THIS CHARMING COMPILATION

THIS CHARMING COMPILATION

As much as I’ve enjoyed Jake Kennedy’s writing in RC over many years, I’m a bit saddened that he should follow the same jaded journo route as so many of his contemporaries when assessing the new Smiths compilation (RC357). Yes, there’s been collections out before, the last one seven whole years ago, and it has to be said that the cover art of this new offering is particularly appalling – a Smiths record with a band picture on the front? Unthinkable!

But let’s get a level-headed handle on this, shall we? It matters not how dubious and disrespectful the packaging is, it’s still a fantastic set of inspiring pop songs from a band who were so on the money that they made four great albums in four short years, plus a slew of singles and top-notch B-sides which stood on their own merits. Ignore the cyni-cism of the repackaging, ignore the godawful TV ads, ignore any of the attendant vulgarities of the 20th century music industry. Instead, give thanks for a near faultless and nigh on perfect pop group. The music speaks volumes beyond the manner in which it’s presented.

There are bands vying for our attention in 2009 who weren’t even born when The Smiths called it a day, so let them discover the songs and the splendour without muddying the waters with moans about brainless suits treading the corridors of sanitised record company buildings.

by Colin Thurlow- Tucker
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