By SoDak
The Smithereens were an interesting band. They were too
nerdy for mainstream rock radio, but they were not hip or cool enough for many
college radio stations. In 1986, I first heard songs from Especially
for You. “Bread and Roses” and “Behind the Wall of Sleep” were catchy, and
they caught my attention. Despite all the rock-pop elements within the songs,
they seemed dark and dangerous. I suppose many love songs are like this. Pat
DiNizio’s vocals had a hypnotic effect. I was drawn to his delivery, which
blended well with the guitar. His voice, in many ways, is the signature of the
band. I quickly hummed and sang along with most of their songs. Green
Thoughts (1988) had many of the same qualities as the previous record.
It was clear that the Smithereens had a distinctive sound. This remained a
strength and weakness for them. I love hearing two or three songs by them at a
time, but my attention drifts when listening to an entire record. Nevertheless,
they remained a band that I respected. I continued to buy their records as they
were released, minus the cover records. There are plenty of gems beyond the
singles on each record. Upon hearing of Pat DiNizio’s death, several of their
songs instantly came to mind, reminding me of the lasting power of music.
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