Customer Reviews

Hatful of Hollow

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Several months after releasing their first album, the Smiths
issued the singles and rarities collection Hatful of Hollow,
establishing a tradition of repackaging their material as many
times and as quickly as possible. While several cuts on Hatful
of Hollow are BBC versions of songs from "The Smiths", the
versions on the compilation are nervy and raw -- and they're
also not the selling point of the record. The Smiths treated
singles as individual entities, not just ways to promote an album,
and many of their finest songs were never issued on their studio
albums. Hatful of Hollow contains many of these classics,
including the sweet rush of "William, It Was Really Nothing,"
and the sardonic "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now," the tongue-in-cheek lament of "Please,
Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want," the wistful "Back to the Old House," "Girl Afraid," and
the pulsating, tremolo-laced masterpiece "How Soon Is Now?" With such strong material forming
the core of the album, it's little wonder that Hatful of Hollow is as consistent as "The Smiths" and
arguably captures the excitement surrounding the band even better.

One of the greatest albums of all-time...extra appealing because most of it is lo-fi, but beautifully lo-fi. Every song is a masterpiece of intelligent vulnerable British pop music. The music, written by Johnny Marr, is brilliantly melodic. The words are worthy of Oscar Wilde, one of lyricist Morrissey's major influences, along with early 60's black and white British working class films like Taste of Honey (snatches of dialogue from this film can be found in the lyrics to This Night Has Opened My Eyes, an extremely powerful song). This album is the greatest Smiths album, and that's saying a LOT, since every Smiths album was BRILLIANT. The Smiths recording career lasted from 1984-1987, but they were extremely prolific. This was their second release, technically a collection of radio recordings and singles, but it works perfectly as an album with its own theme.

This is an excellent CD and I am not a fan of this band until now. Also to have the lyrics to "How soon is now?" is a bonus. Great singing and guitar playing.

Is it just me, or does this band band have WAY TOO MANY "Best Of" compilations?? The versions of many of the Smith's best known songs are here presented in ( for the most part ) alternate versions, a few Peel sessions ( where they sound heavier, meatier, more lean'n'mean as a Band than on some of their frankly anemic and fey studio recordings) , and a 12" single or two. This is what brought my attention to the Smiths back in the eighties. I had the album on import, as it was available only in that form for years, until I found the cd in the Virgin mega-store. I still listen to it. Very Highly Recommended. Better, in my opinion, than any single Smiths album or any of the compilations.

Although I'm a particulary big fan of british indie, The Smiths are an exception to the rule. The music is very R.E.M. like in it's jangle-pop, indie-ish way. But for me it's Morrissey who is the master here. A fine fine vocalist with great lyrics that concentrate mainly on relationships and broken hearts. An inspiration to a 1000 future emo bands. I highly reccomend this album, it contains all their classics, 'This Charming Man', 'How soon is now', 'Still Ill', and my personal favourite the controversial 'Reel around the fountain'. A superb band.

Still Ill gets the honor of being my favorite songs of all time... no doubt about it. The live version on this album is even better than the debut album version. Brilliant along with the rest of the album. The album gives us the full energy of the band during the early days and still stands as strong today - many years later.

the version of reel around the fountain is worth buying alone. on the self titled debut it sounds great, yet here it's raw, and sounds grand. If you own any of they're greatest hits albums and need to go further, buy the debut, then this. Buy 'em both. I hope I never run out of my smith's phase.

These songs are available on the following albums:

1. William, It Was Really Nothing......Louder Than Bombs

2. What Difference Does It Make?.......S/T

3. These Things Take Time.......Louder Than Bombs

4. This Charming Man.......S/T

5. How Soon Is Now?.......Meat Is Murder

6. Handsome Devil

7. Hand in Glove......Louder Than Bombs & S/T

8. Still Ill.......S/T

9. Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now ......Louder Than Bombs

10. This Night Has Opened My Eyes

11. You've Got Everything Now.......S/T

12. Accept Yourself

13. Girl Afraid......Louder Than Bombs

14. Back to the Old House......Louder Than Bombs

15. Reel Around the Fountain.......S/T

16. Please(x3) Let Me Get What I Want......Louder Than Bombs

Every Smiths compilation has it's highs, my personal favorite is World Won't Listen but there are songs on here you won't get on that one or on Louder than Bombs. Some of their best work, actually, earlier raw versions of some fantastic songs. Must have.

This compilation album by the smiths is great but I don't get how some critics could call this the best smiths album out there that honor goes to the classic "The Queen is Dead".Though this is still pretty good and it contains the great song"William it was really nothing".I save my long reviews for actual albums and give compilations small reviews unless it has a bunch of songs that are new.BABYLAND FOREVER