchase of "Best Of's I & II" and frequent listening, I became a Smiths convert. What set them apart for me was the strength of songwriting and Johnny Marr's unique guitar style. Yes, certain hallmarks of the 80s sound still grate, but if you can affix new ears and delve deeper, you'll discover a brilliant band which carved out a niche for itself on the shoulders of giants... no mean feat. The Smiths require multiple listens to truly appreciate... their charms dig beneath you skin insidiously. Now they can fit neatly in my CD collection between the Rolling Stones and Television and not seem out of place. This is the real deal-- spend some time with the lads, you won't be disappointed.
very flawed collection, try "Singles".......2003-06-18
The "Best Of The Smiths" volumes 1 & 2 are disappointing and should not be bought. They are not a good introduction to the music of the Smiths or a good overview of their career; the 'Best Of' albums leave out many of their seminal songs and contain bizarre choices. The CD entitled "Singles", which simply has all 18 of the Smiths' singles, is far better than the 'Best Of' CDs as far as showing what the Smiths were all about, or giving you much of their best material in one source. "Singles" works very well as an album- it doesn't have the disjointed feel of many "greatest hits" collections, probably because the Smiths released all of their material in a period of only a couple years. That "Singles" is superior to "Best Of The Smiths" is not only my opinion, but the opinion of the majority of Smiths fans.
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