Smiths Under Review

I was really looking forward to this DVD but when I received it, it left me very unsatisfied. First, both DVDs The Jewel In The Crown and The Smiths Under Review were shot together and then divided into Morrissey's career and then The Smiths'. It has the same contributors on both DVDs. Nothing new revealed at all on both documentaries but as a Smiths/Morrissey collector these DVDs are a must, indeed.

One wonders if they reliazed they left There Is A light That Never Goes Out out in their singles chronological appearance during the documentary, to me one of the most important singles from The Queen Is Dead.

I wish they had also discussed each album with much more details as they did the first album, things were rushed once they go to the second and last album, very unforgiveable indeed.

The Smiths Quiz is great though, I got 20 out of 25 which means I must re-read my Smiths/Morrissey books one of these days. Over all is not a very bad documentary but it could have been much better. But one thing is for sure The Smiths and Morrissey continue to be well respected by the media and that can't be said for many of their contemporaries from the 1980's.

Under Review is actually "Under Par" since the great songs we know and love are only snippets and they are never played in their entirety. The interviews are not going to tell you anything you don't already know from reading the Johnny Rogan book "The Severed Alliance" (yes, I know, the one Moz wants us to boycott), or from looking at any Smiths fan site. I feel ripped off, but maybe you will watch the Smiths collection of videos "The Complete Picture" and save money and time by skipping this offering. It should also be noted that this is an unofficial dvd, and hopefully Moz and Marr didn't approve of this second rate documentary. I am almost a completist so I think it is my job to share that the best part of the dvd is the quiz on Smiths trivia toward the end-I scored an 18 of 25-I'm sure you can do better!

Horrible money grab (by whom I'm not sure is making money off this) but since there is little Smiths dvds out there, as my eyes saw this upon on shelf, I had to fork over my hard earned money. For what? I got hosed, the DVD says there are 'extended interviews' which I assumed was of the band, NO. Here we get ramblings of past producers whom offer little we already know about the band. I was at least looking forward to what Stephen Street had to say, since he produced some of my all time favorite albums, but what a drab that guy is. Of all the sessions he had with band all he could say is 'Johnny Marr' is brilliant? WOW! Thanks man! I shelled out $20 to hear that? THIS IS A COMPLETE SHAM RIP OFF!! I know there are desperate needy Smiths fans "completists" but you have been warned to avoid this