As a Smiths addict in the 80's, I bought their first few albums and all their import 12" singles on vinyl, then bought the CD versions of their albums, including "Louder Than Bombs" which includes many of the songs on this release. I stayed away from the Smiths-Best of collections because what was the point when I had all the proper releases anyway.

The biggest difference I noticed is that the mix has been recorded MUCH louder with a fuller sound, a recent trend for pop/rock recorded music. I compared What Difference Does It Make? version from Hatful of Hallow to this release -- and it is MUCH louder with the vocals/guitars pumped up in the mix. Personally, I like the Hatful of Hollow version better as Morrissey's voice sounded somewhat distant (and cavalier) and not competing head to head with the guitars. Then I compared "Big Mouth Strikes Again" version from Queen is Dead, and heard the vocals/guitars pumped up. But I couldn't hear any difference in drums/cymbals (not any crisper) which is what I would have expected in a remixed track.

This 45-track CD probably makes sense for those who do not have the proper releases or prior collections. Or completists. There are a couple of live tracks on here, which were previously available only as B-sides to singles. But still, some B-sides left off "Louder Than Bombs" are still not on this release so it is not comprehensive. So here is a quick summary of the less common tracks on this release which aren't found on many other Smiths compilations:

How Soon Is Now? (12" version)- this is the same version as found on "Hatful of Hollow" and "Meat Is Murder", not anything new.

Barbarism Begins at Home (7" version) - this edited version is 3 minutes shorter than the album version found on "Meat Is Murder".

This Charming Man (New York 12" version) - this was once rare to find, but since been released as CD single with 7 versions of the song.

Jeane - originally issued as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.

Wonderful Woman - originally appeared as B-side to "This Charming Man" single.

Handsome Devil (Live) - originally issued as B-side to "Hand In Glove" single.

Meat Is Murder (live) - originally issued as B-side to "That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" single.

Pretty Girls Make Graves (Troy Tate Demo) - originally issued as B-side to "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single.

What's The World?(Live) - originally issued on cassette single "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" single. I actually had not heard this before.

London (Live) - this was included on the posthumous live album, "Rank".

The 2-CD package also comes with 4-color glossy insert of pics of the Smiths in their prime plus a listing showing each song's release date, UK chart position and what release it originally appeared on. But alas, there is no tacky badge.

Most likely if youre looking at this product page, you know exactly who The Smiths are, and what they sound like. So what you really want to know is how to the "remastered" disc sound? Much like you I was eager to own this CD only for the fact to hear The Smiths in all the aural goodness that modern technology can bring. I have to admit, I spend far too much money on music. Music CDs, music equipment, musical instruments, etc. so with my ridiculously overpriced headphones and a nice brand name CD player I plopped this disc in expecting magic. I have to say that the expectations vs. the reality let me down a bit, but that could be my own fault for having too many expectations. Honestly, how much magic could the studio create with 25+ year old masters? On the first through fifth tracks, I really didn't notice any difference in the sound over my "Hatful of Hollow" compilation. Actually most of the tracks sound exactly the same to me. The first track that I really noticed a difference on was "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" because of the guitar intro.

About 10 years ago I used to DJ, and I had this piece of equipment called the "Aural Exciter", and it really enhanced the tracks in some clubs. It gave the music a wider and brighter feel. I think some modern stereos have a 3D effect, and thats what this track sounded like it had going on. On all of the tracks that I could tell had some enhancements, thats what they sounded like - wider and brighter - but not artificially so. There really isnt much going on in the low end. Andy Rourkes bass lines sound the same as they did on all previous issues, as do the vocals.

The one exception to all of the above is found on disc 2. I have a bootleg CD called "The Troy Tate Sessions", and it sounds terrible. One song from these sessions makes this compilation, "Pretty Girls Make Pretty Graves", and this track sounds FANTASTIC compared to my old version... Its difficult to comment on this however, because Im not sure if I have the best copy of the TTS as it was never an official release as far as I know.

I suppose in closing that this is a must-have for the uninitiated..

..However for the rest of us, if youre like me, we already have these tracks from various other collections, and the remastering just isnt that amazing enough to recommend on that point alone. If youre a completionist, pick this up used, or at least when it goes on sale as you'll save a few dollars. Honestly, keep listening to your old CD/records.

Rhino is usually VERY careful with sound, which is why it's so disappointing to discover that this release is hot mastered, just like everything else these days. Open any of the tracks in an audio editor and you'll see what I mean. Heck, "The Headmaster Ritual" is as loud and clipped as anything off the new Smashing Pumpkins album!

Truly a disappointment. Rhino, you should've known better.

As a big fan of the Smiths, their music has been a big part of my life and even to this day, I have not grown tired of any of the songs.

My first exposure of the group was through the "Pretty in Pink" Soundtrack with the song "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I want" back in 1985 and from that point in time, I've been a big fan of the Smiths and Morrisey, owning a lot of the albums and videos.

What I loved about the band's music is their self-depricating humor. For example, a brilliant song such as "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" with lyrics for its chorus is a prime example of the kind of humor within their music:

And if a double-decker bus

Crashes into us

To die by your side

Is such a heavenly way to die

And if a ten-ton truck

Kills the both of us

To die by your side

Well, the pleasure - the privilege is mine

Or the classic song "Panic":

Burn down the disco

Hang the blessed DJ

Because the music that they constantly play

IT SAYS NOTHING TO ME ABOUT MY LIFE

Hang the blessed DJ

Because the music they constantly play

There is something about the music of the Smiths that is just special. I could go on and on of how well-thought out the lyrics are for a lot of their songs were and just shows you why the Smiths were so influential.

Within that 20+ years, outside of the full-length albums, fans have had the opportunity to listen to a lot of the awesome hits from the band via various compilation and best albums.

With the 1992 release of "The Best of the Smiths, Vol. 1' and then the second volume following not long after, a new best release would come out in 2001 titled "The Very Best of the Smiths" which was another awesome compilation and for those who bought the "The Best of..." on audio cassette, what better time was it to upgrade to all the hits songs on CD.

And seven years later, we now have "The Sound of the Smiths". Before one would scream "record label trying to milk my hard earned money", I will say that this latest compilation includes much more extra music.

People have the choice of either the regular edition (with the first disc) or the deluxe edition which includes a second disc with b-sides, rare material and live tracks. Also, if there is any consolation for fans, this album had involvement by lead vocalist Morrisey and guitarist Johnny Marr.

Now, if you were planning to just buy the regular edition, then I suggest going for "The Very Best of The Smiths", because you get all of their major hits on one album. But if you want The Smiths experience of owning some really cool rare music now finally made available, then I highly recommend the Deluxe Edition.

As mentioned, the second disc comes with some rarities such as the Troy Tate version of "Pretty Girls Make Graves". Troy Tate being the producer of the band's first album but he was replaced with another producer, so a lot of the original music produced by Troy Tate is rare or featured on some underground bootleg cassette or disc's.

Then you get a few live tracks such as "Handsome Devil", "Meat is Murder" and "What's the World". Heck, it was my first time listening to the New York vocal of "This Charming Man". So, even for someone like myself who owns a lot of the band's releases, there are some tracks that I have never heard until now.

I know that a band like "The Smiths" will continually have compilations and best albums but it's great to see this album come with so much more music. Again, if you just want the popular tracks that every loves, you can get by with any of their best albums released previously.

But you can't go wrong with this release because of its sheer content. So, I definitely recommend checking out the deluxe edition of "The Sound of the Smiths". If you are a fan of the Smiths, Morrisey or Johnny Marr, you won't be disappointed.

I picked this up with the sole intention of deciding for myself if they truly lived up to their reputation as one of the premier British bands of the 80s, having miraculously missed them on the airwaves completely back when they were still active in the music scene.

Being a huge EBTG fan, my interest was stoked by constant references from critics to the Smiths' influence on Thorn and Watt's flirtation with New Wave on the 1985 album, 'Love Not Money'.

From the first song on 'The Sound of...' I began to hear for myself the distinct sonic quality of the jangly guitars and Morissey's plaintive yet emotive vocals that EBTG aimed for in those early days, with all due respect to both bands. I was also elated to find 'Shakespeare's Sister' in the mix, having learnt that the name of Siobhan Fahey's power group (expertly spelled as 'Shakespears Sister') was inspired by that song.

Along the way, I also heard that familiar 'Charmed' tune, 'How Soon Is Now?" (arguably popularised again by Russian girlgroup Tatu in the noughties), as well as 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' (which I first heard on the single by Eddi Reader, Boo Hewerdine and Clive Gregson in the 90s), and all that was only on Disc 1. How did I miss this superb music growing up?

Am so spooked by this release I'm gonna check out New Order's reissues and finally get acquainted with Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' as part of my re-education of the 80s music that I missed.