The Smithereens - Especially For You
(Enigma, 1986)

With the recent resurgence in classic one-fist-in-the-air garage rock, we should all try and remember some of the earlier groups that paved the way. The Smithereens recall The Who and similar sixties "mod" influences, but beefed up and more intimate. Rather than strafing the listener with twelve songs of the same standard caliber, The Smithereens employ a ton of different styles on this record, everything from the slinky Beatles pop of Listen To Me Girl to the lyrically-odd accordian ballad Cigarette, all masterfully tied together with the common theme of heartbreak and longing for the one you love.

The knockout punches of I Don't Want To Lose You show a nice archetypical rocker, and the next track Time And Time Again is practically the best Roy Orbison song that Roy Orbison never wrote. Behind The Wall Of Sleep is the hit of the record, and rightly so. It's a brilliant song, both lyrically and musically, a melodious kicker that caresses as it rips up your heart. Similar is the mid-paced chest-thumping and beautiful Blood And Roses. These are clear examples of The Smithereens's purpose in rock, to conjure up songs that rock with fervor and at the same time sound sweet and soothing. There is some slightly dull songwriting on the album near the end, like the short and pointless Crazy Mixed-Up Kid or the average Hand Of Glory. Especially For You however is something you can still listen to over and over again, because basically The Smithereens do what they do with excellent style, even on the naff tracks. They are unbelievably cool, and are a generally overlooked gem in the rock universe. Go fetch.

Rating: 4/5