[.ca] 45 Rpm Singles Of

From Amazon.com:
Like Steely Dan, The The wasn't so much a band as a personal musical conceit/alter ego, this one for English writer-performer Matt Johnson. While Johnson's "band" came of age during the English synth pop boom of the early `80s, electricity was about the only common denominator between Johnson and his fashion slave contemporaries. Indeed, the sense of conscientious outrage that informs many of the two decades worth of singles collected here fostered a perception of Johnson as something of a prickly malcontent. But fashion was never an end in itself for Johnson, even on early pop fare like "Uncertain Smile" and "Perfect." Johnson's restless creative bent has led him to remix many of these tracks anew, ensuring that this set would never be seen as mere artistic obituary. Johnson's reputation as a socio-political crank reached its zenith on tracks like "Heartland" (which decries the reverse cultural colonization of Britain by America) and "Armageddon Days" (a shotgun blast at pan-religious hypocrisy, here introduced by a hilarious parody of the Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz": "Are you ready Jesus? Yeah! / Budda? Uh-huh."), but subsequent history has only proven him sagacious. Pity that Johnson's "Armageddon" lineup was short-lived: The The was a real band in `89, with Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr adding his signature sound to "The Beat(en) Generation" as well. And if anyone thought they had Johnson pegged, his acclaimed 1995 Hank Williams tribute, Hanky Panky (represented here by a riveting reinvention of the country legend's "I Saw the Light"), surely set them scratching their heads again. The set is rounded out by three strong new tracks ("Decembersunlight (Cried Out)," a duet with Liz Horsman; "Pillar Box Red"; and "Deep Down Truth," a duet with Wild Colonial Angela McCluskey). The limited-edition two-disc set also includes a bonus disc of eight 12" club mixes previously unreleased in the U.S. on CD. --Jerry McCulley

Worth it for the "Uncertain Smile" mix alone!:
I first heard The The back in '83/'84 when a friend of mine gave me a copy of his tape, which was a copy of a friend of his recording of the mix version of "Uncertain Smile". Since then, I have transfered that song over about 3 or 4 tapes as each tape slowly began to deteriate. I went out and bought the "Soul Mining" album back in the late 80's just for "Uncertain Smile". I can tell you I was much disappointed that it was not the same version that was on my tape (still a good album though). I am VERY, VERY glad to finally have this mix version on CD! It's a great CD all around, but I can't imagine a person anywhere that wouldn't appreciate the mix version of "Uncertain Smile". Simply a great song. BTW, The price is great for a double CD. Kudoos to whoever is responsible for setting the price (record company, artist, etc.).

Now I can retire those vinyl records.....:
I have been searching for a copy of the 12" version of Uncertain Smile for years. I had found it on an out-of-print CD compilation which I was never able to obtain. The 12" Uncertain Smile was my first introduction to The The, and I was quickly enchanted by the music. Once you have heard the extended version (10 minutes long) the album version is so very unsatisfying. Actually that is the true joy of this album - the listener can use the greatest hits disc as an introduction to the 12" collection which exhibits the full development of the muscial themes in the songs. I have several of the songs on this CD on vinyl, which I will now happily retire to non-circulation status. The The is one of those bands (?) that start out at one point and then lead the listener in different directions. Listening to this collection of material you are able to jump from the mellower early music into the denser later songs. But all of it is wonderful and this is a collection that I have been avidly waiting for.

Fantastic:
All the song lyrics are as relevant today as the day they were written, if not more so now. The arrangements and originality of the music and lyrics make a wonderful and powerful statement. If you have never listened to TheThe I would recommend you start now, if you are already a fan then this will not disappoint.

An Essential CD:
Whether the local powers acknowledge it or not, this is an essential component of any pop CD collection. Matt Johnson has been awfully good for a very long time. His track record is as consistent as all but a very few artists over the same time period. This CD is the place to start if you don't have The The in your collection already. Even if you do, Johnson has remixed many tracks to great effect. Excellent engineering went into creating this CD. One thing that has always been a hallmark of Johnson's productions. Every song has a strong hook and a hypnotic beat. I'm not into the rave scene, but I would guess that these tracks get played to death at Ibiza discos. And why not? every tune is danceable and the lyrics are sodden with consciousness cleansing layering. In my case, it's just music that creates a great background for whatever I'm doing. And when I choose to actually focus in on the lyrics, I'm not disappointed. The guy actually has something to say! A bit along the lines of Roger Waters as far as world perspective is concerned. Another artist I will never grow tired of! Compare "What God Wants," on Waters' "Amused to Death" CD to The The's "Armaggedon" and you'll see what I mean. Now I've gotta go listen to some Roger Waters tracks. BEK

45 RPM - Finally! A Superb Compilation:
The The is one of those bands, well one guy really (Matt Johnson), who could blend musical concepts, personal thoughts, political views and a clear perception and make it always sound interesting. Sure the dark angst that pervades many of the songs isn't for everyone but for the rest of us, getting all his singles on in one place is a godsend. All of this material was released between 1982 and the present. His debut in 1981, Burning Blue Soul was released under his name. This was repackaged and reissued under the The The name in 1993. It is a revealing yet somewhat sombre record. I bought his first single as The The in the summer of 1982, "Uncertain Smile" and it was totally fresh for its day. Of course, by the time "Perfect" came out and his first album, Soul Mining, in 1983, I had succumbed to the musical viewpoints of The The. The sound on this double CD is remastered and sounds great. His quirky "I Saw The Light" from 1995's Hanky Panky, an album that pays tribute to Hank Williams, shows the diversity of this capable performer. A nice bonus is included on Cd one, with two unreleased songs "Pillar Box Red" and "Deep Down Truth" and a new version of "December Sunlight" that appears in original form on Naked Self (2000). These songs are an excellent bonus that pick up where he leaves of since Dusk (1993). The eight song second CD contains some of his best 12" remixes that include "Uncertain Smile", "Perfect", "Sweet Bird Of Truth" (controversial because it gives his take on the USA's air attack on Libya) and "Infected" (dealing with a tricky demonic issue). Others from Mind Bomb and Dusk round out this second disk. I would have liked to see "Jealous Of Youth"(1989}, the raw energy of "Cold Spell Ahead" (1981, actually the previous version of "Uncertain Smile") or the dub version of "Gravitate To Me" but with a Volume 2 expected in 2003, we can always hope. I highly recommend this 2 CD set for the curious, the fans and those who like a thinking mans music. Excellent.

• Uncertain Smile
• Perfect
• Sweet Bird Of Truth
• Infected
• Heartland
• Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)
• The Beat(en) Generation
• Dogs Of Lust
• Slow Emotion Replay
• Love Is Stronger Than Death
• This Is The Day
• I Saw The Light
• December Sunlight
• Pillarbox Red
• Deep Down Truth
• Uncertain Smile (12" Remix)
• Perfect (12" Remix)
• Sweet Bird Of Truth (12" Remix)
• Infected (12" Remix)
• Armageddon Days Are Here (Again) (12" Remix)
• Violence Of Truth (12" Remix)
• Gravitate To Me (12" Remix)
• Dogs Of Lust (12" Remix)