Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You've made the right decision this time., 1 Feb 2005
Since Louder than Bombs is effectively a compilation of B-sides, sessions and singles, it is astonishing just how damn good the level of the music is here.
Though LtB features much of what was released on The World Won't Listen (the UK version at the time), this is definitely the better of the two. 24 songs, with a standard typical of Morrissey and Marr.
Bar the inexplicable Golden Lights (what were they thinking?), there are numerous stand out tracks here. Many of the more up-tempo songs (Sweet and Tender Hooligan, Shakespeare's Sister, These Things Take Time) are fantastic, though London is just awesome as a furious rocker.
There are those who accuse The Smiths of being miserable, and thus miss the point of Morrissey's lyrics and Marr's clever songwriting. Such songs exist here, in the shape of Heaven Knows I'm Miserbale Now, Half A Person and This Night Has Opened My Eyes, as well as utter classic Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want.
If you're looking for a Smiths compilation, steer clear of the post-Smiths releases (Singles, Best I & II, Very Best Of). Hatful of Hollow is perhaps the definitive Smiths compilation, but you would do well to add Louder Than Bombs to your collection. Simply unmissable.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Shoplifters of the World Unite and Take Over.", 22 Jul 2004
In the spring of 1987, one year following the group's masterpiece "The Queen Is Dead," the Smiths released two albums. In the UK, they unleashed "The World Won't Listen." But in the United States, they released "Louder Than Bombs," a double album of singles, b-sides, and rare tracks. A compilation of this nature shouldn't work, but, amazingly, it did. "Louder Than Bombs" shows why singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr weren't just simply leaders in mope rock--they were also among the most vital and influential British songwriters of the 1980s. Morrissey exposes his utter contempt for pop music in the semi-controversial "Panic," croons though the brilliant and self-loathing "Unlovable;" shines through the potent "Rubber Ring," and is even funny in the snide "You Just Haven't Earned it Yet, Baby." But the heart of the album, I think, is the still-marvelous "Hand In Glove," the band's debut single replete with Johnny Marr's stellar guitars. But the songs I just mentioned only hint at the many riches this album has to offer. At 24 tracks, "Louder Than Bombs" is a huge platter of material, but the songs here are brisk and range from very good to brilliant. I played this to death when I first bought it, and it still gets the occasional spin in my stereo. A great album that earns its five stars.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant b-sides and classic singles, 20 Jul 2002
By A Customer
Only The Smiths could put together a compilation of mainly b-sides and it turns out to be superb. Originally intended for the US only, there are 24 tracks on here, and bar the appalling cover "Golden Lights" which is loathed by the band themselves, there isn't a weak track.
Here you have some of the little-known songs from all through the band's career, the highlights being "Half A Person", "Girl Afraid", "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby", "Rubber Ring" and "Unloveable" - to name just a few.
This is an ideal album to buy as an introduction to the band and has proved hugely popular with fans as well. Highly recommended.
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