THE SMITHEREENS Covers
( Sunset Blvd .)
The Smithereens have earned their title as “ America ’ s Band ” over decades of thrilling performances , including regular visits to a stronghold of fans in the Chicago area . The New Jersey-based quartet built a great catalog of songs rooted in psychedelic ' 60s pop , spirited garage rock , early American rock and roll , and British heroes including the Beatles , the Who , and the Kinks . Following the loss of frontman and melancholy wordsmith Pat DiNizio in December 2017 , the band has released this once digital-only project into the physical world as a tribute to DiNizio . Covers also offers the chance for more fans to peek under the hood and see what made the Smithereens ’ engine run . Clearly , the band of brothers has finely-tuned ears and were raised on the good stuff . Drummer Dennis Diken has said tracks like the crashing version of Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders ’ “ The Game of Love ” were recorded for “ inspiration and the sheer fun of it .” Guitarist Jim Babjak lashes into the Kinks ’ forlorn “ Rosie Won ’ t You Please Come Home .” DiNizio blatantly relishes the chance to wrap his singular baritone around Frank & Nancy Sinatra ’ s “ Something Stupid ,” and it ’ s easy to trace a line from the song to Especially For You bossa nova duet “ In a Lonely Place .” The band gets rowdier on fare like The Clash ’ s “ Up in Heaven ,” the Beatles ’ caustic “ Yer Blues ” and the Who ’ s anthemic and spiritual “ The Seeker .” Billie Holiday ’ s lovesick and bereft “ Gloomy Sunday ” seems tailormade for the Smithereens , fitting alongside the darkly romantic pop of “ Behind the Wall of Sleep .” “ Wooly Bully ” and Iggy Pop ’ s “ Lust for Life ” explode with high spirit . The group ’ s live prowess is featured on a concert recording of Buddy Holly ’ s “ Well Alright ,” one of several songs that highlight bassist Mike Mesaros ’ deep groove and intuitive sense of countermelody . The group ’ s un-erring harmonies shine during a revved-up cover of George Harrison ’ s psych-pop Revolver gem “ I Want to Tell You .” If these songs represent the Smithereens ’ schoolbooks , Covers is the thesis supporting the band ’ s tenured status as professors and proclaimers of perfect power pop .
– Jeff Elbel
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U2 Achtung Baby
Vinyl Reissue ( Island )
With 1991 ’ s Achtung Baby , U2 rebuilt a brand that had been cemented by 1987 ’ s immortal The Joshua Tree and reinforced by Rattle and Hum . Drummer Larry Mullen Jr .’ s fascination and facility with the leftof-the-dial Manchester sound led songs like “ So Cruel ” and “ Mysterious Ways ” in an urbane , Euro-centric direction . The results took both fans and critics by surprise while delighting them that the band could make such an adventurous turn of direction so accessible . After the towering “ I Still Haven ’ t Found What I ’ m Looking For ,” who would have guessed that the plaintive and yearning “ One ” would become U2 ’ s signature song ? Beginning with producer Daniel Lanois ’ mellow guitar riff , the song crafts a cascading series of climaxes , until Bono ’ s voice peaks with the spiritual fervor of what arguably remains his finest recorded performance . The Edge ’ s jagged guitars during “ Zoo Station ” lash and groan like a retro-futuristic , squealing steam engine leaving the platform , while Krautrock keyboards contribute to the out-of-place sensation of a traveler ready to surrender to what new surroundings might offer . Adam Clayton ’ s thrumming bass grounds Edge ’ s slashing guitar and Bono ’ s falsetto flight during “ The Fly .” On its recent Songs of Experience tour , U2 pulled the prescient “ Acrobat ” from 1991 and recast it as dire criticism of modern political hypocrisy . “ Don ’ t believe what you hear , don ’ t believe what you see ,” sang Bono , returning to the withering satire of his MacPhisto persona . Ultimately , the song itself breaks the character , with encouragement to stand firm . “ Don ’ t let the bastards grind you down ,” offers U2 . Befitting the album ’ s classic status , Achtung Baby has been meticulously remastered onto a heavyweight 2LP set . For any purists who consider the original artifact alone to be valid , you might say the new set sounds even better than the real thing .
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– Jeff Elbel
THE ENGLISH BEAT Here We Go Love
( Here We Go )
The English Beat haven ' t released a proper album since 1982 ' s Special Beat Service , and after 36 years the band ' s only remaining member is co-founder and chief songwriter Dave Wakeling , making music with the US version of the band . After what seems like years of running through pledge music campaigns , Wakeling delivers what he has done best in both Beat and General Public incarnations – mixing melodically intriguing ska-tinged pop rock .
" How Can You Stand There " starts things off with flowing keyboard line and Saxa-style horn riff questioning " warning signs around the town ." " Redemption Time " mines ' 70s 2-Tone-era reggae with a rub-a-dub party vibe . " If Killing Worked " yolks a Stax-style horn riff and staccato guitar line with anti-gun message , continuing Wakeling ' s tradition being the socially conscientious guy at the party .
– John Vernon
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24 illinoisentertainer . com august 2018