The Smiths - Best Volumes I and II - Sire

Review by: Jennifer Perkins

If you don't like The Smiths, then something is very very wrong with you. Find me a wittier lyricist than Morrissey and a catchier song writer than Johnny Marr, I dare you. I was one of those teenagers that cut holes out in the cuffs of my sweaters for my thumbs and read Oscar Wilde because The Smiths did. They were Gods to my friends and I. 15 years later, Gods is a strong term, but they are definetly still in my top 5.

Many people do not realize the vast influence The Smiths have had over everything we listen today. Make no mistake about why Jade Tree was courting Morrissey to put out his next solo record. These guys are the granddaddies of Emo. Morrissey was wearing horn rimmed birth control glasses and crooning about his feelings when many of today's Dashboard Confessional fans were just an itch in their daddy's pants.

Reviewing The Smiths greatest Hits was not too hard for me, as a matter of fact one of my only complaints is I wish the CDs were longer to include more songs.

Volume 1
1 This Charming Man - Like many Smiths songs this one radiates sunshine and happiness with the jangly guitars, not to mention a line familiar to many women "I would go out tonight, but I haven't got a stitch to wear".
2 William, It Was Really Nothing
3 What Difference Does It Make - "The Devil Will find Work For Idle Hands to Do".
4 Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before - This was the very first Smiths song I ever heard, I practiced until I knew every single word. Now a days there are not too many Smiths songs I don't know all the words to.
5 Girlfriend in a Coma - If they asked me to pick a song for this collection off of Strangeways, Here We Come "Death of a Disco Dancer", "I Won't Share You" and "Unhappy Birthday" would have all come before this one.
6 Half a Person - Downtrodden little gem, "Do You Have a Vacancy for a Back Scrubber".
7 Rubber Ring - This song does not do much for me.
8 How Soon is Now - The Smiths song everyone knows, and actually one of my least favorites.
9 Hand in Glove - This song should be a gay anthem, damn is it a gem. "The sun shines out of our behinds, no its not like any other love, this one is different because its ours....and if the people the stare, then the people stare, I really don't know and I really don't care".
10 Shoplifters of the World Unite - A sing along favorite, and another more well known Smiths song.
11 Sheila Take a Bow - Anything with la, la, la's it is a given I am gonna like it.
12 Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others - Again if they asked me there are several songs off of The Queen is Dead I would have chosen before this one, "Cemetery Gates" for example.
13 Panic - "Hang the DJ, hang the DJ, hang the DJ"
14 Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want - Come on it was on The Pretty in Pink soundtrack, what teenager didn't like this one.

 

Volume 2
1 The Boy With the Thorn In His Side - If J Mascis thinks its good enough to cover that should tell you something.
2 The Headmaster Ritual - OK why this one over "Meat is Murder", I didn't have a T-shirt about this song.
3 Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - "Why do I give valuable time to people who don't care if I live or I die". Pretty much sums up why I think acquaintances are worthless.
4 Ask - Got a special someone you have been flirting with who won't make a move, send them the lyrics to this one "If there is something you'd like to try, ask me I won't say no how could I".
5 Oscillate Wildly - Did I mention Morrissey's fascination with Oscar Wilde
6 Nowhere Fast - I have to say overall the entire Meat is Murder record was my least favorite.
7 Still Ill
8 Big Mouth Strikes Again - Its always nice when a band can make fun of themselves.
9 That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - This song still reminds me of being grounded locked in my room.
10 Shakespeare's Sister - Is this where that Bananrama spin off band got their name from?
11 Girl Afraid - There are quite a few songs on here that I am not real sure why they made the cut.
12 Reel Around The Fountain - This would be another example of the above.
13 Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - If you are feeling the least bit suicidal for the love of God do not listen to this song.
14 There is a Light that Never Goes Out - Damn no one can depress you like The Smiths "If a double decker bus crashes into us, to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die".