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Imagine all of those incredible Beatles' songs and the manic energy that the early recordings had.Now, take that same material and have this band play them and it's pointless.Lazy, boring, flat vocals left me not ever wanting to hear more from the Smithereens, and was a good reason for me to bring out the original Beatles recordings.Sorry, but I never thought someone could make this music BORING. they managed, though.
These are good covers of Beatles songs and I am a big fan of both Smithereens and the Beatles, but this disc and the "Meet the Smithereens" disc both left me a little flat. You know what I mean, that energy, in "Eight Days a Week" or "Please Please Me" that you hear and even though it is like 45 years old now, that sound and energy is just so crammed in there and busting out in the Beatles voices and their playing. You know what is missing. The crazy manic energy that the Beatles put into their early recordings. The Smithereens have not tried to make these their own, nor have they tried to duplicate the Beatles, so they are just trying to be "faithful" or something and it's lacking. Very few songs in here strike you as so entertaining as to put a smile on your face because they did something different, unexpected.Maybe I am feeling jaded right now, but I like the Smithereens doing Smithereens songs a whole lot more than this.
But C'mon guys, we old fans want to hear a new album. Check out the sound samples before buying.
I really like the surfy job they did on "Cry For A Shadow" making it sound more like the Ventures than the Shadows. The 'Reen's did a great job picking out some rare gems - a lot of Beatles fans have never heard these songs before or forgot how good those (USA) flipsides were.
If your not familiar with them you may be put off by Pat's voice or the harder (Kinks like) attack they give some of these classics. And MAJOR respect for getting the legendary Jack Davis (of Mad Magazine fame) to do the classy cover.
(Why does it remind me of "The Best Of The Cowsills").Yet, this is another CD I recommend for Diehard Smithereens and curious Beatles fans who enjoy collecting cover versions. This is another fun tribute CD by a band that loves the British Invasion.
It's been too long since the last album of original material.
One can hear the raw energy in all 12 tracks that are as close to how the Beatles originally recorded them -- from the exact chord progressions and harmonies to the bluesy wailing. THE SMITHEREENS' B-SIDES THE BEATLES is an encore performance or homage to the band's musical heroes. Indeed, the rock and roll tracks that highlight the record, the surf-guitar-driven and early Harrison-Lennon composition, "Cry For a Shadow," Larry Williams' "Slow Down," and Leiber-Stoller-Barrett's "Some Other Guy," were live Beatles staples during the band's Hamburg and Cavern days and the Smithereens do a superb job with much gusto.While listening to these tracks and keeping in mind earlier Smithereens albums, "Especially For You" and "Green Thoughts," fans will hear that distinct Beatles influence and sound. For fans of the Smithereens, a few of the songs on the record have been played live during their concerts. But to have those songs reproduced for this studio album as well as the other classic Beatles tracks is a treat.There is no doubt that the Smithereens have the Beatles spirit alive and kicking when they play their music, be it live or in the studio. B-SIDES is by no means a Beatles cover band album. One can hear that it was produced with a lot of heart and soul and rock and roll.
If you love the Beatles-you gotta have this CD. THe Smithereens bring a whole new dimension to the best of the Beatles songs.
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