Lyrics they come back to haunt you, oh yes they do. In 1987, after The Smiths came to a sticky end, their patchy last studio album 'Strangeways, Here We Come' was released.
Nestling there in the tracklisting was 'Paint A Vulgar Picture', Morrissey's bitter tirade on the music business and the fragility of fame. "Re-issue! Re-package! Re-package!/Re-evaluate the songs/Double-pack with a photograph/Extra Track (and a tacky badge)" went the lyrics. And, as with many things, Moz was right.
One of the greatest bands this land has ever seen, The Smiths deserve to be remembered and played and celebrated almost fifteen years since their demise. But c'mon. We had 'The Best Of' Volumes One and Two in 1992 (re-released in 1998), we had the 'Singles' collection three years later, along with re-releases of every studio album...
Cynicism aside, you can't fault the music on offer here. Twenty three tracks of poignant, witty, crafted, passionate and timeless indie pop. Morrissey's Wildean lyrics all at once camp, melancholy, romantic, bored, despairing, playful and spiteful. Johnny Marr's jangling guitar so innovative, inspiring, exciting and full of human warmth. For three glorious years they were quite simply superb.
And as the perfect primer for the uninitiated 'The Very Best Of The Smiths' can do no wrong. 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side', 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', 'How Soon Is Now?', 'This Charming Man', 'Hand In Glove', 'I Know It's Over', 'I Started Something I Couldn't Finish'... singles scattered with album tracks, nothing new, no surprises or rarities.
While Morrissey languishes in LA between record deals, Marr flits from Electronic to his own band the Healers. Meanwhile, bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce have long since been alienated by a sad and sorry courtroom campaign over royalties. Arguably, (with perhaps the odd Mozzer solo album) neither Stephen Patrick nor Mr Marr have come close to repeating their past glories. So, while yet another cash-in, perhaps it's apt that we are yet again reminded of how great they were.
