Smithereens

2011

2011-04-23

Whenever you ever return to New York City, the first thing you feel is the throbbing beat. The familiar thrumming background noise is almost comforting. It's the pace, it's the commerce, it's the trains. It's the music pouring out of tenements and taxis. The Smithereens are back with their first new material in over 10 years. Though they hail from New Jersey, the familiar beat of the Smithereens evokes the unique space they created; black leather, cigarettes, Times Square and well crafted guitar rock. The album, called "2011," is as comfortable as an old leather jacket and thrums like The Big Apple. Its a warm, welcome blast of energy, like the one you can feel before you're even halfway across the George Washington Bridge. Tapping into Stateside roots like Buddy Holly and the Byrds, plus the fertile orchards of the Beatles and the British Mods, the Smithereens staked out their own sophisticated East Coast sound. They can rock out with the best of the power chord addicts, like on "What Went Wrong" and "Sorry." Their jangling evocative Byrds and Beatles sounds show through on "Goodnight Goodbye," "One Look at You," "A World of Our Own" and "How Can I Turn it Around." "Ring On Her Finger" and "Viennese Hangover" will fill your head with rich imagery. Songs like "Keep On Running," "Nobody Lives Forever" and "Bring Back the One I Love" are chock full of all these influences and distilled to the pure power and prowess of The Smithereens. Reviewed by Todd Townsend

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