After making a splash with their first two 12-inches, Hand In Glove and This Charming Man, quickly retreated to the studio to record their self-titled debut full-length. The album was met with lukewarm reviews (mostly citing the unsatisfactory work of producer John Porter) and failed to produce a worthy successor to their string of successful singles, but the band had a plethora of additional material leftover from a handful of John Peel sessions and b-sides. Dissatisfied with their tepid entry in the album charts, Rough Trade collected these tracks and took another stab at a worthy Smiths full-length, and with the arrival of , their prior false-start was instantly forgiven by fans and the press alike. Where fell flat on The Smiths, he soars on ; his cavorting wit (Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want) and catchy hooks (How Soon Is Now?) divert the listener from the unassailable truth that hes just not that great of a singer. Johnny Marrs consistently immaculate riffs and complete aversion to flashy guitar solos solidify his place as one of rock & rolls most creative guitarists of all time. Hatfulcontains definitive versions of some of The Smiths best songs: the acoustic version of Back To The Old House, culled from a 1983 Peel session, is an uncharacteristically intimate and haunting entry in The Smiths catalog; with a very rare use of echo on s voice during the coda particularly hair-raising. The jangle-pop Peel session version of This Charming Man is refreshingly mellow compared to the enthusiastic Manchester and London versions found on the original 12-inch. Hatful Of Hollow is a unanimous favorite of all Smiths enthusiasts, and a terrific point of entry for anyone looking to see what the fuss is all about. Recommended.
- 180g black vinyl pressing
- gatefold sleeve
- music label: Rhino 2012
