Hatful Of Hollow

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This may be the best I’ve heard The Smiths sound on record next to my Japanese edition of the self titled LP. Editions after 1987 feature the cropped version with the text superimposed, although the 2011 vinyl re-issue reinstated the original sleeve. This gives them a rawer feel to their album contemporaries but unlike many session compilations this works pretty brilliantly as an album.

Sire instead released Louder Than Bombs in the US in 1987—which is effectively a hybrid of Hatful of Hollow and a subsequent UK compilation album The World Won't Listen plus some tracks which do not appear on either. My favourite track would have to be "Reel Around the Fountain" but that barely scrapes the surface - if you need an introduction to the Smiths or are looking for something to add to your collection, look no further. For John Peel on 18 May 1983 (broadcast 31 May): " Handsome Devil", " Reel Around the Fountain", "Miserable Lie", " What Difference Does It Make? Marr employed a jangle style on the guitar lines, which is characterized by an undistorted and heavy treble sound.The lyrics on some of these songs are peak smiths imo, I mean have you actually read "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" lmao, what an instrumental by the way. Everything is crystal clear here including Morrissey’s voice and the overall sound is warm and full.

Still Ill’ is also different, as it opens and closes with a harmonica solo, a more complete take than the version on the band’s debut, The Smiths. Hatful of Hollow' was a wonderful compilation of the Smiths earliest moments with many tracks taken from John Peel sessions.

It’s difficult to think of another example where a single recording so completely encapsulates a band’s work. Morrissey's lyrics focus on sexual ambiguity and he uses a first person narrative technique which show off his storytelling abilities. Me gusta muchooo como suena pero en la mayoría de temas siento que le falta peso(el bajo suena muy delgado) sin embargo los temas “acústicos” suenan realmente hermosos, otro detalle sería que aveces siento que la voz suena muy bajita pero en general me gusta mucho.