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
7
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.
10
– 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
7
24 illinoisentertainer. com august 2018