Always Has a Replay

On May 5, The Smithereens continue their long avoidance to releasing new original material with The Smithereens Play Tommy, a tribute to the classic Who album that turns 40 this year.

The Smithereens decided to make a proper, all-out studio version of one of the albums that inspired their rock dreams of becoming a band in the first place for this 40th anniversary tribute. The Who's unique sound will never be duplicated, but then again neither will The Smithereens' sound that has made them enduring rock icons over the past 25 plus years. The result is part Who, part Smithereens. Part totally familiar, and part unexpectedly unique... and 100% tour de force. The Smithereens' "musical dreams ain't quite what they seem" -- the result is more than a loving tribute and much more like an inspired re-imagining. After listening to this album a few times, you may never hear any of The Who's versions of Tommy the same way again.

Oh, and they promise a new original album later this year - after they release their re-imagining of More of the Monkees and an acoustic remixed live version of their Meet the Smithereens Beatles tribute.

I kid. I kid.