The Smithereens: Blow Up CD Track Listing
The Smithereens
Blow Up (1991)
Originally Released September 10, 1991\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Sometimes it seems like the Smithereens' entire career was mistimed. After the relative success of 11, Pat DiNizio and company returned with their most straightforward and mainstream-ready release yet in Blow Up. Produced by Ed Stasium, the mix is arena ready and clean, and DiNizio co-wrote two of the disc's most accessible songs with songwriters Diane Warren and Julian Lennon. The first single, the string-laden Philly soul of "Too Much Passion" not only cracked the Top 40, but it placed at number 38, one position higher than their previous biggest hit, "A Girl Like You." That's where the success story ends. If there was ever a time for an alternative band to opt for a slicker sound, 1991 wasn't it. Blow Up was released within a week of Nirvana's Nevermind, and that album would quickly change alternative radio formats forever, squeezing out largely pop-oriented bands like the Smithereens. Also, "Too Much Passion" was the most adult contemporary single the Smithereens ever released, which meant a good deal of their new audience came on board expecting more of the same, and found only Warren's "Get a Hold of My Heart" to be similar. Still, the Smithereens never released a bad record, and Blow Up is in fact a quite good one: Much like 11 before it, Blow Up is a collection of catchy, blue-collar power pop distinguished by DiNizio's often moody outlook. -- Jason Damas\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\n"Blow Up" Explodes From the First Chord, June 24, 2000\nReviewer: Melanie Fleming (Columbus, GA)\nPat DiNizio and company have been at this pop music thing since early in the 80s. DiNizio's haunting, heavy-toned pop melodies graced college radio for a decade, but the Smithereens never garnished much popular success. \nTheir fine fourth album, "Blow Up," was the band's last Capitol release (1991). The single, "Too Much Passion," cracked the Top 40 and was somewhat of a departure for the group. Replete with strings, it sounds a bit like Nick Lowe doing a self-parody. \n\nAlso notable on this particular album are "Top of the Pops," "Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong," and "Girl in Room 12," which are standard-fare, drive-home-that-hook, vintage rhythmic Smithereens. "Anywhere You Are" calms things down and pulls the stops out to create a lounge-style, slightly psychedelic tune with a Hammond organ solo that could have been done by Rod Argent of the Zombies back in the 60s.\n\nAll in all, a fine effort from an overlooked band.\n\nHalf.com Details \nContributing artists: Alex Acuna, Carlene Carter, Steve Berlin, The Cowsills \nProducer: Ed Stasium \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe Smithereens: Pat DiNizio (guitar, vocals, harmonica); Jim Babjak (guitar, vocals); Mike Mesaros (bass, vocals); Dennis Diken (drums, percussion, vocals).\n\nAdditional personnel: Carlene Carter (vocals); Michael Hamilton (guitar, keyboards, mellotron); Steve Berlin (saxophone); Kenny Margolis (Hammond organ, piano, keyboards); Kevin Savigar (keyboards); Alex Acuna (percussion); Ed Stasium (percussion, background vocals); The Cowsills, Maria Vidal, Max Babjak, Diana Grasselli (background vocals).
This rock cd contains 12 tracks and runs 48min 6sec.
Freedb: a50b440c
Buy: from Amazon.com
Category
: Music
Tags
: music songs tracks rock Rock
- The Smithereens - Top Of The Pops (04:33)
- The Smithereens - Too Much Passion (04:35)
- The Smithereens - Tell Me When Did Things Go So Wrong (02:22)
- The Smithereens - Evening Dress (03:12)
- The Smithereens - Get A Hold Of My Heart (04:22)
- The Smithereens - Indigo Blues (04:58)
- The Smithereens - Now And Then (03:50)
- The Smithereens - Girl In Room 12 (03:22)
- The Smithereens - Anywhere You Are (03:44)
- The Smithereens - Over And Over Again (03:17)
- The Smithereens - It's Alright (03:45)
- The Smithereens - If You Want The Sun To Shine (05:57)
