This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
What with the epitaphish title and The Smithereens’ long absence from the scene, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is a posthumous release.
In fact, it’s the sixth album from these recently reunited New Jersey power-popsters. And while God Save The Smithereens doesn’t have a riff-rock chart smasher to equal Girl Like You, otherwise it appears their five years away have done them no harm. These 13 tracks are more fine examples of the band’s skilled songcraft, densely packed with jangly guitars, smoky Elvis Costello-style crooning from Pat DiNizio and an overall ’60s Britpop vibe. Perhaps a better title would be Long Live The Smithereens.
