Now I Know that Nothing Lasts4 out of 5 Stars
The Smithereens were one of those mysterious bands that seemed to appear from nowhere. On a smaller label, Enigma, with an unconventional sound falling somewhere between power-pop and bar-band rock. "Especially For You" was the darker side of power-pop, taking the jangle and turning it up to feedback. And lead-singer Pat Dinunzio had none of the boyishness of hardline power-poppers, but world-weariness of a man spent too many nights in the back of the bar.
Which is exactly what made these songs so great. There is real menace to "Blood And Roses," and crushing loneliness in "Behind The Wall of Sleep." Those two songs alone would make any band's best of a must have. Yet The Smithereens backed it up with muscular rock like "Strangers When We Meet" and killer harmonious hooks in "Tuesday's Groovy." There's Beatles chords matched with Who power on "Listen To Me Girl." And Go-Go girl/fan Jane Wiedlin adds counterpoint to DiNunzio on the blue "In A Lonely Place."
The Band never quite hit this level of coherence for a full album again, although "Green Thoughts" comes pretty close. And for a brief, stunning moment, The Smithereens looked like New Jersey had the key to the future of rock and roll in their collective guitar case.
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