A great way to find out about his music (you can buy his whole catalog later). Originally with punk legends The Adverts, he has persevered over the years, accumulating a very impressive songbook.
While staying true to his ideals. He's one of the good ones.
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| If it tastes so good, why do you feel so sick? |
Useless is a greatest hits collection of his music which came out in 2001 on JKP records in Germany. Fans may quibble over individual song selections, but I think it is pretty damn great. It was released at a time when most of his music was out of print, so this was produced as a quick fix to that problem.
But the collection was re-recorded versions of the originals, which would normally give me pause to consider purchasing it. But this greatest hits set is pretty essential in my view. First of all case, Smith is in very fine form. Which is no great surprise. But his backing band?
None other than German Primo Punks, Die Toten Hosen! So you have a world-class songwriter teamed with a completely kick-ass rock band. It's a perfect storm of punk rock perfection!
Previously he has made similar collaborations, making an EP with Finnish punks Punk Lurex Ok, the Future Used to Be Better, which is also another amazing collaboration.
But what make Useless so good is that while the songs have a great anthemic quality to them, Smith's lyrics are smart. The music never fails to get you worked up, while making you think. And the song My String Will Snap was put on record for the first time, for all you completists.
The disc isn't that easy to get, but seems to be available at Smith's on-line store, where there is plenty of other items worth checking out, like many of his recently reissued solo albums and even tour diaries. A good place to help support a worthy cause.
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