Outside of R.E.M. and U2, the Smiths are the best-known band around the globe from the "alternative" branch of the 80s. And no one can bring his fans to tears of joy and adulation as quickly as Morrissey. Therefore, with millions of worldwide fans of the Smiths, it would seem natural that these people would be the perfect target audience for a tribute album of 1986s The Queen Is Dead, aptly titled The Smiths Is Dead.
Think again.
The liberties taken on The Smiths Is Dead by many of the individual bands are quite different from the original Morrissey/Marr compositions - and in the process, will likely anger devoted Smiths fans who long for music which stays true to the originals.
The ten song compilation (which follows in identical order to the 1986 classic) leads off with The Boo Radleys version of "The Queen Is Dead". The "Wake Up Boo" band completely ignores their leanings towards the 60s pop sound and while omitting the "Take Me Back To Dear Old Blighty" intro from the Smiths, does their best impression of Portishead's "Sour Times".
Slowing down Marr's instrumentation is a tactic utilized several times throughout the songs. The Divine Comedy sound like Crash Test Dummies on their walk through "There Is A Light", and the High Llamas do their best psychedelic Beach Boys on "Frankly Mr. Shankly". The Trash Can Sinatras unfortunately lack the passion which drove "I Know It's Over" - and, of course, Billy Bragg couldn't slow "Never Had No One Ever" down much more than the original, and it's interesting to hear Bragg's accent replacing Morrissey's.
Don't get the idea that the entire compilation is a walk in the park. Supergrass come off as a super-cool garage punk band (!), wailing away on the drums for "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others", and Placebo do Morrissey's sneers justice in "Bigmouth Strikes Again". Therapy? toss in some slightly different guitars on "Vicar In A Tutu", and press darlings Frank & Walters and Bis contribute on "Cemetry Gates" and "Boy With The Thorn In His Side", respectively.
This was originally issued through France's Les Inrocktuples magazine, and has since found its way to import racks in the states and many areas of Europe. Music industry insiders looking for a change of pace from the daily grind have fallen in love with this compilation, and those fans of the current British alternative scene will likely want to purchase a copy as well. However, The Smiths Is Dead should come with a warning sticker: "Not for the Morrissey worshipper."
