Please, Please, Please - A Tribute to The Smiths

Various Artists
Please, Please, Please - A Tribute to The Smiths

The Smiths were one of the U.K.'s brightest pop acts of the '80s, with singer Morrissey setting his witty and emotionally honest lyrics against Johnny Marr's serpentine, arpeggiated guitar lines. This tribute smartly avoids trying to mimic the band's singular charm, aiming to redefine the songs as if they'd always been part of each performer's catalog. Trespassers William slow down "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" until it purrs with sweetness. Solvents turn "Is It Really So Strange" into a campfire clap-along. Elk City interprets "I Know It's Over" as a skipping piece of chamber pop. Belly's Tanya Donelly finds an intimacy to "Shoplifters of the World Unite." Kitten retains the firepower of "Panic" with a Eurodisco sound resembling Blondie. Greg Laswell sits at the piano for a dramatic take on "Half a Person." William Fitzsimmons whispers the lullaby "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want," and the legendary Wedding Present adds a muscular power to "Hand in Glove." It's a worthwhile tribute that reinvents the songs while retaining The Smiths' glorious spirit.

Disc 1

Disc 2

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